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City of Lexington requesting designs for utility box artwork

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Lexington artist Stevie Moore submitted this design for the utility box at the corner of N. Limestone and Short streets in 2019.

Lexington’s Public Arts Commission is looking for artists to decorate some of the 400 utility boxes scattered around the city. Heather Lyons, the director of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the mayor’s office, said it’s a chance for artists to express themselves – with some limitations.

“We ask that it not include any kind of advertising, brand names, logos. We really want it to be pure design, and not promoting any particular something.”

Lyons said the designs can’t be metallic or anything that would cause a glare for passing motorists.

“For this particular call, we are hoping to establish a pool of artists and designs, but we can't do all 400. For this summer, we're hoping to do six.”

Lyons said they’ll keep the other submissions in the hopes they can decorate more utility boxes next fiscal year. She said community members will help select the winners and the artists will be paid $1,200.

Lexington utility box art program

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.