City of Davis, CA
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In 1973, the City created the Art in Public Places Program, and has since set aside 1% of all public funds allocated for Capital Improvement Projects to purchase art that enhances the quality of the Davis environment. Artists selected through this program represent a diversity of style and media. Sculpture, murals, paintings, tile work, and functional pieces are located around the city to enhance the quality of life for all Davis residents and visitors.
Public Art Pocket Map
Davis Wastewater Hunt
New Art Spotlight
Public Art Gallery: how to view online
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Public Art Pocket Map!
Looking to embark on your own Davis art tour? Our Davis Public Art Maps are out in the world and ready for you to adventure with! It was quite a challenge to fit all we have to offer in one little fit-in-your-back-pocket map, but we did it! You'll find public art listings organized by area as well as bike paths, parks, art institutions, and more! The maps were created in collaboration with Jennifer Cadieux of the UC Davis Design Department with the support of Marc Hoshovsky. Currently you can find these at the Davis Food Co-op at 620 G St., City Hall, and many more locations throughout town.
View the map HERE!
New Art Spotlight
Balance Beam
Balance Beam, created by Cedric Wentworth in 1999, was formerly located at the corner of 5th and Pole Line, and is now installed in front of the Veterans Memorial Theatre in Community Park. Measuring 6’ x 21’ x 5’ and built from steel and bronze, this piece is an example of the postmodern sculpture work Wentworth is known for that combines abstracted figurative subject matter with industrial structures. Balance Beam was donated to the City by James Kidd in 2018.
Save the Frogs / Salva las Ranas
This piece, created by Mary Fuller McChesney in 2008, can now be found at South Davis' San Marino Park patio on the edge of the Open Space trail area. The roughly eight foot tall concrete composite piece is a whimsical tribute to our natural environment. The work says “Save the Frogs” in English and “Salva las Ranas” in Spanish, and the artist intentionally created this piece to promote wildlife conservation in her hometown of Petaluma. The Civic Arts Commission selected this work because of its universal appeal to all ages, especially children, and its playful nod to the renowned Davis legacy of celebrating and protecting our frogs and other wildlife. The artwork was selected in 2019 by the Commission, approved by City Council in 2020, and purchased in 2021. The work was unanimously recommended for this location by the Open Space and Habitat Commission in 2021.
Elmwood Street Mural
Introducing the new Elmwood Street Mural, completed 5/1/2022!
Davis Centennial Seal
2021, Susan Shelton
Located at Dresbach-Hunt-Boyer Mansion, 604 2nd Street, Davis.
Read all about the Seal's meaning and associated Storytelling Project HERE
Think Outside the Box 2019
The 2019 Think Outside the Box project is part of a continual effort to transform necessary structures into lively pieces of art while supporting emerging and established local artists.
Thirteen different artists worked directly with the City of Davis to create designs that were transferred to vinyl and wrapped around a City of Davis traffic control box. Box locations include corners in front of City Hall, International House Davis, and Davis Arts Center.
In the past, City of Davis has carried out similar projects in which artists were commissioned to design and then paint a utility box on site. The Think Outside the Box project allowed artists to complete work from their own studios in a wide range of creative mediums including ceramics, mixed media collage, abstract digital art, and graphic design. The City encouraged submission of artwork from artists who had not created public art in the past. Each selected artist received a $500 honorarium upon completion of their final design. Selected applicants were chosen based on their bodies of past work and proposals that showed strong potential to enhance the surrounding areas of the boxes.
Below is a list of the participating artists and the location of their pieces:
- Angela Tannehill 3rd & B
- Brian Alexander Covell & Sycamore
- Ianna Frisby F & 8th
- Jennifer McGuire Cowell & Lillard
- Jessica Eastburn Russell & Sycamore
- Kent Smith Covell & Anderson
- Kerri Warner Russell & Anderson
- Lily Therens Russell & A
- Melissa Uroff Cowell & Valdora
- Phillip Hua Russell & College Park
- Sandy Fong Whetstone Cowell & Drew
- Susan Silvester Covell & F
- Will Durkee Covell & Poleline
To view a similar project in our region, please see the Capitol Box Art Project in Sacramento.
View our public art online
Check out our Facebook Page PHOTO ALBUMS to view the City's Public Art Collection, temporary art, community projects, and more!
Besides permanent public art, Davis is home to many beloved community-created street murals. Use our Public Art Map to visit them all. Here is a glimpse into the creation of one such mural, "Elemental" by Danielle Fodor and Community, 2018, at Hacienda Court and much of the greenbelt pathway of the Senda Nueva Neighborhood in North Davis: