Tag: manhole madness

Day 30: As we have been working our way through the month I've been trying to keep up with entries in my manhole cover journals, which came from Vernakular.com.  These are actually covers that slip over a blank book and have an elastic closure.  They came with a white lined paper booklet – but I replaced one with kraft paper and one with black paper.  The also have door mats of manhole covers. Super cool, HERE.

Yesterday I went to a rubber stamp show – it's been a long time since I've attended one. I always come home and mark up my new stamps - do you do that too?  I visited the vending table of my friend Seth Apter and got some of his stamps and a stencil – I think they will be perfect for my manhole journals.  You can find Seth's product line HERE.  Click around – he's got a lot of stuff!  It was great to see Ted at his Stampers Anonymous mobile shop – he gives a great demo, much fancier then when I used to do it for SA back in the day.

A few more fun finds this week….I scored a pendant of a cover from Prague (from Etsy), and some mini-manholes meant for train sets. These are smaller than dimes.  So cute – had to have them.  More model train manhole decals are on the way – gotta have them for my journal, right?  Everything is cute in tiny form.

And this wood frame is by Seven Gypsies - looks like the voids are asking to be filled with covers.  Found at Hobby Lobby.  Might try some paper casting for this.

I will be talking more about stamps tomorrow – be sure to tune in.  It will be our last day, can you believe it?

Day 28:  Early in my investigation about how/why some NYC manhole covers are manufactured in India and China I found THIS article, by Allison Meier for Hyperallergic.  Be sure to click over and read it as she presents evidence of many relics, as well as some newer covers that were commissioned in the city. HERE. This article is FULL of information and visuals.  She references a wikipedia page that deciphers the alphabet soup of initials found on covers, HERE.  And at the bottom of that page there's a link to an amazing site of sewer covers of the world – a map with submitted photos from around the globe, HERE.  Also on the wiki page is THIS link, sewer covers of the Bronx. Back to original article – Allison went on a walking tour, hosted by Michele Brody (so off I went to research her too)….the article had me opening more and more windows I was beginning to worry my computer might crash.  Visit Allison's site too – she hosts cemetery tours.

Michele Brody – she is a mixed media installation artist.  Those simple words hardly explains what she does.  Click over and check her out.  I spent a whole afternoon browsing her portfolio of work which is immensely fascinating.  Michele is a manhole cover designer too! See her site, Re-Covering the Cityscape: Impression of History Underfoot, a public art project that recognizes lost New York City history, specifically buildings which no longer exist. Special cast covers, which reference architectural details of these buildings, will be placed near their locations. Love this, "they quietly reward the attentive pedestrian with an art form that doubles as a commemorative plaque".  The Assay cover, as described by Michele, "a radiating Mandala upon which the experience of the city and its history can be meditated." Perfect.  Hope we will see more of these.

A historic reference of the building as it stood until 1915 (source), and evidence of its installation (courtesy of Michele Brody) until it was accidentally removed. There is a movement to get another one installed.  Where's the petition?  Let's sign it!  Again, visit Michele's site HERE.  For more close-ups, see HERE.  Audio interview with Michele, New York Underfoot from WFUV, HERE.

Here's some cool news:  Michele Brody offers tours!!  For all my friends in the metro area, let's go!  Sneak peek of promotional postcard below.  Actual link HERE.  As soon as I learn the sign-up details I will edit this post and crosspost on FB.  UPDATE:  Confirmed dates of upcoming tours with Michele Brody are Saturday, November 19th at 1pm and Saturday, December 10th at 1pm.  More info HERE.

From Michele's newsletter:  

And finally, after a successful weekend of Manhole Cover tours for Open House NY, I am excited to announce that I will be teaming up with JoAnn Fynke, NYC Guide and Co Founder of NYCTours.us to bring Discovering New York Underfoot: The Manhole Covers of the Meatpacking District and the Village to the public later this Fall.  Stay tuned for dates and more details…See above.

Thanks Michele, for allowing me to share your work – hope to get on a tour with you soon!

MicheleBrody.com ReCoveringTheCityscape.com

Michele's "Art In Odd Places", a self-guided tour brochure HERE, sneak peek below.

One more cool thing connected to Michele and her passion for heavy metal, she is also into light metal, as in light fixtures.  The etched glass designs are based on rubbings, set in a hand-made stainless steel and copper sconce.  You can see more about those at UrbanIlluminations.com

In addition to the Assay cover, NYC can claim a few more.  I found an article about the Lawrence Weiner covers on the Public Art Fund site, HERE.  The site indicates the locations of installation, which were present in the 2000s and to remain indefinitely but at this time only two remain. Public Art Fund in Collaboration with ConEdison and Roman Stone.  There's a book about it – no longer in print. Drats.

And one more….Karim Rashid's Millennium Manhole Cover, fabricated to usher in the year 2000.  This is the result of a competition held by ConEdison.  See article HERE. 

In other cities – my friend Jeanne shared an article about Seattle.  Lots of cool covers there!  See HERE, HERE, and HERE.  I didn't have time to seek permission to share Seattle photos.  But if you're interested, there is a lot to see.  Even better – knowing that there are lots of projects that honor the lid with a decorative surface.

And a new reader, Wayne Wegner, who calls himself Calgary's Manhole Man, shared this article about his city's call for art as they replace 2000 covers every year.  How cool to be able to enter a submission!  See that article HERE, and below see two of Wayne's findings, as well as the mold for a very handsome Calgary cover, the Chinook.  Thanks Wayne for letting me share today!

More links, courtesy of Wayne (who should start his own website soon!):

Victoria, BC manhole cover sculpture "Burnt Waffles", HERE. More covers in Victoria, HERE.

Vancouver, BC Manhole Design Challenge HERE. Top 30 designs, HERE. Another article about the challenge, HERE.

If anyone knows of more municipal projects like these please let us know!

NOTICE OF EDIT:  I'm so excited to be able to share the rubbings of David Robert.  I included his link for Day 26, but now I've edited that post to display his work from the streets of Japan.  Go see, middle of the page, HERE.

And raise your hand if you want to take the NYC tour with me!!

Day 27:  There are a few places that recognize we can place art anywhere, even underfoot.  Today is focused on Minnesota, tomorrow New York and more.  

During my online travels I had learned about the special covers found downtown Minneapolis.  They were commissions by the city, in both the 80s and the 90s as public art.  Sadly, at this time all or most, are stacked in storage as the city is undergoing a huge renovation project of the Nicollet Mall.  Crossing fingers all of them will be restored once the debris is swept away by fall of 2017. Never been to Minneapolis?  Don't know the Nicollet Mall? Sure you do….it's where Mary Tyler Moore tossed her beret, or tam, as they say in Minnesota.  There had been a MTM statue on the Mall, but it was removed for construction – but I just read she's no longer in storage and has been placed at the new Minneapolis Visitor Information Center so you can got get a selfie with her.

Andy Sturdevant, is a writer/author/columnist who has a terrific article (2013) about manhole-covers-as-art in MN. These are his photos below – first in the grid are two older standard issue Mpls covers, followed by some of the artist's interpretations of "entertainment". Created and installed in the 80s – only a handful of selections went into production, following submission of over 400.  My favorite is "Your Precise Location…" by artist Stuart D. Klipper.

You can read the full piece HERE.  He presents a great commentary on public art.  Thank you Andy for allowing me to share your photos and your article about the Minneapolis covers.

Below are more from the first commission in the 80s.  Artist credits can be seen HERE.

Another blogger, Will Crain, has scored photos of all the 1990s covers which were designed by a single artist, Kate Burke. I really appreciate that Will granted permission for me to share his findings as these designs are stunning.  

You can see his post HERE.  Thank you Will for these amazing photos of your finds.

From Kate Burke's site: In 1990, the City of Minneapolis commissioned artists to create artwork for Nicollet Mall in Downtown Minneapolis. I was commissioned to create 75 manhole covers to replace the covers over 13 city blocks. Thirty more covers for the Northern States Power Company on Nicollet Mall were eventually added. There are 11 different designs which commemorate the state designations and other icons of the state. Included are the the state flower, fish, tree, bird, grain, fruit- the Lady Slipper; the Walleye; Norway Pine; Loon; Wild Rice; Halverson Apples; the grains – Oats, Wheat, Corn, the Timberwolf, the Northern Pike. It is intended that there be discoveries like the worm with the apple or the pheasant in the corn field giving added interest over time. Each are cast iron measuring 26 inches in diameter although the Northern State Power Company covers are 29 inches. 

Kate also has designed brick-sized bronze reliefs installed in the pavement of the narrow alley, Winthrop Lane, Boston.  More art underfoot!  

Bravo Kate! Your designs are so handsome and truly capture the many iconic scenes from the Minnesota.

EDIT:  UPDATE – July 29, 2017 – Terrific new post about Hail Minnesota and Kate Burke's covers, click HERE

This year a Minnesota native was awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature and the media seems to think he doesn't care as he's been unreachable.  I think it's because he already has THIS, a manhole cover designed for him, installed in Duluth, MN.

As a girl born and raised in Minnesota, I love the story of manhole covers as art.  As I mentioned on Day 1, I was still in the Twin Cities in the 80s but I was always looking for Neenah covers.  I had no idea what lay underfoot on particular streets in town.  Looking forward to visiting there again once the artful covers have been restored. It sounds like the installation spans wider than just Nicollet Mall so perhaps you might get lucky when you're on your way to a Vikings game.

Have you been looking down more often on when you're on foot?  I've been hearing a lot of that 🙂

Day 26:  Today's topic – rubbings.  I admit I've never taken a rubbing of a cover, but I have taken impressions of plenty of stencils, shoe bottoms, anaglypta, and gravestones.  The manhole covers in my town are not that interesting, and there are lots of hard edges which will likely tear the paper.  Someday I'll find the perfect specimen to try.  I was thinking it might actually be cool to take a gelli print from a street pattern.  Anyone else thinking that too?

Meet Dwight Pritchett from Pittsburgh, PA.  I only found him a few days ago and I'm so glad he agreed to be included in this blog series as his work is fantastic.  He has a terrific website - you should take some time to prowl around.  Dwight tells you the backstory and shows his process – I always love seeing work-in-progress, don't you?  Before we look at the art, be sure to check out his tshirt. On the back is an orange cone with "Artist at Work".  Come on!  That is so clever!!!  Imagine seeing him crouched down, hovering over a cover, with that on his back as you drive past in the early morning when he is out on his missions.  

Dwight refers to his rubbings as "lifts".  I've never thought of a rubbing in those terms but it's exactly what they are.  Dwight makes the impression of a cover with conte crayon on canvas then returns to his studio to complete the piece.  He says he takes inspiration from the lighting, surrounding color and environment to finish the composition.  Love that some of his titles tell you exactly what time he was on the streets.  He tells the story better – see it HERE on his About page.  He's got a video of himself at work on his Home page HERE. So interesting to see all the color choices he makes – so handsome.  (I think he needs some professional knee pads as he's down on the ground for quite some time).  

"One thing that has interested me is making the unnoticed, noticed."  DP ~

You've certainly done that.  Just stunning work Dwight.  Thanks for letting me share your work.

Dwight Pritchett's "lift" art, ArtByDwight.com  Dwight and wife Bonnie also have two other businesses which look so cool!

PritchettStudio.com - high end creative + commercial photo retouching, and PritchettPhotoRestoration.com - professional photo restoration.  Their daughter Mollie is an entrepreneur too – photography and web design, MolliePritchett.com.

Another artist I found online who agreed to let me share her rubbings is Alexis Williams, a Canadian artist.  First, I saw her City Rubbings, then I discovered Entrance.  An amazing concept!  Read this from her site: The project evolved from the juxtaposition of gravestone decorations and man hole covers to point out their similarities as markers between above and below and as thresholds between the known and the unknown. The work has been refined into a collection of rubbings of manhole, drain and conduit covers remixed into geometric patterns resembling monumental mandalas.  Above/Below Known/Unknown.  Great observation connecting gravestones to manhole covers.  

See more of her work and a full description – so interesting – on her site, AlexisWilliams.net 

Thank you Alexis for sharing your work with us!

EDIT:  I'm thrilled to have heard back from David Robert with permission to show his rubbings from Japan.  I love how he's set up his tumblr page – there's something so pleasing about consistency and continuity.  Plus, those manhole covers are cool, as we know Japan has the most decorative street hardware on the planet.  Many of them incorporate color too.  Below is a sampling, but check his site for more, HERE.  Thank you David for allowing me to show your work.

On Day 4 I showed you books about manhole covers.  Two of them consist of rubbings. We are revisiting them since we are talking about rubbings today.  Be sure to stop by and see the work of author/artist, Kim Christiansen. 

Thanks Kim for letting me show more of your work. His book Mandalas of the Streets, HERE.

The other book, Overlooked, arrived last week.  OMG.  It's HUGE.  I know there were posters made for the same project, and I think they are also the pages of this book.  I didn't realize the the split image spreads were actually full papers of a single design, pages printed on both sides, and the whole ensemble held together with a elastic thing.  I try to show you what I mean in the photos below.

Overlooked by Marina Willer + Pentagram, featuring (probably life size) twenty-two rubbings in neon colors.

I've had this book since 2000, according to the inscription from my friend Julie.  You can get it for a penny on Amazon.  It shows a few rubbings of manhole and coal covers, gravestones, as well as a lot of interesting textures, and how to do it all.

If you're considering taking up large scale rubbings, you can get supplies HERE.

I did do a little rubbing this week – little being the key word.  I used my new stencils (Day 15), as well as my metal coasters (Day 14). I tried several different mediums to get impressions through plain old brown paper lunch bags, but the good old Crayola crayon worked best.  Peel the wrapper, break in half, lay horizontal and rub.  

Day 25:  When I found Nathan, I knew I had to share his fiber art with you.  This crocheted manhole cover was on a knitting Pinterest board but after a few clicks I discovered the artist – and would not call him a knitter.  He generously agreed to allow me to share this piece – amazing isn't it?  And clever too!  He's a wizard with the hook – go check out all his creations.  Not your Grandma's crochet patterns.  You must check out his "Let's Play War" exhibit that was commissioned by the Bellevue Arts Museum.

NathanVincent.com  Thank you Nathan for sharing your talent, mad skills, and creativity with us!

I've told you I have started following many manhole enthusiasts on Instagram.  Meet Irina.  She has a great eye for style and styling.  It is such a pleasure to see her daily posts as she is so consistent and the images are so charming.  Who knew there were that many covers in Russia? Who has that many shoes?  Take a look and follow her too.  

Thank you Irina for allowing me to share a portion of your wonderful posts.  Instagram: Irina_from_Russia

Just as I was about to launch this blog series I spoke with my friend Lynne who told me about her husband's childhood connection to manhole covers in his New York City neighborhood.  I asked if she wanted to share the story, and she did one better – got a hold of the stencils and created a collage on one of her favorite substrates – shipping envelopes.  Here's her art, and below is the story.  Two days ago I shared a stickball/manhole story from Bobbi – they sound so similar that I wonder just how many times street hardware has been used as bases.

Thanks for sharing Lynne and John!!  See more of Lynne's art at LKPerrella.com

“Home Base and Other Destinations”

Story and Artwork by Lynne Perrella

True Confession: My husband started out life as a street urchin from Hell’s Kitchen.

This angelic-looking altar boy spent every spare moment outdoors on the mean streets of Manhattan, playing stickball, stoop ball, punch ball, and touch football. Here’s how it worked: the neighborhood guys gathered in the morning, raided the unsuspecting janitor’s closet for broom sticks (used as bats), added a pink “Spal-DEEN” rubber ball, grabbed a piece of chalk to make a sidewalk scoreboard, and then spread out across the street of choice, screeching “Play ball!”. Every game involved heavy quotients of fierce competition, lively debate, admiration for the specialized talents of each guy, and (most of all) noise.   When scoping out a suitable street for a stickball game, there was one prevailing criteria: Where were the manhole covers, and how far apart were they?  

Used as “home base” and “second base”, manhole lids provided just enough structure for games that often relied on spontaneous eruptions of new rules, broken rules, and no rules.   These games occupied the streets, rendering cross-town traffic impossible, and parked cars were conveniently used as additional bases. (with the proviso that a runner had to touch the wheel of the car with his foot as he whizzed past) As you can imagine, there were the expected calamities of balls crashing through shop windows (argh!), well-hit balls ending up on neighboring roof tops (darn!), errant balls rolling into the sewers (drat!), and more – But there was always another ball, another game, and another marathon day of full-out play.

For years, I enjoyed my husband’s stories about The Guys and their exploits….and eventually I had the great joy of knowing all of them. Richie, Eddie, Jacky, Ralph, Bernie, Al, Michael and John – Team mates and friends-for-life.

This special photo was taken one summer day, when the boys were convinced to stand still for a few moments. My husband John is the boy on the left.

And last for today are my journal pages that were inspired by the manhole covered driveway photos by Ildiko Laszlo that I shared on Day 12.  Stamps, stencils, and pen.  Loved drawing in all that stone.  I see more like this in my future.

Day 24:  more guest covers from near and far.  We have NJ, NY, parts if the US, Turkey, Balkans, Tokyo, and Western Australia.  

First, my next door neighbor got in the spirit and texted me photos from the area where she works.  Thank you Liz!

More from New York City.  These are from Stuart Weger, who I met through instagram.  As I mentioned earlier, I'm new to IG but figured out how to work the hashtags, which led me to a huge list of manhole cover enthusiasts.  Thanks for these Stuart!

Leslie Cefali has been flooding my inbox with photos from her travels.  This girl gets around!  And she also has been taking photos of covers while visiting locations in the states, as well as in Italy.  Notice the upper left – a custom cover!!  I did a little surfing and found where you can have one digitally mocked up, HERE.  So cool Leslie – thanks for all of these!

Next, Ozge sends us covers from her home country Turkey, and some seen while traveling in the Balkans.  Thanks for sharing Ozge!

Suz Simanaitis is currently in Tokyo and sent covers through facebook.  How cool is that?  I LOVE the + + + on the bottom left, outside the National Theater in Tokyo. She said the narrow grate wrapped around the whole building.  Lower right: that's a rug under her desk – acts as an escape hatch for when she wants to slink away to Paris.  Smart girl.  Thanks Suz!  Hope you're having a fun time over there!

If you google 'Japanese manhole cover' you will get pages of highly decorative and colorful visuals. (HERE is a flickr album filled with them)  

Helen, from the Netherlands was reading the blog and posted covers from her area, HERE.  

And the last for today, from my friend Megan Warren.  She shows us the covers from her area in Western Australia, and shares a very personal poem.  Thanks Megan!

Thanks to everyone who sent me covers for today!  It's been so much fun to see all the different designs.