Based on staff research Miami-Dade County Art in Public Places (MDCAiPP) commissioned a series of artist designed vinyl wraps for traffic control boxes located in Miami-Dade County District 11 (The West End). The project was implemented in collaboration with then Miami -Dade County Commissioner Juan C. Zapata and funded entirely by the Office of the District 11 Commissioner. Image of completed project attached (Exhibit A).
The following information was obtained from MDCAiPP regarding the project scope mentioned above:
1. Project Budget: $35,000/ $1750 per box.
2. Number of boxes wrapped: 20
3. Material: 3M Vinyl adhesive (3-5 year life span). It was determined paint was not feasible or durable for this type of installation due to tags and graffiti. As well, the utilitarian nature of the boxes calls for a complex wrapping process, as ventilation and accessibility are necessary.
4. Maintenance: Approximately 1 box was replaced every 2 -3 months due to vandalism. Please keep in mind, this project is in a residential /suburban part of the County with light pedestrian traffic (if any at all). When the work was commissioned, a double overage of vinyl was produced in anticipation of high vandalism.
5. Ensure Professional, High Quality Artistic Content: Michelle Weinberg, a well noted and exhibited Miami based artist, was commissioned to create the design for the boxes. She created a geometric pattern that could be replicated on all of the boxes with inversions of the pattern. This was to ensure ease of replacement of vinyl.
6. Determine Ownership of Boxes: Various entities have boxes throughout the County, including Miami-Dade County Transit, FPL, Telecom, City of Miami Beach, etc. For this project, it took approximately one year to negotiate a contract with FPL to allow for temporary use of the boxes. The boxes owned by Miami -Dade County were secured through the Transit Department by the Office of the Commissioner.
If recommended for implementation, funding would need to be identified and the artist commissioning process would follow the City’s Art in Public Places Selection Process, which includes review by Historic Preservation Board /Design Review Board, as applicable, and approval of the City Commission.
Artworks commissioned by the City of Miami Beach should add value to the City' s public art collection, attract international attention, strengthen economic development and tourism and heighten civic identity. The Art in Public Places program commissions professional visual artists that demonstrate innovative, contemporary and creative approaches in addressing permanent, site specific works. The strength of the artist' s concept, design capabilities and established track record of museum/ gallery exhibitions are the program' s highest priorities.
The Artistic Utility Box Wrap Program is being presented for discussion to the Art in Public Places Committee at its monthly meeting on September 15, 2020.