Corning picks art for utility cabinet boxes – Red Bluff Daily News

CORNING — The utility cabinet boxes of Corning will get an artistic makeover soon, thanks to some decisions the City Council made Tuesday night.

The council picked five pieces done by local artists that will be painted onto the boxes, which will be on South Avenue and 99W by Petro, Solano Street and 99W, Solano Street and Toomes Avenue near the northwest corner, Solano Street and Sixth Avenue by Edward Jones and Solano Street and Marguerite Avenue near the southeast corner.

The artists doing these pieces are Corning resident Ruth Myhre, Corning Union High School students Caidee Johnson and Abdiel Campillo, North Valley Services Program Manager Whitney Manning and Tehama Creatives member Phillip Moller.

Moller is painting “California Poppies” on the box at 99W and South Avenue. Campillo is painting “Lowrider Cars” on the box 99W and Solano Street. Manning is painting “Mental Health Awareness” on the box at Solano Street and Toomes Avenue. Myhre is painting the “Old Maywood Hotel” on the box at Solano and Sixth Avenue. Johnson is painting “Olive Trees with a Cardinal” on the box at Solano Street and Marguerite Avenue.

Each artist was required to give a statement about their pieces and why they wanted to participate in the project.

In her statement, Johnson said she wanted to do this painting because it combines two of her town’s biggest icons, olives and cardinals.

“I have created art most of all, almost all of my life, and I think this would go great on Solano and Marguerite because it is right down the road from my high school,” Johnson said.

City Manager Kristina Miller said the thought process behind this project is that the art pieces would rotate over time, so the art on the cabinets and other objects could change every few years.

Mayor Robert Snow echoed what Miller said, saying it is like the old concrete towers with cardinals the high school used to have.

The contestants that entered more than one design will be allowed to paint those designs on the trash cans throughout Corning Community Park and Lennox Fields, according to Planner Planner II Coordinator Chrissy Meeds.

In other business

Public Works Consultant Robin Kampmann brought a request from staff to go forth with a written proposal to inspire architectural and engineering design services for the city plaza and recreation center project.

She said this would be the second step that the city will take in this project.

The council unanimously approved the staff’s request.