Art of the Intersection: Painting O.C. One Light Box at a Time

Waiting at a red light in Ocean City has never been such a pleasure.

Volunteer artists from the group Community Art Projects (CAP) were hard at work on a beautiful Tuesday painting the metal boxes that accompany traffic signals at intersections.

In less than two years, CAP artists have painted more than 20 light boxes, and they added another 14 on Tuesday.

With the new round of painting, all city-owned light boxes will be painted, and CAP hopes to get permission to decorate light boxes on county-owned roads in the spring, according to CAP President Leslie Skibo.

The gray metal of the traffic equipment provides a canvas for colorful designs of each artist's choice. All must be representative of Ocean City, and many include themes related to nearby buildings — dalmatians near the firehouse, school supplies near the Intermediate School or a postcard near the post office.

Tuesday's work is part of CAP's mission to beautify public spaces. The nonprofit community organization has created art projects throughout Ocean City, including murals, sculptures and the signal boxes. The group was part of partnerships that helped dedicate a new 9/11 memorial sculpture at the Ocean City Fire Department earlier this month and bring a new sculpture to the front of the Ocean City Community Center this summer.

"We're really the only community around that's doing this," Skibo said. "I'd like Ocean City to be known as an arts destination."

Skibo said a tour of all public art in Ocean City could eventually be a draw that could bring people into town at any time of year.

"We're very fortunate to have artists donate their time," Skibo said.

Locations and artists:

• 6th & Ocean: Aaron Bender
• 8th & Atlantic: Christine Cleary
• 8th & Ocean: Doug Beckert
• 8th & Wesley: Helene Tolson
• 10th & Ocean: Nancy Palermo
• 10th & Wesley: Jamie Kelly
• 10th & West: Carla Migliaccio
• 14th & West: Brian Weaver
• 15th & Wesley: Carla Migliaccio
• 18th & Wesley: Frances Hughes
• 18th & Asbury: Mary Alice 
• 18th & Bay: Sue Rau
• 24th & West: Ginny Mulford
• 24th & Bay: D.J. Rossiter

Community Art Projects is planning one of its major fundraisers — Fright Night — for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26. The adult costume party takes place at the Ocean City Yacht Club, and tickets are only $60 per person, if purchased before Oct. 7. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Fright Night page on the group's website.

For information on CAP, visit communityartprojects.com or call Skibo at 609-425-2687.