North Texas City Turning Traffic Signal Boxes Into Artwork
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS (CBS 11 NEWS) - They are a staple at every intersection. But the gray-colored boring signal boxes, that control traffic lights, are being used for something else in North Richland Hills.
The city is turning intersections into art galleries.
"You get something to look at besides a piece of sheet metal," said NRH resident Roy Bobo. "It's a little bit entertaining."
The city has turned 15 boxes into canvases.
"It's in an invitation to someone to stop and enjoy an area in our city," artist Sarah Green suggested. "If it beautifies somebody's commute, which can be pretty rough in the North Texas area, then yay art is doing its job."
Green is behind the Hollywood Cowboys Series.
"John Wayne is the quintessential Texas cowboy," she explained. "I'm from England. When we moved to Texas my family and I all thought that we would turn into cowboys -- it didn't happen."
It looks like each box has actually been painted by hand, but they haven't. The artwork is a wrap and each piece costs $500 to $1500 depending on the artwork.
The works are funded through donations to the city's art program.
The city director of parks and recreation got the idea from Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2007 and implanted the art in North Richland Hills.
Green says the city is looking for more artists and hoping to expand the outdoor art gallery.
"I hope that we can bring in many renowned artists from the North Texas area and show their work the way it should be displayed that way everybody can enjoy it."
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