The following article is written for the Art Forward series by Diana Bolander, Assistant Director/Curator at the Rahr-West Art Museum.
The Rahr-West Art Museum Public Art Committee coordinated a collaborative project with Manitowoc Public Utility throughout downtown this summer and early fall, contracting with ten local artists to paint designs on utility boxes. All but one of our ten artists are finished painting!
All designs were inspired by works in the Rahr-West Art Museum Collection. This project was funded by the City of Manitowoc Room Tax Commission and in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
We featured five of the artists in a Seehafer News article in early October (https://www.seehafernews.com/2021/10/06/colorful-murals-adorn-utility-boxes-in-downtown-manitowoc/) and wanted to follow up with more information on the artists and their work. Thank you to all of our sponsors, committee members, volunteers, and artists that brought this color and excitement to downtown!
Artist: Kelly Howlett, Title: Girls and Birds, Location: Maritime Museum East Parking Lot
What let you to apply for this project?
I saw the Rahr-West was looking for artists and knew exactly what I wanted to do when I saw the guidelines. Creating something inspired by the Rahr’s collection was the perfect mix of offering a prompt and having creative freedom.
What piece did you pick from the collection and why/how did it inspire you?
I chose Fillettes Et Oiseauz by Sam Briss. I liked it because it was light and fun and I could easily see myself doing my own version of it. I also chose to paint real birds instead of stylistic ones because I wanted to add something local to the feeling of it.
The best part was learning about the process. I’ve never made an outdoor mural before and wasn’t sure how the paint would work. Normally, I use acrylic paint with clear media mixed in to make many translucent layers. Not being able to work in my normal technique was a fun (and scary) challenge. I also loved being able to share the entire process from sketch to finished product with my students in Green Bay.
Did you interact with the public when you were working on the box?
I loved how many people came over to me to thank me for what I was doing. People even shouted “Thank you” or “Great job” from passing cars. One person did take the initiative to ask me if I was committing a crime. That was kinda funny. Luckily, I had all my papers.
Artist: Emma Kracht, Title: Zebras, Location: South 9th and Jay Street
What let you to apply for this project?
I thought it was a great opportunity to show my love for art while beautifying the community in the process. Since I first heard about the project, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to paint such an awesome mural in my hometown. I’m so thankful for this opportunity because it gave me experience as I hope to continue to work on projects like this in the future or as my career.
What piece did you pick from the collection and why/how did it inspire you?
I picked Zebras by Victor Vasarely because I loved the direction of the lines and saw the potential of those lines on a utility box. I knew it would be fun to paint (and to look at) if those lines were spread out all over the box. Zebras aren’t my favorite animal, but they are definitely pretty cool and fun to paint. Throughout the painting process, I was glad to see the zebras having that optical illusion effect! I think it adds an interesting layer to its surroundings.
Did you interact with the public when you were working on the box?
Almost everyone who walked by either stopped to see what it was all about or said they loved to see all the art in the city of Manitowoc. A few visitors came and took pictures of the box in progress. I remember one specific woman who said she was visiting from France and that she wanted to upload a picture of the box to this shared artwork site so a bunch of her friends could see! That was super cool!There were also a few individuals who wished they had heard about the contest because they were interested in painting a utility box or making some other art in the community too.
Artist: Carly Dellger, Title: Lobster on a Marble Tabletop: The Remix!, Location: 800 Block of Franklin Street
What let you to apply for this project?
I applied for this project after working with Erin La Bonte on a large mural for the Mishicot School District. She mentioned the electrical box project to me and I immediately knew which piece of art I would choose because it is one of my favorite pieces at the Rahr. When the application window was open, she reached out and encouraged me to apply (thanks, Erin!) I was happy to submit a design and excited to be a part of the transformation happening in Manitowoc. I think the choices regarding public spaces downtown are positive and encourage people to explore and enjoy the city.
What piece did you pick from the collection and why/how did it inspire you?
I chose Lobster on a Marble Tabletop by Levi Wells Prentice. I remember being struck by the painting when I first visited the Rahr– I love the rich reds and greens, and I think the subject is really unique. I thought this painting would translate really well with my painting style, which leans toward bright colors, graphic lines, and high contrast.
Did you interact with the public when you were working on the box?
The most fun part of the project was seeing the painting take shape and being happy with the outcome at the end of each painting session. I enjoyed the positive feedback from passersby as I was painting– plus it was nice to get outside and add some more color to downtown.
While I was painting there was some construction going on within a few feet of where I was working. I bought a few cases of soft seltzer to share with the workers laying concrete/ building. It was cool and they were really nice about working around me and they gave me permission to use their port-a-potty! I also met the owner of the property upon which the utility box stands and he was happy I was assigned to paint on his property. Also, an enthusiastic older gentleman stopped by and asked me to paint his portrait, which I thought was funny and nice.
Artist: Paula Radl, Title: Air, Earth, Water, Location: Franklin Street Bus stop at Manitowoc Public Library
What let you to apply for this project?
I was excited to have the opportunity to create a piece of public art that all could enjoy and to add to the beauty of our downtown area. I appreciated that my time and skills would be compensated for creating this art.
What piece did you pick from the collection and why/how did it inspire you?
I picked the art by Elise Johann called, Air Earth Water. I liked the style as it was somewhat playful with the penguin-like birds interacting and I like nature so it was a theme that I felt would be fun to do. With our lakeshore area having many areas of nature and wildlife I thought it would fit well with our area.
Did you interact with the public when you were working on the box?
When working on the utility box mural several people walking by would comment how they liked the murals and how it added to the downtown. One person loved the colors of the mural I was painting and that it was a fun image. Another person said the murals made her feel happy.
A map of the sites is available at https://www.manitowoc.org/2363/Public-Arts. Follow us at http://www.facebook.com/RahrWestArtMuseum for announcements on this and other programs. The Rahr West Art Museum is a department of the City of Manitowoc.