MUNCIE — While driving around Muncie this summer, you might've noticed local artists hard at work on some street corners, transforming dull metal traffic boxes into public works of art. That's the "Box! Box!" program, and within the past four years, 73 boxes have been beautified.
A program of the Muncie Arts and Culture Council (MACC), Box! Box! in the 2021 season brought in 23 new works of public art to the city of Muncie, from McGalliard Road to Macedonia Avenue. This season's boxes included paintings of twinkling skyscapes, historical Muncie figures, nature scenes and more.
Sarah Shaffer, program coordinator at MACC, told The Star Press that while some artists were coming back for their second box, others were just getting started, as young as 13 years old.
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"We had the whole gamut, as we always do, of artists in varying stages of their artistic journey," Shaffer said. "(Some) were just starting out or seasoned veterans. It was wonderful."
Shaffer explained that artists were chosen in late spring after they completed an application with an example of what they were hoping to paint. Throughout the seasons, artists have often chosen a location special to them.