On our way to a fundraiser in Joliet for Lincoln-Way Central High School ROTC, I noticed the utility boxes were not the usual drab gray. Instead, the boxes were alive with colorful images. Loving such public art, I immediately went online to learn all about this.

A joint collaboration between the Joliet City Center Partnership, the City of Joliet and the city’s Arts Commission, the Downtown Music Box Project promotes the area’s many talented artists. Ten utility boxes in the downtown area were transformed into colorful canvases. In keeping with the theme of music, artists created tributes to a musician, band or song inspirational to them.

Half of the boxes are within a mile walk of each other. The others were a bit more scattered, but within another mile or so of walking. Of course, you can also drive by all, but walking allowed us to check all sides and see the little details.

I love how these types of public art programs add so much beauty and color to any area. I will even go way out of my way to see such projects. In this case, we stumbled on it accidentally.

— John Wroblewski, online writer