Artists interpret Concord scenes with whimsy and joy
CONCORD, CA (June 15, 2021) — My next “behind the scenes” story about the newly painted utility boxes downtown comes from Melissa Claros and Jennifer Granat.
After they painted two boxes near the playground at Todos Santos Plaza in 2019, the Concord Art Association and the city of Concord selected them a second time to paint another pair of boxes where East Street merges into Clayton Road.
“The Celebrate Concord theme this year inspired us to feature our city’s hiking and biking trails, parks, lakes, wildflowers and wildlife,” says Granat.
Each side of each utility box depicts different seasonal scenes along with local landmarks. “We wanted to create a whimsical view of Concord’s open spaces and outdoor attractions,” she adds.
Claros shows off her joyful, artistic style with lots of cute critters. From skunks and cows to dogs and wild turkeys, each of the animals has its own unique personality.
“Some are playing hide and seek, others are peeking into doorways or around the corners,” she says.
Granat painted several winding trails surrounded by trees to entice viewers to walk all the way around each box to explore.
Familiar scenes
“I hope everyone likes seeing all the familiar Concord scenes, like airplanes passing overhead, cows munching grass in the hills, as well as families and friends enjoying our wonderful parks,” she says.
While their larger utility box features the locals, their smaller box interprets a perspective from Kitakami, a nod to Concord’s sister city in Japan.
“We envision someone is peering out from the open door of a Tatami room and seeing all the way to Concord,” Granat muses. “Our view from Japan includes a cherry blossom tree, the Communion Bridge Sculpture at City Hall and Mt. Diablo’s waterfalls.”
The Concord Art Association has more fun in store for the community this summer with pop-up art shows downtown. Visit concordartassociation.com to subscribe to the email list to stay in the loop.
Lisa Fulmer is a mixed media artist, Concord Art Association board member and founder of MadeinConcord.com. She also consults with local artists on self-promotion and personal branding.
Lisa Fulmer
Lisa Fulmer is a mixed media artist, Concord Art Association board member and founder of MadeinConcord.com. She also consults with local artists on self-promotion and personal branding.