Ventura, CA — The County of Ventura, in partnership with Studio Channel Islands Art Center, is proud to announce the selection of the lead artist and artist team for the Moon Ditch Mural Project, a public art initiative that will transform a nearly mile-long flood control channel into one of the largest murals in Ventura County. Elisa Torres, an accomplished Oxnard-based muralist, painter, and cultural strategist has been selected to lead artistic work on the project. Visible from Highway 101 and passenger rail lines, the Moon Ditch mural will be seen by tens of thousands daily and serve as a cultural landmark for years to come.
Following a countywide search, Elisa Torres was selected from a total of 15 artist submissions. Torres will work alongside a team of eight other Ventura County artists, justice system involved youth, local students, and volunteers to install the mural over the next few months, making this a truly inclusive and participatory project.
“Growing up in Ventura County, I’ve always been inspired by the region’s ancestral landscapes and ecosystems,” said Torres. “The Moon Ditch Mural honors that network – from river to ocean, from microscopic organisms to native birds and endangered species within this watershed, recognizing that infrastructure and ecology are deeply interconnected. Designed to unfold in rhythm with the natural flow of the watershed and the movement of passing viewers, the imagery reflects migration, resilience, and continuity. My hope is that the mural invites people to see this corridor not only as infrastructure, but as habitat.”
Born and raised in Oxnard, Torres brings a deep connection to Ventura County’s cultural and ecological heritage. Her work celebrates local communities and coastal waterways, weaving in themes of resilience, migration, and continuity. Torres attended Hueneme High School, Oxnard College, and is a California State University Channel Islands graduate. Oxnard College’s 50th Anniversary mural is one of her most recently completed projects, joining a body of public artwork that spans back to 2005.
Additional contributing artists on the project are Josh Burns, MB Hanrahan, Kyle Navarro, Dameon Pearson, Monika Petroczy, Andrew Rodriguez, and Jen Swain. Each were finalists in the Moon Ditch artist selection process and will play key roles in installing the mural, including leading teams of students and volunteers. The Moon Ditch Mural is part of VibeWell Ventura County, a countywide initiative that uses the arts to support mental health and wellbeing in our communities. The mural is a collaborative effort led by the County of Ventura, bringing together the Office of District 1 Supervisor Matt LaVere, the Ventura County Public Works Agency – Watershed Protection, the County’s Division of Arts and Culture, Ventura County Probation Agency, and Ventura County Behavioral Health. Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo will serve as project manager for the mural. The project is funded through Ventura County Behavioral Health, Mental Health Services Act and private donations.
“This Moon Ditch project is more than just a mural, it’s a community investment,” said District 1 Supervisor Matt LaVere. “Ventura County is leading the way in supporting working artists, partnering with the community, engaging our youth and creating a landmark by transforming a highly visible stretch along Highway 101 into the County’s largest public art project. It’s creating economic opportunities for local artists while transforming an ordinary space into a source of community pride and connection. I’m excited to collaborate with Elisa Torres and the artist team bringing this vision to life.”
Once completed, the mural will transform simple public infrastructure into a landmark community asset, promoting environmental awareness, mental health, and connection. There will be multiple opportunities for public participation leading up to the mural’s completion, including design input sessions, volunteer opportunities, and community paint days. Along the way, the project will measure the mural’s impact on sense of place, social connection, and community wellbeing.
For more information on the mural, progress updates, and opportunities to participate, please visit studiochannelislands.org/moon-ditch and follow Studio Channel Islands (@sciartcenter) and VibeWell Ventura County (@vibewellvc) on Instagram.
