Art of the City

I’m really excited about my latest project!  A few weeks ago, during the Harvest Moon Celebration, a man named Glenn Smith found me at my booth and was very interested in my art.  Glenn works for the City of South Salt Lake and as we got talking he invited me to be part of a project he facilitates under the Urban Livability Dept.  This is the project:  Glenn looks for artist whose work uplifts and would add vitality to the streetscapes.  A work of art is scanned and printed onto plastic material.  The same kind of material they use to make car wraps.  The art will then be used to cover utility boxes around the city.

The idea behind this project is to bring art to the city and its residents.  The artwork on a utility box creates a vibrant, interesting and a more beautiful urban environment.  It is also a means for discouraging vandalism and enhancing community pride.  Click here to read more about the utility box art project and see pictures of boxes that have been wrapped in art.

As soon as the project was explained to me I was in love.  What a genius idea!  I love the concept of taking something functional yet boring to look at like a utility box and making it interesting.  Transitioning the mundane into color and beauty!  I was incredibly excited when I was invited to use a piece of my art to be wrapped on a box. 

This last Wednesday I took the piece I created for this project down to the city offices.  I was able to meet with Glenn and the Mayor of South Salt Lake, Cherie Wood, who gives the final go head on the art that will go on the boxes.  She was excited about the painting I had done and would like to do a media event later in the month once my art gets scanned, digitized and installed on the box.          

My painting will actually be used to wrap two utility boxes that stand side by side.  The image will appear split when looked at head on, half the painting on one box and the other half spilling onto the second box, yet each box will have the image wrap entirely around it.

This is such a great opportunity for me!  It’s a way to get my work out in the broader community and be part of an incredible project.  I just love the idea of art being placed around the city.  I’ll be posting more on this as the project progresses.