It's very tacky and just looks like blight. I'ts basically an attempt to ghettoize Pleasanton. I have seen this in major urban cities and it's urban blight. This does not fit into Pleasantons clean image. The idea that this form of graffiti will deter another form of graffiti is just ridiculous. First of all we don't even have graffiti problems on our electrical boxes or in Pleasanton overall. Just because urban cities are aggressie with as thier approach with fighting blight with blight, doesn't mean it works or fits with Pleasanton.

Kelly, as much as I hate to say it, as I do enjoy painting, these things do look rather tacky.

I would rather my tax dollars go towards paving the numerous roads in bad shape(stoneridge, Stanley or Valley, anyone?), but that would be too practical I suppose.

I like the bright works of art. It adds to the friendly atmosphere. I would also love to see your work Kelly and Frequent Walker Miles. There seems to be lots of talented artists in town.

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I like the idea, not my artistic favorites, but I applaud trying something different......though I hope we didn't pay top dollar for this. Would be a fun art project for local schools, each gets a box and comes up with a theme / display.

Pam, I find that people like who don't like other peoples opinions, personally attack them like you did me. Let me restate my opinion just for you:

It's very tacky and just looks like blight. The majority of Pleasantonians don't want random murals painted around town and i'ts basically an attempt to ghettoize Pleasanton. I have seen this in major urban cities and everyone I know considers it urban blight. This does not fit into Pleasantons clean image. The idea that this form of graffiti will deter another form of graffiti is just ridiculous. First of all, we don't even have graffiti problems on our electrical boxes or in Pleasanton overall. Just because urban cities are aggressive with volunteer graffiti as thier approach to fighting blight with blight, doesn't mean it's art or even fit within the hometown look and feel of Pleasanton.

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Take a look at picture #6 of this article. A drab dark green utility box. That's the standard that we are comparing these painting projects to. I like the painting in picture #2 of the butterflies: nice, bright colors and a pleasing theme. My least favorite is the one in picture #4 because, while it is well done, it is too reminiscent of the style used by many graffiti works.

Let me just say- I like the idea. I also believe it is quite fitting for Pleasanton. Anyone else enjoy them as much as I do? I love the murals around downtown also.

It brightens up the downtown. Now, if we can change our parking to the style of parking Livermore has we'd have it made!

why do you think Livermore parking is better? I am curious.

I love it and my kids love it I think it's a great way to cover up the slightly boxes

As an artist I like seeing art even on the utility boxes. Art is always subjective, so some I like and others not so much and it's OK. Not everyone will like everything all the time ~ It would be nice to see them changed up each year and perhaps next year get the schools involved to show their School Spirit and Artistic Talent ~

The Art Piece at the Senior Center would be fun to change up too. If that were to be repainted by different artists each year, that would keep it interesting and something to look forward to, artistically and community wise ~

The Artists did not get paid for their time just the cost of doing the project, materials only.

@Claudette: " It would be nice to see them changed up each year and perhaps next year get the schools involved to show their School Spirit and Artistic Talent "

Regular changes and updating should be part of the plan. One advantage to the drab green utility boxes is that they probably age better than a utility box decorated with a bright, colorful painting. After a few years, a drab green utility box still looks like a drab green utility box, while a bright colorful painting starts to looks progressively worse as the colors fade.

Paint is available that lasts more than one year. Maybe half of the boxes could be painted by children/teens and half by adults. Are paint stores willing to provide the paint for free or at a considerable discount? If there a Senior artists at the Senior Center, can one of them be selected to do the painting? One need not be an artist to do the painting.

I love little life they add to rather huge plain green/ gray boxes.
Being an artist, I appreciate the amount of hard work each artist has pt into this. It is not easy. I am sure city will change it in 2-3 years (that is legit time considering amount of hard work this requires)
I like how they chose location for each artwork. fits perfect.
My favorite is Poppies & Pleasanton Downtown one. Adds color life to locations.

Adds a bit of color and whimsy to our town. I like it - better than the drab boxes without any decoration.

Of course, no one will ever agree on the art work, but that's art isn't it?

I like them, well the one by concert in the park with the kids on it is kinda creep, those fingers haha. But most others are nice. Milpitas has also done theirs recently too and those are very cool and colorful.

The reality of art is that a few individuals like it but the majority doesn't understand it. In this case I don't understand how the city staff could have allowed these obnoxious colors when we have such a nice place to live. It looks like inner city graffiti to me an to most of my friends and family and to be honest I would love to find out who approved this at the city. It is almost as bad as the new Starbucks building on Main Street being built without a parking lot? Are there that many unintelegent people working for the city of Pleasanton? Did someone get paid off to look the other way? This kind of nonsense has to stop because it's only going to get worse if we don't do anything about it!

The artwork is great, that oversized chain store Starbucks is not!!!! Didn't we lose about 8-10 parking spots?? Where are all the "in lieu" of parking fees going??

There are many ways to view art. No individual speaks for the majority of residents in town with regard to understanding art.

I don't find colors obnoxious. FYI: colors are the attributes of light and not colored objects. What one perceives in the morning, high noon and when it's dark are changes.

To say to be honest implies that you are not honest. What is it?

I truly appreciate the painted boxes.

Might this attract attention to utility boxes that should be left alone by children and pranksters? Did we have a problem before? Were these eyesores or did they just blend in? How many residents, children really took notice before? Some types of utility boxes used to burn butterfly wings, remember? I truly support and enjoy local art, but is this truly necessary or wise?

What's is "necessary and wise"?

:) :) :)
Art is always subjective. not everyone will like everything.
Sure, city officials who approved his know that.

To those wondering about if out small town had grafitti issues 'ever' .. yes.I saw one recently on vally & santa rita. later that box got fresh paint coat by city. Have seen it almost always on box neat parkside/ sports park.
So there!

To those wondering about 'small town' 'ghettoism'[for me- any town is 'hood' or 'ghetto' - of any or all races :)]
and to those iffy about colors....
colors are part of life! why not embrace them?! think global!

To those worried about 'tax dollar'. did you read article? did you read 'stiepend' these artists got?!!! - read again. than think.

To those commments about letting kids paint - excellent idea. and sure city will take that up. but to initiate this- their approach has been excellent so far.
wonder how many who wondered about letting kids do it- actually read this article.
peppy purple & yellow happy faces near Amador High is done by HIGHSCHOOL KID/YOUTH- (yeah graffiti style- but hey! its near highschool- those kids get it!)

Change is inevitable! For me, this art is sight of Joy.
I enjoy boxes in livermore, walnut creek, and many many other downtowns.

Good job city officials, for allowing it.
Thank You.

"To those worried about 'tax dollar'. did you read article? did you read 'stiepend' these artists got?!!! - read again. than think."

Frankly I don't even know how to begin to address the various issues one can raise over this statement.

RE: "Wise". Just a question about safety. Years ago environmental groups sued then PacBell because utility cabinets were generating heat that was searing the wings off butterflies. No joke. This led to general concerns about the safety of little ones with little fingers that like to explore. Perhaps THESE utility boxes are "safe" for painting, but could this project generate otherwise unwanted attention and curiosity about other kinds of utility boxes/cabinets, owned by PGE, telecom carriers, private entities. Do all inquiring creative minds, children and adults, have ability to discern whether or not utility cabinets should be approached/touched at all? Should these be considered canvases at all? Is it best to simply leave them alone? Not sure how this has worked in other communities or if this has generated other safety issues. Just wondering myself. (And I have long been a supporter of local arts.)

I think that we should have had the art students from the high schools do this. the people we are paying for this have the art skills of a 3 year old. These boxes make us look like idiots.

Although it is irrelevant, someone brought up the topic: I welcome Starbucks to downtown. Yay!