CAA Board Member Susan Pace-Koch (right) shows artists a trio of utility boxes on Salvio Street Artists in preparation for the beautification project.
Artists collaborate with city to brighten downtown Concord
While creating large wall murals are a popular choice for bringing public art to the masses, artists also see utility boxes as perfect canvases for adding spots of color and beauty to their communities.
In big cities and small towns across the nation, artists are transforming utility boxes from dull sidewalk fixtures to beacons of civic pride and support for arts and culture.
Members of the Concord Art Association, a nonprofit founded in 1963, proposed a multi-faceted plan and budget to the city last month for painting and/or wrapping 11 boxes around Todos Santos Plaza with local artists’ designs.
The City Council approved CAA’s proposal March 26, and the project is underway. Funding will come from private donations and CAA’s reserves, with the city adding a portion from a fund designated for public art.
CAA and the council agreed on the theme “Music & Market,” which is fitting for Todos Santos Plaza – home to Concord’s popular Music & Market events. CAA recently held an outdoor orientation session, where interested artists took walking tours to see each utility box and learn more about the special requirements and design criteria. They will paint five of the boxes directly and adorn others with vinyl wraps.
“As an artist and long-time Concord resident, I’m looking forward to working with the city to create this vibrant, artistic focal point for our downtown area,” said CAA president Catherine Hensiek. “The fact that our City Council and city staff are eager to collaborate with CAA on this pilot project bodes well for the future of public art in our community.”
Hensiek noted that the CAA board voted to contribute a considerable amount of volunteer hours, and she hopes that residents will support fundraising for public art programs. Individuals and businesses interested in donating to this project or sponsoring one of the boxes can email concordartassociation@yahoo.com.
“This effort has been a learning experience and an opportunity to develop policy and process for future projects,” she said. “Some of the complexity derived from our rather unique situation – a very small nonprofit with limited resources initiating a project that required considerable research and organization. CAA has been able to work closely with both Public Works and the city attorney to write the Call for Artists, which describes the project and the criteria for winning designs.”
The Call for Artists is available at concordartassociation.com. Area artists are encouraged to review the details and submit design concepts by May 10.
A professional panel will jury the submissions and work with the city to select the finalists, who will receive cash awards. CAA will announce the selected artists at the end of May, then assign a production schedule over the summer.