SANTA ANA, Calif. — It is not often that life throws you a blank canvas, but for Stephanie Miles, her blank canvas came 12 years after she last picked up a paintbrush.

“I felt like now was time, for me, to rekindle my passion,” said Miles, a long time Santa Ana resident and artist.

Life pulled Miles into different directions from a full time job to motherhood. In April after the pandemic began, Miles said her husband lost his job.

“We were fortunate enough he was able to find another job, but of course unemployment took a long time to kick in so it was a time of faith testing,” said Miles.

The City of Santa Ana’s Arts & Culture Office chose 11 artists, including Miles, to help enhance and beautify the community by painting over its city-owned utility boxes. The cabinets are often targets of graffiti and vandalism. Prior to an artist’s work begins, the boxes require power washing and the scraping of years’ worth of paint application that was used to cover graffiti.

Miles worked on her box on the corner of Main Street and St. Andrew Place with her 7-year-old daughter, Seylah Miles. 

“I thought it would be really nice to just bring her out in the sunshine and show her art that is not on YouTube demo, but to show her art in the real world,” said Miles.

The artist’s theme for her utility box is “Damos Gracias” which in Spanish means “We Give Thanks.” With bright colors to represent the rich diverse community, Miles said homage to generations of people who helped create Santa Ana become the city it is today, including her grandparents.

“I just hope that when people pass by and see this and they’re able to internalize the message,” she said.
The City of Santa Ana is hoping to add 10 more utility boxes to its public arts program. Miles hopes her artwork will remind people that the paintbrush is in their hand and there is always something worth being thankful for.

Visit Stephanie Miles’ Instagram page to learn more.

Visit the Utility Box Art Program Revolving Display website to learn more.