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Kuna arts commission selects mandala design for utility box, flags durability questions
Summary
The Kuna City Arts Commission on July 10 approved a mandala-style design for a utility box mural from local artist Courtney Manning, after reviewing three applicants. Commissioners raised questions about primer and long-term durability and asked staff to keep other submissions on file for future projects.
The Kuna City Arts Commission voted July 10 to approve a public-art proposal by Courtney Manning to paint a mandala design on a utility box as part of its 2025 call to artists. The commission approved the selected proposal by voice vote of the commissioners present.
The decision follows staff presentation of three applicants: Kylen Christie, a Kuna-based mixed-media artist who submitted three floral/abstract options with an estimated budget just under $2,000; Courtney Manning of Kuna, who proposed a brightly colored mandala titled “Harmony in Bloom” with a proposed budget of about $1,800; and Chase Binder, an artist living in Eagle who proposed a wildlife-themed wrap with a $2,000 budget. Staff said the call attracted three artists and five design proposals in total.
Why it matters: the utility-box program is a visible, low-cost way for the city to place art in public right-of-way and to involve local artists. Commissioners said the selection will inform future small public-art opportunities and asked staff to retain the other submissions for later projects.
During discussion commissioners raised concerns about long-term durability and proper surface preparation for painting on metal. One commissioner said they were “concerned with . . . using gesso on metal, and it should be a metal primer,” noting that improper primer could shorten the artwork’s lifespan. Staff noted that one applicant’s budget listed “gesso or primer,” and said the commission could condition approval to require a suitable metal primer and UV protective clearcoat if it chose to do so.
Commissioners also said they favored keeping the other submissions on file so the commission could consider them for future sites. Staff agreed to include a note in the notification to artists thanking them for submitting and indicating the possibility of future opportunities.
The commission did not specify a separate funding source beyond the arts commission’s regular small-project budget; proposed budgets from applicants ranged from about $1,800 to $2,000.
Next steps: staff will notify the selected artist and include the commission’s condition regarding approved surface-preparation materials if the commission directs it. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2025, when the arts commission will also review other projects and the fiscal-year budget as available.
