Inspiration for the project came from Pallai’s hometown of Sequim, Washington where traffic signal cabinets were decorated for a local centennial celebration. Originally a three-cabinet proposal, the project grew to 14 wrapped cabinets spanning from historical downtown to Williston Square (former site of Sloulin Field International Airport). Due to the project's success, Phase II was initiated in the fall of 2019 and completed during the summer of 2020 with an additional 13 cabinets wrapped.
This community enhancement project was supported by the City of Williston’s STAR Fund and the Williston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
On Wednesday, October 7, 2021 as part of the Main Street Summit, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recognized this project and its impact on the Williston community with the North Dakota Arts, Culture, and Vibrancy Award.
North Dakota’s Main Street initiative is a shared vision of healthy, vibrant communities that through fiscally responsible planning, attract the talent needed to support our growing economy. The Main Street Awards honor communities who show excellence in these principles by actively working to differentiate and enhance the quality of life for their residents, present, and future. The Main Street Awards are a collaborative effort of the Office of Governor Doug Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Commerce.
PHASE I
In the summer of 2018, 14 city-owned traffic signal cabinets from 1st Street West to 18th Street West were wrapped with vibrant, anti-graffiti vinyl produced and installed by Bozeman, Montana-based Clean Slate Group. These wraps feature high-resolution images of paintings, photography, and mixed media and follow the overall theme of “Visions of the Region.” The 12 selected artists range in age from 16 to 71 and are from the Williston and Watford areas. Pallai organized a 5-person selection committee that reviewed over 100 submissions and presented its findings to the City. With City approval, the same committee assigned artwork to the identified cabinets and worked with Clean Slate Group to complete the installation process.
Selected artists and their artwork include:
- Lino Azevedo | Teddy R.
- Daphne Clark | Branding Day
- Tycee Evans | Williston Heartland
- Larene “Lily” Grondahl | Sunflowers
- Philip Hale | Spring Lake Park Abstract
- Olivia Hamrick | Wildflower
- Diana Jaszczak | Aussie Adventures
- Garrett Johnsrud | Badlands, The Milk House, & Shed
- Onesti Krieger | Waters
- Danae Muscha | Painted Badlands
- Kaitlyn Rehak | Windy Sunset
- Phyllis Sederquest | Many Dreams & Catch A Dream
PHASE II
In the summer of 2020, 13 additional city-owned traffic signal cabinets located throughout town were wrapped with vibrant, graffiti-resistant vinyl produced and installed by Bozeman, Montana-based Clean Slate Group. These wraps feature high-resolution images of paintings, photography, and mixed media and follow the overall theme of “Visions of the Region.” The 13 selected artists range in age from 27 to 74 and include life-long Williston-area residents as well as newer community transplants. As with Phase I, Pallai organized a 5-person selection committee that reviewed 135 submissions from 49 artists and presented its findings to the City. With City approval, the same committee assigned artwork to the identified cabinets and worked with Clean Slate Group to complete the installation process.
Selected artists and their artwork include:
- Linda Beard | Sunflower & Cattails
- Chelsie Boykin | Fairy Garden & Endangered
- Tycee Evans | Angler Artillery
- John Geyerman | Hedderich's
- Alexandra Haskell | Three Sisters
- Melissa Krause | A New Opportunity
- Traci LeVay-Holt | Mahto
- Shanel Locke | Grain Elevator I
- Kirby Lund | Tight Knit
- Jennifer Naea | Kawaii ND
- Kathy Sinclair | Golden Wheat
- Clif Sundt | Stained Glass Missouri Breaks
- Jeff Tucker | Nomad
