Residents want to make Vista a destination with public art

By: SHAYNA CHABNER - Staff Writer | Saturday, January 6, 2007 10:14 PM PST ∞

VISTA ---- From crisscrossing archways and painted walkways to creating a city slogan, dozens of ideas were presented Saturday at a Vista workshop that participants said they hoped would bring the community together and draw new faces into the town.

"This clearly shows a desire for more," said Teri Sowell, the chairwoman of Vista's Public Arts Commission, which opened its meeting to the public to brainstorm about art on the city's streets. "They truly participated and gave a vision for public art in the city."

Nearly three dozen artists, businessmen and community leaders packed into the small meeting room at the Alta Vista Gardens in Brengle Terrace Park for the one-hour workshop Saturday afternoon.

Many people carried long lists of ideas scratched out on paper. One local artist even toted a miniature mural of Vista's rolling hills and a vibrant sunset that she'd envisioned for a stretch of wall along Palm Avenue.

"(Public Art) is happening all around us, and I think if we all support what we are discussing, we can make it happen," said Charles Bronson, a local metal artist and sculptor.

Bronson was one of many people at the meeting to support the idea of building a large archway along Main Street in downtown Vista that would cross South Santa Fe Avenue, linking the old downtown area with the new Vista Village shopping complex.

"Archways in many cities are very successful," he said. "They sort of define the city."

Without a specific design in mind, officials said, it would be tough to calculate the exact cost of such a project. Bronson estimated it could be anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000.

The 26 1/2-foot-wide, retro-style, green and white "Encinitas" sign installed in 2001 above Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas eventually cost the beach-front city about $116,000.

"It would be expensive, but worthwhile," Bronson added.

Also in support of building some type of archway or large art piece to link the two sections of downtown were Councilwoman Judy Ritter and Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Jim Baumann.

Baumann also suggested the city use its murals to attract tourists by advertising Vista as "the city of murals."

"(It) could make us a destination, if we promote it," Baumann said.

Currently, Vista has a handful of large art pieces and murals on display, including the 562-foot-long historic parade mural along Vista Village Drive, a smaller painting in Townsite Park and on electrical boxes around the city, as well as a steel and glass water lily sculpture on Main Street.

But, as the heavily attended public art forum portrayed, residents want more, Sowell said.

One aspect that many said is missing from art displayed through Vista, is an image or vision of the city coming together.

"It's a great city, but there are two halves, and I think it's something that we need to address seriously, and art is a way to do that," said Rancho Buena Vista High School senior Koriayn Christensen, the youth representative on the commission.

Christensen recommended building a knot at the top of the arches, to symbolize the Latino and Anglo-Saxon sectors of the community coming together.

The forum was the first time the seven-member public arts commission ---- which includes local artists, and representatives from Vista Unified School District, the Vista Village Business Association, among others ---- actively sought public feedback.

But Sowell, who chaired the committee for the last six months, assured the commission and public that it would not be the last.

"I think we want to be moving forward, but we can't move forward unless we know what we are moving forward for," she said.

Some information from the meeting will be available on the city's Web site, www.cityofvista.com in the coming week, including answers to a questionnaire people filled out about the direction of the city's public arts efforts and where art should be located.

Contact staff writer Shayna Chabner at (760) 631-6604 or schabner@nctimes.com.

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