UP Art Studio has designed a program to support civic art and to beautify neighborhoods throughout Austin and Houston. The project has been created to focus on community and civic pride and enhancing visual aesthetics in the neighborhood and the urban landscape. The primary project goal is to bring art to unexpected places, where they can add joy to people’s everyday lives.
This project reimagines traffic signal control cabinets (also referred to as utility cabinets) as blank canvases brimming with creative opportunity, inviting artistic expression for all to enjoy. Each cabinet installation is funded by a Sponsor.
Mini Murals is the name of the program created and managed by UP Art Studio. UP Art Studio currently is working under contract with the City of Austin Department of Transportation, to create Mini Murals installations that meet the guidelines of the City’s Artbox Program. More than 300 Mini Mural cabinet transformations have been completed in Houston; UP Art Studio aims for the project to be equally successful in Austin.
Phase 1
The first phase of Mini Murals Austin involved the installation of four artist-enhanced signal cabinets, which Austin Transportation Department sponsored. The four boxes are located at:
- Rundberg Ln. @ the Little Walnut Creek Library | North Austin (Artist: Bydee)
- MLK Blvd. @ Guadalupe St. | Central Austin / UT Campus (Artist: Emily Ding)
- E. Stassney Ln @ Jacaranda Dr. | Dove Springs (Artist: Niz)
- Arroyo Seco @ W Koenig Ln. | Brentwood (Artist: Helena Martin)
Stakeholders in these communities were invited to participate in the process. All stages of the community engagement have been completed.
Phase 2
The second phase of Mini Murals Austin involved the installation of six artist-enhanced signal cabinets, which Austin Transportation Department sponsored. The six boxes are located at:
- MLK Blvd. and Chicon St. | District 1 (Artist: Kimie Flores)
- Pleasant Valley and S. Lakeshore Blvd. | District 3 (Artist: Mila Sketch)
- W. Stassney Lane and Menchaca Road | District 5 (Artist: Cody Schibi)
- Spicewood Springs Road and 4 Iron Drive | District 6 (Artist: Christy Stallop)
- Convict Hill Road and Brush Country Road | District 8 (Artist: Anna Ganina Art)
- Far West Boulevard and Wood Hollow Drive | District 10 (Artist: Wild Spirit Artworks)
