TRAX lines become public canvas

There's a new mover and shaker growing in Utah's art community. You might even say it has hit the scene with the force of — well — a TRAX train.

From the first planning stages of TRAX, the Utah Transit Authority has committed to having public art at all of its TRAX stations. Some pieces are blatant, others more subtle. A lot of it is designed to catch the wandering eye of waiting commuters and give them pause.

More than any other venue in the state, TRAX lines are quickly becoming the community's canvas. Riders on the Salt Lake-Sandy line have noticed colorful murals being created on the backs of nearby businesses.

It's hardly a new concept. One just has to travel up Utah's Nine Mile Canyon, which features ancient Indian art, to see that humans have long had a need for expression through public art.

University of Utah fine art professor Kim Martinez said a mural not only gives a community a sense of ownership but acts as a mirror, reflecting a certain aspect of a community.

"It's meant to be a surprise, kind of like looking down and finding a dime," Martinez said. She has brought the art of mural painting, an art form that got its start in inner cities across the country, to the University of Utah classroom, with the help of local cities and UTA.

Near the 3300 South TRAX stop, a mural pays homage to TRAX's heritage by juxtaposing a TRAX car with a trolley car. In the background are some of South Salt Lake's landmarks, including the image of the former Harman's Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, the first KFC in the country, recently demolished.

Another mural depicts a bird's-eye view of light-rail patrons on a bright yellow background.

"It detracts from tagging. That's the theory, anyway," said UTA engineering information specialist, Brandon Bott. "The tagger would think of himself, or herself, as an artist and would therefore respect another person's work."

Sitting in her Pierpont Avenue studio, surrounded by vibrant paints and pencil sketches, Martinez said the mural class has been a great success in its first semester. In fact, some students in her class were former graffiti taggers. "I'd like to get some more of those taggers involved," she said.

UTA spokesman Justin Jones said the Federal Transit Administration encourages funding for public art. UTA earmarks about one percent of project costs for art.

"It creates a sense of community and ownership," Bott said.

Creating a mural is a lot more complicated than it looks, said Martinez. There are many steps before the paint even hits the wall.