By Reporter staff
The Kent Arts Commission and Mayor Dana Ralph will dedicate the city’s art on traffic signal control boxes during a brief ceremony at noon on Wednesday, May 30, at the box on West James Street, west of Fourth Avenue North, and on the north side of the Kent Commons parking lot, 525 Fourth Ave. N.
What began a year ago as a partnership between several city departments to deter graffiti and beautify unsightly boxes that control traffic signals, has become part of Kent’s Public Art Program and has resulted in artwork at five locations:
• Jean Bradbury’s floating creatures and flowers appear at SE 240th Street and 104th Avenue SE.
• The graphic dahlia flowers that adorn the box across from Kent-Meridian High School on SE 256th Street and 101st Avenue Southeast were originally a wood mosaic by artist Naoko Morisawa.
• Jill Erickson’s “Backyard Blueberry” greets travelers with watercolor foliage on Willis Street at the north-bound Highway 167 on-ramp.
• On West James Street at the Interurban Trail, Vikram Madan’s “Bumble Bee Brigade” carries elf-like riders across a bubble-gum pink sky.
• Also on West James Street, across from the ShoWare Center, Fin’es Scott’s curious cartoon creatures peer at drivers and pedestrians.
The commission extended the opportunity to design a box to professional and emerging artists residing in Washington state. Artists could work in any medium, as long as the final artwork could be translated and digitally reproduced on a two-dimensional vinyl wrap. Nearly 50 applications were received.
The project is a partnership between the commission; Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Kent Police; Public Works Department; and office of Economic and Community Development.
“This is a great example where our city departments identified a problem and worked together to find a solution that benefits the community,” Ralph said in a city media release. “My family and I have enjoyed seeing the artwork as we drive through the community.”
Editor’s Note: The time of this event has been corrected after a city media release updated the information.
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