It’s hard to believe my last Outside the Box post was seven months ago. I have many images to share; just haven’t got around to them until now. Becky’s #SevenforSeptember Squares, Dan’s #ThursdayDoors and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-ups gave me a nudge to review my photos and select seven square images for September.
The murals on these traffic signal boxes are created by trained artists as part of the City of Toronto’s Public Art programs. Look closely to see the door handle at the front of the box.
I hope you enjoy the murals. I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #177 below. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Natalie the Explorer 
oh aren’t these wonderful. I do love it when utility objects are decorated
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Thank you, Becky. I’m pleased you liked these boxes. I hope to share seven more squares next Friday 🙂
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fabulous. I look forward to it
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These are such fun murals, Natalie. There’s nothing like turning a necessary item that’s usually an eyesore into a work of art.
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Thank you, Dan. I agree they do look nicer than ordinary traffic signal boxes.
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These are certainly different. I don’t remember ever seeing anything like it where I live in New Jersey. I am not sure I like them though. It is too busy for me.
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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Toronto really has great public art. Love the Women mural.
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Teresa, I’m pleased you like that Women mural. I like the colour scheme on it and of course the Vote for Women message 🙂
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Such interesting murals! I’ll have to look around my city today when I’m out getting a haircut.
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Please share if you see any in your city.
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We have a hydro box on our front yard. It’s green and not very nice to look at even with the flowers I planted around it. It would be nice to see some artwork on it.
Happy Friday, Natalie.
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Nice artwork usually enhances its surroundings and lifts people’s mood. Have a wonderful weekend, Shari.
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Very true.
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I love these! So full of energy.
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Thank you, Margaret, for your comment. I love colours and may have gone overdrive for this post 🙂
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Nah! We all need colour.
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Absolutely gorgeous murals, Natalie. You are so fortunate to live in a place with incredible arts, culture and nature all around you!
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Hi Donna, Thank you for your lovely comment. I feel grateful every day for having easy access to nature, arts and culture.
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So beautiful ❤️
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Aletta, Thank you for your lovely comment. I hope you’ve been keeping well. Have a wonderful weekend!
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I am well thanks Natalie, enjoy your Sunday.
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I really like the flowers and the vote for women boxes. I’ve noticed that our local towns have started doing the same thing with all their boxes. I like seeing the various designs but I have yet to take any photos of them..
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Joanne, That’s great to hear your local towns have started doing murals with all their boxes. I hope the town residents like them.
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These are great! I like the votes for women one but also the one just above which is so cheerful. Thanks for sharing.
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Barbara, Thank you for your comment. The box with the cheerful mural is located near a Recreational community centre so the painting shows people wearing winter accessories and being active.
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I occasionally see stuff like this in Saskatoon, but I am usually driving. But last week, I captured one and will share it tomorrow for my 7th 7.
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Bernie, I look forward to seeing your photo(s).
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They are all so colourful and turning utility into art is definitely worth it.
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These painted boxes look nicer than ordinary traffic signal boxes and they also deter graffiti on the boxes.
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Natalie,
What a great way to hide an ugly utility box. Thanks for sharing, and have a lovely weekend. Have the temperatures become more seasonal up there? Joe
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Joe, Thank you for your comment. Over here, the temperatures are nice this week and next week, daytime highs 68F-78F and evening lows 52F-66F. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Hi Natalie, these really are clever and creative, I love the effort that has gone into making these utility boxes more appealing.
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Hi Debbie, I agree these are clever and creative. I’m pleased you liked them.
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i love traffic signal box art, and we have lots of it here in Brisbane. Such a fun thing!
cheers
sherry
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Sherry, Thank you for your comment. Good to know that Brisbane has lots of traffic signal box art. Have a great weekend!
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Hi Natalie I love these murals. It’s really impossible to pick a favourite. You’ve inspired me to check out the street art in my city. I’m really not sure that we have much, but I will go looking.
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Hi Jennifer, Looking for street art is a fun “treasure hunt”. I’m delighted to inspire you. I hope you find some interesting art and share with us.
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The painted boxes are great, a creative way of taking the eye-sores and turning them into something beautiful.
I hope you are enjoying your weekend and have a wonderful week ahead 🙂
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Trent, I’m pleased you like the painted boxes. Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!
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Beautiful pics of the murals, Natalie! Have a great weekend!
https://rosemarycarlson.com/2024/09/07/weekend-coffee-share-177/
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Rosemary, Thank you for your comment. You have a great weekend, too.
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I recognize some of those muralists’ names. I will have to find some of these.
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These muralists, especially McCluskey and Comrie, have done lots of murals in Toronto.
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So beautiful ! We had boxes decorated like that in my city of Jacksonville at one time. We seem not as Arts minded now, and I hope that changes. Take care! Pam
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Pam, I hope Jacksonville brings more arts back to the city. Have a great weekend!
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Those are some very cool utility boxes! It’s not that common to paint utility boxes here in Sweden, but when I occasionally see a work of art out there I think about you, since you shared so many gorgeous ones previously.
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Maria, Thank you for your lovely comment and for thinking of me when you see a work of art. I have a digital folder for my “Outside the Box” collection 🙂
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The murals are an interesting addition to what would be an otherwise broing bax.
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Agree. I like most of the murals that I’ve seen around here.
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Hi Natalie! I finally made it for the weekend coffee share link up and I’m also sharing on separate posts with Becky’s Seven for September. Your photos are beautiful, love the artwork!! 💞 Thanks for all you do and for making blogging FUN!! 🤩
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Hi Diana, I’m glad you made it to the WCS link-up. Thank you for your lovely comment. I’m off to read your blog now.
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You always manage to find art everywhere, how cool! I obviously can’t comment on the pictures since I’m blind, but I think it’s wonderful that there’s street art that’s actually art.
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Thank you for your comment. Toronto is a great place to find art. The city has programs to promote street art and they draw international artists.
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I love seeing murals and street art, add a lot of colour and character to cities
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Murals and street art have become more popular in many cities and they attract visitors.
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I love the second box. All of them are very cool. Thanks for sharing them. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you for your comment. Have a great week ahead!
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Isn’t it strange? When you are blogging regularly, it dominates your life and you can’t imagine a day without. Once you make the adjustment, you wonder why you spent so much time on it. Hours you’ll never get back, but never a waste of time…
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I hear you, Jo. The genuine blogging connections keep us going. I’ve made a few adjustments to what I write about and how frequently I blog so I can continue to have fun with blogging and not letting it taking up so much of my time. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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It’s a such a difference when utility boxes are painted in the neighborhood!
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When the utility boxes are painted by trained artists, they become visually attractive.
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I’m pretty sure I got introduced to the concept of Public Art here and with a few others who blog…and this is another great sharing. Thank you Natalie
Denyse #TeamWWWhimsy
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Denyse, One of the great things about blogging is that we get to share our interests and what’s on in our surroundings. I’m pleased you like this post. Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Natalie, gosh there are some talented people around! I love them all but especially the first one by Erin McClusky and the Votes for Women one by Jacquie Comrie. Hope you’re having a wonderful week. Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy ! xo
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Hi Min, Your two choices are excellent. Erin McCluskey and Jacquie Comrie have done many murals in Toronto. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week!
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I love these photos, Natalie and the same thing is happening in Australia with wall murals on buildings and traffic or power boxes. They certainly brighten up the dull city buildings but also have meaning behind the painting. #TeamWhimsy
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Hi Sue, I’m glad to hear Australia also has similar public art programs. It’s a win-win situation; artists get to paint while the city and the public get to experience art. Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week!
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I live in Toronto and enjoy art in public places. Thanks for highlighting them here
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Thank you for your visit and comment. Torontonians are fortunate to have an abundance of public art to enjoy.
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