Ballard utility box beautification still in the works

The project to wrap Ballard utility boxes is underway, with five boxes along Market St chosen for public art.

Ballard Alliance formed the Ballard Public Art Committee to plan the project. The committee consists of seven community members whose goal is to bring more public art to Ballard.

The project has been granted approval from the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board, but they’re still awaiting approval from the Seattle Department of Transportation.

The five boxes are at the following intersections:

• Market St & 17th
• Market St & Barnes
• Market St & 20th
• Market St & 22nd
• Market St & Ballard Ave

Ballard Alliance held a contest in January for the public to vote on which artists would wrap the boxes.

Sarah Simon won first place, and she will be designing the three boxes between 17th and 20th.

Stevie Shao won second place, and she will do the remaining two on 22nd and Ballard Ave.

Kiana Ballo from Ballard Alliance tells My Ballard that they asked the artists to consider each other’s color palettes and to include a unifying element in on each box. Ballo says the element is a surprise, and will be like “an easter egg on each box”.

If everything goes according to plan, the boxes will be wrapped in the designs by the end of August. The wrapping can only happen when the weather is dry and above 50 degrees.

However, if SDOT doesn’t approve the project in time, the wrapping will have to wait another year, Ballo says.