Lake Detroit — The six Green Power Boxes of the Lake Detroit Public Utility will get a little facelift this summer thanks to a public art project being implemented by the city’s Arts and Cultural Commission (ACC).
The committee began laying out details of the project on Wednesday, February 22nd, and planned to seek approval and funding from the DLPU at its next meeting on Wednesday, March 7th.
The committee set an initial budget for the project of $6,000 and also specified the location of six power boxes to be decorated, which must be approved by the DLPU. A seventh location has also been identified if sufficient funds are available.
Contribution / Detroit Lakes Arts and Culture Commission
“DL Public Utilities allowed us to consider a larger electrical box (for decoration),” said Nancy Haggart, a member of the Arts and Culture Committee, and the DLPU was able to decide which boxes to decorate. I added that I need to give initial approval and final approval. Once the artwork is selected, approve it.
The commission uses a concept similar to that used to decorate Fargo’s utility boxes, but these boxes are smaller than those being considered for the Detroit Lakes project.
Contribution / Detroit Lakes Arts and Culture Commission
ACC has contracted Detroit Lakes Trophy House to provide a vinyl wrap of the original artwork that will be placed on the power box. They approved Trophy House as a contractor at a meeting Wednesday and gave $500 scholarships to each of the six artists selected to provide artwork for the project. We plan to cover all costs.
Artists are encouraged to create unique works of art for the project, but the central theme is “Energy of Lake Detroit.” Other than the theme, the design must not be profane or contain anything political, defamatory, defamatory, or otherwise potentially offensive. The committee is in the process of completing an application form and other documents that must be completed by artists submitting entries for their projects.
A tentative timeline has also been established. If the DLPU approves his proposal on March 7th, the commission will start soliciting entries from the artist, and he has a May 1st deadline for submission of design concepts. A judging panel (not yet selected) will then review the entries, select her six artists to include work in the project, and submit the selected designs to the city for final approval.
Utility box wraps are then made and installed over the summer. An announcement will be made in mid-September if all parts fit as originally planned.
