Story Created:
Mar 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM PST
Story Updated:
Mar 27, 2009 at 11:32 AM PST
HUNTINGTON PARK — The City Council has approved its first Art In Public Places project, paintings on five city utility boxes, at a cost of $500 per box.
Assistant City Manager Allan Shear said final plans are being made and the painting should begin in several weeks.
Locations are Pacific Boulevard and Clarendon Street, Pacific Boulevard and Florence Avenue, State Street and Gage Avenue, Seville Street and Gage Avenue and Miles Street at Saturn Avenue.
The project will go to a group of local artists called Creative Flow, who will do the painting following five themes proposed by the city-appointed Arts and Culture Commission, said Josette Espinosa, director of parks and recreation and liaison to the commission.
The themes are Centennial, (the city is 102 years old); Pacific Boulevard, the city’s main shopping area; Family and Culture, Education and Performing Arts.
Cost of the paintings will come from the Art in Public Places fund, created under a recent law which requires developers and builders to place an artwork on their site or donate funds to the city for placement on public land, Espinosa said.
Creative Flow is headed by artist Alfred Chavez of Maywood, with Armando Santiago and Juan Cova.
Chavez estimated it would take up to two days per box.
The group was established in 1985 and has done several murals for the county Probation Department and Homeboy Industries, Chavez said.
It seeks to encourage youths to get into art and conducts free Sunday art classes, he added.
The art works are to be painted on utility boxes plainly visible to passers by. It is hoped they will not only help beautify the city but will encourage high school artists to paint additional boxes, Espinosa said.
She recalled that the project was proposed last March by former Councilwoman Elba Romo, who noted utility box paintings in Paramount and Bellflower.
Information: Chavez at (323) 216-2689.
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