Wellesley Encourages Street Art Through Electric Box Painting

WELLESLEY, MA — Wellesley is looking for artists to join the second part of its traffic signal box painting project. The project, which started last fall, tasked local artists with bringing some color to the otherwise ordinary traffic signal boxes in town.

Artists will have to apply to be chosen to take part in the program. The town-wide public art project is a collaboration between the Wellesley Public Art Committee (PAC) and the Wellesley Police Department.

Last fall four artists were selected — Julia Blake, Mia Cross, and Deborah Freidman and Jenny Schneider — to paint colorful designs on electrical boxes in the spring. The community, PAC and Wellesley police thought the project went so well that they found three new traffic boxes to paint this year.

Selected artists for the Electrical Box Art Program (EBAP) will receive a $1,000 stipend, per location, to cover time, transportation, and supplies. Anyone is invited to complete and submit an Electrical Box Application. The deadline to apply is August 15.

Applications will be reviewed by the selection committee, with final approval from the PAC and the Board of Selectmen. Painting will be done this fall.