You’ve probably seen one and stopped and maybe even smiled because it is hard to miss a large, cheerfully painted metal electricity box on the streets. I know, because there are also some here in Melbourne and is becoming a trend in many modern cities around the world.
Last week, I showcased doors from Rua das Flores. This week, I’m excited to present doors of Electricity Boxes from the same vibrant area in Porto.
We walked in the Porto side of the Duoro River. From the Sao Bento station, walking around the Ribeira diatrict heading to the Rua das Flores, we saw countless of electrical boxes, which nearly all have been decorated.
In 2021, 24 electricity boxes were decorated with the motto “500 anos da Rua das Flores” (500 years of Rua das Flores) marking the street’s anniversary.
Some of these are works of Guilherme Sommermeyer, Isa Silva, Oaktree, Isabella and Justin, Isadora Machado, Ricardo Ciriaco Almeida Macedo and Tiago de Carvalho. I am just not sure which ones were done by which artist.
I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge also to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge – PPAC and Becky’s SquareRenew
It’s so good that these electricity boxes are getting a cheerful makeover worldwide.
I know. It just makes drab spaces look so much alive. But I also understand why some people don’t like it, tho.
I suppose. But few things could be duller than an unadorned electricity box.
True 👍 have a good day Margaret and thanks for commenting
oh aren’t these wonderful – love it when this happens.
Thanks Becky.
These are so fun, Teresa. This is a trend that has only recently started to arrive around here, and I love seeing the decorated boxes. This is a great collection.
It really does make a huge difference, Dan. Thanks.
Oh, well done – I loved these utility boxes in Porto, and although I didn’t feature any of them in Thursday Doors, I did in my graffiti posts.
I didn’t see that post in graffiti. I was trying to look for it. But glad you liked my post.
https://scooj.org/2022/06/18/4511-porto-3/
Oh yay, thanks for that!
These are great, especially the pink flower – so cheerful on something so utilitarian! I wish the boxes near us could be decorated in this way.
Maybe you can start de orating them, Sarah. Are you up for a challenge? Haha
Haha – I’m no artist, that’s for sure!
cool electricity boxes
Thanks Tanja.
Thanks for sharing these folk art style electrical boxes. This trend is really beautifying cities.
It really does make a big difference to a city. Thanks Rebecca.
Wow!
This is really amazing
Thanks Hammad.
I particularly like the musical birds. But they’re all great. Here we have some good examples, too. And then we have a folk art style aquarium scene. And I had this déjà vu feeling. And then I saw it again. And then … our town has somehow chosen a foil so while the individual boxes look lovely they’re all just copies of each other. Very dissappointing.
I guess. It depends on what country you’re in. I think this one was based on Porto’s history… I think.
Here it’s a municipality thing. I’ve seen wonderfully creative ones around just our town seems to do the uniform thing.
How cool to use them as doors and art! Some very interesting ones for sure.
Glad you liked them, Bernie.
Sadly we have the unadorned dull electricity boxes here in both Prescott and Scottsdale. Nothing like how artistic Melbourne is. I was amazed that a street was celebrating 500 years. Our streets date back to the early 1900s and late 1800s at best. Maybe that’s why we still have boring electric boxes. They are still building streets. Our main highway between Prescott and Scottsdale is closed this weekend. LOL! Have a great week, Teresa. I enjoyed your beautiful boxes. 🙂
Melbourne is not as old as well but I was surprised at how Porto did it. And happy that I was able to share it here. Have a great weekend, Marsha.
You, too, Teresa.
I thought they only existed in Toronto, that’s great!
Oh yes, I have seen photos from Canada. So there you go, Porto has it too! 👍 Thanks Larissa
These are amazing. I’ve also seen them (or something similar) in Carvoiero in the Algarve
It is catching on 👍
What a fun collection, Teresa. I like the first two and the pink flower painted boxes. I was in Porto last spring and loved the city. Thank you for your PPAC contribution.
Same here, aside from the very wet weather when we were there, everything else was perfect. My pleasure to join, Natalie.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful creations. I live in Sydney and we’ve just returned fro0m houseminding on the Gold Coast for four weeks and I photographed quite a few beautifully painting boxes on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. Love them!
Best wishes,
Rowena
Yay, glad you like it too. Excited to see them on your blog,Rowena. Thanks for dropping by.
Electricity boxes are my favorite canvases for public art. I remembered a time when they were not painted and they were quite the eye sore.
That’s so true. It is a welcome change.
Great fun! Yet another reminder that I must get back to Porto this year.
It is just near you, right? Do you take the train or by car?
It’s a good 6 hours drive, Teresa, which is why we’ve not been back. Last time we flew there from the UK then caught a plane to Faro afterwards.
Oh that far. It takes a bit of planning to go.
Yes! 😁🩵
It makes such a difference when these boxes are painted, so cheerful and eye catching
Many places are doing it now. So that’s a positive!