The Royal City is going to the dogs.
Photographs of some of New Westminster's four-legged friends are now adorning two electrical boxes in the city, one near Sherbrooke and East Columbia streets and another near Eighth Avenue and Eighth Street. A third one is being added at 12th Street and Sixth Avenue.
"We are putting another one in because we had so many people respond to this," said Greg Magirescu, the city's manager of arts and cultural development. "I wanted to take over the function of the electrical boxes as another potential canvas for artistic expression."
Historically, the city's electrical department has been responsible for the boxes.
Magirescu, however, believes the electrical boxes provide an opportunity of engaging the community in artistic endeavours and offer a venue for artistic expression.
In an attempt to engage the community, the City of New Westminster sought photographs from local residents of their pooches for a Dogs in the City wrap for some electrical boxes. Magirescu thought the city might get 20 or 30 responses and the project would be a good one for an arts intern from Langara College to work on.
"We got over 200," he laughed. "It really became almost a full-time job for the intern. People were showing up at city hall and wondering where they could get their dogs photographed. It was a good problem to have."
Having completed wraps for two electrical boxes, the city realized about 40 photographs hadn't been used, so a third wrap is now being prepared. Sloan Elphinstone, an assistant in parks and culture department, is fielding many of the phone calls about the Dogs in the City boxes.
"She is getting calls from people who are so excited," Magirescu said. "It goes to show you the level of community involvement."
Sadly, one of the electrical boxes was vandalized shortly after its Dogs in the City wrap was installed.
"One of the residents who had submitted a photo of her dog went to look at it. The wrap had not been on it for a week, and it was vandalized," Magirescu said. "Someone had ripped one-half of one side of a box. We are going to have to rewrap it."
Magirescu said each of the box wraps costs $650 to $700. He's hopeful residents will continue to take ownership of their neighbourhoods, as has been the case in Sapperton where people have been vigilant about maintaining their mosaic art tiles installed on the sidewalks.
"It is very upsetting," he said about the vandalism. "There was such a feel-good sense around this project. To have somebody deface it like that - is quite upsetting."
While it's no secret that many New Westminster residents are fond of their dogs, the city has also heard from other pet owners.
"We have heard from cat and fish and bird owners," he said. "The sky is the limit really. We are open to ideas. I don't think there is a shortage of ideas."
For now, the city is working with New West Artists on plans to wrap up some other electrical boxes in artwork.
"We have given them eight boxes to work on as a project," Magirescu said. "Their members are so excited. It's a chance for artists to showcase their work. They are trying to come up with some themes."
A few of the boxes located in the city already have New Westminster themes depicting scenes such as the quay and World's Largest Tin Soldier.
"There are a few like that," Magirescu said. "The manufacturing company we work with went out and took some photos. Those are custom."
A box near the police station features historic black-and-white photographs relating to the police department.
"It's a good example of telling history on the boxes," Magirescu said. "They are mainly designed for pedestrians who have time to stop and look."
The City of New Westminster hopes to treat the electrical boxes as small canvasses for public art.
"There are good examples from around the world," Magirescu said. "I have seen dozens and dozens of creative applications of art on electrical boxes."
In addition to wrapping boxes with vinyl, Magirescu said the city is exploring the use of paint on highvoltage boxes that can't be covered in vinyl. He noted there are some good examples of really fun and colourful painted boxes in Vancouver.
