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799
I Have Been Given Permission To Paint Utility Boxes In My City
Over the last two years I have decorated 15 utility boxes around Auckland, New Zealand, with my artworks. Here’s how it happened; back in 2013, I had a few beers and painted a Grumpy Cat on a wall in my local dog park. It got painted out, and the locals were upset and petitioned the council. My friend snuck an article about this into a local newspaper, and then someone who works for Chorus (the company that owns these utility boxes) read the article, and asked me if I would like to paint their boxes instead.
I get paid a small fee for each one – enough to cover time and materials. Also I use Internet memes as the inspiration for a lot of them, because the boxes are our physical Internet connections – pictures of ‘AstroSloth’ and ‘Awkward Seal’ had probably already been transmitted through these boxes before I painted them on the outside of them.
They’ve had a great reception, both from the local communities and online, and I am planning to paint a lot more around the country – maybe the world!
More info: paulwalsh.co.nz
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What do you think ?
CheryleMcCarthy 10 years ago
Wonderful talent, I like them all but especially the cat ones...thanks for sharing with us :)
GeorginaBurns 10 years ago
Brilliant, I wish they had these in my village, they make me feel happy.
BrutalSun 10 years ago
Ditto. And OT, but the horse in your avatar is gorgeous. Looks Andalusian or Lusitano.
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Senada Rujovic 8 years ago
Love the cat and the aquarium! Though others are incredible too. You are really talented and I can only imagine positive vibes these utility boxes bring to people in Auckland.
CorinnaHomer 9 years ago
I drive past chimp selfie every day, and the rooster is on my street where I work! Great to know the story as I love the artwork.
JulianneWills 10 years ago
The utility boxes in South Salt Lake City, Utah are painted, too! :)
ElizabethJane 10 years ago
Wellington next?! I would love to see these on my morning commute :)
lunanoir69 10 years ago
I think it's fabulous that they are letting you cover up these plain ugly boxes with your art!!! More cities should allow artists to cover ugly buildings, electrical boxes, etc with murals. It brightens up the city and gives a lot of pleasure viewing them! Your art is wonderful, keep on going!!
YschaAélene 10 years ago
We have a similar project on utility boxes in The Hague, Netherlands. We set up a tour so people can go see them: http://www.thehaguestreetarttour.com/. They are payed for by government funding because researchers found out it was the best solution against illegal tagging, pasting and dumping trash. When you get the people living around it involved, make them feel part of it, they will protect it and be proud of it (community art). Awesome work, keep it going!
Mira.Rockbutterfly 10 years ago
In Potsdam, Germany, these boxes are also painted, fitting to it suroundings, what i personally prefer, but still a good job !
CheryleMcCarthy 10 years ago
Wonderful talent, I like them all but especially the cat ones...thanks for sharing with us :)
GeorginaBurns 10 years ago
Brilliant, I wish they had these in my village, they make me feel happy.
BrutalSun 10 years ago
Ditto. And OT, but the horse in your avatar is gorgeous. Looks Andalusian or Lusitano.
Load More Replies... Senada Rujovic 8 years ago
Love the cat and the aquarium! Though others are incredible too. You are really talented and I can only imagine positive vibes these utility boxes bring to people in Auckland.
CorinnaHomer 9 years ago
I drive past chimp selfie every day, and the rooster is on my street where I work! Great to know the story as I love the artwork.
JulianneWills 10 years ago
The utility boxes in South Salt Lake City, Utah are painted, too! :)
ElizabethJane 10 years ago
Wellington next?! I would love to see these on my morning commute :)
lunanoir69 10 years ago
I think it's fabulous that they are letting you cover up these plain ugly boxes with your art!!! More cities should allow artists to cover ugly buildings, electrical boxes, etc with murals. It brightens up the city and gives a lot of pleasure viewing them! Your art is wonderful, keep on going!!
YschaAélene 10 years ago
We have a similar project on utility boxes in The Hague, Netherlands. We set up a tour so people can go see them: http://www.thehaguestreetarttour.com/. They are payed for by government funding because researchers found out it was the best solution against illegal tagging, pasting and dumping trash. When you get the people living around it involved, make them feel part of it, they will protect it and be proud of it (community art). Awesome work, keep it going!
Mira.Rockbutterfly 10 years ago
In Potsdam, Germany, these boxes are also painted, fitting to it suroundings, what i personally prefer, but still a good job !
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