Do you hear that rumble? It's Idaho heading back to the lakes for fishing and to the hills for hiking.

After five weeks of being restricted by Gov. Brad Little's stay-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic, we've been released back into the wild.

I know you probably have a list of things you want to get done. This week, I want to highlight a little walking tour you can do to learn a little about public art in Boise. 

Here's what's even cooler: If you're choosing to stay home because you're at risk or caring for an at-risk individual, you can take this tour online. Boise Arts and History has a very visual database of the city's collection of art, archives and historic artifacts.

For the walkers, though, grab this map to guide you along the route.

Now let's take a peek at some of the pieces and installations that are favorites among the crew here at Platinum Idaho Realty.

TRAFFIC JAM

Where is it: Corner of Bannock Street and Capitol Boulevard

Who made it: JanyRae Seda

We could probably write an entire blog post just on the traffic box art pieces around Boise. They're just so easy to notice as we're walking down the street with a latte in our hands. And they're awesome, because otherwise, our beautiful city would dotted with these nondescript rectangles of grey steel.

JanyRae's artwork is treasured in our city. Her watercolors are vibrant and layered with emotion. This brightly colored depiction of a couple old streetcars almost ready to collide reminds us of another time in the growth of Boise. 

PENNY POSTCARD

Where is it: City Hall

Who made it: Mark Baltes

Find the Penny Postcard on the left corner to the entry of Boise City Hall. Mark Baltes, co-owner of Landmark Impressions with Julie Baltes, has created a number of interpretive signs and public art that can be found throughout southwest Idaho. 

Baltes' piece is a throwback to the penny postcards that were popular in the early 20th century, depicting buildings, street scenes and views of the business district all around the Boise area. A winner of the Best New Public Award for the 2004 Boise Weekly Best of Boise competition, the images on Baltes' Penny Postcard were taken from "genuine antique postcards and were among the most popular and widely used postcards from the period."

AREO AGOSERIS

Where is it: Foothills Learning Center

Who made it: Mark Baltes

You can't walk past this gorgeous silvers structure and not want to blow at the fragile dandelion seeds. Mark's kinetic sculpture stands 15 feet tall. The art piece doubles as a weather vane and the dandelion head rotates with the wind.

HAIKU FOR CAPITOL PARK

Where is it: 6th Street and Bannock Street

Who made it: Jill AnnieMargaret

It's no secret we're big fans of homes with dogs in Boise. We love finding the perfect home for the fur family! So it's no surprise some of us just love Jill's traffic box downtown. There are far deeper notes to work from Jill, who aims to facilitate healing, inspire courage and end human rights abuses against women globally.

This work was part of a series called "Etching into Existence" and represents Jill's journey into the nature of memory and human emotion.

Of course, there's more to it than dogs. 

In 2017, Karl LeClair, Piblic Art Program Manager at Boise's Arts and History Department, told Boise State Public Radio that Jill was responding to the proximity to the park.

“She’s interested in some of the wildlife you may encounter, there’s a number of bird species, some dogs of course,” says LeClair.

And a Haiku that runs around the four sides of the box.

SIGN TOPPERS

Where are they: West Downtown street signs

Who made them: Stephanie Inman

Stephanie helped West Downtown bring little bits of brightness to their street name signs. After winning a neighborhood investment grant, the neighborhood association asked her to design 12 sign toppers.

Some are little plates that say "West Downtown" but we love the kayak/feather toppers. They're so representative of our Boise history and culture as we embrace our Native history and our love of the outdoors. 

SYMMETRY

Where is it: Inn at 500 Capitol

Who made it: Ken McCall

Ken McCall, who owns McCall Studios, studied sculpture and metalwork before immersing himself in a 20-year career in precision fabrication for the aerospace industry. Art was his first love, though, and we are luckier for it. 

Ken has been commissioned by several cities throughout North America and Boise is home to several of his pieces, including Leaf Spiral and Beaver Dam. We love Symmetry and the serenity was feel as we sit next to it. 

Ken sought to represent the delicate balance in nature and was inspired by the trees that surround our beautiful city.

The leaves spin and turn in the wind.

MNEMOSYNE AND MORPHEUS

Where is it: 6th Street and Idaho Street

Who made it: Anna Webb

You may remember Anna's gorgeous mosaic installation at a traffic calming circle near the Boise Depot. The Infernum Bestiae was comprised of 300,000 tiles and it took Anna and Reham Aarti several months in Fall 2013 to complete it. 

Infernum was removed in 2018 due to damage but we're fortunate to still have Mnemosyne and Morpheus gracing a traffic box in the downtown core.

Anna loves to work with vibrant color and iridescence, and this traffic box exemplifies that passion.

FREAK ALLEY

Where is it: The North End

Who made it: Various artists 

Located between 8th and 9th streets and Bannock and Idaho in downtown, Freak Alley is not something to be missed when it comes to Boise public art.

Freak Alley started as a doorway painting in 2002 but today it is the largest outdoor mural gallery in the Northwest. The entire alley and its enclaves are covered with art that changes every year with the August refresh. Bets are, every time you walk down Freak Alley, you're going to see something you didn't see the last time you were there.

This year's refresh is scheduled for August 8-15 and we're keeping our fingers crossed it happens!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE

The public art in Boise is as diverse as the history that precedes us and the culture that today surrounds us. Is your favorite on your list? Let us know on our Facebook page!