Council approves $25,000 contract for Sunishi Park mural honoring Japanese American history

The Monrovia City Council approved an agreement Oct. 7 with artist Trinity Rivard for a mural at the new Satoru Sunishi Park, authorizing work up to $25,000.

The mural will run roughly 102 linear feet along a park wall and depicts scenes from Satoru Sunishi’s life: early years working on farms, a family portrait, mon (family crest), Route 66 imagery, a Heart Mountain internment reference and a haiku by Satoru that will be included in granite or other permanent material in the park.

Why it matters: The mural was commissioned to honor Satoru Sunishi, recognize the area’s agricultural history and acknowledge internment-era history. Sunishi family members reviewed and approved the design and asked for the family mon to be incorporated; city staff incorporated the request.

Design and process: City staff launched a request for proposals July 7 and received 18 proposals; 16 were complete, five finalists were selected, and the selection committee recommended Trinity Rivard. Staff presented photos of the park’s construction progress and said the artist and family will travel to Monrovia in November to finalize the work. The artist plans to be in Monrovia for about two weeks during the Thanksgiving period to complete the mural and align the unveiling with the park opening, which staff estimated could occur in December pending final site work.

Council action: Councilmember motion and second were recorded and the item passed on a roll call vote with all members voting yes.

Ending: The mural contract advances the Sunishi Park project toward opening; staff will finalize installation details and interpretive signage to explain the imagery, including the Heart Mountain reference and the Sunishi haiku.