RochesterSubway.com : 13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes

13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes

July 17th, 2013

In 2013 I gave myself a photo assignment: Take 13 snapshots of 13 different subjects. Early on, someone suggested I do a series of traffic signal boxes – you know, the ones with the murals painted on them? At first I thought the idea was a little too obvious. I also thought many of the murals to be a little cliché. But soon I began to notice these things everywhere I looked. And then I felt like I couldn’t not do it.

While they may not be master works of art, these murals are definitely a unique part of our landscape. Some of them are kind of folksy; some are tongue-in-cheek; and many tell a story about the neighborhood. So, with the help of my friend Nicholas Swann , here are 13 of our favorite murals on traffic signal boxes…

Oh, and you’ll notice an extra one at the end. I’ve decided to paint one in my own neighborhood. You can tell me what you think…

Basketball Kid. West Main & Genesee St.

Paisley. Location unknown.

Frederick Douglass and his printing press. West Main at Chili Ave. and West Ave.

Praying for peace. Hudson and Clifford Ave.

Believe. North Clinton and Clifford Ave.

Puerto Rico (featuring Cocquí ). North Clinton and Upper Falls Blvd.

Teamwork. Avenue A and Saint Paul Street at School #8.

American Gothic (with pooper scooper). Hudson Ave. at Irondequoit Animal Hospital.

Unite. Mount Hope and Averill Ave.

Break Glass In Case of Zombies. Emergency zombie station at Mount Hope and Cypress St.

Cornhill Pictographs. Ford and Exchange Streets.

Young Hippie. Location unknown.

Grow Where You’re Planted. By Krysia Mnick. 2007. Location unknown. Krysia’s working on a new one now in the Park Ave neighborhood.

Now, here’s my concept for a new one near an elementary school in my own neighborhood…

If you would like to paint one of these boxes, contact Thomas Cesario in the permits department at (585) 753-7711. You’ll need to submit sketches of your concept (all sides including the top). If your concept is approved, you’ll need to pay for the “special” paint and your own supplies. I’m told this can cost as much as $300. But contact your neighborhood association first – they may be able to help out. Go create something!

• • •

About Nicholas Swann:

Nicholas is into acting and photography. He says he recently spent a couple of years on 2 photo projects here in the city and also had a lead role in a movie filmed here, “Fritz” (to be released this fall). It’ll be seen and entered in all the film festivals around the country. Nicholas thanks to Robbi Gurell for his coaching and training and says, “He brought me into the social media age.” You can follow Nicholas is also an CNN iReporter. Follow him here, and on Twitter.

Tags: 13, 13 traffic signal boxes, 13x13x13, art, mural, Nicholas Swann, public art, Rochester, Rochester NY, street art, traffic signal box mural

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 17th, 2013 at 1:05 am and is filed under Art + Culture, Rochester Images. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

17 Responses to “13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes”

Peter says:

July 17, 2013 at 8:40 am

Why is the basketball kid at the Egyptian Pyramids? Seems like a hot place to play basketball
Scott says:

July 17, 2013 at 8:49 am

I love the boxes! Thank you!
andy says:

July 17, 2013 at 11:03 am

My favorite is the Morrison Park box. You don’t even know it is a box! Painted by local artist Dick Lubey

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMDB3A_Morrison_Park_Rochester_NY
RochesterSubway.com says:

July 17, 2013 at 11:10 am

Ooh, that IS a good one. Too good. I went right by it and didn’t see it!
Mittens says:

July 17, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Haha. Good job Dick Lubey! I actually had to stop and touch that box a few months back just to make sure it wasn’t really made of stone.
Nicholas A. Swann says:

July 17, 2013 at 5:28 pm

The Rochester Subway is a great part of the Social Media age. I was honored to be asked to participate in part of this project. I hope to work with Mike again! Nice job Mike..
RochesterSubway.com says:

July 17, 2013 at 7:02 pm

Likewise Nick!
Carl says:

July 17, 2013 at 10:02 pm

This is awesome people of Rochester!
Steve says:

July 18, 2013 at 12:11 pm

I saw a couple more that are not listed.
I will try to go back and take a picture.
Rottenchester says:

July 18, 2013 at 3:39 pm

The traffic box at South & Gregory is a nice one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimentalfilm/9314250821/
RochesterSubway.com says:

July 18, 2013 at 4:06 pm

Cab Calloway?
Chris Brandt says:

July 18, 2013 at 7:06 pm

The Mt. Hope cemetery one is priceless!
Rottenchester says:

July 22, 2013 at 9:37 am

South & Gregory pic is Duke Ellington.
Krysia Mnick says:

July 28, 2013 at 9:15 pm

Nice shots, guys – but hey! – Name the artists!
I’ll help, plus some history:

the ones named here are the results of an initiative in 2007 spurred by Sector 4 Community Development Corporation. Then-Director John Borek and I co-wrote a grant proposal and received the Culture Builds Communities grant to paint 17 boxes by six artists on the west side of the river, from Main St. south to Elmwood. The goal was to prevent graffiti, instill neighborhood pride, and employ professionals for the work. That spurred the rest of the city. The pieces for the Sector 4 project were ALL designed and selected with neighborhood input and city and county permission. The artists were professionally compensated for their work – and the supplies. If you’d like to know more about the project, message me at facebook. Subsequent projects have been paid for by neighborhood associations and the City – ARTISTS MUST BE PAID and neighbors should have buy-in, at least by neighborhood leaders. Meanwhile, here’s artists and locations of the ones I know about:

Basketball boy: Athesia Benjamin, corner of W. main & Genesee

Paisley Dance: Krysia Mnick, corner of Genesee & Hawley St, across from Wilson Commencement

Frederick Douglass: Kevin Fitch (also did Susan B. Anthony on W. Main and Erie Canal on Genesee at Brooks

Four Seasons in the Neighborhood at Ford St. Bridge: Catherine Leyland

Peace Man: Darren Brennessel at Sawyer and Genesee

Grow Where You’re Plantedby Krysia Mnick is on Elmwood Ave. at S. Plymouth, across from the entrance to Genesee Valley Park.

And BTW, the portrait at Gregory and South is Son House – NOT Duke Ellington – by “Theivin’ Steven” Dorbiola.
RochesterSubway.com says:

July 28, 2013 at 9:27 pm

Thanks Krysia! Beautiful work!
RochesterSubway.com says:

August 2, 2013 at 3:13 pm

UPDATE: Monroe County asked me to update the contact info. If you would like to paint one of these boxes, you should contact Thomas Cesario in the permits department at (585) 753-7711.
John says:

June 13, 2018 at 3:51 pm

Hello,

I am working on a Douglass in Murals Exhibit in Washington, D.C. planned for this fall.

Is the electric box mural of FD & his printing press still up?

Thank you for your help.

John Muller
[email protected]
(202) 236-3413

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13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes

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17 Responses to “13 Works of Art… On Traffic Signal Boxes”

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