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CAC - ACTION ITEM: Consideration of (1) the Cultural Affairs Commission Public Art Subcommittee’s Recommendation to Relocate Neptune’s Necklace by David Trubridge from its Existing Location to a New One within the Westfield Culver City Mall; and (2) Review, Discuss, and Provide Comments; and, (3) Make a Motion to Approve the Relocation Plan.
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Meeting Date: March 17, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Sam Lee / City Manager - Office of Economic & Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-6001
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (03/13/26)
Department Approval: Sally Unsworth, Cultural Affairs Manager (03/12/26)
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RECOMMENDATION
Cultural Affairs Division’s staff requests the Cultural Affairs Commission (1) to consider the CAC Public Art Subcommittee’s Recommendation to relocate Neptune’s Necklace by David Trubridge from its existing location to a new one within the Westfield Culver City Mall; (2) Review, Discuss, and Provide Comments; and, (3) Make a Motion to Approve the Relocation Proposal.
BACKGROUND
On October 13, 2025, Josh Morton, General Manager, Westfield Culver City Shopping Center (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group), contacted the Cultural Affairs Division with a request to relocate Neptune’s Necklace by David Trubridge from its existing location to a different one within the Westfield Culver City mall. On November 10, 2025, Cultural Affairs staff convened with Mr. Morton and Ms. Maria Perez Cruz to discuss their relocation plan along with an onsite walk-through at the mall. Cultural Affairs Division provided the approval process to the Westfield Culver City team as well as a list of recommendations, which is outlined below.
Cultural Affairs Division recommended to Westfield Culver City the following:
• Obtain a cost estimate from professional art handlers to relocate the artwork from its current location to the new one within the mall,
• Obtain a cost estimate from art conservators to inspect, replace LED lightbulbs, and clean the artwork,
• Provide a presentation deck, including relocation images/renderings, costs, and timeline, to present to the CAC Public Art Subcommittee.
In December 2025, Sally Unsworth and Sam Lee, Cultural Affairs Division, convened with artist David Trubridge and notified him of Westfield Culver City’s request to relocate Neptune’s Necklace. Mr. Trubridge has no objections to the relocation plan but provided technical specifications for the lighting and electrical components and his recommendations for replacing the LED lights and cleaning of the artwork. Mr. Trubridge provided additional suggestions for the disassembly of the artwork, including moving specific modular sections of the artwork to its new location. This information was relayed to Josh Morton, who then provided the information to the professional art handlers for cost estimates.
On Monday, February 23, 2026, Josh Morton presented the relocation plan to the Cultural Affairs Commission Public Art Subcommittee and staff. The Subcommittee members asked questions, reviewed the proposal, and provided comments to refine the presentation deck; the Subcommittee members agreed and approved to advance the relocation plan to the Cultural Affairs Commission for its final approval.
DISCUSSION
Josh Morton will make a final presentation of the relocation plan to the Cultural Affairs Commission and staff. The Cultural Affairs Commission will review, discuss and provide comments. If the Commission members agree, then they will make a motion to approve the relocation plan by Westfield Culver City Shopping Center.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Westfield Culver City Shopping Center (Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group) is responsible for all costs associated with the relocation of Neptune’s Necklace. There is no financial impact to the Cultural Trust Fund or the General Fund other than staff time to implement the complete approval process.
ATTACHMENTS
1. ATT 1_26-03-17_Westfield Culver City_Neptune’s Necklace Relocation.pdf.
RECOMMENDED MOTION
That the Cultural Affairs Commission Public Art Subcommittee:
1. Consider the CAC Public Art Subcommittee’s Recommendation to Relocate Neptune’s Necklace by David Trubridge,
2. Review, Discuss, and Provide Comments; and,
3. Make a Motion to Approve the Relocation Plan.