Artists put their creative touch on traffic-light control boxes
By Mary Dennehy
TRAFFIC-light control boxes in local communities are getting a creative make-over, with close on 100 submissions being made by members of the community and groups.
South Dublin County Council has joined forces with Dublin Canvas, a public art project that brings flashes of colour and creativity to everyday objects – with the project painting 223 boxes in the Dublin City Council area over the past three years.
Come to your Sense artist Grainne Keogh in Saggart. Photo by Dublin Canvas
Here in South Dublin, 48 traffic-light control boxes are being colourfully revamped – eight within each of the council’s local electoral areas of Tallaght South, Tallaght Central, Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathfarnham and Templeogue-Terenure.
The tag line for the project is “Less Grey, More Play”, with the project striving to make South Dublin County a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
According to a report on the project by South Dublin County Council, some 99 submissions were received, out of which 36 submissions were chosen “as suitable” for the selected traffic light boxes.
A further call-out for submissions has been made to secure the remaining 12 ideas for the pilot project.
‘Howya Horse’ in Fettercairn by Geoff Tracey (left) and ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ Rathfarnham (right) by artist Éilis O’Neill. (Pics: Dublin Canvas)
To date, a number of revamped boxes in Tallaght, Rathfarnham, Templeogue and Saggart have been spotted, with all art pieces having a name and, in some way, being reflective of their surrounding community.
According to the council: “Traffic-light control boxes make perfect canvasses to showcase community art, as they are always naturally located in high footfall, high traffic areas.”
‘Community Spirit’ on the Firhouse Road by Maria Boyle (left) and Paul G. Lucaci’s piece (right) in Tallaght. (Pics: Dublin Canvas)
For further details visit www.dublincanvas.com
