HomeMy WebLinkAboutNov 5 - Utlility Box Wrap
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 • kcaron@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Artwork Installed on Utility Box at 50th Street and Wooddale
Avenue
Edina, Minn., Nov. 5, 2015 – Public Art Edina, a working group of the Edina Arts & Culture
Commission, recently finalized the installation of the City’s second art wrap. The wrap was installed on
the utility box, also known as a traffic signal box, at 50th Street and Wooddale Avenue. The selected
artwork, “Winter Dream,” is by Edina resident Shelley Holl.
Holl, who has been working with mixed media art for over 50 years, used a photograph of trees at
Bredesen Park and her own watercolor artwork to create the image. “My studio window faces out into
the woods and there is a point in the year when all the leaves are gone and the world become a little
bit colorless,” said Holl. “And I think our dreams of warmth are what I see in that image.”
“The piece is a stunning piece and we feel that it reflects the beauty of the surrounding area,” explained
Public Art Edina Chair Barbara La Valleur. “We wanted to be mindful of the area. That [utility box is
near] the new Veterans Memorial and a church. … It’s not just a very nice piece of art, it’s also going to
impact the people who pass by and walk by. I’m sure that it will put a smile on people’s faces, especially
in the depths of winter.”
Public Art Edina chose the piece out of 25 entries received from Edina residents and artists. Another
utility box at Metro and Industrial boulevards will be wrapped in the spring using a design from the
submission pool.
“We had some amazing entries. Our youngest entrant was 5 years old. We had a 10-year-old submit
two great entries and many adults who submitted their work,” said Edina Art Center General Manager
Michael Frey. “We appreciate the time, talent and creativity of the work submitted.”
In addition to the improved aesthetics, art wraps also save the City money. The wrap is resistant to
paints and other types of vandalism, which negates the need to repaint boxes. The first box at 4121 W.
66th St. was wrapped in 2014. It was designed by local graphic artist Mark Lidke.
Each utility box wrap costs between $550 and $750; wraps for additional boxes will be made possible
through donations. To donate to Public Art Edina, contact Frey at 952-903-5729 or
mfrey@EdinaMN.gov. For more information about Edina Public Art, visit www.EdinaPublicArt.org.
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