New permanent public art is planned for Carlsbad’s Barrio and surrounding area, and the city’s Cultural Arts Office is kicking off the process by asking the community for their input on how this new public art can best reflect the neighborhood’s identity and heritage.
Two projects are getting underway:
Art that will go in the middle of a new traffic circle at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Harding Street
Art at the Chestnut I-5 underpass
There are three opportunities to get involved at this stage of the process:
Attend the Barrio Traffic Circle Public Art workshop
Wednesday, Dec. 6
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Carlsbad Senior Center
799 Pine Ave.
Apply to serve on the Public Art Advisory Subcommittee for the Barrio Traffic Circle public art
Apply to serve on the Public Art Advisory Subcommittee for the Chestnut underpass public art
The city’s Art in Public Places Program outlines the public art development process, which includes a Public Art Advisory Subcommittee to review proposals from artists and ultimately vote to select the chosen artist. The city is seeking volunteers for both subcommittees.
Applicants do not need to be art experts.
You just need knowledge of the neighborhoods involved and an interest in shaping these future public art projects.
It’s a short commitment, just two evening meetings between January and March 2024 and the City Council Chamber (1200 Carlsbad Village Drive), but an opportunity to help shape something that will be enjoyed for generations.
Applications can be completed online. Deadline to apply is Dec. 8.
More about the projects
To support arts and culture in Carlsbad, the Carlsbad Municipal Code requires that a minimum of 1% of the cost of certain construction projects be dedicated to public art.
Barrio Traffic Circle public art
This public art piece will be in the middle of a new traffic circle planned at the intersection of Pine Avenue and Harding Street. The artwork should reflect the Barrio neighborhood’s identity and cultural and historic heritage. Because the artwork will be located at the center of a traffic circle, it will need to be free-standing and not create a distraction or safety hazards for drivers, bikers or pedestrians.
The traffic circle is one of five planned at local streets in the Barrio to help slow down traffic, enhance walkability and provide a better balanced roadway for all modes of travel. Design and environmental permitting are near complete. Sign up to get notified of next steps.
Chestnut Avenue I-5 Underpass public art
This public art project will be at the entryways to the Chestnut Avenue I-5 underpass that links the neighborhoods around Holiday Park on the east side of the freeway and the city’s Barrio community. The City Council identified the Chestnut Avenue I-5 underpass as the city’s preferred location for enhancements as part of Build North Coast Corridor, a California Department of Transportation and San Diego Association of Governments project that includes highway, rail, environmental and coastal access improvement projects along the I-5 and rail corridor through Carlsbad. This will include widening the freeway undercrossing to accommodate bike lanes, wider sidewalks and accessible crosswalks.
An art installation at this currently undistinguished freeway undercrossing will connect these two neighborhoods in a unique manner and become a local landmark. Opportunities may include a sculptural work of art that may be wall-mounted to the curved entryway to the underpass or free-standing artwork.
More information
Cultural Arts Office, 442-339-2090, tonya.rodzach@carlsbadca.gov
Art in Public Places Program
Barrio traffic circles
