Arrows The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
On the northwest corner of Morris and Belmont Streets, the artist Tasha Beckwith added street-inspired color to Indianapolis’ Westside. Using a mixture of different blues, greens, and neutral tones she rendered abstracted arrows on this traffic signal box. Unfortunately, this box was hit during a traffic accident in July 2016 and was replaced with a new, unpainted box.
Every Engine Has a Key The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
Art teacher Michael Schulbaum coordinated a competition for students at the Key Learning Community, where the box is located, in order to select and refine the design for this artwork. The winning design was by 5th grade student Jalen Washington Cordell, showing a brain on wheels heading down the “Education Highway,” expressing the idea of the brain as an engine that takes you anywhere you want to go, and it only needs to be “turned on”. This design wraps three sides, with the fourth side (facing the street) a combination of several students’ design ideas expressing pride in the Indianapolis Public Schools system. Schulbaum transferred the students’ designs to the box and painted them.
Key Learning Community was a K-12 specialty school, the first in the world to be organized around educating students through theorist Howard Gardner’s “multiple intelligences” concept, until it was closed at the end of the 2015-2016 school year and refocused into a K-8 arts magnet school.
Flowers The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
The artist, Olivia Waltz, painted a variety of vibrant flowers on a bold, blue background. She has transformed this once silver traffic signal box into an elevated pseudo-garden that brightens up the northwest corner of Morris and Kappes Street on Indianapolis’ Westside and calls attention to the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center behind it.
Geometric Wasp The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
Andrew Severns is an artist whose work is based on the geometry of hyperspace and fractals. This signal traffic box located on the northwest corner of West Morris Street and Kentucky Avenue, is composed of a variation of yellows, browns, and neutral color geometric shapes that Severns uses to illustrate a race car. The piece is located near the site of the factory that produced the Marmon Wasp, the car that won the first Indianapolis 500 race.
Hoot Irvington is an eclectic neighborhood known for housing the original location of Butler University. It is also home to a group of artists, academics, and individuals who take great pride in producing community events and supporting one another. In 2012, the Irvington Development Organization started to work with two neighbors calling themselves Foundation East, who wanted to see more public art on Indianapolis’ Eastside. Their idea was to create sets of themed artworks on traffic signal control boxes along the main corridors in the neighborhood. By 2014 18 boxes were enhanced, and they attracted the attention of the entire city.
In 2015 the box at the corner of East Washington St. and Emerson Ave. (the western border of the neighborhood) was hit by a vehicle and needed to be replaced. The box remained unenhanced until 2017, when the IDO held an open competition for a new design. Irvington artist Andrea Light’s suggestion was the favorite, and her stylized owl uses Irvington’s signature colors.
According to the artist, her intention was to place a majestic creature that would stand guard and watch over the neighborhood. The owl has a complex set of symbols: owls are birds of prey, and since they are nocturnal they are often associated with magic and mystery. They are also an ancient symbol for knowledge and enlightenment. Finally, they inhabit the woods of nearby Pleasant Run and can be seen in the neighborhood. The artist felt that an owl would be the perfect design motif to pay homage to the history and residents of the neighborhood.
Andrea Light is an Indianapolis-based graphic designer and digital media specialist. Learn more about her at http://www.andrealight.net/
Market and Pine Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Michigan and Arsenal Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Michigan and Highland Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Michigan and Oriental Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Michigan and State Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
New York and Arsenal Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
New York and Highland Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
New York and Oriental Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
New York and State Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Octopus The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
Suspended in a sea of blue and teal, a stylized octopus floats with its head and two of its arms extending out of the water towards a red sky. This octopus occupies the northwest corner of Kentucky Avenue and White River Parkway West Drive and was created by Indianapolis artist Tasha Beckwith.
Racer--Marmon Wasp The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
This traffic signal box is located on the southwest corner of Harding and Howard street. The artist, Brandon Fields, uses expressive lines to show the fluidity of a race car’s motion. You can almost hear the noise, feel the vibrations, and energy associated with the sport of racing from just looking at this depiction of this single racer who is seated in his bright yellow racecar and surrounded by a crowd of blue silhouetted figures. The piece is located near the site of the factory that produced the Marmon Wasp, the car that won the first Indianapolis 500 race.
Sack Race Kids The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
Artist, Gabriel Lehman, places a whimsical scene on a traffic signal box located near the southwest corner of Harding and West Morris Street. Using a palette of warm colors, Leham, creates an evening sky of orange and red hues and places multiple silhouetted figures of young children who are all racing around this traffic signal box in a sack race.
Symphony of Life The artwork on this traffic signal control box is a reminder that when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change accordingly. If we look for the good things, or choose to see the good in things, our lives will be wrapped in a magnificent symphony.
This artwork was developed by the Peace Learning Center’s Koinonia Project in collaboration with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE). The artist is N. Beth Line, an Indianapolis-based designer who specializes in strategic visual communications.
Washington and Oriental Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos Courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Washington and Southeastern Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
Washington and State Traffic Signal Box The Holy Cross Neighborhood Association, in partnership with Cummins and Arsenal Tech, worked to paint several traffic signal boxes in the Holy Cross area.
Twelve Arsenal Tech art students worked with their teacher, Lacey Banuelos, to develop and realize their original designs during a two-day traffic signal box paint-out with the assistance of Holy Cross volunteers.
Photos courtesy of Holy Cross Neighborhood Association
We Have Landed Undetected The West Indianapolis community (Oliver Street to Raymond, White River to Holt Ave) lies “between the rivers” of Eagle Creek and the White River. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Indy, with many West Indy families having lived here for multiple generations. In the spring of 2015, eight traffic signal control boxes, created by professional artists from designs voted on by a panel representing both art experts and the neighborhood residents, were painted as part of a Great Indy Cleanup project. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s Great Indy Cleanup program helps community groups organize to combat heavy litter and debris that has accumulated in public spaces such as streets, alleys, greenspaces, and waterways. Some cleanup efforts also include new plantings and community murals, all done by neighborhood volunteers. For more information about the Great Indy Cleanup program, visit http://www.kibi.org/programs/beautification/great-indy-cleanup/
Artist Mark Tourney has cleverly imagined a robot-like alien in the shape of a traffic signal control box, settling down inconspicuously on Indianapolis’ Westside and beaming a message (visible on the top of the box) back to its waiting ship. He whimsically asks the question: what if ALL of the traffic signal control boxes are aliens?
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