Eric Vaughn Holowacz Archives

Archives Items Relating to the Life, Times, and Cultural Engineering Work of Eric Vaughn Holowacz of Wellington, New Zealand and Sedona, Arizona

September 19, 2003

From Promenade Artists Press Release, September 2003

Beige boxes get wacky new lease of life

Wellington’s hitherto beige traffic light control boxes are coming to life through unique murals by Promenade Artists, an organisation dedicated to public art and creativity.


Wellington City Council’s Community Arts Coordinator, Eric Holowacz, says the project, is designed to add colour, vibrancy and original art to the urban environment: “It is a simple, yet extraordinary, idea and one that exploits Wellington’s creative energy at street level.”

The first two boxes to be painted are at the intersection of Mercer and Victoria Streets, and on Willis Street opposite Mercer Street. They will sport mural designs featuring flying parking attendants, moas in business suits and snails in neckties.

The first two featured artists, Catherine English and Justin Duffin, were selected to reflect the diversity of artists and creative forces in Wellington.

English has been drawing and painting ever since she could hold a pencil, while Duffin is a young artist who has recently completed a course in multi-media design and aspires to develop his own animation business.

Promenade Artists Co-Coordinator Kristelle Plimmer says if public reaction is favourable, thes scheme will be extended: “Our aim is to provide a canvas for local artists and to enliven the city by decorating that most ubiquitous of beige entities, the traffic signal box.”

For further details please contact:
Kristelle Plimmer, Promenade Artists, tel 385 0909.
Eleanor Whyle, Promenade Artists, tel 384 3488.