By Tara Goldstein

Traffic box art does not mean artists are just painting pictures of traffic lights. This trend involves printing images on vinyl and wrapping them around traffic light boxes — and the Laurel Arts Council is all in on this creative and fun way  to introduce more public artwork in the city. 

“We asked for artwork that contributes to the aesthetic and cultural atmosphere of the city of Laurel and the location of the traffic box,” council representative Kayleigh De La Puente said. 

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Laurel High School students’ art work is on display at Laurel Towne Center.
Courtesy of the Laurel Arts Council

The council received 15 submissions during a contest they held in March. Members are designating a jury to select four designs that will be installed in the city. 

According to De La Puente, the images will be printed on high-quality, graffiti-resistant vinyl wrap. 

Traffic box art wraps benefit the community in a number of ways. They provide lively visual interest and even prevent graffiti, De La Puent said. The council’s project is giving local artists a chance to have their artwork displayed publicly, too.

The Laurel Arts Council has enhanced other locations in the city, too. One of their recent projects involved hanging Laurel High School student artwork in previously empty windows at Laurel’s Town Centre. 

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Laurel High School students’ art work is on display at Laurel Towne Center.
Courtesy of the Laurel Arts Council

“The final result is stunningly beautiful and better than we could have imagined. There is so much artistic talent in our local school community, and it is wonderful to find alternative venues to display this talent,” said De La Puente, of the window art.