The City of Denton’s Public Art Program has launched a new initiative that aims to beautify the Original Denton District (ODD) with unique works of art created by local students and residents. The initiative involves wrapping several traffic boxes in the ODD with vinyl prints of art produced by Denton ISD students.
The artwork is printed on vinyl, which is then applied to the traffic boxes by professional installers. This process is both quick and inexpensive, making it a practical solution for adding art to the urban built environment without interfering with the day-to-day operations or maintenance needs of the traffic boxes.
In the near future, the Parks and Recreation Department will be coordinating with faculty at the University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University to feature TWU and UNT student art on additional traffic boxes placed in the ODD. Furthermore, the department will be asking for artwork submissions from any Denton resident for two additional box wraps that will be placed in the ODD near the Downtown Square.
Funding for this project comes from a grant provided by the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Hotel Occupancy Tax Fund, reflecting the city’s commitment to supporting and promoting its unique and creative identity.
This initiative represents an opportunity to insert works of art into the urban built environment while simultaneously camouflaging otherwise unsightly pieces of critical infrastructure. By enlivening and humanizing public spaces, art enhances the cultural, physical, and psychological environment of a community.
The City of Denton’s Public Art Program is committed to promoting the integration of art in public spaces and to sustaining the city’s unique and creative identity. For more information about the Public Art Committee, please visit their website.
As this project progresses, keep your eyes open for the vibrant new pops of color that will be appearing at intersections in the ODD, created by the talented students and residents of Denton. For more information about the Public Art Committee, please visit the following link, Public Art Committee Information