The mural by renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera, titled "Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees," has found a new home at the University of California, Berkeley’s Doe Library. This piece, which spans over five feet in height and nearly nine feet in width, was completed in 1931 and captures workers in a California orchard. "What I love about this piece is it actually feels like it’s drawing you in," remarked Beth Dupuis, UC Berkeley’s senior associate university librarian. The mural's move to Doe Library follows a suggestion by Julie Rodrigues Widholm, executive director of the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA).

This transfer facilitates broader public access and allows BAMPFA experts to monitor its condition. "This is a huge opportunity — not just for Berkeley, but for anybody who’s interested in art," said John Alexander, director of collections and exhibitions at BAMPFA. The mural highlights an orchard scene from the San Francisco Peninsula, featuring the grandchildren of Rosalie Meyer Stern, who commissioned the artwork.

Rivera, accompanied by Frida Kahlo, traveled to San Francisco in 1930 and engaged in various commissions, including “The Allegory of California” and “Still Life and Blossoming Almond Trees.” Peter Haas, one of Rosalie Stern's grandchildren, remembers Rivera's process vividly, noting that photographer Kahlo made the experience enjoyable.

The mural, gifted to UC Berkeley in 1956, was previously displayed in Stern Hall. Its relocation to Doe Library follows its inclusion in the “Diego Rivera’s America” exhibition at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 2022. “I was very excited to learn that UC Berkeley had this important artist’s work,” Rodrigues Widholm stated. The mural's display at Doe aligns with the library’s mission to enrich student experiences and is part of BAMPFA's commitment to showcasing Mexican art publicly.

Within Doe, the mural is protected in a case at a central passage on the first floor. Todd P. Olson, a history of art professor, sees educational value in the mural's presence, hoping students can learn through viewing. "It is important to see the painting as an artifact," Olson emphasized. Alexander added, "He’s on the level of Picasso, really, as far as importance." Dupuis believes the mural’s display encourages curiosity and scholarly inquiry, reflecting the library’s educational goals.

"It's wonderful and fortuitous,” Olson expressed about the mural's presence, indicating optimism about its role in fostering artistic engagement.