We all are familiar with London’s red telephone boxes. They are iconic. And I have certainly taken my fair share of photos on them on my trips to London (red mailboxes too!).
The original box was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. So when it came to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and London 2012, a group of extraordinary Londoners created a special project similar to the Easter eggs that I had a great time hunting down during my trip in February.
Right now if you visit London this summer (Olympics or otherwise) you will have the unique opportunity to catch some of these one-of-kind telephone boxes as part of the BT ArtBox campaign. At the end of the campaign they will be auctioning all the boxes off to raise money for ChildLine’s, a London-based charity organization.
And while I can’t be there (total bummer), I am thoroughly enjoying catching my friend who works in London’s Instagram feed as he attempts to document them all! Here a few of the ones he has captured so far:
Aren’t they cool! I so wish I could check them out personally!
Paris friends, grab your camera and get over there, I think it would be totally fun to go telephone box hunting for the weekend (maybe after all the Olympic hoopla dies down).
In the meantime, I will be following Paul’s Instagram feed!
What do you think? I want San Francisco to do something like this! Maybe parking meters or taxi cabs or something else iconic to the city. Would you want it in your city? What would “it” be?
I can remember when visiting London in 2002 that the Cow Parade was there. Then I believe we saw the Cow Parade in Dallas or somewhere else we visited one year.
Several years ago here in St. Louis they had bronze sculptures that were placed all around town and were auctioned off at the end of the show for charity.
@Sharon, I think it is a great way to expose people to a city – and not just for tourists, locals as well!
I wish I could see them in person, too. I’m so glad you shared this. It’s kind of like graffiti. =) I really like the one with the Asian theme. I need to follow that guy. I also need to figure out Webstagram. Do you use this? Fun post, Andi. I love to learn about new art projects like this.
I like that yellow telephone booth almost as much as I like the original.
@Jennie, cute right?
We’ll give it a go!
@Emily, would love to see pics!
I love the Asian style one!
—Love Love love those phone booths! Fab.
I think they should do one w/ Poetry & Cool Quotes!
@Idiosynchric Eye, aren’t they fun?
@MyInnerChick, agree that is a great idea!
I miss my former (temporary) home. But I’m a Brit/Commonwealther, so I’m a purist. I need red telephone boxes. So, I’m not so sure how I feel about this. But then, I’m also a lover of art and the arts…it’s trying to draw me in. Okay, they’re warming up to me… Before long, I’ll love them I’m sure. Your friend, Paul, posted a stark white one in Soho Square, on of my afternoon hang out spaces… That’s quite lovely. Thanks for sharing!
@BrainyPintSizer, I think they would grow on you, and they are only temporary. I had so much spotting the eggs in February, think this is a great way to explore a city.
Wow i love the different phone booths!
Those phone booths are so unique. That would be great to track them all down, so cool
So pretty. I wish we had them in the states!