More Public Art Coming to Town
Keep your eyes peeled for more local art around town in 2024, as the artists for the latest phase of the utility box and streetlight banner program have been selected.
Rachel Osajima, the director of the Alameda County Arts Commission, presented the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) with a colorful portfolio of art from local artists, which will eventually find their way to utility boxes all over Castro Valley.
The 11 artists recommended by the by the county Artist Selection Committee are Karen Berry of Fremont, Ekaterina Bazlakova of Castro Valley, Alice Beasley of Oakland, Rhonda Chase of Pleasanton, Yan Inlow of Alameda, Rekha Joshi of Pleasanton, Moonji Pickering of Albany, Hilda Robinson of Oakland, Sarah Sammis of Hayward, Azar Vaghefi of Castro Valley, and Kim Vanderheiden of Castro Valley.
Several traffic signal utility boxes are already festooned with art in town since the program first launched in 2017, but as they age, they will be revamped by this round of artists. Four to five pieces from each artist will be displayed in Castro Valley, and the project is funded via the county's Public Works Agency.
The artwork depicts a variety of subjects—from trees and flowers to squirrels, to streetscapes, to chickens. The artists have used mediums including embroidery, quilting, woodcuts, letterpress, to colored pencils. The designs are then digitized and printed as vinyl wraps.
Osajima said that the project has thus far been a success, with the public enjoying the imagery and the designs being an effective deterrent for vandals.
For example, Osajima said there is a county box with art across the street from a Comcast box without art and that the Comcast box gets tagged far more than the county box. The county boxes are also designed to be graffiti resistant, which does cost more. Residents are encouraged to report graffiti via the Public Works Agency’s “Mobile Citizen” app, which can be downloaded on most smartphones. More information can be found on their website (acpwa.org).
The Public Works Agency has tentatively allotted $60,000 for the first year of this project’s new phase and plans to provide the same amount for six years. The total cost of each box, including art licensing and materials, is $5,750 per box.
Mac member Al Padro said that, as budget concerns rise, he is grateful that the Public Works Agency still sees the value in supporting public art.
“Over the years, I have seen other agencies, when they begin budget cuts, start with the arts,” said Padro. “Overall, this is certainly a positive [project] for our town.”
Osajima concurred, saying, “I’m so glad that we are able to continue this project.”
The next steps for the project include a review of the recommended art by the Board of Supervisors in September, the creation of the digital artwork in early 2024, and the installation of the vinyl wraps on the utility boxes beginning in May 2024.