Community Corner

City of Salem Calls for ArtBox 2014 Submissions

Do you want to turn a local utility box into a piece of art?

The City of Salem calls all artists to submit proposals to design and paint one out of six utility boxes as part of ArtBox 2014. Winning artists will have their work in front of one million people annually and will receive $500.

“I’m thrilled to announce the third installment of the ArtBox program,” said Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “It is always exciting to see how the winning artists transform these utility boxes into beautiful works of art. I expect another strong field for this year’s program.”

In the hopes of promoting individual artists as well as the community’s burgeoning arts scene, ArtBox asks all interested to propose a piece of art that presents his or her visual interpretation of Salem’s cityscape, culture, community pride, or art itself. 

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Project Background 

A group of local art appreciators and community leaders came together at the end of 2011 to spearhead ArtBox, a program to transform these utilitarian eyesores into original works of art. Beyond adding to Salem’s spirit of creativity, sense of place and cultural identity, these boxes are meant to beautify and inspire.

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Nuts & Bolts

Open to all skilled and talented artists, except for previous ArtBox artists, the deadline for submission is no later than 4:00 PM Monday, April 7, 2014. The work will be judged by an independent group of creative professionals including Ken Reker, Associate Professor of Art and Design, Salem State University; Karen Ristuben, President, Rocky Neck Art Colony; Trevor Smith, Curator of the Present Tense at the Peabody Essex Museum; and North Shore artist Norman Laliberté. One box will be painted weekly starting in June. 

Last year’s winners were all artists based in Salem: Campbell Seamans, Amanda Dunham, Adam Harmon, Craig Nelson, Clare AuBuchon, and Carly Menasco.

Special thanks to local sponsor Waters & Brown Paint & Decorating for providing paint supplies.

See the city website at salem.com/pages/artbox to download the submission requirements and details.


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