Nine artists submit proposals for Carlsbad’s new Barrio traffic circle project

Advisory committee expected to narrow field to three applicants this month


Nine artists submit proposals for Carlsbad’s new Barrio traffic circle project + ' Main Photo'

Nine applications have been submitted for a public art project to be installed at the center of a new traffic circle planned for the intersection of Pine Street and Harding Avenue in Carlsbad.

The applications and the artists resumes, proposals, and examples of some of their past work, such as sculptures, mosaics and tile installations, can be seen on the citys website at www.carlsbadca.gov.

The information will be reviewed Nov. 13 by the citys Public Art Advisory Subcommittee. People can comment on the proposals at the meeting or email comments before the meeting to arts@carlsbadca.gov.

The subcommittee will discuss and score each application, according to the website. Its goal is to narrow the field to three artists who will be invited to make presentations at a meeting Dec. 19.

The selected artist will gather public input to help shape the final design concept in early 2025.

The city involved the community at the earliest stages of the project’s development to gather feedback about how the new art could best reflect the Barrio’s neighborhood identity and cultural and historic heritage, a city official said.

Carlsbad is in the midst of a similar selection process for another public art project as part of improvements including a bike lane and sidewalks at the Chestnut Avenue underpass beneath Interstate 5. A final design for that location is expected to be approved next year.

Public art has caused Carlsbad trouble in the past. An example was the “Split Pavilion” project — a set of 9-foot-tall steel bars set in concrete at the north end of the seawall on Carlsbad Boulevard. Designed by a New York artist, the seaside sculpture was built in 1992 for less than $50,000.

However, unhappy residents claimed it blocked their view of the ocean, impeded access to the beach, and was simply ugly. Five years later, after much controversy, the project was torn down, leaving a grassy open space in its place.