Utility Box Artwork Before After July 2018
This is another catch up post. Meaning I am posting some of the stuff that I should have posted a long time ago. I decided to do a box theme here.. mostly Bell Box murals and some traffic signal boxes. Some places call these ‘electrical boxes’.. but the idea is the same.. artists paint on them to prevent graffiti.
July has always been a busy month for street art. The better weather makes working outside a lot easier, even though it was very hot last year !
Kirsten MCCrea Traffic Signal Box Street Art
This is one of the original ‘Outside the Box’ Boxes by Kirsten McCrea
From the City of Toronto website:
“The Outside the Box program provides an opportunity for local artists to create works of art on traffic signal boxes across Toronto. Since 2013, over 350 boxes have been hand-painted by local artists, or wrapped featuring designs by local graphic artists, and transformed into extraordinary works of art. Artists and graphic designers applying to this program are encouraged to consider the context of the local area and the city as a whole. Art calls for hand-painted boxes, and graphic designs for wrapped boxes, are issued separately.”
They publish a PDF every year with the art for every year.
July 2nd
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
BloorDale Bell Box Street Art
This Bell box mural is by Natashia Faustino who goes by @faussyart. It located right near the Dufferin subway.
From the Official Bell Box Mural Project Facebook page:
The Bell Boxes Murals Project is an independent, community-engaged art program of Community Matters Toronto, a non-profit community organization located in the St James Town neighbourhood of Toronto, produced in partnership with Bell Canada. Since 2009 artists from the Bell Boxes Murals Project have painted over 300 murals on Bell Canada outdoor utility boxes in 36 communities throughout Toronto, Southern Ontario and Quebec.
The Bell Box Murals Project is an innovative collaboration between private business, community organizations, local artists and local governments that benefits all members of the community:
▪ Replaces graffiti and vandalism with original works of art ▪ Makes the streets more inviting to residents and visitors ▪ Provides a public art forum to reflect local culture and heritage ▪ Enhances residents’ sense of community ▪ Accessible to everyone, regardless of income or social stature ▪ Provides income and visibility for local artists
July 7
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Jieun June Kim Bell Box Street Art
Jieun June Kim has her art work on several of these Bell Boxes... I think I’ve seen 3 in person but there are many others.
July 7
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Jieun June Kim Bell Box Street Art
Another Jieun June Kim that is fairly close to the Bell Box the previous one. From what I gathered .. they choose a Ward each summer and then send the artists to paint on the boxes in that area.
July 7
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Talie Shalmon Traffic Signal Box Street Art
This Bell Box art is by Talie Shalmon and I still haven’t seen the finished result. I just passed by obviously when she was working on it. But I never saw her in person either.
After a little digging I was able to find her Instagram account and her post with this specific artwork.
A lot of these artists seem to work on both of these graffiti prevention projects. I found her Bell Box last year as well. It makes sense for them to take advantage of both programs.
July 12
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Karen Roberts Bell Box Street Art
That is Karen Roberts working in the hot sun on her Bell Box. She is a really cool lady. She has great stories to share.
July 13th
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Gosia Komorski Bell Box Street Art
I posted this by Gosia Komorski last year.. but I literally saw her about 15 minutes after I talked to Karen Roberts. She was also located across from a strip club.. but I don’t think she used the bathroom there. lol
Gosia was worried that her art might get tagged. As you can see from that wall behind her mural was tagged shortly after she finished her artwork. But months later her art is tag-free. !
July 13th
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Lauren Pirie Bell Box Street Art
I walked by this Bell Box by Lauren Pirie the same day as the others.. but I didn’t see her working that day. This is another I haven’t seen the final result.. but I did find her post with the completed artwork on her personal website.
July 13th
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Bkez Traffic Signal Box Street Art
This is by Bareket who I just know as BKEZ from Instagram. She is the artist who organizes the Womxn Paint Toronto projects.
Bareket has painted a lot of these traffic signal boxes.. but I don’t think she has a Bell Box as of yet.
July 15
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Diego Armany Mail Box Street Art
I think I posted this before by Diego Armany .. he even signed his Instagram on the side so I can credit him.
He even decorates it at Christmas Time.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Rage Williams Traffic Signal Street Art
I didn’t want to walk into traffic to take a photo of this art by Rage Williams..
But I found his picture of this art from 2017
July 21st
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Murals by Marg Bell Box Street Art
Another Bell Box by ‘Murals by Marg‘. She is another artist who does a lot of these boxes..
You can see more of it in the winter..
She even gives tips about painting on these boxes
July 23
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Unknown Bell Box Street Art
This one is about a 10 minute walk from the other one by Marg… I don’t know who the artist is.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Peru143 Bell Box Street Art Video
I have only seen this Bell box by Peru143 from the streetcar.. so that is how I will show it !
He has a better picture on his Instagram.
July 27
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Steven Twigg Traffic Signal Box Street Art
I saw Steven Twigg working on this box from the street car….
He has a great little video about the making of this artwork.
I was able to see it up close later last year.
Toronto Graffiti Street Art Found Here:
Royal Ontario Museum
Throwing this in because it’s Friday ! Have a great week !
