The public art organization responsible for murals on Tonawanda Street and Elmwood Avenue is now looking to bring their project to Hertel Avenue. Community Canvases is looking for artists to paint signal box murals along the city roadway this summer."This project has brought so many people together. When we did our first project on Tonawanda Street, the most exciting moment for the whole project was, we were finishing up and ten different families walked by and decided to go on a little tour of the boxes," said Vice President of Community Canvases Jim Montour. "Everyone has been giving us so much positive feedback."
Montour says the non-profit is looking for qualified artists to paint murals on signal boxes on Hertel Avenue. The organization will pay selected artists $300-400, depending on the size and location on the box.
Community Canvases will be working on signal boxes, wall murals and other public art this summer. Last year, artists painted landscapes, still lifes and graffiti-style murals on the signal boxes across the city.
Montour says the group started as a research project on finding ways to deter graffiti.
"Through our research, we found that the best possible way is actually to use public art on infrastructure that is commonly tagged, such as signal boxes and exposed walls," he says.
Montour says artists interested in getting involved with the project can find more information on the Community Canvases Facebook page. Applications are due by June 20.
