Arts & Theatre
StreetSpark Murals Beyond Utility
Posted on Oct 5
17 utility boxes brighten up the streets of Hamilton, Ohio.
StreetSpark was founded to further the creative identity in Hamilton, Ohio through exciting murals and public art projects. The program creates engagement by producing high quality art, providing opportunities for local artists and enhancing the visual appeal of the city. Learn more about the 17 utility boxes below!
Colors of the River
Location: Rhea and B Street
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Sarah Hynfield
This utility box design is a love letter to color and the joy it can inspire. This piece was created in hope that it might brighten the day of folks passing by!
Windows for Hamilton
Location: Pleasant and Hooven Ave
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Michelle Furr
This artwork comprises four distinct stained-glass motifs that capture the essence of craftsman, mission, prairie, and art deco styles. These designs are harmonized by a shared color palette. They serve as a homage to the architectural heritage of numerous local residences and the area's rich tradition of producing stained glass and windows.
All Aboard!
Location: MLK and Hanover St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Kiera Fisher
The idea for this mural comes straight from the train that cruises by it. As kids, trains were like pure magic, zooming past and leaving us in awe. This mural design is intended to capture that amazing kid-like feeling. The community is filled with so much diversity, so the artists wanted to highlight this through the girl's race and give representation to Black/Hispanic people.
Welcome to Hamilton! What's your Sweet?
Location: High and Third St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Sarah Daniels
Hamilton provides a wide array of delightful desserts. These locally-owned establishments are linked with scrumptious treats and hold significant places in our recollections: commemorating victorious home runs, marking graduations and birthdays, embarking on the donut trail with family, and sharing updates with friends. These instances collectively infuse our lives with added sweetness.
Eye of the Day
Location: Second St. in Rotary Park
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Linda Augutis
This vibrant floral pattern seamlessly complements the adjacent "Taking Flight" mural and the diverse sculptures within Rotary Park. Daisies, which are a native perennial, embody the essence of spring and friendship in the local context.
Sweet Summer
Location: Main and D St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Nicole Chance
The purpose of this utility box design is to inject a burst of color and optimism into the passerby's experience. The striking geometric motif and lively hues ensure its distinctiveness in the surroundings, representing unwavering courage. Its abstract form also grants viewers the freedom to discern their own profound interpretations.
Retro
Location: High and Second St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Missy Blake
This dynamic and animated abstract pattern brings a lively touch to this corner, infusing it with a modern burst of vibrant color.
Simply Bold
Location: Main and C St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Katie Fee
This timeless yet bold floral arrangement evokes a sense of gentle happiness and tranquility. It embodies concepts like growth, transformation, renewal, and beauty. While flowers may seem uncomplicated, they carry immense significance.
Kids
Location: Park and D St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Brett Hartsfield
"Kids" is crafted to mirror the diversity of children in the area, symbolizing the emerging generation. The aspiration is that a child encountering this box will recognize their worth and visibility within the community through its depiction.
Stamp Collector
Location: Court and Front St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Emilie Abrams
This design seamlessly integrates the neighboring post office by incorporating the motif of postage stamps and showcasing numerous iconic landmarks from Hamilton.
Power of One
Location: High and Monument Ave
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Victoria Wheeler
Inspired by the monument's stained-glass windows portraying women's wartime roles, this design's colors echo the theme. The dragonfly symbolizes transformation, while two vertical winged women reflect the cultural shift toward female empowerment. To extend this idea, the artist arranged diverse depictions of women's hands uniting to form a universal human heart image.
Cardinals in the Birch Trees
Location: Main and Eaton Ave | Fire Station 24
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Lori Kay Farr
Depicting Ohio's state bird, the red cardinal, two large mosaic-style paintings of these birds are positioned against a vivid sunrise backdrop. They stand amidst a cluster of birch trees, renowned as pioneers symbolizing renewal and progress – qualities the city has embraced in recent years.
Prost
Location: Monument and Market St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Paul Loehle
This design celebrates a community's German roots and river connection. It humorously portrays the unpredictable Canada goose, resembling a human with an Oktoberfest hat. The hat nods to the German Village, Municipal brewery, and local bars. The flip side features a hop, nodding to the brewery scene, while the festive flying V and colorful stripes highlight diversity and festivity.
Butterfly Abstraction
Location: Main and F St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Julia Lanham
By utilizing abstract representations of butterfly wings, this design aims to emphasize the critical decline of pollinators in our current world. This subject demands attention due to its far-reaching consequences, including food scarcity and the potential extinction of specific species.
Here Comes the Sun
Location: High and Front St
Credit: StreetSpark
Designer: Ashley Houchens
"Here Comes the Sun" is inspired by my magical experiences at RiversEdge amphitheater, immersed in music and river sunsets. The sunset motif evokes the 70s starburst, coupled with music notes radiating out. Side panels feature elements from Heritage Hall, including cloud and field imagery from Hamilton Mill door cutouts, reminding us of the city's embraced beauty.
Expressions of Power
Location: High Street and MLK Blvd | Traffic Signal Cabinet
Designer: Anissa Pulcheon
This design wraps the utility box, offering a dynamic view from all angles. It captures the timeless essence of girls' power, joy, and creativity amidst evolving fashion. Celebrating diverse women is a recurring theme, not limited to special occasions. This daily celebration features patterned attire, charming details, and falling confetti. Creating art honoring diverse women and gender-fluid individuals is crucial due to societal neglect. Amid dismantling harmful systems, lighthearted art adds joy and delight to this endeavor.
Changing the World, One Kid at a Time
Location: Main and B St | Traffic Signal Cabinet
Designer: Brent and Lavelle Billingsley
This design is a collaboration between a father and son artist duo. The background art comes from Brent Lavelle Billingsley II, an 11-year-old from Hamilton. His father, Brent Billingsley, portrays his son in the foreground, symbolizing Hamilton's diversity. This team's artistic journey extends to various community projects with organizations like HYPE and across Greater Cincinnati. The mural embodies Hamilton's youth exploring their creative voices.