WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - A cheerful swirl of parents, daughters and guests flooded the gallery space of the West Sacramento Community Center, located at 1075 West Capitol Avenue on Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 for a ribbon cutting ceremony launching Girl Scout Troop 808’s Utility Box Public Art Installation. In this first of its kind event, Scout Troop 808 has created artwork that is hanging in the gallery of the Community Center in addition to being applied to the outside of the utility boxes located across the street and around town.

“The girls deserve so much credit for putting this event together,” explained troop leader Sarah Kirby-Gonzalez, who has two girls participating in the art show. “In fact,” she added, “they have earned the Girl Scout Art Badge and Public Speaking Badge due to the amount of public communication involved in making this event happen.”

A bevy of young girl scouts draped in their uniform sashes and large arrays of merit badges stood solemnly near their art hangings for the first part of this celebration.

Kelsey Corcoran, a member of Troop 808, stood at attention in the gallery, next to her art. “It’s a sunset,” Kelsey explained. “It’s from where my father works in the evening in the fields at Duckhorn Vineyards.” The feelings she experienced when remembering the outdoor grape fields where her father worked, until the setting sun said it was time to go home, can almost be felt by the observer. Kelsey’s framed and matted art piece is part of a showing that can be visited by the public over the next few weeks. Her colorful work features radiant bands of purple and red that represent the setting of the winery in Napa County where her father Taylor earns a living.

Other paintings in the exhibit also touch on emotional and inspiring tones. This includes a number of radiant outdoor scenes. From scenes of the Sacramento River to broad skyscapes of clouds and blue skies. Nature and the joy it inspires are fully represented.

Parents were anxious to brag about their children’s work. Leigha Banderas, also a scout leader and a scout mother, expresses her appreciation for the intricate art work created by the girls of troop 808. In addition, Jason (last name withheld) explained how impressed and proud he is of his daughter’s accomplishments. In addition to being a solid athlete in the sports of soccer and baseball, Jason reflects on how his young daughter Savannah can also excel in both art and in earning important merit badges in areas such as public speaking. “It’s amazing what they can do,” he explained.

The guests moved outside for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. The ribbon cutting was merely the symbolic gesture that allowed the beautiful boxes to be appreciated by all. Guests, bystanders and even city workers who had to open the boxes, could freely enjoy the colorful images.

The metal boxes standing on the sidewalk across the street from the Community Center will be wrapped in the same images of artwork that are currently hanging at the Community Center gallery.

According to Ciara, this transfer of art from hanging on the wall to outdoor utility boxes came in an instant.  Ciara gave credit to West Sacramento’s Arts, Culture and Historic Preservationist, Cheryl Gleason, for knowing how to contract with an outside business for art images to be transferred and then wrapped on a three dimensional structure, such as a utility box.

Kelsey Corcoran’s sunset landscape was placed on the side of the very first utility box. Squeezed between two other images, Kelsey’s work radiated the same emotions and textures that flowed from her artwork hanging across the street.