10A
Date: October 21, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John La Rock, Community Services Director
By: Monica Harte, Cultural Services Manager | [email protected] Subject: Community Services and Cultural Arts Commission – Accept and File Artwork Submissions and Commission’s Recommended Selections, Discuss and Approve Final Artwork Selection and Installation for Phase Two of the Utility Public Art Program. Expenditure: None.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Community Services Director and Cultural Arts Commission that City Council:
1. Accept and file the artwork submissions for the Utility Box Public Art Box Program; and
2. Accept and file the Cultural Arts Commission’s recommended twelve artwork selection for installation; and
3.Discuss and approve twelve artwork submissions for installation, with two (2) artwork installations per Council district, for a total of twelve (12) artworks to be installed as part of Phase 2 of the Utility Box Public Art Box Program.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
The Cultural Services Division completed phase one of the Utility Box Public Art Pilot Program by organizing the call-to-artists, developing an artist submissions library, and managing a vendor to wrap six utility boxes using artworks selected by Your Honorable Body. The phase one artworks were presented to the Cultural Arts Commission at their meeting of October 21, 2024, and were subsequently presented to the City Council at their meeting of January 14, 2025. Each Council Member chose an artwork for a utility box to be wrapped in the District they represent. Images of the completed phase one boxes are attached to this report. Once the initial six boxes were wrapped, the Cultural Services Division sent out a new call-to-artists for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Utility Box Program and received 39 new artwork submissions, which are included in tonight’s presentation.
In addition to phase 2 artworks submitted by the general public, it should be noted that six of the submissions originate from City staff who are graduates of the MKG Leadership Academy. The Leadership Academy is named after the former Torrance Assistant City Manager, Mary K.
Giordano, who was a passionate advocate for employee development. Participants in the 1 City Council
October 21, 2025
Academy spend approximately 32 hours learning and practicing concepts of leadership, with a focus on creating and maintaining team culture that promotes collaboration. The Academy also supports learners in exploring their own unique strengths and values, and how these can be leveraged in envisioning a more caring and thriving community.
The Academy is offered twice each year and brings together employees across all City departments, in various positions and with differing years of experience in municipal government.
Each Academy cohort culminates with a group project. The Spring 2025 MKG Leadership Academy’s project was to develop and design artwork for utility boxes that encompass elements of each of the City’s six districts. This evening, your Honorable Body will review the six designs as part of all submissions. Information about the Academy is being provided to share with your Honorable Body the City’s ongoing commitment to investing in staff and ensuring that staff have the capabilities to address current and future expectations of the Torrance community.
The 45 artwork submissions that are part of this presentation were presented to the Cultural Arts Commission at their meeting of July 21, 2025. The Commission selected 12 artworks for recommendation to the City Council. The Adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget includes funding to wrap six utility boxes at an expense of $11,500. As part of the selection process, the artworks provided in this report include 84 artworks previously submitted for round one, and for reference, the six artworks already installed are included.
Following directions on approved artwork from Your Honorable Body, staff will engage a vendor to convert the approved artwork designs into dimensional vinyl wraps and install them onto the approved utility box locations listed on the attached mapping. Staff projects artworks would be installed within thirty days, weather permitting.
It should be noted that the Adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget includes funding to wrap six utility boxes at $11,500. Staff intends to request additional funding at the Mid-Year Budget review to install the balance of the twelve artworks.
Artwork submissions that are not selected for these locations will be retained as part of the artwork library available to both the City and sponsors of utility box artwork installations. Staff will also continue outreach efforts for additional artwork submissions from artists.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 12 Artworks Recommended by Cultural Arts Commission for Phase 2
2. 2025 Location Maps for 12 Utility Box District Locations
3.2024-2025 Remaining Artwork Submissions
2 PUBLIC
ART -
UTILITY
BOX
PROGRAM
1 Attachment 1
3 PHASE 2
UTILITY BOX –
RECOMMENDATIONS
2025 LOCATIONS (RECOMMENDATION)
District 1
Prairie & Artesia – Box ID 0107
Western & Artesia – Box ID 0121
District 2
Del Amo Blvd & Wayne – Box ID 0114
Del Amo Circle & Carson – Box ID 0097
District 3
Madrona & Fashion Way – Box ID 0099
Carson & Madrona – Box ID 0097
District 4
Sartori & El Pardo – Box ID 1403
Sepulveda & Crenshaw – Box ID 0050
District 5
Del Amo Blvd & Victor St – Box ID 0111
Paseo de la Playa at Miramar Park – Box ID 0131
District 6:
Medical Center Drive & Skypark Drive – Box ID 0096
Maple Avenue & Nadine Circle – Box ID 0092
2 4
PHASE 2
UTILITY BOX –
RECOMMENDATIONS
CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION 2025 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Goddess of Fish
2. The Wave
3. Blossom
4. Santa Fe
5. Blink
6. Ocean Depths
7. Wild Haven
8. Strayz 1
9. Strayz 2
10. Torrance in Bloom
11. Japanese Wind Garden / Madrona Marsh
12. Downtown Torrance
3 5
Adrian Arias
Goddess of Fish
01/30/2025
4 6
Kat Trevino
The Wave
03/26/25
5 7
Ana Suarez
Blossom
04/13/25
6 8
Tuan Nguyen
Santa Fe
04/19/25
7 9
Felicia Ramirez
Blink
05/03/25
8 10
Mary Arakawa
Ocean Depths
05/11/25
9 11
Mariah Camille Foston
Wild Haven : Madrona’s Ecosystem
7/18/25
10 12
MKG LEADERSHIP
TEAM: The Strayz 1
11 13
MKG Leadership
TEAM: The Strayz 2
12 14
MKG Leadership
TEAM : MEAT
Torrance In Bloom
13 15
MKG Leadership
TEAM: Happy To Help 1
14 16
MKG Leadership
TEAM: Happy To Help 2
15 17
2025 LOCATION MAP OF 12 UTILITY BOX
RECOMMENDED BY THE CULTURAL ARTS
COMMISSION
District 1
• Prairie & Artesia –
Box ID 0107
• Western & Artesia –
Box ID 0121
District 2
• Del Amo Blvd & Wayne –
Box ID 0114
• Del Amo Circle & Carson –
Box ID 0097
District 3
• Madrona & Fashion Way –
Box ID 0099
• Carson & Madrona –
Box ID 0097
District 4
• Sartori & El Pardo –
Box ID 1403
• Sepulveda & Crenshaw –
Box ID 0050
District 5
• Del Amo Blvd & Victor St –
Box ID 0111
• Paseo de la Playa and
Miramar Park – Box ID 0131
District 6
• Medical Center Drive &
Skypark Drive – Box ID 0096
• Maple Avenue & Nadine
Circle – Box ID 0092
1 Attachment 2
18 DISTRICT 1
Box # 0107 - Prairie and Artesia Box # 0121 - Western and Artesia border of Gardena 2 19
DISTRICT 2
Box ID 0114 - Del Amo Blvd & Wayne
Box ID 0060 - Del Amo Circle and Carson
3 20
DISTRICT 3
Box ID 0099 – Madrona & Fashion Way
Box ID 0097 – Carson & Madrona
4 21
DISTRICT 4
Box ID 1403 - Sartori and El Prado
Box ID 0050 – Sepulveda and Crenshaw
5 22
DISTRICT 5
Box ID 0111 - Del Amo Blvd and Victor St
Box ID 0131 Paseo de la Playa and
Miramar Park
6 23
DISTRICT 6
Box ID 0096 Medical Center Drive & Skypark Drive
Box ID 0092 Maple Avenue and Nadine Circle
7 24
PUBLIC
ART -
UTILITY
BOX
PROGRAM
1 Attachment 3
25 2
MKG LEADERSHIP
Team Meat
Strength & Honor: District 2
26 Roxanne Siciliano
Oranges
04/08/25
3 27
Roxanne Siciliano
Shells
04/08/25
4 28
Roxanne Siciliano
Roses
04/08/25
5 29
Lilibeth Ruelas
N/A
04/15/25
6 30
Angela Rosales
Bright Colors
04/16/25
7 31
Angela Rosales
Cactus
04/16/25
8 32
Angela Rosales
Flowers
04/16/25
9 33
Tuan Nguyen
Flowers
04/19/25
10 34
Tuan Nguyen
Vase
04/19/25
11 35
Tuan Nguyen
Snow Temple
04/19/25
12 36
Tuan Nguyen
Pine
04/19/25
13 37
Tuan Nguyen
Koi
04/19/25
14 38
Tuan Nguyen
Palm Tree
04/19/25
15 39
Tuan Nguyen
Orchid
04/19/25
16 40
Tuan Nguyen
Tiki
04/19/25
17 41
Tuan Nguyen
Blue Palm
04/19/25
18 42
Tuan Nguyen
Abstract
04/19/25
19 43
Tuan Nguyen
Modern
04/19/25
20 44
Christopher Fonseca
Lucky Cat
04/21/25
21 45
Christopher Fonseca
Beach Wave
04/21/25
22 46
Christopher Fonseca
Keanu
04/21/25
47 Christopher Fonseca
Merica
04/21/25
24 48
Lisa Hirata
The Skin of a Snake
04/21/25
25 49
Nicole Lim
Nostalgia in Nature
04/21/25
26 50
Mary Arakawa
Floral Joy
05/11/25
27 51
Mary Arakawa
Love
05/11/25
28 52
Film Junkies
N/A
5/27/25
29 53
Liz Mcarthy
Blossoms in Harmony
8/12/25
54 Community
Dellis Frank
9/08/24
31 55
Howdy Neighbor
Cynthia Nava
9/09/24
32 56
33 57
34 58
Social and Cultural Diversity and
Inclusion of Torrance
Rosa Cruglez
9/26/24 35
59 Vibrant Garden
Magdalena LaTorre
9/29/24
36 60
Fish Alebrijes
Felicia Arteaga
7/08/24
37 61
Where Marsh meets Ocean
Amber Kitayama-Skoien
5/28/2024
38 62
Gabrielino / Tongva
Collrane Mergens
9/19/24
39 63
Architectural Abstraction
Leland Bourdages
5/12/2024
40 64
Untitled 1
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
41 65
Untitled 2
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
42 66
Untitled 3
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
43 67
Untitled 4
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
44 68
Untitled 5
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
45 69
Untitled 6
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
46 70
Untitled 7
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
47 71
Untitled 8
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
48 72
Untitled 9
Michael Walrond
5/18/2024
49 73
Juicy 1
Lainie Charpentier
5/22/2024
50 74
Juicy 2
Lainie Charpentier
5/22/2024
51 75
Talavera Corner
Felicia Arteaga
5/22/2024
52 76
Seafood Combo
Felicia Arteaga
5/22/2024
53 77
Busy City
Amber Kitayama-Skoien
5/28/2024
54 78
The Drip
Amber Kitayama-Skoien
5/28/2024
55 79
Surf’s Up
Karen Doyle
5/29/2024
56 80
I’m glad you’re here
Aimee Spriggs
06/06/2024
57 81
Aimee Spriggs
Sunshine
06/06/2024
58 82
Aimee Spriggs
Water
06/06/2024
59 83
Aimee Spriggs
you’re allowed to
take up space
06/06/2024 60
84 Jose Trejo Maya
Transparencies in Time
06/12/24
61 85
Flowers – Whites
Ashish Sharma
7/30/24
62 86
Flowers – Multi-color
Ashish Sharma
7/30/24
63 87
Flowers – Hanging
Ashish Sharma
7/30/24
64 88
Artwork featured in this submission is by three artists Maria Gutierrez, Alma Velasco, and Chuka Arantou
through Able ARTS Work mobile arts program.
7/30/24
65 89
Somewhere Beyond
Congyu Liu
9/06/24
66 90
Somewhere Beyond 2
Congyu Liu
9/06/24
67 91
Somewhere Beyond 3
Congyu Liu
9/06/24
68 92
Catch of the day
Amelie Laurice
9/06/24
69 93
Community 2
Dellis Frank
9/08/24
70 94
There are plenty more fish in the sea
Raphaela Cohen-Bacry
9/08/24
71 95
Dolphin Mosaic
Raphaela Cohen-Bacry
9/08/24
72 96
“Yarn Construction”
(Red, white, blue and pink)
Deborah Lynn Irmas
9/08/24
73 97
74 98
Our natural habitat
Vanesa Andrade
9/08/24
75 99
Surfacing
Dina Cline
9/06/24
76 100
Fearless / Never give up
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
77 101
It always seems impossible until it’s done
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
78 102
Great Things Never Come from Comfort Zone
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
79 103
Just go with the Flow 1
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
80 104
Just go with the Flow 2
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
81 105
Mindset is Everything
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
82 106
We Rise by Lifting Others 1
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
83 107
We Rise by Lifting Others 1
Amanda Kruse
9/13/24
84 108
Ways of Seeing
Trevor Coopersmith
9/19/24
The design includes three transformed hub-caps into references of the natural world and craft while also re-presenting discarded objects. Torrance is home to the US headquarters of American Honda Motor Company, Acura and other top automotive companies. This work includes social commentary on our automotive dependency in Los Angeles while also celebrating industry and commerce in Torrance. 85 109
Ancient Pines
Hung Viet Nguyen
9/20/24
86 110
87 111
Mockup 1
Vasco Del Rey
9/19/24
88 112
Cracks
Diane Reeves
9/24/24
89 113
Sidewalk Finds
Diane Reeves
9/24/24
90 114
Exclamation Point
Diane Reeves
9/24/24
91 115
Lake Diane
Diane Reeves
9/24/24
92 116
Untitled 1
Jones Gutierrez
9/25/24 93
117
Untitled 2
Jones Gutierrez
9/25/24 94
118
Untitled 3
Jones Gutierrez
9/25/24 95
119
Untitled 4
Jones Gutierrez
9/25/24 96
120
Untitled 5
Jones Gutierrez
9/25/24 97
121
Sun
Emily Tanaka
9/29/24
98 122
Bloom
Emily Tanaka
9/29/24 99
123
Torrance Beach
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 100
124
Del Amo Circle
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 101
125
Lomita Poppies
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 102
126
Nature
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 103
127
Torrance Bridge
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 104
128
Airplane
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 105
129
Anza Nature
Yvonne Rendon
9/29/24 106
130
Untitled 2
Arnelle Ngo
9/29/24
107
131
Untitled 3
Arnelle Ngo
9/29/24
108
132