New Paint Makes Spring Street Ducks Spry Once Again

For the second time since they first appeared at the corner of Allison Avenue and Spring Street, ducks painted on the side of electrical boxes were restored by Artist Yumiko Climenson Tuesday.

Why does she keep painting the box?

"Because they asking me and I'm happy to do it," she said.

Climenson, originally from Tokyo, has been an active member of San Diego arts scene since she moved here from Holland in the 1980s.

Her depiction of owls and ducks walking through cord grass near a pond at the street corner was first painted about 10 years but had a shorter lifespan than other versions since it was hit by a car. 

The electrical box painting program is supported by the La Mesa Arts Alliance, a part of the La Mesa Parks and Recreation Foundation.

"Now we're just trying to get original artists back to restore them," Karen McElroy, a management analyst with the La Mesa Park and Recreation Department.

Original artists who made 22 works of art around La Mesa were recently sent letters inviting them to restore their boxes.

"We realized about a year ago that some of the most exposed  and not covered by trees were starting to fade," McElroy said.

Click here to watch a video about box painting programs in La Mesa and other parts of San Diego.