Idaho Falls revives public art program for downtown utility cabinets

The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation, in partnership with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, has revived the Downtown Traffic Cabinet Art Program. This initiative transforms ordinary utility infrastructure into public art displays to create an open-air gallery for residents and visitors.

The program, which originally debuted in 2018, was revitalized following the replacement of utility cabinets with larger models last year. More than 135 pieces of artwork were submitted by regional artists during a call for entries this summer.

The first installations, titled ‘It Takes a Village’ and ‘Inner Wilderness’, were created by mixed-media artist Jenna Layton and unveiled at the corner of Broadway and North Capital Avenue. Each cabinet will feature a QR code, allowing the public to access information regarding the artist’s biography, portfolio, and inspiration. A total of eight cabinets across downtown are expected to be wrapped with original artwork in the coming months.