Public Art illustration celebrating highlights of the 1960s - Public Art illustration celebrating the 1960s

Honoring an Era: A 1960s Inspired Tribute Illustration

Artist, Illustrator: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: City of Pembroke Pines
Project Management by Holly Bonkowski - Assistant Director of Cultural Arts - City of Pembroke Pines

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Concept sketch

3D scale model

Finished product

This vibrant illustration is part of a celebrated public art series commissioned by the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida. The city's innovative program transforms everyday municipal utility boxes into curated canvases for community storytelling. By applying custom illustrated vinyl wraps to these structures at key intersections, the initiative enhances the visual texture of neighborhoods and fosters a stronger, more visually engaging sense of place.

The project for this specific location carried a meaningful objective: to create a visual tribute acknowledging a nearby senior center. The creative challenge was to move beyond clichéd imagery and instead craft a design that honored the residents' enduring spirit and the vibrant cultural backdrop of their formative years.

A Meticulous Technical Foundation

Executing a successful wrap requires a fusion of artistic vision and technical precision. My process for each box begins with a comprehensive site survey. I visit the location to record the utility box's exact dimensions, photograph its condition, and meticulously note the placement of all access doors and hardware.

This collected data is the blueprint for the next critical phase. I develop a precise scaled projection drawing and construct a detailed three dimensional model using SketchUp Pro. This dual approach allows me to compose the artwork as a seamless skin that flows continuously over every surface, plane, and corner of the structure. By solving spatial and alignment challenges in the digital model, I ensure the final vinyl graphic installs flawlessly and reads as a unified, intentional composition from every possible viewpoint.

Celebrating Cultural Legacy at a Community Crossroads

This particular illustration is installed at the northwest corner of Hiatus Road and Johnson Street. The artistic concept draws inspiration from the 1960s, a decade synonymous with optimism, profound social change, and a distinct creative energy. The design references the era's iconic music, bold aesthetics, and sense of possibility.

This thematic choice reframes the narrative around aging. The illustration presents a life stage not as a slowing down, but as a continuation of a rich personal history, one that was shaped by and contributed to a culturally significant time. The result is an artwork that resonates with depth and respect, offering a bold, colorful, and meaningful addition to the streetscape that celebrates legacy over stereotype.

An Interactive Layer of Engagement

Adding a contemporary dimension, this utility box features an augmented reality experience. By downloading the free EyeJack app on a smartphone, viewers can unlock an animated layer that brings an element of the illustration to life.

Please note: I am the illustrator for the core artwork. The augmented reality technology is provided by the third party EyeJack platform, and I am not affiliated with their application.

This project exemplifies how illustration can connect communities across generations. To explore more artwork designed for public spaces and meaningful narratives, please visit my full Illustration Portfolio.