Title: Poco Mulhumorada
Location: 10th Street Bridge Tender South, west side of City Hall
Artist: Sonia Vasquez
Date: 2021
This utility box was part of a 2021 collaboration between the Rahr-West Art Museum Public Arts Committee and Manitowoc Public Utility.Ten utility boxes in downtown Manitowoc were painted by local artists with designs based on works from the Museum’s collection.
Vasquez applied to the project to add art to the city and tell a story not always seen in Western art. She says: “I’ve always loved 19th century traditional artwork and painters, especially [French painter] Bouguereau. It’s one of my favorite pieces in the collection. So, I knew I wanted to use it as a reference for my piece. Little Sulky tells the story of craft being passed down and I wanted to use that narrative to help tell the story of Mexican embroidery.”
Note: This box was removed and replaced due to maintenance by the Manitowoc Public Utility in 2022.
Sponsors: Manitowoc Public Utilities, City of Manitowoc Room Tax Commission, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and Hallman Lindsay Paint.