News

By Ann McGuire

University Circle Incorporated honored the Cleveland Institute of Art with a Building the Circle Award at the organization’s annual meeting on Nov. 21. The award recognizes CIA for ArtBox, the collaborative effort through which eight Illustration majors created artworks that now decorate 22 utility boxes on Euclid Avenue between E. 105th and E. 123rd streets.

The illustrations are all based on a theme chosen by UCI: scenes from Cleveland and University Circle between the 1920s and the 1960s. A local company printed the digitally rendered illustrations on durable adhesive film, which was carefully wrapped around the boxes in late September.

Illustration students created the artwork while Graphic Design students designed the graphic labeling. Assistant Professor Larry O'Neal managed the collaboration for CIA. In total, UCI approved 15 scenes, which were affixed to 22 different boxes, some of which are double boxes.

“Assignments of this nature are part and parcel of the Cores + Connections academic vision of CIA, in which our students learn first hand how to apply their talents, communication skills, and ideas to producing meaningful products for their clients,” said CIA President Grafton Nunes, who was instrumental in promoting the collaboration. “The bonus in this case is that they are adding color and visual interest to our arts-focused neighborhood."

The ArtBox Project is part of UCI's Euclid Gateway Vision campaign, which has brought more than $7 million in public improvements to the district. Included in the campaign are a comprehensive vehicular and pedestrian wayfinding system, the redesign and reconstruction of University East Plaza at Euclid & Mayfield, and the installation of more than 30 bike racks and recycle bins along Euclid Avenue.

In 2011, UCI gave the college a Building the Circle Award recognizing the extensive renovation of the CIA’s historic Joseph McCullough Center for the Visual Arts. For a list of other organizations and individuals honored by UCI at its 2013 annual meeting, click here.

To view a Flickr album showing all 15 ArtBox scenes, click here.

Above: The artists behind (and in front of and on top of) the artworks now covering 22 utility boxes on Euclid Avenue posed with two representatives of University Circe Inc., consultant Christopher Bongorno, far left; and Director of Planning and Design Bryan Evans, far right.Illustration majors on the ground are, left to right, are Kelsey Cretcher ’12, Luke Graber ’14, Brittany Lockwood ’14, Paul Zagorsky ’14, Robert Benigno ’14, and William Appledorn ’14; on top of the boxes are, left to right, Cassandra Jerman ’14 and Kasey Olson ’14.