In the spring of 2022, a group of Trolley Square residents decided to do a fun beautification project to improve the look of their neighborhood after growing tired of seeing dirty and graffiti covered utility boxes like the below:
The project was organized by 8th District City Councilman Nathan Field and the Trolley Square (DACA) Community Association, led by Lisa Johnson. It began with a “Call to Artists” in March 2022, leading to more than 130 submitted designs. The painting was completed in June.
Several others played important roles in the success of the project. City of Wilmington Director of Cultural Affairs Tina Betz played a key advisory role. As did Margaret Winslow and Molly Giordano of the Delaware Art Museum.
The scope of 18 boxes was made possible through generous financial support from Capano Real Estate, Tsionas Management, and Incyte Corporation.
Read more in these articles in Out and About Magazine and Town Square Delaware.
The organizers hope that this is merely the first in a series of new public art projects throughout the City of Wilmington.
Trolley Square Mural Map
Scroll down or select a box below to learn more about each individual mural and the artists.
- Box 1 – Prototype 2.0 by James Wyatt
- Box 2 – Rockford Tower by Lelane Roussow Bancroft
- Box 3 – New Spirits by Christian Kanienberg
- Box 4 – Gough Trolley Square by Karen Yarnell
- Box 5 – Heart Hands by Sherry Brilliant
- Box 6 – On the Brandywine by Rachel Van Wylen
- Box 7 – The Gumball Machine by Remi Poindexter
- Box 8 – Hip Hop Pigeons by Nicolette Groome
- Box 9 – Flower Garden by Katie Yost
- Box 10 – Ladybug Luck by Sungmin Bobyak
- Box 11 – Every Little Thing by Shanna O’Leary Weiss
- Box 12 – Ostrich on a Mission by Haley Moore
- Box 13 – Trolley Gardens by Rayna Dereus
- Box 14 – Joyful Robot by Jeanne Orr
- Box 15 – Jungle Gym by Wendy Hatch
- Box 16 – Forgotten Abundance by Sophie Romano
- Box 17 – Honeybees by Joseph Repetti
- Box 18 – The Logan House by Jimmy Thompson
I like the idea of discovery in my work through color and textures to convey varied ideas and themes. My works are meant to make you think and feel something whether digital works , canvas, murals or my 3D effect.
With this Trolley Square mural, I wanted to create something that stands out and brings color and energy to the space. Something people will hear about then try to go and find it to see it for themselves, hopefully discovering the works of the other artist on the way. The mural is based on another canvas work I have titled “Prototype”. People are always drawn to it because of the eyes so I decide to do a updated version on a larger scale.
I chose to depict the Rockford Tower in my mural design as it’s such an important historical landmark in Wilmington, Delaware. The Tower & nature surrounding it should be admired whenever possible. It is adorned with a ‘close up-feel’ of stylized ornamental flower blossoms which I hope will bring the feeling of warmth and Spring to look forward to during the cold winter months and a sense of coolness during hot summer days to passers-by.
I was Born & raised on the east coast of South Africa where I graduated from a technical art college in textile design & printmaking. I recently became a USA citizen and have been residing with my husband in Newark, Delaware since 2010. I am currently a member & teacher at the Newark Arts Alliance.
I am primarily a printmaker but during the last year I have discovered & ventured into the world of watercolor painting and also enjoy exploring the art of acrylics. I think it is of utmost importance that we protect and preserve our planet and I hope to inspire people to do so through the art which I create.
My love and celebration of vibrant colors and textures is a true representation and influence of my upbringing in South Africa and I hope to transport you to world of fantasy, and perhaps sometimes reality, through my art.
Christian Kanienberg of Wish Unlimited contributed a mural design that is inspired by the renowned nightlife of Trolley Square.
Kanienberg uses early 20th century images of men posing with beer steins, and a stylish couple, likely from the jazz scene of years gone by. “The most important part of the design is to showcase and embrace the rich history of the area, while representing the diversity and social acceptance of the neighborhoods future”. In contrast to the vintage characters, the vibrant orange color and paint drips marry a vintage-inspired look, with a bold, 21st century street-art design.
With T2 standing as a potential new logo for Trolley Square:
In algebra when a number is squared, it is represented with a small numeral “2” above right of it. As a sort of minimalist, tongue-in-cheek way to represent trolley, I have “squared the t”
You can find others murals by WISH on the buildings sponsored by Capano, right across from this work. Kanienberg has operated his art services business out of Wilmington since 2003. He can be contacted via whatiswish.com and on Instagram @what.is.wish
With my utility box design I tried to capture a sense of fun and celebration of life in Trolley Square. That is why I included a trolley car filled with people full of life and selected a whimsical title that gives a nod to the easily recognizable swirling Van Gogh-inspired sky. While I was painting it, I really enjoyed talking with the people who walked or jogged by. What a great neighborhood!
Included in my education is a masters from Heron School of Art in Indianapolis, a bachelors from Franklin College, IN, classes at UD, and participation in UD Teachers’ Institutes and Yale National Teachers’ Institutes. I have enjoyed a career of teaching art for years, the last 20 at Newark High School, and am now painting, creating ceramics, and am immersed in various projects. I am also really enjoying not getting up at 5:30 am anymore.
I have had my work displayed at Delaware Art Museum, the Biggs Museum, Newark Art Alliance, CCA, and other venues. Among my projects are five children’s books that I have illustrated and for the city of Wilmington I have painted two cars for Cool City Cars and two dinosaurs for Downtown Dino Days.
The Trolley Square Mural Project’s piece on box #5 is titled Heart Hands. It is a celebration of the many young professionals who live in Trolley. These young adults add a vibrant energy to the neighborhood and keep things fresh and lively. Heart Hands depicts a young couple enjoying a sunny afternoon in Rockford dog park- love is in the air as the fur babies frolic.
Sherry Brilliant is a Wilmington-based painter and printmaker. Working as a professional artist since 2006, Sherry’s work is included in many private collections. She has works on loan to the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Delaware and a US senator’s office, has had several solo exhibitions and has been included in a variety of local juried exhibitions.
Sherry’s work is lively and direct. Her compositions are explorations of color and shape, speaking to a variety of subjects but always infused with commentary and emotion.
My painting is a surrealistic interpretation of going for a walk in Brandywine Creek Park, with the weather and seasons changing as one scene merges into the next. I wanted to show the park as a social space, where families and friends can always meet up to enjoy each other’s company. My hope is that the piece will spark a sense of curiosity regarding everything that this neighborhood has to offer, both in terms of the people who live here and the spaces and places one can explore.
Rachel Van Wylen has an M.F.A. from the New York Academy of Art and teaches at Archmere Academy. She has shown her work in a variety of galleries and museums, including Dacia Gallery in New York, NY; Galatea Fine Art in Boston, MA; Mystic Museum of Art in Mystic, CT; and Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI. See more at rachelvanwylen.com and follow her on Instagram at @rachelvanwylen.
I wanted to create a fun, recognizable design that used the shape of the utility box and decided to paint a gumball machine. There’s something very nostalgic about the bright red box and multicolored candy inside. I hope it will bring joy to pedestrians and drivers alike!
Remi Poindexter is an artist and art historian from Newark, Delaware. He took painting electives at the University of Delaware and evening classes at the Art Students League of New York during graduate school. In his free time, Remi enjoys painting/hiking in White Clay Creek State Park and spending time with friends.
Sometimes my anxiety gives me hyper fixation obsessions and currently it’s pigeons. So when I heard of the Trolley Utility Project I knew I wanted to add my feathered friends to the community.
Nicolette is a writer, animator and visual artist whose work has been featured on Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, SYFY and more. When not creating, volunteers at the Philly Goat project. You can see more of my work on Instagram @nicolettegroome and TikTok @nicolettegroome
This mural portrays different flowers and pollinators on all four sides of the box. These include irises, zinnias, tulips, snapdragons, daffodils, grape hyacinths, hollyhocks, bees, black swallowtail and monarch butterflies. This mural aims to brighten the day of people passing by and to bring flowers to those who don’t have a garden of their own, regardless of the season.
Katie Yost is an artist and illustrator originally from Dover, Delaware. She currently works as a Medical & Scientific Illustrator/Animator at Harvard Medical School, while pursuing numerous creative side projects, from pet portraits and plein air paintings to children’s books. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature with her dog Mango.
My mural is a happy painting of a bunch of ladybugs scurrying around on the leaves of a shrub. The ladybug is Delaware’s state insect, a sign of good luck and it also represents a fun event that is hosted in Wilmington every year, The Ladybug Festival! As people pass by my mural, my sincere wish is that my painting elicits a smile and brightens their day a little bit. I hope that people feel lucky to live, work, or play in such a wonderful place that is Trolley Square!
I am an avid dog lover and my favorite things to paint are dog portraits and other adorable animals. Please go to my SKB Art Facebook page to see more works of art https://www.facebook.com/sungminkimbobyak
Mrs. Weiss is a local art teacher that loves to draw, paint and craft. She attended undergrad at Moore College of Art and Design and post-graduate at Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in Illustration. While originally from Philadelphia, she now resides with her family in Delaware. Mrs. Weiss was excited to be part of this special opportunity to promote the arts and brighten the local neighborhood, Trolley Square.
When tasked to create a piece to be located in Trolley Square, the artist wanted to incorporate an inspirational message and make connections to people in the community. Art and music are humanities because they spark emotion. Knowing that Trolley Square is a culture rich community filled with people from all walks of life, the artist wanted to both visualize people of diverse backgrounds and make a statement to connect us through music. Referencing the song “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, viewers will feel uplifted and hopeful knowing despite challenges, or struggles, [‘Cause] ‘Every little thing is gonna be alright.”
An Ostrich runs down a long winding road, or is it the sky? Are we still on Gilpin Avenue? The imagery in Haley xyz’s painting, Ostrich on a Mission comes from her children’s book, The Wild Window. In the story, an ostrich helps the narrator find her way through her subconscious. Haley often depicts relationships between animals and humans, and dreams. Haley hopes her painting will remind neighbors of their sense of wonder.
You can find more of her work online at www.haleyxyz.us.
Rayna DeReus is a Wilmington based artist living and working in Trolley Square. Primarily a sculptural artist, Rayna uses clay to create whimsical flora and fauna-based work. Rayna is originally from Florida but moved to Delaware to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of Delaware and fell in love with the unique charms and quirks that Delaware has to offer. What began as a few years in Delaware for school has turned into many more.
Rayna spends a lot of time on walks with her dog Sulley exploring the neighborhood and surrounding area, studying, and sniffing, the natural beauty that exists along their favorite routes which she incorporates into her work.
“Trolley Gardens” was inspired by my daily walks with my dog Sulley. Throughout Trolley you can see the beautiful warm tones of the houses, the tans and yellows of both fresh and faded paint, the striking variety of brick tones and the details on shutters and porch fences. I took inspiration from the houses and had them influence my murals color palette. We spend a lot of time looking at, and sniffing, everyone’s gardens and plants outside of Trolley homes.
The beauty of nature in our neighborhood in the gardens inspired the lines that cover my mural, branches, leaves and vines snaking across the surface showing the natural elegance of time and change.
I love going on walks through Trolley and I always finding something new to see, even on streets we’ve walked hundreds of times before. This roaming and exploring inspired me to create my mural by combining the elements of beauty that I find all throughout our neighborhood. See more on Instragram at @@rayna.dereus.art
The title of my mural is “Joyful Robot”. He greets passersby with a big smile and an open heart, hopefully lifting their spirits! Since people come to Trolley Square to meet friends and have a good time, Joyful Robot will just add to their fun. It will appeal to children and the inner child in all of us!
I am a realist painter in watercolor, oil and acrylic, and particularly enjoy painting portraits of children. I’m a member of the newly formed Arden Artisans Collective, whose website is currently under construction.
W.A.S. Hatch taught painting and drawing for 38 years at Widener University in Chester, PA. She continues to teach watercolor workshops at the Delaware Art Museum and paint in her studio. This past spring, Wendy had two one person painting shows. One was held at the Delaware Contemporary on the riverfront and the other at the Blue Streak Gallery on Delaware Avenue in Trolly Square. For further information, her website is washatch.com
My utility box design was inspired by the children’s playground located behind Trolley Square in Conaty Park. The lines of the metal peaked and curvilinear red and yellow playground equipment are repeated over and around the box. The blue ovals represent the blue neoprene safety pad on the ground.
I have always been fascinated by the food growing around us. We are surrounded by resources, and too many people don’t get the opportunity to know about all this free food! I wanted to show how bountiful Delaware is by rendering some of many nutrient-rich, delicious plants and fungi that are growing in our region. Even the peach blossom, our state flower, is edible. I encourage everyone to research local wild produce. With caution, foraging can be a fun outdoor activity, even if you don’t find anything. Although, it is especially rewarding when you do. Gardening with produce that is native to your region is good for the environment and easier to maintain. It is all worth looking into.
Artist and teacher, Joseph Repetti has been a local in Wilmington’s Trolley Square since 2006. Inspiring the minds of the youth by day, and refining and creating his brand by night,all while using the classroom as his studio. He takes his art seriously and relished the opportunity to create a piece within the neighborhood he loves. His work has been displayed at multiple city venues including the Christina Cultural Arts Center, Delaware Art Museum, and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art. You can also find updates to new projects and art on his website www.RepettiArt.com.
Taking inspiration from nature and the symbol of the honeybee, he has mixed several elements and principles of art with his use of different painting techniques to create the mural “Honey Bees”. Bees represent creativity, resourcefulness, teamwork, collective consciousness, communication, hard work, manifestation, and the sacred feminine. They are nature’s alchemist, architects, and matriarchs. Bees also represent a divine love and creation, showing us that everything in life fits into a greater plan, purpose, and place.
Over 20 bees were first drawn in charcoal then transferred onto the primed and base coated box. Each varying sized bee was created to show movement and fill the composition in a way that engages viewers from the multiple sides of the box. The busiest side mimics that of the busy Pennsylvania Ave., where cars buzz by in both directions. However, the larger bee in the center anchor the viewer’s eye to rest and take in the aesthetic gardens that surround First Presbyterian Church. The dominant yellow color of the box reflects the natural light of the sun as its intensity changes and filters from dawn to dusk. It also captures the shadows of the surrounding large trees, whose colors (especially in the fall) will help accentuate the colors within the box.
I’ve been going to Kelly’s Logan House since I was a senior at Saint Marks High School almost 40 years ago. It’s taken me a long time to realize the amazing history of this building. The LOHO is the heart and soul of the 40 Acres neighborhood & Mike Kelly was a great man…I consider the mural a dedication to the best “corner joint” in our city & my small contribution to making the neighborhood a better place to live.
MEDIA
https://outandaboutnow.com/artistic-touch/
Trolley Square Community Association (DACA) 