Underpass gallery hopes to end vandalism

When you walk through the Center Street Underpass pedestrian walkways, you’ll see something new on the walls.Local artists now can add their mark in a gallery of sorts.

Stacey Parker remembers seeing artwork on the walkways when he was younger. So when he found out that he could put his work on the walls, he had one thing in mind: adding some color to Old Town Pocatello.

“(The walkways) just have had gray squares on it forever. It’s awesome to be at the start of it,” Parker said.

The gray squares are a reminder of the walkways’ vandalism-plagued past, with each square covering an illegal act. “D’Beau” Darin Black came up with the idea of the underpass gallery to try to deter the need for more gray squares and to give people a legal way to express themselves.

“We feel like the best way to combat people wanting to vandalize is to give them an opportunity to have an outlet for creative expression,” Black said.

Black expects the gallery to add character to Old Town.

“It just improves and enhances the environment,” he said. “I can’t wait to see it colorful from one end to the other.”

Although there isn’t much artwork yet, people going through the walkways have already begun to notice what’s there.

“I think it’s really nice that the community is putting that effort forward,” Pocatello resident Amy Jones said. “It’ll be nice when it’s done. I’m sure it’ll take awhile, but it’ll be nice.”

So far, four artists have applied and all four have been approved. The first batch of murals will be finished in time for the First Friday Artwalk on July 3.

To get your work in one of the walkways, you have to apply. In the application, you have to describe what your work will entail. You will also have to provide an illustration of what you will put up. You can apply as an individual or in a group.

There are different dimensions artists can work with. You can apply for a 5-foot, 10-foot or 20-foot space.

You can find the application here.