Many cities have developed ways in which to encourage public art and beautify their cities and streets. Often, utility/electric boxes around town are painted and decorated. At times, the artwork can be breathtaking or provide some mind-opening social commentary. The styles in which many of these boxes are painted and decorated is vast.Â
Find A Decorated Utility/Electric Box:
Taking some inspiration from Dave Van Patten, take a photo of a decorated utility/electric box from around town that you feel is inspiring. A photo that shows you standing besides it is preferred, but not required. Be sure to also mention where the utility/electric box is located in your thread.
Be sure to embed your image/s (just like in the demo below). DO NOT attach the image/s in word doc or pdf files. Attached images that require downloading for viewing will NOT be looked at and the discussion will earn a zero.
Embedding Images Into Canvas Discussions (Links to an external site.)Â
Discussion Questions:
Tell us why you chose this utility/electric box.
What is it about the artwork that made an impression on you?
What do you feel makes it visually effective? Discuss the  principles of design and elements of art that are responsible for the visual impact created in the artwork.
Tell us your interpretation of the imagery, including the theme you feel is covered.
Avoid going to Google for answers to the questions. Adding a little info from a source is OK, but I really want to hear your very own thoughts.
Your Discussion experience will come in three parts:
Part 1: Taking some inspiration from Dave Van Patten, take a photo of a decorated utility/electric box from around town that you feel is inspiring. A photo that shows you standing besides it is preferred, but not required. Be sure to also mention where the utility/electric box is located in your thread.
Embed the photo to your thread. Avoid using huge file sizes, they may  not upload into Canvas.
Part 2: Write a short essay that answers the above questions and provide comments about your own viewing experience. Additions to your thread resulting from any added research is fine. But remember to stay on topic and answer the questions.
Part 3: Respond to a minimum of 2 other student Threads.
Sama PolusYesterdayJun 27 at 11:43pmManage Discussion EntryI chose a blue box covered in butterflies painted by Suzanne Mc Leod . This box really stood out to me because of the vibrant orange butterflies. Butterflies are my favorite insects, and the way the art was created with the beautiful blue back ground, and different shapes in the background really seemed to grab my attention. The art also had big darker blue than the background was and there was several swirls, and the same thing was done but with white paint. This made the beautiful big orange butterflies stand out so appealing to the eye. The theme that I feel was covered by this art is “Life” and I get this feeling around butterflies because they go through so much in order to become so beautiful and grow out detailed and stunning wings. That’s how I preserve life to be, having several hardships, until we pursue who we really want to be in the world.Â
Brandon NoohYesterdayJun 27 at 11:01amManage Discussion EntryI chose this utility box because throughout my life I have seen it a lot due to me always being in the area and living close by. This utility box is located on Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon. The main piece of the artwork that made an impression on me was the colors because they stand out a lot to me. I feel the main thing that makes it visually effective is the shapes of the mountains, I say this because the mountains are painted really good and they have a lot of details that make them stand out. This painting is really inspiring because they used an electrical box with nothing on it and decided to make it stand out, this shows that art can be found everywhere without us knowing. The main theme of this artwork is nature and environment, I say this because there are mountains on the front and a picture of the earth on the side.hh
