<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Hello All, I am attaching a bit of information from our project in Klamath Falls. I will try to attach a couple of pictures.<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><blockquote id="replyBlockquote" webmail="1" class="" style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: blue; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana;"><div id="wmQuoteWrapper" class=""><br class="">We have 13 boxes that had been repeatedly tagged and “stickered” as long as I can remember. At an Oregon Main Street conference session, we learned that “taggers” tend to respect art work. The idea of putting art on the Utility Boxes became a goal of ours at that time. <br class=""><br class="">Because Klamath Falls is a National Birding Community, we decided birds of the Pacific Flyway would be the theme. We engaged the Klamath Falls Audubon Society and the local Community Foundation. Each committed funding to the project. So much that our organization did not have to put in any funding.<br class=""><br class="">The total cost for the project was about $9,000. We hired an “Art Advisor” that helped with design, scale, subject etc. We paid her $1000. She also helped procure the artists based on her knowledge of the local artist pool. We engaged our local university “CAD” programers to develop a template that artists could submit their design idea on. <br class=""><br class="">Each of the artists was paid $300, plus paint cost if they chose. Most provided own. That is a nominal fee for some of our nationally know artist’s, but they felt they were contributing to the community, so they were fine with it. <br class=""><br class="">The paint of choice was House paint. We removed all stickers with scrapers, sanded each box thoroughly, then washed with TSP. We then painted a “Kilz” type primer on each box. Once each artist decided on the background color, we painted the base coat for them. They could then come along and do their art on the base coat. Some took a few hours, some took several days. We encouraged some of the work to be done during our “Third Thursday” street festival. That was a lot of fun and well recieved.<br class=""><br class="">Eugene had suggested we put an “Anti-Grafitti” varnish on the boxes. Apparently, if someone were to spray paint this varnish, the paint would just run off. Honestly, we have not been happy with it. First of all, no one has spray painted them since the art work has been applied, and the silicone based varnish just attracts road grime and they always seem dirty. I have two boxes with out the varnish as an experiment, and they are as good as the day they were painted. I will, over time, be removing the varnish so that they won’t get so dirty.<br class=""><br class="">For a fun and educational element, we put about two paragraphs of information about each bird on the boxes. (provided by the Audubon Society) If someone would like, they can tour all of them and spend a few minutes learning about each bird. We also put a small “Maude the Midge” in a secret spot on each box. It is a child activity for those following their parents around the box tour. They can make a game out of finding Maude on each box. (Think Where’s Waldo)<br class=""><br class="">I would be happy to come to Coos Bay to talk more about the project. I could see “ Sea Creatures and Shore Birds” being the theme. Starfish, Sea Urchins, Seals, Oyster Catchers, etc. If not that theme, you could still use a “Happy Clam” as your “Maude the Midge”? :)<br class=""><br class="">I have included some pictures. (Two are small tabs. The Geese and the Wood Pecker) You will notice that there is a blank spot on each box. These were take before the words were put on. </div></blockquote></span></div></div></blockquote><div class=""><br class=""></div> Let me know if this is helpful or if you would like some additional information. Kendall in Klamath Falls!!<br class=""><blockquote type="cite" class=""><div class=""><div class=""><span class="" style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><blockquote id="replyBlockquote" webmail="1" class="" style="border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: blue; margin-left: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana;"><div id="wmQuoteWrapper" class=""></div></blockquote></span></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>