The Outside the Box Project was initiated in 2016 and utilizes art to combat graffiti. Traffic Boxes made up 70 percent of graffiti incidents. The cost of redesigning a traffic box is far less than the amount utilized to remove graffiti multiple times throughout the years. These public art projects not only help save city funds, but they also help build a sense of community ownership and support artists, many of whom are local residents.
Close to half of this project was funded by an SCFD grant awarded to the Thornton Arts, Sciences and Humanities Council (TASHCO). The TASHCO Funds Balance paid for the remaining amount.
About the artist: Chris Haven has created street-art masterpieces all over Denver. You can find his murals a midst the color and chaos in the Santa Fe Art District, in River North, and along Larimer Street for the street-art celebration Colorado Crush. Chris Haven even made his way to Art Basel 2013 at the Wynwood Walls in Miami, Florida. He is truly representing for the Denver art scene. Haven utilizes bold lines and intense characters in his signatures. He has designated walls in practically every neighborhood in Denver. Follow Haven on Instagram @chrishaven.