Art in Transit, the public art program of the Utah Transit Authority (UTA), is an integral part of UTA's Rail Capital Projects. UTA and its Art in Transit partners have commissioned public art at 22 station sites in conjunction with three light rail projects in Salt Lake County. These works of art enhance UTA passenger's traveling experience as well as showcase elements of community identity, history and values.
UTA Bus Stop Mural Program
What is the Bus Shelter Mural Program?
The Utah Transit Authority is launching a unique program to involve youth groups, senior citizens, artists and other members of the community in designing and painting bus shelter murals.
The community-based Bus Stop Mural Program will create a unique community art collection that will be a source of pride. The program will also help to deter vandalism and graffiti while improving the aesthetics of bus transit.
Starting a Mural Project
Please send an email to Tina Bartholomew at tbartholomew@rideuta.com to create a proposal.
- Please include your name and the location of where your work will be done.
- Please include a to-scale sketch of your proposal for UTA approval. Utah Transit Authority must approve the final design on all projects.
- If you plan to create the design as part of a student course please describe the theme and process you will use. Please be aware that the group will be required to create a to-scale sketch for UTA approval prior to receiving the mural panel and paint kit.
- The Lead Artist will be responsible for coordinating the mural project, as well as assuring that the mural is complete.
UTA anticipates that 8 murals will be placed in the system each year. If your group is selected UTA will contact you to coordinate the timeline and pick-up of supplies.
- The mural panels are 35 1/8” x 44 ”
- The paint kits will include: primer, and 12 quarts of 100 % Acrylic Latex paint. (2 White, 1 Each of black, green, red, purple, pink, yellow, orange-yellow, brown, deep blue, and teal)
This should be an exciting experience and opportunity to make your mark on your community. Please remember to adhere to UTA’s design recommendations and policies.
Design Recommendations
- Dust and clean your mural panel
- Prime your mural panel (must completely cover all exposed plywood).
- Outlines should be painted with a small brush or latex paint pen.
- Paint over all of the primer and exposed plywood.
Content Policy and Graffiti Deterrence
- No words should be used in the mural design. You may paint the name of your group in one-inch block letters in the lower right of the mural.
- Avoid large flat areas, faces, figures, and jumbled designs that may attract graffiti.
- Do not use the image of a living person.
- No obscene, indecent, or controversial material will be allowed.
For More Information
If you or your group would like to volunteer to paint a mural please fill out the form. If you have questions regarding the Bus Shelter Mural Program please contact Tina Bartholomew at tbartholomew@rideuta.com, or Joe Olsen jolsen@rideuta.com.
Art Gallery
Artist: Cara Koolmees
Shelter Location: Washington Blvd., 25th St., Ogden
Story: 25th Street epitomizes the heart of Ogden, with activity on the street as well as in the buildings and on the sidewalks. I look to find the exaggerated color, pattern and shape in my environment, paying no heed to traditional spacial elements. With bold saturated color I interpret gesture and rhythmic movement that reflects the personality of the street. I do not try to recreate but to record how the subject's color touches me. In evoking my feelings toward the subject I invite the viewer in, rather than just observing from a distance.
Artist:McCall Takos (Northridge High School)
Shelter Location: Weber State University, Ogden
Story: The meaning of art is like going on a journey through life. It starts out with just a blank canvas or piece, and usually you have an idea of what you want to do, but sometimes you're not totally sure where you're going to go with it, or how it will end. While you're going along ideas come up or unexpected things happen. You have to learn to roll with the punches, deal with these unexpected happenings and continue on. The best part is nothing is totally set in stone. You are the creator and can add or take away from anything that has been done. If the artwork isn't going down the path you want, you simply re-evaluate what you have and make the changes necessary to continue on the right path.
Artist:Nancy Grisanti Clark
Shelter Location: 23rd St. and Washington Blvd., Ogden
Story: I wanted to portray Ogden's eastward and westward views as well as its past, present and future. The railroad tracks, water tower and 1930's Municipal Building represent the past. The grain and ski industries as well as the Salomon Center are from the present. The future is illustrated by the Ogden River Walk and the 5th car on the FrontRunner train. I chose to use a cubist style that layers and interconnects the various shapes, which I believe works to integrate all these themes together. I purposely left details vague to give the viewer something to work out on their own. I wanted a work if art the UTA daily rider would find interesting and enjoyable.
Artist Group: Art at the Main
Shelter Location: Location not yet selected.
Story: Art at the Main, located in Main Library in downtown Salt Lake City, is a Utah artists co-operative and gallery that helps promote local emerging artists. Artist members of Art at the Main participate in many public educational art programs and art appreciation endeavors. We were immediately interested in working as a group to complete one of the community-based bus shelter panels. Our artists created a design that would highlight the interests and special landmarks that define Taylorsville.
Artist: Brody Ism
Shelter Location: Location not yet selected, Westminster College area.
Story: The joy of painting to me is the limitless possibilities and complete freedom that is found in a blank canvas or wall. Anything at all can be painted, the laws of physics and cultural norms are optional, and the fantastic can be side by side an everyday object that may not even be recognized in the future. However, as soon as one line is laid down, possibilities begin to limit themselves with every brush stroke, spray, and smear like a puzzle that slowly reveals itself only to finally scream "STOP! I'm finished!" The meaning of the painting is often mysterious, even to myself, and will conjure up a variety of interpretations depending on age, gender, ethnicity, income bracket and species. Let me know what it means to you.
Artist Group:Waterford School Upper School Painting and Drawing Class students Anna Adondakis, Rachel Brunner, Elizabeth Dee, Parker Dolbin, Jamie Duke, Seth Egan, Zephanie Huang, Garrett Jensen, Kathleen Rao, Gabrielle Regenhardt, Scott Renhard and Jeannie Woller.
Shelter Location: 9400 S. 2000 E. Park-and-Ride Lot, Sandy
Story: This class adapted work from a current assignment for the bus shelter. Their studies of mannequin figures were embellished with the accouterments of a bus riding crowd. Hustling business men and women, sports enthusiasts and every day hipsters all rush to catch the bus.
Artist Group: Waterford School Class II
Shelter Location: 9400 S. 2000 E. Park-and-Ride Lot, Sandy
Story: This class has studied Australian aboriginal people in social studies and art. They have learned that artwork is a very special and often sacred form of communication. Their work reflects a great love and respect for the land that gives them their home and food.
Students designed this mural with those thoughts in mind and were encouraged to design the piece with their love and respect for the earth and community. Sixty-four students collaborated on the design and painting process.
Artist Group: American Fork Arts Council: Julie Ann Allen, Cheryl Crenshaw, Merianne Nelson, Arlene Newcomb, Angie Player, Marilyn Owen, Diane Sebring and Denae Wise.
Shelter Location: Highway 89 and 848 W., American Fork
Story: This mural was designed and painted by eight artists active in "Table Time," an open art time sponsored by the American Fork Art Council.
The mural portrays a brief historical story of American Fork City. Fremont and Ute Indian tribes made their homes in the area at various times. In 1850, Mormon pioneers were sent to the area to establish a community. A panel also shows a sunset on Utah Lake, where many members of the community boat and fish.
American Fork has earned a reputation as being a "city of music," supporting the award winning American Fork High School Band and the American Fork Symphony. The people of American Fork proudly support activities of the theatre, visual arts and sports. The mural portrays these programs by using symbolic objects in its panels.
Artist: Tami Rodeback
Shelter Location: 810 W. State St., Pleasant Grove
Story: Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees," officially became a town on Jan. 18, 1855. The original name of city was "Battle Creek, Utah" named for a battle that occured in 1849 between the Ute Indians and Mormon settlers. Later, the settlers gegan calling their town "Pleasant Grove" due to a grove of cottonwood trees located in the area.
This mural depicts a picture of a log cabin, nestled in a grove of trees in early-esablished Pleasant Grove, with Mount Timpanogos in the background. Mount Timpanogos is 11,749 feet high and overlooks many cities in Utah COunty, including the town of Pleasant Grove..
Click here to view the UTA Bus Stop Mural Program Brochure (PDF, 1 MB)