If you’ve recently walked past the corner of Forest at Claremont, you may have noticed the recently adorned electrical box with a beautiful butterfly painting—turning this industrial eyesore into welcoming artwork.
The utility box was painted by a Rockridge artist, Abbie, who was given approval to create the mural by Paint the Town, an Oakland organization that brings color and creativity to local neighborhoods.
Abbie was approved by Paint the Town to create a mural for the utility box at Claremont and Forest.
Launched in 2017, the Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT) program supports community-led public art and neighborhood placemaking throughout the town. It encourages creative, colorful, inclusive, and positive designs that reflect Oakland’s diverse communities. The program has since expanded to include murals on utility boxes owned by the City of Oakland, offering more opportunities to transform everyday public spaces through art.
For approved projects, OakDOT covers eligible material costs up to $2 per square foot, with a maximum of $2,000 for street murals, and up to $300 for utility box murals. The City also covers the required street obstruction permit for approved street mural painting events.
This box, at the corner of Shafter and 51st, was the second utility box was approved by Paint the Town, and was painted by Victoria Katz this past September. Photo: Jason Patton
The mural at Hermann and Ayala (pictured below) was organized by a bunch of Rockridge neighbors, led by Andy Waggoner and Molly Dickens.
”The murals were a vital part of place making and creating connection among our neighbors. These murals cemented lifelong friendships that I credit with our resilience during the pandemic,” said Waggoner
The Intersection of Hermann and Ayala at Martin was completed by Andrew Waggoner and other Rockridge neighbors in October of 2019.
The Redwoods with stenciled butterflies and ferns were painted in July of 2018 at the intersection of Ayala at Martin at 58th.
Residents interested in painting their neighborhood can review program requirements and submit an application online. Learn more about eligibility, design guidelines, and the application process at OaklandCA.gov/PaintTheTown. All proposed murals are subject to OakDOT review and approval. Applications are available at tinyurl.com/PTTapplication.
