A passerby took this photo of me when I was about halfway through painting the first side of the utility box on the corner of Long Beach Boulevard and Wardlow Road.
As a visual artist who’s been creating paintings and mixed-media pieces steadily since 2011, I’ve spent virtually all of my art-making time in my studio in Bixby Knolls— blocking out the world and its distractions with my big headphones and my favorite creative-juice-inducing tunes— usually wearing nothing but an old pair of comfy boxers.
That’s why, when I was given the opportunity to create my first public-art piece— a utility box— a few weeks ago, it felt strange— and a bit unsettling— to suddenly plop myself and all my painting supplies into the middle of a very busy four-way-stoplight intersection at Long Beach Boulevard and Wardlow Road. Plus, I had to wear pants.
I’m not a shy artist (or person) by any means, but I guess I’m so accustomed to working at home, alone, half-naked that I felt like a fish in a bowl (yet also one out of water) and somewhat vulnerable, on this street corner that gets a really high volume of traffic.
However, now that I’m a few weeks in, and I’ve cleaned, sanded, re-cleaned, primed and finished the painting on one side of the box, I’m viewing my work on it as time that I look forward to. Although I initially feared that the constant attention from hundreds of drivers and passengers sitting at red lights would possibly have a detrimental effect on my ability to work, I now realize the opposite is true. Knowing that I’m being watched actually forces me to really rise to the opportunity. Although I still have music in my ears while I’m painting the box, a few passersby have managed to grab my attention, to: compliment my creation that features dogs on bikes; ask me if I have an Instagram account (I do— @artistcorybilicko); ask me if I’m being compensated for my work (I am— through the generosity of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association); ask me how much time I’ve spent on it (about 14 hours total thus far); or to offer me another artistic opportunity.
That’s the great thing about creating public art; it’s not just about making something for all to enjoy— I’m out in the public realm, and those passing by get to see the creative process in action and even interact with the artist.
I took this photo last weekend, upon finishing the first side of the utility box.
And I’ve managed to book some gorgeous models for this project— my friends’ beloved pets.
The first section I completed, which faces north, features my friend Randi’s two schnauzers— Cody and Dallas. I’ve depicted Dallas riding a bike with a bunch of tulips in his basket, as Cody’s face pops up in Dallas’s thought bubble.
This weekend, my friend Jesus’s doggies— Sammy (half Samoyed and half westie) and Lola (a cocker Spaniel)— will appear on the east-facing side. Sammy will be popping a wheelie on the bike as Lola hangs on to stay inside the basket. They’ll each have their own thought bubbles, but I’m still working out exactly what they will be thinking during their adventurous ride. The idea of using those bubbles originated from a meme I saw about how, when they sleep, dogs supposedly dream about their owners, certain smells, favorite walks they take, etc.
So, literally getting out of my artistic comfort zone has proven to be a rewarding experience, and I’m looking forward to bringing more dogs (and their musings) to life in the coming weeks.
And I promise to have pants on.
