Utility Box (Chelsea Street)
Exterior Latex Paint on Steel Utility Box (Chelsea Street - East Boston, MA)
The City of Boston Art Commission invites artists to submit designs for possible inclusion in their annual PaintBox program. I submitted my design in 2016. My inspiration was Belle Isle Marsh, a salt marsh located near Logan Airport in Boston. My sketch was done with paint markers. The actual work was painted with exterior grade paint purchased at Kirshon Paint and Window Treatments, in Chelsea. Seven years later, the work has held up despite some graffiti tagged on the back, and some stupid stickers added to the top and side. I chose the location because it was in the shade (though under the Route 1A overpass). I hadn’t considered the mineral deposits that drip from the roadway overhead, which I suppose is part of creating outdoor art. The graffiti annoys me – as it’s disrespectful to tag someone else’s art – but I’m still likely to paint another utility box in the future.
Sketch for Utility Box Painting - Inspired by Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston
This is the Utility Box prior to cleaning and painting. Cleaning it was much more difficult than I anticipated, but once it was clean it was very easy to paint.
Another view of the Utility Box prior to cleaning and painting.
After painting Utility Box - view from front and left
After painting - view from the front (with a little of the top showing)
Front view
View of the top and part of the front