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A city subcommittee has selected San Diego area artist and political activist Mario Torero for a a Barrio traffic circle art project. Courtesy photo/City of Carlsbad
A city subcommittee has selected local artist and political activist Mario Torero for a new Barrio traffic circle art project. Courtesy photo/City of Carlsbad
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Carlsbad selects local artist Mario Torero for Barrio art project

CARLSBAD — A subcommittee has selected local artist Mario Torero to create a new public art piece in the middle of a new traffic circle in the Barrio neighborhood, marking a significant step toward bringing culturally reflective art to the historic community.

On Dec. 19, the Carlsbad Public Art Advisory Subcommittee selected Torero, a San Diego-area artist and political activist, to create the artwork planned for the intersection of Pine Avenue and Harding Street, noting that his Chicano art style was a natural fit for the area.

The selection follows years of planning to enhance the Barrio neighborhood. Since 2017, city staff have worked with the community to design features that slow traffic, improve walkability and balance roadway use for all modes of travel. The traffic circle at Pine Avenue and Harding Street is one of five planned, along with other traffic-calming measures.

The city requires a minimum of 1% of the cost of certain construction projects to be dedicated to public art. The City Council allocated up to $110,000 from General Fund revenues for this project to fund the public art component.

The Dec. 19 meeting included presentations from three finalists — Torero, Seija Chen, and Roberto Salas — who answered questions and incorporated feedback from community workshops.

Torero’s proposal emphasized collaboration and vibrant Chicano-inspired imagery. His plan includes workshops with residents to create pieces using polytab material, which will then be integrated into a larger sculpture.

“I’ve worked with many other mediums, sculptures, and three-dimensional pieces,” Torero said. “I come here with no preconceptions — I come as an empty vessel.”

Torero highlighted his ties to San Diego’s Chicano Park and Barrio Logan, noting the cultural and historical connections between these areas and Carlsbad. He referenced the work of fellow artists Victor Ochoa and Salvador Torres, who had previously painted murals in Carlsbad.

“The fact that some of our members, Victor Ochoa and Salvador Torres, were here before … makes me feel like there’s a path here, that I’m welcome, because I’m continuing that legacy,” Torero said.

Chen proposed modern, clean designs inspired by papel picado, a traditional Mexican art form. She suggested a hybrid engagement strategy combining in-person workshops with online participation to ensure accessibility for working-class families.

“We had a bilingual option so people can participate in either language,” Chen said, referencing a previous project in Fresno. Her concept also included educational elements to teach participants about the Barrio’s history.

Salas presented a concept centered on a molcajete, a traditional Mexican mortar and pestle symbolizing community resilience and shared traditions. While praised for its cultural symbolism, the design’s subdued color palette raised concerns among some subcommittee members.

Public comments reflected a strong desire for artwork that honors Barrio’s cultural identity and avoids overly modern or abstract styles. One resident expressed enthusiasm for Torero’s potential contribution, saying, “It’s really got people excited.”

During deliberations, subcommittee members weighed each proposal’s strengths. Community representative Nate Larson highlighted Torero’s deep connection to the Chicano art movement and community.

“To pass him up is just, I think, not smart,” Larson said.

Others, such as Arts Commissioner Angie Ferone, leaned toward Chen’s work for its clean aesthetic and accessibility.

“I just think Seija’s more to my taste,” Ferone said. 

The next steps include finalizing a design agreement with Torero and implementing a community engagement strategy in early 2025 to shape the final design.

Torero expressed confidence in his ability to reflect the Barrio’s cultural identity in the artwork.

“We try to talk to the people and put them on the wall,” Torero said. “We bring across elements they’ve never perceived before.”

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