Creativity on the Common: Burlington Expands Public Art Beyond Sculpture Park

Public art can take on an assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and styles – and Burlington’s public arts scene has featured many. 

Colorful mural on the side of a public building? Check. An assortment of unique sculptures that liven up your daily walk? Check. A solar powered art gallery on wheels? Check. But for Burlington’s next initiative, the canvas is something much simpler: an electrical box.

Barbara L’Huereux, Chair of the Burlington Public Arts Committee (formerly called the Sculpture Park Committee), said that within the last six months the committee has set their eyes on expanding the types of public art works in Burlington. When it came to determining the focus of this new project, the goal was to figure out how to beautify the town in a budget-friendly way.

“One of the challenges that the Public Arts Committee faces is that we are completely donation funded,” said L’Heureux. “So it’s a wonderful way for us to take something, an electrical box that’s either ugly or just not noticeable at all, and make it something fun and whimsical and pretty on the Town Common at very low cost.”

The committee, as their previous name would suggest, had primarily focused on the Sculpture Park – work that has been successful, said L’Heureux. 

This included Pigs on Parade last summer, a sculpture installment of 10-15 large pigs displayed on the Town Common. Residents were able to pass by the assortment of abstract and uniquely painted pigs on their daily walks and immerse themselves in the creative designs.

“What we’ve learned from that is that the public responded very positively to that project,” L’Heureux said. “They loved having the pigs… they loved having outdoor art they could interact with in our beautiful Burlington Common.”

Now, rather than molding materials into something new, local artists are putting their own spin on the existing structures in town. 

Von Larson, a Burlington resident, volunteered his imagination to this new project over the summer. A senior at Pingree High School, Larson said art has always come naturally to him. He has been painting since he was just a kid and says the passion runs in the family. His “grandfather was a skilled artist,” said Larson, “so I think it comes from my father’s side of the family.”

Larson said that before he started this project, the design he would paint onto the electrical box needed to get approved by the town's Select Board. For inspiration he started looking at the electrical boxes located throughout different areas and thinking about how he could create something specific to his home of Burlington. 

The Mill Pond Reservoir is an iconic backdrop and special to Larson, who grew up close by. “I spent a lot of time there fishing,” he said. His final creation shows this spot from different vantage points, giving residents a closer look at its picturesque scene. 

Von said this piece, which features an assortment of color, design, and close attention to detail, took a lot of preparation and dedication as he had to juggle it alongside a “busy summer schedule of work, hockey, college tours, and also having to work around the weather.” He said that starting with this blank canvas was a challenge in itself, as he had “to figure out how to wrap the scene around each side.” 

Larson said that displaying his art to the public, especially in its beginning stages, was something that he has never done before. But as he devoted himself and his creativity to the process, the opinions of others didn’t matter.

“Once I start painting, I don’t really focus too much on what others will think of the finished piece,” Larson said. “I’m doing it more for myself.”

As he enters his senior year, Larson said he hopes to continue on this path with an assortment of art classes and projects to pack into his portfolio and display his creativity.

While this is the only electrical box currently being painted on the Town Common, L'Heureux said the Public Arts Committee would love to see more of these projects continue. She said that the committee is performing outreach to secure more local artists who can brighten the town with their talent, in addition to taking submissions about ideas for future designs. 

“We’re going to also reach out to some student artists through the high school, and we would love to have more of those boxes painted,” L’Heureux said. “We’re also very open to artists submitting their ideas to us and we would love to take them forward.”

The Public Arts Committee is also looking to combine community engagement with creativity as they work towards creating a community mural project in the coming year.

“So, there’ll be a design created hopefully by our high school honors’ students art classes,” said L’Heureux, “and we would grid it out, and have different members of the community, anyone who wants to participate come and paint their little piece like a mosaic almost.”

While L’Heurex did say that this idea is still in its early stages, they are looking forward to getting the people of Burlington together to create something that everyone can be proud of.