The art for the “I Spy” utility boxes was created part of a grant from the Prospect Park neighborhood association in Minneapolis, MN. They applied to participate in a city program where artists create designs to cover mechanical utility boxes in public places. I submitted a proposal to take photographs from the neighborhood and create designs using those photos.

I spent several afternoons walking and capturing over 500 photos of everyday objects throughout the neighborhood. I took photos in the community garden, at the light rail station, and inside businesses that border the neighborhood. I picked up forgotten objects like keys, a toy dinosaur and a lucky penny. I looked for shapes, numbers, and landmarks that were unique to the neighborhood. I photographed cherries on trees, patio bricks, and dandelions growing through cracks in the sidewalk.

Originally, I thought I would make only abstract patterns, like the kinds of repeating patterns I often use to design fabric, but as I started looking at the photos I realized it would be really fun to make everyday objects you might see in the neighborhood out of other everyday objects. So, I started by making a bluejay from my photos of yarn, faucet handles, wheels, a latte, and a telephone dial.

If you look closely, you will see that every object and character is made up of smaller photos of other everyday things. Even the background textures come from found objects in the neighborhood; one is made from a scrunched styrofoam cup, another uses the brick from Pratt School and the painted wood on a charity donation box.

In June 2016, utility box wraps featuring this art were installed on three pairs of boxes on University Ave, where you can see them as public art every day. On each box are thumbnails of the original photos so that you can play an “I Spy” game by searching for those objects as part of the art and looking for them throughout the neighborhood.

Special thanks to the Prospect Park Association, with funding from the University of Minnesota Good Neighbor Fund and MN Vikings Partnership Fund, that made the original artwork possible.  Also thanks to the Prospect Park community with your beautiful neighborhood gardens and architecture. You might have thought I was crazy when you saw me photographing my own feet but you were too nice to say so.

WHERE ARE THE BOXES?

Look Both Ways (29th & University) • Hello Neighbor (Malcolm & University) • Busy Bodies (Bedford & University)

READ MORE

• Read more about how this project came together in my blog posts about the designs: A journal of the Prospect Park Utility Box Wraps
• See the press release about the project.
• The MN Daily newspaper wrote an article about the project.

GET THE BOOK

• At my Etsy shop (If you purchase this way, I am happy to autograph it.)
• Through Blurb.com (print-on-demand, shipped straight to you)
• At Textile Center, which is just a few steps away from the “Look Both Ways” boxes.

HAVE YOUR OWN ART ADVENTURE

• 5 Things to do with the I Spy Art. A guide for teachers, parents, troupe-leaders or anyone else who would like to interact with my art. Project ideas for all ages to have their own art experience with either the utility boxes or the book as inspiration.
• Coloring Book Page. Download and print your own coloring book page of Dandy the dog from the Hello Neighbor boxes.
• I Spy Scavenger Hunt. Download and print a scavenger hunt for each set of boxes. Study the boxes and find the objects (coffee cup, binder clip, manhole cover) that make up the images. See the teacher’s guide for instructions.
• Explore the Neighborhood Connect Four. Download and print a game to play while you walk around the neighborhood. See the teacher’s guide for instructions.
• Shhh. Some secret things about the art. Some fun and silly facts about the art, which you won’t know just by looking at it.
• About the Artist. Learn more about Becka, who created the art.