Downtown Olympia is about to get 10 more pieces of public art. Here’s what they look like
Since 2015, the city of Olympia has commissioned local artists to submit artwork to be printed and wrapped around traffic boxes. There are currently 57 traffic box wraps on display, and 10 more are on their way.
The Olympia City Council voted Tuesday night to approve 10 designs for the Traffic Box Wrap Public Art Project.
The designs were voted on by the public through the city’s Engage Olympia webpage in February. More than 1,600 votes were cast on 58 submissions from area artists, and the top 10 were shared with the Arts Commission.
Here are the top 10 submissions, starting with the highest votes.
“sqʷáqʷ tálʼšlʼs tʼanáp (Ravens Chase the Moon),” by Sarah Folden. Acrylic Paint, Tumwater, Washington. Folden received 234 votes.
“Moonlight Pollinators” By Darcy Goedecke. Digital Painting, Lacey, Washington. Goedecke received 224 votes.
“My Home” by Emma Song. Watercolor and Pen, Olympia, Washington. Song received 135 votes.
“Nasturtium” by Leila Chavez. Watercolor, Olympia, Washington. Chavez received 124 votes.
“Blue Herons” by Alice Liou. Watercolor and Sumi Ink, Lacey, Washington. Liou received 108 votes.
“Claire’s Poppy Field” by Andrea Edwards. Acrylics on Canvas, Olympia, Washington. Edwards received 105 votes.
“Eastward Views 5” by Emily R. Lee. Oil Paint on Canvas, Rochester, Washington. Lee received 104 votes.
“Mermaid Cove” by Katie Harmon. Watercolor & Ink, Olympia, Washington. Harmon received 103 votes.
“Retro Olympia” by Missy Maxwell. Digital, Olympia, Washington. Maxwell received 98 votes.
“Falling in Flora” by Sabrina Cruz. Digital, Olympia, Washington. Cruz received 98 votes.
Stephanie Johnson, arts program manager for Parks, Arts & Recreation, said the locations of the new box wraps haven’t been finalized, but the city is prioritizing filling in gaps downtown on Franklin Street and areas they deem “hit hardest by the pandemic,” such as areas where old box wraps have been damaged.
All current box wraps are mapped out and can be viewed on the city’s website. They typically last for several years, and when one is in poor condition, it’s replaced by a new one.
“Our community really likes them, and so they take care of them. It’s awesome,” said Angel Nava, arts program specialist.
The city uses money from the Municipal Art Fund to pay artists $500 each for use of their artwork, as well as fabrication and installation costs. This batch of box wraps will be installed by this summer.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
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