ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. - Opelousas continued its 300-year celebration with Boxed Art. The project is one of the activities planned for the City's 300-year celebration which takes place this year.
Boxed Art is an initiative to create more vibrant places and beautify the city through art. The project transforms ordinary metal traffic boxes into beautiful works of art that pay homage to the community's distinct heritage and culture.
The first traffic signal box was revealed to the public on Tuesday and is located at the intersection of Wallior and Vine and Landry Streets and features the artwork of artist and St. Landry Parish School Board Visual & Talented Arts Instructor, Jerome Ford.
Designs were submitted to a special commission and local art professionals and were then assigned to traffic boxes around the city. A total of 12 boxes are targeted for the project.
"The people are very warm, they have a really rich community, its small town, but its a really rich community and I hope they get that same vibe from this art," said Ford.
The art piece is a collage of three paintings by Ford that he felt represented the City the best.
Funding for the new initiative is made possible through a grant from Union Pacific Foundation which was secured by Opelousas Tourism. Additional funding is made possible through the Tricentennial Fund account as well as anticipated sponsorships.
Next month an exhibit featuring the work of Creole Folk Artist Rebecca Henry will take place at the Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center.
