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Carlsbad staff outline timelines, budgets and artist selections for three public‑art projects
Summary
Staff reported that the Chestnut Underpass art project has a $400,000 budget and artist team Green Meme is selected; Veterans Memorial Park has a $450,000 budget with four finalists to present June 12; the Barrio traffic-circle project has $110,000 and a call for California artists due June 24. Commissioners raised concerns about local-artist involvement and staffing capacity.
Fiona, the cultural arts manager, updated the Carlsbad Arts Commission on June 6 about three permanent public-art projects that staff are shepherding through design, community engagement and approval.
Chestnut Underpass (Barrio neighborhood): Fiona said the Chestnut I‑5 underpass art project carries a $400,000 public-art budget and that the public art advisory subcommittee selected the artist team Green Meme (Brian Howe and Freya Bridal). The city is finalizing a design contract so the artists can begin design work; staff will perform community engagement and then bring a concept back to the Arts Commission and City Council for approval. Fiona emphasized the schedule depends on the larger Caltrans/SANDAG underpass construction.
Veterans Memorial Park: Fiona reported a $450,000 budget for public art at Veterans Memorial Park. A subcommittee reviewed 35 applicants and narrowed the list to four finalists: Gordon Huether Studio; Living Lenses (artist Po Shu Wang); MGA Sculpture Studio (Mark Ailing); and SITE Studio (Norman Lee and Shane Albritton). The four finalists will present publicly to the advisory subcommittee on June 12 at 5:00 p.m.; staff expect to execute a design contract with the chosen artist this summer and then begin community engagement on the memorial design.
Barrio traffic circle: Fiona said one traffic circle in the Barrio neighborhood will include a public-art element with a $110,000 budget. Staff issued a call for California artists to emphasize Barrio history and local context; submissions are due June 24. A public-art advisory subcommittee will score submissions and select an artist for a subsequent design contract.
Local‑artist concerns and staffing constraints: Commissioner Nora, who sits on the underpass subcommittee, said she has heard community pushback that residents want a local artist selected. Nora warned staff to be prepared to explain the selection process and the technical requirements of a transportation‑linked installation. Fiona acknowledged the concern and said, “No artist from the City Of Carlsbad applied,” adding that transportation underpass work often requires engineering and architecture expertise in addition to artistic skill. Fiona said staff will emphasize local voice through community engagement even if the selected artist is not a Carlsbad resident. She also told commissioners that vacancies — specifically the cultural arts manager and public art coordinator roles — have slowed staffing capacity and that hiring a dedicated public art coordinator after recruiting a cultural arts manager should help speed project timelines.
Next steps: staff will finalize the Chestnut Underpass design contract, proceed with community engagement, host the Veterans Memorial Park finalist presentations on June 12, and accept Barrio traffic-circle submissions through June 24. Final design concepts will return to the Arts Commission and then to City Council for approval as required.
