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The
Boulevard Arts District
The Boulevard BIA
has established an Arts District. After years of focusing on infrastructure
improvements, the association is now placing a greater emphasis on public
art. This is an opportunity to showcase local artists and continue the
progression of revitalization.
The BIA is interested
in presenting pieces of history and culture which highlight the evolution
of this historic roadway. To kick things off, the organization recruited
eight artists to paint 10 utility boxes. The Utility Box Gallery is
a project aimed at reducing graffiti by turning blighted elements of
the urban streetscape on El Cajon Boulevard into works of art. Reduction
in graffiti will result in increased business for the merchants of El
Cajon Boulevard as well as a sense of pride for people of all ages and
nationalities in the community. This goal of economic improvement through
art fits into El Cajon Boulevard BIA's goal of bringing public improvement
activity onto and adjacent to the Boulevard. Community art work creates
a more inviting, safe, and pleasant pedestrian environment, thus encouraging
walkability along El Cajon Boulevard.
Utility
Box Gallery
The theme of The
Boulevard Utility Box Gallery is focused on highlighting past happenings
along the Boulevard. Local artists as well as members of the community
are invited to contribute their time and talent to create colorful graphic
designs onto utility boxes in order to celebrate the history and uniqueness
of El Cajon Boulevard. Through these efforts, the El Cajon Boulevard
BIA has created the Boulevard Utility Box Gallery.
With the intent
of turning every utility box into a work of art as its current effort,
the BIA seeks to expand the visible experience through the eventual
installation of murals, along with sculptures of cars, trees, giants,
and animals, and events which celebrate the arts. In all cases, the
Boulevard Cultural Arts District seeks to partner with members of the
BIA and adjacent communities to develop the theme of local relevance
with every piece that is installed.
Click here to visit
the Map Gallery
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Art
District Map
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Click the map
image on the left to visit the utility box gallery map.
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Utility
Boxes
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Mario Torero
Location:
4304 Park Blvd
Theme: Identifies with the nostalgic toy train shop, Frank
the Train Man
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Rene Alvarez
Location:
1825 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Inspired by the Boulevard's historic development, artist
Rene Alvarez chose to document the paving of El Cajon Boulevard.
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Mario Torero
Location:
1905 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: This box is a tribute to great leaders throughout history.
Their images reside on the Boulevard in an effort to influence an
alternative mode of transportation. Driving a car day in and day out
is not good for our environment. In this depiction, Martin Luther
King recommends the bus, Cesar Chavez prefers a skateboard, and John
F. Kennedy is carpooling down the Boulevard in a motorcade, as he
did in 1963 on his way to San Diego State University to deliver an
inaugural speech. Artist Mario Torero, along with students and teachers
from the Cesar Chavez School in Barrio Logan completed this box in
celebration of Martin Luther King Day, 2008.
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Emily Mather
Location: 2345
El Cajon Blvd
Theme: The Lafayette Hotel, a historic gem on El Cajon Boulevard.
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Kelly Hutchison
Location:
2633 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Located in front on the Chicken Pie Shop, the prominent
looking chickens signify the importance of this long standing restaurant.
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Rudy Gonzalez
Location:
3105 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Drive-in restaurants and movie theaters began to pop
up in the 1930s and new possibilities for dining out captivated the
American lifestyle. For San Diego, Oscars Drive-in and the Campus
Theater on El Cajon Boulevard was where it was at. Artist Rudy Gonzalez
sums up all this excitement in one utility box.
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Rick Hines
Location:
3299 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: On the corner of 33rd street in front of Wells Fargo,
the artist captures that value of a triumphant multicultural environment.
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Daniel Klisser
Location:
3301 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Depicts the early development of Historic Highway 80
along El Cajon Boulevard, when there was little to be seen besides
open land and scattered homes, such as the little Victorian house
that is still situated on the 3700 block of El Cajon Boulevard, where
Emma Schnugg was born.
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Gibran Crol
Location:
3733 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: The three boxes are an interpretation of a garden, which
relates to a prior orchard farm once located at the site.
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Rudy
Gonzalez
Location:
3927 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: The artist was inspired to relive the Boulevard’s
old time favorite restaurants, including Oscars, Chicken in the Rough,
and Glenns.
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Manda Durham
Location:
4655 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Across from the Asia Business Center, the box eludes
to the previous presence of aviation on the Boulevard.
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Rudy Gonzalez
Location: 4776 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: A historic day for El Cajon Boulevard, when on June
6, 1963, JFK rode in a black limousine motorcade through Downtown
and up El Cajon Boulevard. Thousands of people cheered along the streets
as he headed to San Diego State College to deliver a commencement
speech.
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Gibran Crol
Location: 4885 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: In downtown San Diego, the Eyes of Picasso mural has
been a notable icon which has been relocated to several different
buildings throughout the years of new development. JFK's visit to
El Cajon Boulevard in 1963 is also a notable piece of history. Artist
Gibran Crol merged these two themes onto a utility box on the Boulevard
called Eyes of JFK.
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Rick
Hines
Location: 4951 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: Artist Rick Hines demonstrates his passion for the African
immigrants and refugee population who currently reside in our community
by revealing his deep understanding of the diverse African cultures.
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Troy Vaught
Location:
4952 El Cajon Blvd
Theme: On the northeast corner of 50th Street and the Boulevard,
theis box alludes to the many cultures that reside in this neighborhood,
commanding respect and love for all.
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Pablo
Acevedo
Location: 5415 El
Cajon Blvd
Theme: Depicts a link between our community's multicultural
heritage and a previous era when the Boulevard was nothing but farmland.
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Pete
Evaristo
Location: 5489 El
Cajon Blvd
Theme: On the northeast corner of 54th Street and the Boulevard,
Pete Evaristo completed a previous design by Paul Vauchelet who wanted
to add an artistic piece of security on to the Boulevard with a box
titled 'Neighborhood Watch.'
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To view a
slideshow of the utility boxes please check out The Boulevard's
flickr site:
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