Playing Cards

Found this today - artists in Tacoma, Washington, have a Kickstarter campaign going to create a deck of Tacoma-themed playing cards! The deck will feature the work of 14 local artists. And they're saving the Joker cards for local legends.

Jackson needs to do something like this! Couldn't you just see Frank Melton as the Joker?

Official Unveiling/Walking Tour

So, the reasons I put this blog together are as follows:

1. I love art, I love Jackson, and I wanted to give a big hug and shout-out to all the artists in the area who have shared their talents with us through this project.

2. I am friends with or at least acquainted with many of these artists, so I know how hard they work and how under-appreciated they can be at times.

3. I wanted to create a handy guide for people to be able to easily find these boxes, or, if you're not able to view them in person, to make you feel like you're there.

But, the Greater Jackson Arts Council is ultimately responsible for this project, and they created a handy-dandy guide, complete with map, that I received tonight at the official unveiling. A small but enthusiastic crowd gathered in front of the Arts Center at the corner of Pascagoula and Lamar this evening to celebrate this fabulous new addition to Jackson's art scene.

Some of the artists were in attendance:

Then Mayor Harvey Johnson said a few words:

Mayor Johnson said he got the idea for the traffic boxes from a visit to Columbia, Missouri, where they did something similar. Say what you will about Harvey, but I'm happy he supports the Arts in Jackson.

And here is the map and guide so you can take your own walking tour! I would imagine the GJAC still has some printed copies to give out, too. My friend and I walked it in about a half hour or so. It's good exercise and a good way to see downtown Jackson! I absolutely cannot wait until the next wave of boxes are finished. If you are an artist and want to apply to paint a box, you have until August 28 to do so. Contact the Greater Jackson Arts Council: (601) 960-1557.

Pascagoula and Mill - Chung Fan Chang

It was really a pleasant surprise to find two more boxes today. As I was making my way toward Mill and Pearl to find Ming Donkey's box, I spotted this one at the corner of Mill and Pascagoula, also near the railroad bridge and across from the pile of rubble that used to be a building (but burned down a few months ago). This particular corner is pretty desolate right now, so the traffic box adds a cheery splash of color to liven things up. For frame of reference, I included a picture of the rubble at the bottom. It's kind of beautifully ugly to me - I'll almost be sad when they clean it up. Almost.

I'm hoping to be able to fill in the blanks for many of these unsigned boxes after the unveiling and walking tour on Thursday.  UPDATE: And I have! Thanks to the handy-dandy guide, I now know that this box is by Chung Fan Chang, who teaches at Jackson State University. Her box was the very first one! The guide says that she helped to work out the "kinks" in painting these boxes and helped the other artists troubleshoot for their paintings. Keep in mind, these boxes are metal, so I imagine there must be some prep work involved before slapping on the paint, or otherwise they'd be peeling and chipping already.

The box locations were chosen at random, but it is interesting to me that Chung's happened to be in close proximity to JSU. I think that's appropriate, don't you?

 

Pearl and West - Levernon Perry

This is a very random one. What's fun about these boxes, if you approach them from the side, often you have no idea what the full painting will be. Some artists choose to use the box more three-dimensionally, while others treat each side as a separate canvas. I was intrigued by the tree on one side, and then totally surprised to find musical notes, a yin-yang and a yellow bird (Is it a canary? An oriole? I don't know my birds) on the other sides. The only clue to the artist is "Perry" in tiny blue letters at the bottom right of the side with the musical notes. UPDATE: His name is Levernon Perry. He is an artist with VSA Mississippi.

Pearl and Congress - Tom Harmon

This is a fun one. I thought it really would've been perfect up near the Eudora Welty Library, but this is just as good a spot as any. This box features shelves filled with books by Mississippi authors and notables. We are quite proud of our writers in this state! This one is by Tom Harmon, who is a teacher with VSA Mississippi. VSA stands for "Very Special Arts," and is a program to help provide people with disabilities an opportunity to express themselves through art.

Pearl and Mill - Jason Triplett aka Ming Donkey

I knew it. I knew that I had somehow missed a couple of boxes. I thought I had heard or seen something about Ming Donkey's box, but I never found it the first time I went "hunting." If only I had gone a little farther down Pearl or Pascagoula, I would've found two more. I feel like I keep saying, "This one is my favorite," but seriously - so many of these are my favorites. I've admired Jason's work for a while now. He creates characters that get stuck in your brain, like the workers, and incorporates words or phrases into his pieces that enhance the imagery. Jason also performs music as Ming Donkey - like so many of these artists, he is multi-talented.

To my credit, this box is not as easy to find as the others. It is nestled into the brick wall at the railroad overpass behind the parking garage for the King Edward hotel. And it is glorious! Another message about working together for the greater good.

Official Unveiling of the Traffic Boxes

The Greater Jackson Arts Council, from whom the funding comes for the Traffic Box project, is hosting an official unveiling of the first series of traffic boxes this Thursday night near the Elvis Box on Pascagoula and Lamar. Bring the kiddos! 

As they used to say in one of my favorite Jxn commercials: "Sure as shootin,' I'll probably see you there..."

From the Greater Jackson Arts Council's Facebook page:

Looking for a fun, family friendly event to see great public art and mix-and-mingle with even greater folks? On June 21st under the Planetarium on Lamar Street we are having a traffic signal box art street party and walk through from 5-7PM! There will be live music, free food, beer sales, and snow-cones. And if you want to wind-down afterwards there will be a "Screen on the Green" in the Art Garden at 7PM(with concessions and cash bar) where they will be playing the film 500 Days of Summer. So come out and bring your friends and family! For more information call Tammy Golden at 601-960-1557 ext. 224.

Pearl and Farish/Pearl and Roach - Justin Schultz

I recognized Justin's work right away. He got lucky and painted two boxes - they're across from each other on Farish and Roach Streets. This fun robot and a little girl with pigtails are talking about their Capitol City! Justin is the artist behind The Flying Chair, and if you're a music fan you've probably seen his cool rock show posters around town.

Pearl and Lamar - Bill Wilson

It's hard to think about Jackson, or Mississippi, without thinking of music. That's why it pops up as a theme again and again with these boxes. Bill Wilson turns musical notes into playful creatures and butterflies frolicking along a backdrop of polka dots and bright colors. When I visited Bill's website, I was surprised to find that he is also an excellent portraiture artist. You can find pictures of Bill's process in painting the box on his site too.

Pearl and President - Ormond White

Here's Ormond White's ode to working together as a community - something that Jacksonians actually do well, when we set aside our differences. I believe it's one of the reasons our city is coming back. Working together really does work!

Pearl and State - Nathan Robertson

I am not as familiar with Nathan Robertson's work, but his strikingly bright magnolia-themed box on the corner of Pearl and State is definitely attention-grabbing. Sorry about the lighting in a couple of these, the sun was going down and I couldn't get a great angle. This one is easily seen as you approach the red light at Pearl Street. Those shadows in the 2nd picture are actually from the big marquee banners that always advertise upcoming shows and happenings downtown.

Lamar and Pascagoula - Shannon Valentine

Elvis!! I was really excited to see that someone took on Elvis. I don't know Shannon, but I like her already. Shannon's Elvis knows Kung Fu and will beat your ass if you step on his blue suede shoes. You can find this fun box in front of the Convention Center at the corner of Lamar and Pascagoula streets.

UPDATE: I got to meet the lovely Shannon Valentine this evening at the unveiling/walking tour! She told me the reason she picked Kung Fu Elvis is that a lot of people forget he was such a big Kung Fu fan. Admittedly, I forgot this fact myownself! But it's true! Check it out: