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Home My WebLink AboutAGENDA REPORT 2025 0429 AC SPC ITEM 08AItem: 8.A. CITY OF MOORPARK MOORPARK ARTS COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT TO: Moorpark Arts Commission FROM: Chris Ball, Senior Management Analyst DATE: 4/29/2025 Regular Meeting SUBJECT: Consider High Street Depot Public Art Conceptual Design BACKGROUND Moorpark Municipal Code Chapter 17.50 establishes the City’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, with the goal of balancing the community’s physical growth with revitalization and its cultural and artistic resources. This program requires certain residential, commercial, and industrial development projects to either install public artwork or pay an in-lieu fee. In-lieu fees are collected and maintained in the AIPP Fund for use exclusively for the AIPP program. The Arts Commission is tasked with reviewing proposed AIPP projects and providing recommendations to City Council regarding site locations and conceptual design of proposed artwork. The High Street Depot project, located from 80 to 250 E High Street, is mixed-use development currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2025. The development sits along the south side of High Street between the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce and the Metrolink Station. When completed, the development will provide 79 residential rental units (studio and 2-bedroom units) and approximately 13,628 square feet of commercial tenant space, distributed across seven buildings on the project site: four mixed-use commercial and residential buildings and three stand-alone commercial buildings. The development also includes an 8,140 square-foot “Village Green” community plaza and greenspace, and 137 on-site parking spaces. The High Street Depot project is subject to provisions of the Downtown Specific Plan and the City’s zoning ordinance. Four mixed-use buildings contain ground floor commercial tenant spaces that front directly onto the public sidewalk to create pedestrian-level activity. Residential units are placed behind and above, ensuring that the commercial storefronts are the focal point. The mixed-use buildings are two to three-stories tall and reflect the height patterns along High Street. Three standalone commercial buildings frame the “Village Green” community plaza. These buildings are single story and utilize elements and materials that underscore Moorpark’s history in an agricultural region. All 3 Art Commission Special Meeting April 29, 2025 Page 2 buildings take their architectural cues from existing buildings on High Street and blend a mix of old and new materials and colors. Street frontage improvements provide outdoor dining areas, upgraded sidewalks, and landscaping to soften and round out the overall design. Additional information about the High Street Depot project is available on the City website at: https://moorparkca.gov/826/High-Street-Depot. DISCUSSION As a condition of approval, the developer of High Street Depot is required to provide a public art project (artwork) on-site in lieu of contributing to the Art In Public Places Fund. To meet this requirement, the developer has engaged four artists to develop a collection of murals and sculptures that will be installed at various locations throughout the development. All of the artwork is inspired by elements of Moorpark’s past, celebrating the City’s rich history and informing visitors of the industries that shaped Moorpark’s growth. Artwork will be enhanced by mounted plaques that provide additional historic information to put the work in context. Murals will be illuminated by dedicated exterior lighting at night, while the sculptures contain lighting elements integrated into their designs. Under the Development Agreement, the developer/owner will be required to provide ongoing maintenance of the artwork for the life of the project. For reference, a general layout of the development showing approximate locations of each of the proposed artwork elements is provided in Attachment 1. The developer’s High Street Depot Art In Public Spaces Concept Proposal with detailed information and illustrations showing artwork conceptual design, locations and placement is included as Attachment 2. Four murals by multimedia artist Zoë Dyck feature imagery derived from the historic High Street pepper trees, the City’s namesake apricot, the steam locomotive, and the former Egg City farm. The design and textual elements of these murals are reminiscent of mid- twentieth century advertising, giving them a vintage aesthetic. Each mural is approximately 8-feet wide and 8-feet high and composed of an aluminum composite material panel upon which the graphics will be digitally printed using high resolution exterior grade ultraviolet (UV) art print. The murals are planned for installation on the east and west-facing exteriors of Building A at the west end of the development and Building F at the east end of the development. Two murals by muralist Phoebe Nelson of Pandr Design Co. are proposed for the south- facing exteriors of Buildings D and E in the interior of the development. The mural on Building D is approximately 18-feet high and 24-feet wide and features stylized apricots accompanied by bright, bold letters spelling “MOORPARK” and angled background stripes that wrap around the corner of the building. The mural on Building E is approximately 16-feet wide and 16-feet high and depicts a weathered railroad rail on a 4 Art Commission Special Meeting April 29, 2025 Page 3 brightly colored background of vertical stripes. Both murals will be hand painted directly on the buildings with high quality UV protected paint and paint sealer. These murals will serve to enhance the visual appeal of the buildings as well as capture the interest of train passengers. A series of five custom fabricated I-Beam Trolley Light Sculptures by artist Spencer Daly are planned for installation in the “Village Green” community plaza. These sculptures will serve not only a decorative role, but also function as exterior lights to illuminate the walkway along the plaza. Each sculpture is composed of a steel I-beam column mounted on a wood-textured concrete base with a cantilever top and custom grain trolley inspired light fixture. The industrial design echoes the City’s industrial rail heritage, with the lighting element creating an immersive nighttime experience for plaza visitors. The plaza will also feature a new sculpture by artist Eric Powell, who recently completed the public art project at the adjacent Metrolink north parking lot. The work, titled “Spanner”, will stand 8 feet tall and measure six inches deep. The design is based on a spanner wrench, which is an essential tool used in train and rail maintenance. Stylized apricot tree imagery is cut through the interior of the wrench form, allowing the observer to look through the sculpture when viewed from the font or back. The sculpture will be constructed from durable 1/4-inch steel plate and illuminated from the interior of the sculpture to create a warm glow that emanates from the open apricot tree shapes. The Arts Commission is now asked to consider the High Street Depot Concept Proposal and make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the location and conceptual design of the proposed artwork. The City Council has final approval authority. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Consider High Street Depot public art Concept Proposal and provide a recommendation to City Council. Attachments: 1 – High Street Depot Public Artwork Locations 2 – High Street Depot Art In Public Spaces Concept Proposal 5 (NOTE: Artwork not to scale. All locations approximate. See Attachment 2: Concept Proposal for conceptual design and layout detail.) Building A MURAL MURAL SCULPTURES (5) SCULPTURE MURAL MURAL MURAL MURAL Building D Building F Bldg E High Street Depot Public Artwork Locations ATTACHMENT 1 “Village Green” High Street N 6 ART IN PUBLIC SPACES CONCEPT PROPOSAL - APRIL 2025 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 ATTACHMENT 2 7 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 Moorpark’s Historic High Street: A Legacy in Art Moorpark, California’s Historic High Street stands as a living testament to the town’s rich and storied past—a place where the rhythms of commerce, agriculture, and rail travel once defined everyday life. Once a vital train stop, this corridor connected local farmers, merchants, and travelers to the broader world, serving as the very heart of the community. Today, a visionary public art initiative seeks to honor that legacy while breathing new life into the street. Through murals, sculptures, and artistically designed pathways, High Street will transform into a vibrant, immersive journey through time. Murals will capture key moments from Moorpark’s history: • Scenes of a thriving Moorpark in its prime, where steam engines arrived carrying passengers and freight, breathing vitality into the town. • Agricultural packing houses, where citrus and apricots were meticulously prepared- for shipment across the nation. • The poultry and chicken industry, once a cornerstone of the local economy, honor- ing the hardworking individuals behind it. • Iconic pepper trees lining the street—silent witnesses to the town’s evolution, pre- dating even the paved roads. • “The Rail,” a tribute to timeless industrial design, a symbol of connection across generations. • A bold, colorful depiction of Moorpark’s name styled as a station marquee—marking both our origins and your arrival. Sculptures will bring history to life in three dimensions: Artistic renditions of tools, steel beams, and grain trolleys will be reimagined as streetlights and public installations—illuminating the industries that shaped Moor- park’s growth and spirit. By blending past and present, this artistic revitalization of High Street will not only celebrate our legacy but inspire future generations to value and sustain Moorpark’s enduring vibrancy. Once the lifeblood of the town, High Street will once again serve as a place of connection, culture, and commerce—a timeless reflection of the spirit that has always defined Moorpark. 8 BUILDING A - Mural 1High Street Depot Building A-1 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 Historic High Street Pepper Trees • Size: Approximate 8’x8’ • Process: Image will be hand drawn/painted on 12”x 12” paper/canvas prior to being digitally printed on ACM panel using High Resolution Exterior Grade UV Art Print. • Material: Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a three-layer sandwich panel consisting of two pre-painted aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. • Panels to be mounted in existing recessed areas per elevation. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. • Exterior mounted wall plaque with historic information for context. • QR code mounted next to wall plaque with extended history. 8x8 Artwork’ 1 Historic information plaque 9 BUILDING A - Mural 2 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 8x8 Artwork’ High Street Apricots • High Street Apricots • Size: Approximate 8’x8’ • Process: Image will be hand drawn/painted on 12”x 12” paper/canvas prior to being digitally printed on ACM panel using High Resolution Exterior Grade UV Art Print. • Material: Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a three-layer sandwich panel con- sisting of two pre-painted aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. • Panels to be mounted in existing recessed areas per elevation. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. • Exterior mounted wall plaque with historic information for context. • QR code mounted next to wall plaque with extended history. High Street Depot Building A-22 Historic information plaque 10 BUILDING F - Mural 1 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 8x8 Artwork’ The Train • Size: Approximate 8’x8’ • Process: Image will be hand drawn/painted on 12”x 12” paper/canvas prior to being digitally printed on ACM panel using High Resolution Exterior Grade UV Art Print. • Material: Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a three-layer sandwich panel con- sisting of two pre-painted aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. • Panels to be mounted in existing recessed areas per elevation. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. • Exterior mounted wall plaque with historic information for context. • QR code mounted next to wall plaque with extended history. High Street Depot Building F-13 Historic information plaque 11 BUILDING F - Mural 2 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 8x8 Artwork’ Egg City • Size: Approximate 8’x8’ • Process: Image will be hand drawn/painted on 12”x 12” paper/canvas prior to being digitally printed on ACM panel using High Resolution Exterior Grade UV Art Print. • Material: Aluminum composite material (ACM) is a three-layer sandwich panel con- sisting of two pre-painted aluminum sheets bonded to a polyethylene (PE) core. • Panels to be mounted in existing recessed areas per elevation. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. • Exterior mounted wall plaque with historic information for context. • QR code mounted next to wall plaque with extended history. High Street Depot Building F-24 Historic information plaque 12 BUILDING D - Mural Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 MOORPARK Our City Mural • Building D Size: 18’H X 24’W • Process: Hand painted directly on building with a combination of standard painting tools. A combination of scaffolding and mechanical lifts will be implemented • Material: Metal primer, high quality exterior UV protected paint (both flat and semi- gloss), paint sealer. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. High Street Depot Building D 5 13 BUILDING E - Mural Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 The Rail Mural • Building E Size: 16’H X 16’W • Process: Hand painted directly on building with a combination of standard painting tools. A combination of scaffolding and mechanical lifts will be implemented • Material: Metal primer, high quality exterior UV protected paint (both flat and semi- gloss), paint sealer. • Dedicated exterior lights for night viewing. High Street Depot Building E 6 14 I-BEAM TROLLEY LIGHT SCULPTURE Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 I-Beam Trolley Light Sculpture • Size: Height 14’. Base 16”x16”. Width of cantilever top 5’3”. • Process: Custom fabricated I-Beam pole with custom fabricated light fixture on concrete base with stamped wood grain texture for faux wood finish. • Material: Base, concrete. Column, steel I-Beam. Trolley, combination of steel, aluminum, copper. • One exterior mounted plaque with historic information for context. • QR code mounted next to plaque with extended history. High Street Depot Village Green Great Lawn7 15 Village Green Sculpture Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 The Spanner The sculpture is named Spanner. Spanner is the name for an end wrench, which is the most essential tool found on trains and the main tool used by train mechanics. The wrench shape that inspired the sculpture is a utilitarian object that embodies a simple, elegant form that is common in early American industrial train design. Spanner is a tribute to the history of the train that is a central part of Moorpark’s history, economy and culture. Growing upwards and through the sculpture is an apricot tree, replete with apricots. The tree shape is cut out of the main spanner form, thereby melding and uniting the human- made with nature-made design into one artwork. It is eight feet tall and six inches deep. Since the tree is cut out on both sides, if you look at it from the front you can see through the sculp- ture. The sculpture will be lit from within, emanating a warm glow like a lantern. It will be made of 1⁄4” steel plate, making it extremely strong, durable and long lasting. High Street Depot Village Green Great Lawn8 16 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 17 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 High Street Depot Project Art in Public Spaces Cost Daly Group Items # Item Cost per unit quantity Total 1 Village Green Beam/light sculpture 7,600 5 38,000 2 Village Green sculpture 50,000-65,000 1 55,000 3 Murals 8x8 6,000 4 24,000 4 Murals building D,E 11,000 2 22,000 Total 139,000 18 Daly Group Inc. 305 S. Kalorama St. Suite D Ventura, CA 93001 Artist Profiles Moorpark Murals Phoebe Nelson is a muralist, designer, and the founder of Pandr Design Co., a woman-owned mural studio based in San Diego. For the past ten years, she has painted murals around the world, bringing bold lettering and vibrant color palettes to brands and public spaces. Pandr Design Co. specializes in large-scale, eye-catching murals that transform spaces and connect with communities. Village Green Sculpture Eric Powell’s work is driven by a visceral urgency to build. Compelled more by intuition than dialectic thinking, his process is propelled forward by a moment-to-moment exploration of his materials. By understanding site and context and allowing himself to explore areas that may not follow a logical or systematic pattern, he inevitably finds himself at a place where certain magical juxtapositions occur. Powell describes this as a vulnerable and highly charged experi- ence. Powell works primarily with steel, one of the most common and ubiquitous building materials in the modern world. He values the material for its versatility, malleability, and its decidedly alchemical properties. Steel transforms into a material as pliable as clay, which can be formed, pounded, molded, and bent into virtually any shape with the right amount of heat and force. An avid collector, he integrates elements of his large cache of historical steel and iron objects into his pieces and also incorporates other materials including bronze, wood and glass into his work. Powell is well known for his large works of art that relate strongly to site and architecture. Working both on commissioned private works and public art projects, he relishes translating an idea into a large, freeform structure that can withstand strong wind loads and harsh environ- ments. Working out the physical requirements of large-scale work presents a fascinating chal- lenge. Powell also appreciates public art commissions for their collaborative aspect, as well as for the opportunity to design and create works of art that are lasting, permanent, accessible and compelling for all viewers. Powell studied sculpture and painting at California College of Arts and the University of South- ern California. In 1982, he co-founded Spirit Arts Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he created an extensive body of sculptural works. In 1989, he founded Eric Powell Studio where he produces public and private commissions and works for gallery and museum exhibitions. 8x8’ Historic Moorpark Murals Zoë Dyck is a multimedia artist and designer whose work explores the intersections of cultural memory, identity, and visual storytelling. A graduate of Concordia University’s Fine Arts Baccalaureate Program, she has developed a distinctive practice that blends mixed media drawings, painting, and printmaking processes with digital design ele- ments to create imagined spaces and immersive narratives that speak to both individu- als and communities alike. Her work has been exhibited in various venues internationally, and Zoë continues to contribute to the artistic community, engaging in projects that foster dialogue between art, culture, and history. I-Beam Trolley Light Sculpture Spencer Daly looks to standard, American construction practices to take nominal and everyday materials, such as Douglas fir lumber, steel hardware, and plastic sheeting to construct objects that defy the materials and methodology with which they are con- structed. Spencer Daly’s work looks to the American blue collar in so far as what gives value to this piece is not complex form, not luxury materials, but instead the excessive and sometimes exaggerated labour involved in constructing an object that has a single, simple use. By using simple, familiar, and traditional American construction techniques, the pieces at once have a familiarity and unfamiliarity. Each piece and part is visible, bearing itself as if demanding to be seen. By matching this with a simple platonic silhouette such as “chair”, “table”, etc; the work becomes an example where 1 plus 1 equals 11. With visible details and protruding hardware, the pieces are often inconvenient and even dangerous when approached haphazardly, which in turn demands reverence from the one who approaches. Spencer Daly builds each piece by hand in his studio in Los Angeles. Master of Architecture SCI-Arc. 19