DENVER -- If you've spotted some painted utility boxes around and town and wondered, "what's the deal?" -- well, we wondered the same thing and asked around and found out -- this is something new from the city and county.
Several have popped up along East Colfax Avenue and, by mid-July, 14 commissioned utility boxes will be painted between the Capitol and East High School as part of an art project called "Art on the Ave."
The artists have been commissioned to paint the boxes by a project between Abend Art Gallery, WalkDenver and the Colfax Business Improvement District, in accordance with Denver Arts and Venues and the utilities that own the boxes.
"I love it. Art can bring beauty to ugly, you know? It's simple. It's just paint and some creativity and it's an awesome way to spruce things up a little bit," Rhonda Kimura, who painted one of the boxes with flowers said. "I wanted something kind of bright and uplifting for Colfax so I thought a flower box would be nice."
The art will be judged as part of contest on July 14, as part of the I Walk Colfax event, and will be on display for one year. (http://www.walkdenver.org/art-on-the-ave-call-to-artists/)
At least two more have been painted by artist Victoriano Rivera on Grant Street -- one on the corners of 5th and 6th avenue, respectively.
The city and county program that helps fund the project is called the Urban Arts Fund -- which also does graffiti removal and other public art.
Artists can apply to paint the utility boxes -- though it's unclear how much they'll be paid.
"If you've got artists who love to paint and want to help out and do it, I think it's really nice," Kimura said.
East Colfax Locations
- 2331 East Colfax (Floyd's Barber Shop)
- 2019 East Colfax (Purple Haze)
- 1775 East Colfax (Taco Bell)
- 1245 East Colfax
- 935 East Colfax (Ogden Theatre)
- 629 East Colfax (west of X Bar)
- 338 East Colfax (Tycoon Ramen & Sushi)
- 616 East Colfax (Office Depot)
- 900 East Colfax (Charlie's)
- 1040 East Colfax (Smiley's Laundromat)
- 1244 East Colfax
- 1770 East Colfax (Conoco)
- 2000 East Colfax (east of Walgreens)
- 2340 East Colfax (Subway)
