Power Art Installations in Ann Arbor

PowerArt! is a public art & design project that wraps the traffic signal boxes in downtown Ann Arbor, MI with vinyl-printed replicas of local artists’ work.

In partnership with the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (AADDA) and the Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (AAPAC), The Creative Washtenaw is facilitated the selection and installation of artwork by local artists on power boxes throughout downtown Ann Arbor.

With a commitment to artistic quality and including the public in its public art and design projects, The Creative Washtenaw implemented a two-step selection process. For each of the three PowerArt! rounds, a call for art was issued to Washtenaw County-based artists and  at the same time, a call for a jury of art professionals and community members to select the top works. The jury then chose the top finalists for each call before the general public made the final selections through an online public voting process.

The final artist selections were printed and installed on to the power boxes at street intersections. Each artist received $1,450 for their artwork.

Community members and visitors alike have had great things to say about PowerArt!

• This is seriously cool. What a perfect canvas!
• Great work by these artists!  This is art that can be enjoyed by everyone…at an affordable price!
• Just love them….Also, why just downtown? City neighborhoods would benefit from some attention.
• Really nice! Hope these don’t invite vandalism (graffiti). Maybe the vinyl will be easier to clean off if vandals try to spray paint them. In the meantime, they look nice. 
• This is an AWESOME idea!

Participating artists have enjoyed the results and been impressed with the installations saying:

• Thank you for including me in this wonderful endeavor! I had so much fun and thoroughly enjoy all the boxes every time I walk through downtown – they’re all so amazing! It truly feels like I was a small part in something incredibly special.
•  I’m really pleased with how my artwork looks on its box and how wonderfully it’s held up to weather.
•  I love the project. All the power boxes turned out beautiful!

Additional support is provided by the Michigan Council for Art & Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts and The Creative Washtenaw’s Members & Donors.