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It’s been more than seven years since a humdrum gray utility box on the corner of Eureka’s Fifth and H streets was transformed through the power of art into a brightly hued donut cheeseburger.

Over the subsequent weeks, quite a few more utility boxes received creative makeovers thanks to Eureka’s Strategic Arts Plan, a multi-year endeavor which has also included a series of street art festivals, the Waterfront Trail artistic benches and the official certification of downtown Eureka as a California Cultural District. 

However, the bright hues from that inaugural utility box art season have dimmed in the intervening years, and Eureka is looking to make them pop once again. Will there be public controversy like last time? Who can say?!

We’ll let the city’s latest press release take it from here:

The City of Eureka is bringing new life to one of its most colorful community projects: The Utility Box Art Program. Supported by a Clean California grant and in partnership with Caltrans, the City is revitalizing artwork on utility boxes along the U.S. 101 corridor through Eureka. 

Originally painted in 2017 and 2018, many of the boxes have weathered years of exposure, making it time for a refresh. The City first reached out to the original artists, inviting them to touch up their existing work or propose new designs. After those artists had the opportunity to participate, a public call for artists was issued to fill the remaining boxes. 

The Eureka Art & Culture Commission reviewed and approved all new designs before forwarding the catalog to Caltrans for final selection. This round of updates also introduced a new option: artists could now have their work reproduced as a vinyl wrap instead of painting directly on the box. Vinyl wraps offer greater durability and can be easily replaced if a box is damaged or swapped out in the future. 

Over the next several weeks, our community will see artists and installers at work along the corridor, adding a renewed burst of creativity and color to Eureka’s streetscape. 

The City extends its appreciation to Caltrans for funding this effort through the Clean California program and for continuing to support local beautification initiatives. Following this phase, the City hopes to secure additional funding to refresh utility boxes in other areas throughout Eureka. 

Artists who are interested in future opportunities to create public art in Eureka are encouraged to follow the City’s social media channels, where all upcoming artist calls and public art opportunities will be promoted. 

For more information about the Utility Box Art Program, please contact the City of Eureka Economic Development Division at EconDev@eurekaca.gov.