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Apache Junction arts panel recommends high‑school design for traffic cabinet mural
Summary
The Apache Junction Public Art Commission voted unanimously to recommend Submission 2, a design by a student at Apache Junction High School, for a traffic cabinet at Ironwood Drive and Southern Avenue and will forward the recommendation to city council along with the other entries and the Youth Advisory Council’s rankings.
The Apache Junction Public Arts Commission voted 4-0 on April 30 to recommend Submission 2 — a design by a student from Apache Junction High School — for painting on a traffic control cabinet at the northeast corner of Ironwood Drive and Southern Avenue.
The recommendation, sent to the City Council for final approval, follows a public-arts contest open only to Apache Junction High School students. Erica, a city arts staff member who presented the entries, told the commission the mural has “a lifespan of up to 5 years” and that painting should not begin before May 24.
The commission reviewed five submissions and discussed readability for drivers, pedestrian visibility and how the designs reflect high school pride. Commissioners and staff noted that some designs contained fine detail that might be difficult to reproduce on a cabinet and that larger, bolder shapes would read better to passing pedestrians. The Apache Junction Youth Advisory Council (YAC) ranked the entries and gave Submission 2 top placement; the commission cited that alignment in its decision.
Following discussion, the commission moved and seconded a motion recommending Submission 2 “as the winner in the AJHS traffic cabinet public art contest for the proposed traffic cabinet design on the northeast corner of Ironwood Drive and Southern Avenue to be painted by the selected artist if available and interested with the help of the Apache Junction Youth Advisory Council (YAC).” The roll call vote recorded Commissioners Meek, Smithson, Chairman Danford and Vice Chair Colette voting yes; the motion carried 4-0. The commission said it will forward all entries and the YAC rankings to the City Council and noted that the selected student artist would paint the cabinet freehand, with support from YAC and city staff.
Commissioners also discussed the possibility of additional cabinets and other public surfaces around the city for future student contests; staff said several cabinets and sites remain available and that the Arts in Public Places Fund would cover materials and related expenses.
The commission approved organizing another contest for additional cabinets and confirmed a recommendation to allow the artist to sign the finished piece. The recommendation made on April 30 is advisory; the City Council must approve the selected design before painting begins.
