Honoring veterans through public art
On Monday, we observed Veterans Day—a time to reflect on the service and sacrifices of those who have served in our nation’s military. Meanwhile, city staff remains hard at work on planning Veterans Memorial Park, near the corner of Faraday Avenue and Cannon Road.

The next milestone for the future park is to invite veterans, their families and other community members to work with the artist as he creates the initial design for art that will be featured at the highest point of the park, with scenic views of Agua Hedionda Lagoon and the ocean.

A story of service for all veterans 
Last year, city staff gathered input from veterans, active duty military and military family members in our community to gain an understanding of the experience veterans would like to create through the artwork at this location.

Many generations, one mission
Today’s community of veterans includes people with vastly different experiences and points of reference.

• For example, the “Greatest Generation” served in World War II. As our oldest living veterans, the youngest are now in their late 90s.
• By contrast, some veterans are still in their 20s, having served in more recent missions.
• Military service today utilizes technologies beyond what could even be imagined in the 1940s.
• And, when members of the military are injured today, advances in medicine mean more lives can be saved, and views about the importance of mental health have also evolved significantly.

Before inviting artists to submit proposals, the city worked with local veterans, active-duty military and their families to find out what kind of art at this location would be most meaningful to them. By getting this input early on, it could be reflected in the “call for artists” and used by the committee in making their selection.

About the artist
Earlier this year, the city formed a committee made up of veterans, a professional artist, members of the city’s Arts Commission and other community members to select an artist for this important project. Gordon Huether Studio was chosen based on the team’s experience creating major public art projects, including art that honors veterans, and their emphasis on community collaboration.

The public art process
Artists don’t submit proposals with suggested concepts for art. Instead, the city asks for their qualifications, samples of their work and their approach to working with the community as part of their process for creating a new piece of art.

Some of the early input that helped shape the selection of an artist included the theme of inclusivity, meaning the art should connect with veterans and their families regardless of age or military branch.

Here are some of the things veterans have told the city they’d like to see in the new artwork:

• Ensure the artwork speaks to the diversity of veterans, from ages, branches of the military, genders, roles and families
• Incorporate reflective and interactive elements
• Embrace local nature
• Be unique to and a reflection of Carlsbad

Designing an art piece that honors such a wide-ranging experience is no small task. Next year, the city will invite the community to share more of their ideas to help shape the design of this important public art. Details about those opportunities will be shared as they get closer.

More information
Veterans Memorial Park public art input report
Gordon Huether Studio artist application
Gordon Huether Studio website
Veterans Memorial Park Public Art webpage
Veterans Memorial Park webpage