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Carlsbad panel selects Mario Torero to create Barrio traffic‑circle public art after community-focused presentations
Summary
The Public Art Advisory Subcommittee chose Mario Torero 3–2 Dec. 19 to design the permanent artwork for the Pine Ave. and Harding St. traffic circle after three finalists presented concepts and residents spoke during public comment. Staff will finalize a design agreement and community engagement plan.
The Public Art Advisory Subcommittee voted 3–2 on Dec. 19 to commission artist Mario Torero to design the permanent public artwork for the Barrio traffic circle at Pine Avenue and Harding Street.
Craddock Stropes, the city’s Cultural Arts manager who facilitated the meeting, told the committee the selection will proceed under the city’s Art in Public Places program and noted the Carlsbad Municipal Code requires dedicating a minimum of 1% of certain construction costs to public art. The subcommittee heard 15‑minute presentations from three finalists — CJ Chen (paper‑cut and community workshop approach), Roberto Salas (molcajete and volcanic‑stone gabion concept) and the Mario Torero team (community‑sourced portraits and neighborhood imagery) — followed by public comment and extended questions from members about visibility, safety and outreach.
CJ Chen described a hybrid engagement plan of…
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