Carol Welch's "Spring Melody" was recently installed in September 2016 at the corner of 4th Ave N and North Broadway. This was the highlight of my summer! Being a Billings native, I have so many memories of downtown. Even when I had my gallery and framing business on the west end, I would go downtown on my days off. I especially love that the Yellowstone Art Museum is visible behind one side of the box. I found my "perfect job" there as the Art Educator for almost 11 years. Breathing in art on a daily basis was the ideal stage for me to grow as an artist. A part of me will always reside there!
The Downtown Billings Alliance (DBA) Public Art Program continues to wrap traffic signal boxes with images of original works of art. A total of 16 wraps are complete including 9 installations this year. The DBA is a non-profit organization that seeks to develop and revitalize downtown Billings. In its third year, new art has been selected to be digitally transferred to a vinyl overlay that is professionally wrapped around the traffic signal boxes. The movement to wrap traffic signal boxes in original artwork has become popular throughout the nation and in other Montana cities such as Missoula and Bozeman as a way to enrich the cityscape and reduce graffiti. The vinyl is resistant to spray paint, markers, and the damage of adhesives.