The inspiration behind the Van Gogh "Starry Night" box is to promote mental health awareness. As many know, Van Gogh struggled with his mental health throughout his entire life, unaware of the impact his work would eventually have on the world, and how much people would miss him. In letters to his brother Theo, he even criticized his iconic piece, noting that the "stars were made far too big."

I chose this design to remind us that it is okay to not be okay. In the US, a woman takes her life every 50 minutes and a man every 13 minutes. Globally, this occurs every 40 seconds. I share these facts not to cause sadness, but to highlight the importance of checking in on friends and family.

When you see this box, it's supposed to be a reminder to be the light for others. You may have already saved someone by checking in, and not even know it.

"It’s just a bad day, not a bad life. This too, shall pass."

Justin Mane

The Whitewater Traffic Box painting is based on my ongoing daily drawing practice. The work is abstract and based on hand drawn grids creating unique patterns. I typically create these works on a daily basis as small repeatable patterns and then apply them in 3D modeling for animation projects. The traffic box grid is a larger scale drawing with traditional materials that mirrors the work my digital art processes.

My traffic box design tells the story of Whitewater, WI through a visual timeline that flows from its Potawatomi origins to modern-day, featuring native Wisconsin flora, trees, and body of water to celebrate the region’s natural and cultural heritage. Do you recognize any legendary Whitewater spots?

As an artist, I’ve wanted to make art more accessible to people. So much resistance to creation comes from this feeling of ‘not being good enough’ or just the silly thought of ‘I’m not an artist’ - but what many do not grasp, that beyond any learned skill, art is an inspired act. ART lies with the courage to act. The best art comes from a surge of an idea, a burst of inspiration and the immediate execution of that idea. The art in between those ideas - the lackluster or seemingly uninspired art is stuff that comes out in between the inspired thoughts turned into something tangible. Sometimes it’s playing with a skill or technique, in search of mastery or at a minimum, understanding. Or it’s learning a new medium. Sometimes it’s just an experiment. And much like a clog to a pipe, all that stuff also needs to come out for things to flow freely.

I love making art with the public and encouraging people to just pick up a brush (pen / pencil / crayon / marker / whatever -) and just place colors or lines down in a way they feel internally guided. Art is very personal; it is a diary of emotion that comes from the depth of our humanity. Art requires bravery to express. It takes courage to be brave, to make art; making art requires one to dip into the inner well of self. Back in 2022, I created this public art project called Emotional Damage, where participants willingly stepped into the depths of themselves, exploring the intricate internal landscape of their emotions within the safety of our co-created container of a private class. Through the mediums of painting and writing I encourage participants to engage with the therapeutic processes of healing.

To get here- to the point of encouraging others and healing- I started many years ago, with a pile of ethically sourced bones. The bones, combined with a host of wild ideas, led to dipping my first toe into the waters of public art. I brought the bones to the public, with paints and encouraged people to just paint. Put paint on the bones in any way you wish. Turning the bones into the giant frame I wanted didn’t quite turn out the way I’d hoped; turns out resin is expensive and I was a broke single mom. I did my best at the time, no regrets.

Creating art for long term public display is something I have continued to pursue. To date, I have participated in a few different projects that are on display long term, indefinitely or are in use by the public. My recent contribution to Artful Transformation (2025) is on display indefinitely in Whitewater, WI. You can find my work for Vibrant Hydrant in Monona, WI on display until 2032. And one of the most interactive- a cat cut-out board for Redner’s Rescued Cat Figurine Mewseum- is on display whenever they are open & at public events.

Each side of the traffic box is a graphic illustration of how I see Nature's four elements expressed in and around Whitewater.
Air - The clean air we have to breathe and how it blows all around us.
Earth - The rich soil that nourishes the abundant plant life and agriculture on our farms and public lands.
Water - Clean water in our lakes and streams and most notably the many artesian wells.
Fire - The beautiful, bright sunrises that illuminate the Kettle Moraine and its lush forests.
Each panel scene is viewed through a frame of a stylized "W" which could stand for Whitewater, Wisconsin, UW, Warhawks, Whippets or any other area wonders. The top of the box spirals the elements together forming a symbol of gratitude for all nature's wonders.