Bardia | Claire Foxton

My youngest nephew has been sick the last few days. He's a nonverbal autistic seven year old and it was hard to tell what was wrong. We had him tested for Covid after a two day fever which came back negative. On the third day when he managed to eat all of his breakfast we thought to test his energy levels and general wellness by braving a trip to the park to judge whether he'd be up for our Zoo appointment.

We took him to a local park which turned out to be an All Abilities playground and despite being a playground designed for them the swings, which is all they seem to care about, weren't standard swings and prevented them from finding the enjoyment they'd normally find.

Long story short I jumped back on Google Maps to find a better park and while sifting through playground photos saw a colored electrical box

The park was three blocks so I asked to have a sticky beak on the way home and got so much more than I bargained for. 

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bardia Ave, Bardia

After photographing my first box I noticed a second, not a 10 second walk, across the grass on the other side of the street

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bruce Ferguson Ave, Bardia

I was surprised to see Claire Foxton's TAG on the boxes and a small flicker of hope ignited within me.

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bardia Ave, Bardia


Last year I came across an article stating Claire had been commissioned to complete a mural in Prestons but never heard of the project going ahead. I rather assumed it was a dead project as so many had been affected by Covid. 

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bruce Ferguson Ave, Bardia

Regardless when I got home I opened Instagram and learnt Claire had completed these sub boxes a few days back and were quite new to the area. She was kind enough to send me a private message and I felt comfortable enough to ask about the Prestons project

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bardia Ave, Bardia


I was stoked to learn she had begun her Prestons mural and was due to complete it next month. I hope to visit the location tomorrow as it's super close to home. I also learnt that there were more sub boxes than the 8 I had photographed that day.

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bruce Ferguson Ave, Bardia

In total there are 15 sub boxes painted in the new estate and each is painted all the way around. The bulk of  the boxes are found on Bardia Ave, Bruce Ferguson Ave, Borneo Street, Eather Ave and Sister Haultain Ave

Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Bardia Ave, Bardia


There are three more boxes to account for. There are three boxes surrounding Brigade Park though they're not painted on Google Maps as the Google car rolled through well before Claires project began.
I'll try get there tomorrow but on the off chance plans fall though and life gets in the way consider looking for the remaining boxes on

Vevi Street
Arthur Allen Drive & 
Brallos Street
Bardia | Painted Sub Station boxes by Claire Foxton
Borneo St, Bardia

I will update this post when I photograph the remaining boxes!

Comments

  1. I like the way those utility boxes are decorated, we see a few here and there in NZ but nothing like that.

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    Replies
    1. Australia has made some great laws in the last decade. It was decided awhile back any developer who creates something with a budget over a certain amount there'd be a requirement to give back to the community in the form of donated public artworks. It's almost always street art now. Have to admit. I don't find many sculptures in newer estates these days and wonder if this new Street Art trend will slowly suffocate an art form. We had an annual event here in Sydney to celebrate public art but it's been cancelled the last two years.

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