Students and Local Artists Transform Traffic Signal Boxes in Taos County

When my art teacher told me I had been selected, I was so excited,” says Bigbee, a sophomore at Vista Grande High School, whose design features a galaxy silhouette and two dragons. "I’m traditionally more of a portrait painter and a character designer. But I wanted to created something more general. I created a galaxy silhouette dragon—silhouettes with dragons in the background. I love public art. This will give Taos a little spice."

“This art piece was inspired by the beauty of New Mexico. Included in it are New Mexican animals, the desert, and a Taos mountain landscape," says Chiara Kozlovich, a local student artist. "I researched different types of New Mexico animals to include in my drawing. I included ten different animals that live in New Mexico, which all come together in harmony to symbolize what we as humans need to do. In the background there is a clear Taos sky and a snowy Taos mountain to symbolize peace.”

"This is an image of a Taos cowboy called Jim and his trusty mare named Polly. My painting style combines watercolor and acrylic, abstract and figurative, and the resulting simplicity belies the difficulty. I chose to use my painting "Jim & Pol" as a submission to the Taos Utility Box Beautification project because the image is graphic and strong, the colors pop, and the subject matter pertains to Taos. I am excited and honored to be chosen as one of the artists included in the project."

"When I first moved to New Mexico, I was delighted by the cow crossing signs with UFOs (I thought they were sombreros) welcoming me to Taos. Now, nearly a decade later, these signs remind me of home. That feeling and those signs are the inspiration for my box design. I love the choice of placing it by the old blinking light and toward the mountains on the way into town. If you stand in the right spot the mountains in the wrap line up with the real mountains, it's so beautiful and I am honored to participate."

"The desert is filled with beauty and magic even in the most desolate places. Sprit guides and plant medicines are there to guide you," says student artist Sara Nall. "Universal love and guidance is connected and flows through living things. There is a connection and forces that reminds os of the ebb and flow of the life force that creates everything."

"New Mexico True to me is wild horses roaming free," says Lorenzo Archuleta, a student artist. "The ranch house is from a long time ago but it is still standing. We need our water to grow our plants, to drink,and for the animals. This picture makes me feel wonderful because it makes me feel at peace and makes me feel youthful."

"This image represents some of the best winter sunset sky color over the mountains north of Taos, that I have ever photographed," Bundy says. "This raw and spectacular beauty is a great representation of how I see and feel the "True-ness" of Northern New Mexico."

"Before my wife and I even moved to New Mexico, we always thought of vast landscapes, deep blue skies gently kissed by the mountains in an awe-inspiring light," Weliver says. "For us, that will always be True, New Mexico."