19 Idaho artists Selected to Create New Traffic Box Art Wraps

Boise-Boise City Department of Arts & History released a Call-to-Artists in January 2012, seeking artists to create new traffic box art wraps. 108 artists responded to the call - a new record number of public art applicants. A panel made up representatives from the Boise City Council, Ada County Highway District, Downtown Boise Association (DBA), Capital City Development Corporation, Arts & History Commission, and Visual Arts Advisory Committee reviewed the submissions. The panel gave each application serious consideration and chose nineteen Idaho artists working in a variety of styles and mediums. For all but one artist this will be their first traffic box art and, for many, it will be their first public art project. The panel also selected five artists to add to the Traffic Box Program registry. The following are selected artists and locations of their new boxes:

Marianne Konvalinka, 10th & Idaho St
Sandra Shaw, 8th & Myrtle St
Tim Jones, 5th & Jefferson St
ChadCarpenter, 10th & Jefferson St
Conrad Garner, 11th & Jefferson St
Anna Webb, 9th and River
Cathey Cale, 14th and Idaho
Grant Olsen, 14th and Main Street, Box 1 & 2
Noble Hardesty, 11th, between Idaho and Main,
Dave Crawforth, 11th, between Idaho and Main,
Joni Frey, 11th, between Idaho and Main,
Kirsten Furlong, 9th between Idaho and Main
Kurt Zwolfer, Hill and 36th Street
Meredith Hoffman, State & 6th Street
Josh Udesen, Capitol, Federal Way & Vista
Leslie Dixon, Cole and Ustick, midblock
Matt Laurence, University Drive at Juanita Street
Julia Green, Fort and 9th
Toby Robin, Latah and Rose Hill
 
Artists to be added to the traffic box registry:
Keith Walklet
Bingo Barnes
Anne Peterson Klahr
Glenn Oakley
Jay Nelson

Currently there are 32 art-wrapped boxes in Boise. There is no formal tour, but the public is welcome to download the Traffic Box Art Map.

The Mayor's Neighborhood Reinvestment Program, Capital City Development Corporation, and Boise City are providing funding for the Art Wraps in partnership with the Downtown Boise Association and Downtown Neighborhood Association. The project commissions Idaho artists to design murals for Ada County Highway District traffic control boxes in Boise. Boise's Department of Arts & History facilitates artist selection process and project management.

The program brings public art to the street, decreases graffiti, and increases the unique character of our city streets. This project was initiated by Downtown Boise Association in 2010 as a model project that paved the way for more boxes at prominent intersections to be made into artwork.

QUESTIONS? Call Karen Bubb at 433-5677 or e-mail her at kbubb@cityofboise.org