ART PLAN TO BRIGHT EN STREETS
ARTISTS and students are about to make Launce st on’ s streets their studio and traffic control boxes their canvas as stage two of the Electric Bot any project starts. Under the council initiative, the typically dull green plastic boxes on city street corners become vibrant art works inspired by the work of late Australian botanical illustrator, Margaret Stones. The artists were invited to study the extensive collection of Stones’ work held at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
Under stage one ,20 of the boxes were transformed at aware house and later installed along Wellington, Margaret and Bathurst streets.
Each interpretation is unique, with results varying from realistic works through to colourful abstract ions.
In stage two, artists will decorate some boxes in the street, while others are wrapped in pre fabricated art works designed by local high school students.
The trail of boxes will stretch from the CB D to Mow bray, along Inver may Rd and as far as the West Ta mar Highway and Prospect. Launceston Mayor Albert van Z et ten said the plan was to bright en the streets cape, provide a creative outlet for emerging artists and form a trail connecting eateries and points of interest for tourists and visitors. Artist Thomas Chandler was working on his fourth box on Paterson St on Tuesday–each one taking five to eight hours to complete. “I’ ve pretty much just been painting plants all week ,” he said .“I love the colours and the shape sand those are my primary focuses.” patrick.gee@news.com.au