Texas Border Business
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The City of Brownsville, in collaboration with the Brownsville Beautification Committee (BBC), is calling on local artists for proposals for a public art initiative aimed at transforming traffic light control utility boxes throughout the City. This project invites artists and graphic designers to submit their digitized designs to be vinyl-wrapped around utility boxes, turning functional infrastructure into vibrant works of art.
Project Overview: The goal of this initiative is to enhance the visual appeal of Brownsville’s streetscapes, express theCity’s rich culture and community, and create spaces that inspire positivity and vibrancy. The selected artists will be awarded $300 for each box where completed artwork will be displayed.
Submission Details: Artists are encouraged to submit their applications and digitized designs within the template provided by email to cobsubmittals@brownsvilletx.gov. Each design must indicate a preferred location and theme based on the list provided below. Designs can be new original pieces or existing works not currently displayed in otherpublic art programs.
Traffic Control Box Locations and Themes:
- D1- Southmost and 26th St: Food, culture
- D2- Boca Chica Blvd. and Minnesota Rd: Airport, flight, history of aviation
- D2- Padre Island Hwy and Coffee Port Rd: Ocean, conservation
- D3- Paredes Line Rd. at Event Center: Tennis, events (quinceañeras, weddings, etc.)
- D3 – Ringgold & 6th: Zoo, cannery, bikes, trail, Farmer’s Market, Southern Pacific Railway history
- D4- W. Morrison and McAllen Rd: Rails, rail-to-trail transformation, trees, birds, agricultural history
Design Considerations:
- Designs must conform to the shape of the provided template.
- Artist must indicate space on the artwork where the BBC logo can be included.
- No advertising, religious art, sexual content, negative imagery, or political partisanship.
- Artists are discouraged from using very dark color palettes due to heat sensitivity of the utility boxes.
Artists may submit up to three designs for consideration.
Evaluation and Selection: Applications will be evaluated on innovation (30%), originality (30%), connection to community themes (30%), and conformity to the template (10%). Artists are encouraged to visit the proposed sites to create appropriate and contextually relevant designs.
Terms and Conditions: The wraps will remain on the utility boxes for 3-5 years, depending on condition. The City of Brownsville reserves the right to remove the wraps at any time. Selected artists must agree to allow documentation oftheir artwork process and participate in video interviews. The City holds the rights to all images, photographs, and videos produced.
Traffic Control Box Dimensions:
- Size 1: D 27.5” x W 44” x H 53.5” (outside downtown area)
- Size 2: D 18.5” x W 26” x H 49” (downtown area)
Artwork submission: Applications with digitized artwork in the provided template must be submitted to cobsubmittals@brownsvilletx.gov no later than June 21, 2024, at 4:00PM CST. If a design has already been submitted and does not adhere to the stipulated requirements, a staff member from the City of Brownsville will follow up with you for additional information.
