michelle ward

manhole madness month concludes plus STAMPS!

Day 31:  Here's a new word for you:  OPERCULIST.  Who knew there was a word for manhole cover enthusiasts and drainspotters.  I learned that from an article that tells us Labor leader (England) is a fan. HERE, HERE and HERE.

 

And just like that the month is over!  I have a long list of additional things I wanted to share but many of my emails requests for permission to use photos went unanswered.  In some ways I feel like I've only scraped the surface of what is out there in terms of interest and inspiration of street hardware.  I have loved putting this series together and hope you've enjoyed it - but most of all, I hope that you are taking notice of what's underfoot, both at home and you visit other places.  

Why is this topic fascinating to me?  I love circles + pattern. I love observing the differences and similarities common objects.  I love that many covers are plain and not that remarkable, and that there are just as many which are intricate, handsome, and deliberately designed.  I love the corroded, patina-ed, rusty, well-trodden - wondering at the history, from the manufacturing, installation, and the network of systems below that provide the pulse of a city.  Searching for covers gets us looking at other heavy metal offerings like iron gates and fences; we also see layouts of bricks and stone, and carved details in building facades....it's endless what we see when we really look.  

I love that I've met so many cool people along this path - from fellow enthusiasts and collectors, to inventive artists, and a whole community of generous souls who *get it*.  Thank you to everyone who chimed in with encouraging comments, and to my guests (old and new friends) who participated and broadened our view, and therefore our perspective, and widened our circle of friends with fabulous stories and visuals.

 

A few days ago, when realizing we were concluding on Halloween, it occurred to me that my very first memory of considering manhole covers as a thing, was during the 70s.  An urban legend that was circulating that warned trick-or-treaters to stay on sidewalks as grates and sewer covers may present danger, having been loosened as a prank, thus the peril of plunging frightened everyone.  When I asked my mom about it she recalled the myth, but neither of us remember how we learned of it or why it was circulating in the neighborhood.  Does anyone remember a similar story?  At the same time there was the scare that candy was poisoned, or there might be a razor blade inside, so we always had to do a treat check after coming home.  Prior to these 'scares' our greatest concern had been whether there would be snow in October and if our costume would fit over our snowmobile suits.

Staying on the sidewalks is always good advice....and if you're in London, you may encounter many of these memorial medallions. Fallon and I found several while visiting in 2012, almost exactly four years ago today.  Info about the Jubilee Walk, HERE and the Diana Walk, HERE.  The Diana markers have arrows at the perimeter as directional guides.

 

And while walking the sidewalks of Birmingham, we spied these.  I get excited any time there is a deviation that breaks up the pavement.

A really fabulous resource for viewing covers of the world is Sewers of the World, Unite!  In addition to their extensive collection of photos, you can see the artistamps designed by Alexander Kholopov.  How clever are these? See those HERE and at the V&A archives HERE.  Our friend Bobbi, who was introduced on Day 23, actually met Alexander and his wife when visiting Russia.  See Bobbi's post on her blog HERE.

 

 

This past summer I saw articles about Raubdruckerin , HERE and HERE.  There are terrific visuals in those articles as well as on the site - printing from manhole covers in the same way Russ does (Day 16).  Currently they do not ship to the US, but their process and unique cover findings in Germany are worth an online visit - they have additional locations where they've printed from too. HERE. 

Another artist who takes prints from covers and other metal, Yukihiro Taguchi, HERE, and two very cool videos, HERE and HERE.

I asked permission to show you Shepard Fairey's custom cover the City of Milan - no reply.  See it in this article, HERE.

Is there a museum? YES.

Our friend Louise Levergneux (Day 22) has been updating up her blog - be sure to tune in.  Her current post shares a very cool book (just ordered one), and another artist-designed cover, HERE.

Not sure how I came across this, but it is such a touching story.  During the process of constructing the Water Tunnel No. 3, to bring access to Manhattan, twenty-three 'sandhogs' lost their lives.  As a memorial, their names are inscribed on manhole covers installed near Van Cortlandt Park.  Article HERE.  Additional reading HERE, and HERE.  Thank you Matt for allowing me to share your photo.

 

So back to Halloween for a minute.  I was at a costume shop and noticed that the entire collection of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles items all had sewer covers on the label, yet no sewer covers as props.  On Pinterest I found Michele McDonald who offers a DIY tutorial. In the event you need one, HERE are her stepped out instructions.  Thanks Michele for allowing me to share this.  And below that - all the TMNT toys - lid launcher, legos, figures that shoot lids, and the sewer lair.  If you wish you could live a lair like theirs, you can!  AirBNB has just the place for you, in NYC: HERE.

 

On Day 15 I showed you my manhole cover stencil designs and patterns for The Ink Pad.  I'm excited to announce that rubber stamps are coming soon!  They've been in the works since we started working together over a year ago.  Still in the process of manufacturing, these will be available at their store and online shop soon.  Sneak peek: 

 

AND I'm launching more unmounted rubber for my own collection at GreenPepperPress. I've been inspired by several things - of course covers and grates have influenced these images, but I also have a thing for playing cards.  When I started manipulating these rounds and rectangles, juxtaposing the designs, they started to feel like backs of cards, which got me thinking about card packages and the tax stamp that seals the box.  I've mocked up some samples of how I envision the usefulness of these images on tags.  These are in production and are available for a pre-order discount until they arrive.   You can order HERE.

 

UPDATE from Day 28:  Confirmed dates of upcoming tours with Michele Brody are Saturday, November 19th at 1pm and Saturday, December 10th at 1pm.  More info HERE

Thanks for coming along!  Have a Happy Halloween.

Tomorrow:  a preview of my current article for Somerset Studio, "Draw the Line".  You might see a few manhole covers ;)

manhole cover journals

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?

 

all in the family

Day 29:  For several weeks there has been a lot of focus on manhole covers in our home.  Everyone had gotten into it.  My requests to family members to collect photos of their daily findings may have been met with raised eyebrows, but all complied.  As I'm out and about with Sam in tow he is never surprised when I pull over to get out and investigate a dip in the pavement.  Often that would lead toward a few more steps this way, then that way, to see if I missed anything.  Even my parents got involved.  To follow is the evidence that my family "gets" me.  Just below:  a custom printed mat for our basement "pub".  It arrived just three days after I ordered it!  You can get one HERE.  I wouldn't consider it a hardy door mat, in fact I won't be placing outside.  It's going in the pub of course.

 

 

My mom and dad - they found a Neenah cover!: 

My sister-in-law Renee, and my son Peter:

My daughter Fallon:

My sister-in-law Sandra: 

 

 From my husband:

 

And look at this beauty sent in by Barbara Pandos - taken while she was in Helsinki.  (My loyal readers know why this is so special).

So I got to thinking.....wouldn't this be an appropriate cover for Helsinki too?  I borrowed the edges from Gabriele's photos shown on Day 17.

(For those who don't know - the center is actually a Heartagram belt buckle....the Heartagram being the symbol for my favorite band HIM, from Helsinki). 

Special thanks to my family serving as roving reporters this month. xoxo

 

 

more commissions

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!!

commissioned covers

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 :)

 

rub on, lift off

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.  

 

 

more manhole cover art

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.

 

near and far

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.

 

"Cover Girl" Bobbi Mastrangelo

Day 23:  From the moment I landed on Bobbi Mastrangelo's site I knew I had met a kindred spirit.  She calls her series of art pieces based on covers, "Grate Works".  Such a clever title for her body of work.  She's also been called a Cover Girl - the perfect moniker for an artist whose work focuses on all kinds of street hardware.  From our very first email exchange Bobbi asked for my address so she could send me a postcard book that documents many of her masterpieces.  She has been an amazing cheerleader for this blog project of mine, leaving kind comments for me and the guests, as well as sending me piles of information and encouraging words each day. I'm so excited to be sharing Bobbi and her artwork.  

Bobbi is a generous soul and has offered to send everyone interested a signed postcard.  Send me an email with your address and Bobbi will send you a postcard.  Even better, if you send her a self-addressed stamped envelope she will send you four signed postcards!  Write me and I will give you her address.  How cool is that?

  

 

Here's a description of her work, from her website: 

Bobbi Mastrangelo, The “Grate Artist”, is internationally known for her unique creations based on the theme of manhole covers. Deeply embossed prints on her hand-made paper transform the mundane iron covers into jewel like mandalas. Her tromp l'oeil sculpture relief works artistically capture the essence of utility covers in urban settings. Their appearance is so realistic that viewers wonder how she managed to put all that “weight “ up on the wall.

She is a mixed media artist like us - creating with several mediums in many sizes.  Bobbi makes one-of-a-kind sculptures, with a long list of distinguished collectors, and she creates affordable prints and reliefs too.  Incorporating paper casting, printmaking, sculpture, and paint - she is inventive, creative, and an environmental activist.  Her career began as an elementary school teacher but she eventually found her way to art-making and has been at it for thirty-seven years.  Bobbi's site is very extensive and there is a lot to see. Visit her site and her blog at BobbiMastranelo.com 

My favorite interview where I got a sense of her process and her passion is HERE, from 1997.

This piece is practically in my backyard - at the Zimmerli Museum where Fallon has classes at Rutgers.  Looks like a real cover doesn't it?  She nailed the metal, and the discolored area surrounding the cover, as we often see in the streets.

 

 

On Bobbi's site, she takes you through the process of creating some of her pieces, and the stories behind them.  I loved reading about this one, and how she problem solved the issues along the way, including the use of simulated moss and actual debris from her street to fill in the gaps.  Not only are her interpretations very real, there are minerals included to contribute to the deception.  See the full story of her submission to Orlando Museum of Art, "City of Orlando" HERE.

 

Showing the diversity in her use of materials, here is an embossed metal piece - love the color selection for the subject. She also has several works which have been hand-tooled from copper.   See those HERE.  And fiber!  She does textile work too.  Like many of us, Bobbi is curious about how to manipulate various resources to express herself, and learned techniques through the process of problem solving.

You can see more of her realistic presentation of covers we have become familiar with - water, sewer, coal.  She even replicates the glass light vaults.  The story behind Three Covers, and how they often became "bases" when a "city street turned into an asphalt field of dreams for kids", is HERE.

 

Bobbi makes pulp from scratch and creates paper castings, and prints are available of her originals.

 

 

Looking back through more than two dozen emails, I can't believe we've only known each other less than a month. Her enthusiasm for our shared obsession is genuine - which was evident through our correspondence, then confirmed with several phone calls.  I would love to tell you everything I've learned about her and her art but to be honest, her body of work is so extensive, and her involvement in exhibitions, and events like National Post Card Week, exhausts me just reading about it.  I will tell you one more thing - as I went on a research spree for this series I landed on many websites, forums, blogs.....and on many postings I would often see Bobbi as a commentor or as a link.  She gets around.  And she's an endless font of positive energy.  I encourage you to visit her site and poke around, then go back again.  And reach out to her - she is a true gem. BobbiMastrangelo.com

Thank you Bobbi for letting me share your talent, your passion, and most of all, thank you for being a "grate" friend.

Readers, don't forget:  a postcard from Bobbi awaits you.  Send me your address. 

GIVEAWAY:  Thanks to all who visited and left a comment.  The winner is Leslie Cefali!  How fun that she won as she's going to be featured as a guest reporter before the month is over.  *tosses confetti*

 

 

City Shields by Louise Levergneux

 

Day 22:  Earlier this month I found Louise.  Not sure how I landed on her site but it was clear I needed to reach out to her to be included in my series this month.  She's an amazing photographer and book artist and has such a clever mind.  She's an observer, an inventor, combining low and high tech with pristine and handsome results.

Please visit her site, HERE, and here blog HERE - you'll be delighted by her flipbooks (with terrific videos of them in action), and many more interactive-style books and decorative boxes. 

Of course my favorite are her City Shields.  Isn't that a genius title?  Here's how she describes them:  City Shields is a photographic documentation that takes the viewer on a walking journey through the urban streets of various Canadian, Scottish and American cities. This work collects souvenirs of travelled cities around the world using manhole covers to depict exploration of geographical locations along the artist's life journey.  It all started when a cover caught her eye while in Scotland - that was 1999, and she's been an enthusiast ever since - collecting and documenting from her native Canada, as well as parts of the US.

There are more than 50 sets completed!  That means she has traveled, searched, photographed, sized, printed, and cut numerous covers per set.  Whew!  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Clearly a labor of love.  You can get yourself a volume (or two or three) in her shop! 

Thanks Louise for allowing me to share your creativity - such an inspiration!

Louise Levergneux WEBSITE

Louise Levergneux BLOG

Louise Levergneux SHOP, click on books to find her City Shields and flipbooks.

 

LAST DAY TO ENTER FOR THE GIVEAWAY.  ENTER YOUR COMMENT ON DAY 15 HERE.  Drawing will be later tonight and I will announce the winner tomorrow.

heavy + light

Day 21:  I've met so many wonderful people while on this mission to educate myself about manhole covers.  I've taken many tangents, surfed through all kinds of sites, and written a lot of emails.  Both of the features today came about because there were generous souls at the other end of the keyboard who responded quickly and kindly and caught the wave of my enthusiasm.  I bet you never thought I'd make it to 21 days, much less 31.  Let me tell you - there is not enough month to get all the content presented.

So today:  heavy + light.

Heavy:  Check out this table!  It came up in a google search as I was curious to know if anyone had used street hardware for furniture. Back in the day, my dad turned a large wooden spool for telephone cable into a table and since then I've always had an appreciation for repurposing.  When I landed on Urban Grain to learn more about the table below, I fell in love with all their products.  Clicking around I learned that Carla Muncaster, the Creative Director, found her way to refinishing and designing furniture while working with a client as an interior design consultant.  She clearly loves what she's doing and it all happened because of her creativity.  When I wrote and asked permission to share this reclaimed manhole cover table, she was quick to respond and even sent photos.  Then she told me about a current project - which sounds divine (red powder coated drainage grids!!).  Be on the look out for her very cool offerings on her sites.  

See Urban Grain for a view of all the custom pieces they have fabricated, and see the ETSY shop for items currently available.  

Located in Manchester, England.  Thank you Carla for allowing me to share these very handsome tables - love the concept, love the pattern, love the crusade to upcycle common goods into home decor.

 

 

 

Light:  The past few weeks I've been prowling around on Pinterest looking at manhole covers, of course.  I know some people do not appreciate "suggested pins" as it feels you're being spied on, but I tend to like them.  Sometimes I find it amusing what shows up in the suggestions, but often I'm really impressed.  That was the case for this next feature.  When I first saw this grid of covers I expected to click through to a blog post about someone's collection of photos.  But what I found was a design for a miniature book!  Through correspondence with Tara Maginnis, who is a costume designer, I learned she made this for her father, a retired telephone lineman. She offers this book as a free printable template and suggested making a pair of them as earrings for the manhole cover enthusiast. All images from WikiSource. 

Click for high resolution file, Free Printable Miniature Books for Dollhouses #31 : Manhole Covers of the World, mini-book by Tara Maginnis.  Sneak preview below.

 

 

 

Credit for the miniature book:  Tara Maginnis, Ph.D., Costume Designer Diablo Valley College.  

Founder of The Costumer's Manifesto Wiki at http://thecostumersmanifesto.com  

Design Portfolio at http://TaraMaginnis.com

Class Photos at http://TaraMaginnisClasses.Shutterfly.com
Buy Tara's DVD-Rom Teaching series on Theatrical Makeup at http://www.theatricaldesign.com/makeup/

 

Thank you Tara for allowing me to share this wonderful project for my fellow manhole obsessionists.

 

 

 

pattern seekers

Day 20: I'm not sure exactly why the search for manhole covers appeals to me so much.  The foundation of the quest came from the experience I shared on Day 1, when a friend pointed out Neenah Foundry on a storm grate.  As I mentioned, ever since then I not only look for patterns and style, but I also look for the manufacturer.  Over the years I've been impressed by highly decorative covers, but I also love the ordinary variety, and comparing how they differ depending on the year of issue.  In addition to the pattern search, I think it is just as compelling that we regard these items as relics of history.  Worn by time, weather, and traffic, these trusty covers serve and protect.  I also love how every photo you see reveals a little bit about the environment of its location.  Fancy stonework or crumbling pavement, protruding weeds or covered in gravel  - it's all so interesting, am I right?

 

 

When you are wearing manhole glasses (always on the search) you get excited by any dip in the blacktop, thinking there may be a find just ahead.  You also start to look at everything and think "that looks like a manhole cover".  For instance:

 

My silver locket, an embossed metal trivet, a silicone coaster, an ornamental drawing, a sink drain, an Oreo, a waffle, or a hub cap - all common sightings that may catch the attention of a manhole enthusiast.  Many other unrelated items make you think "that could be a manhole cover".  Am I right?

There are patterns everywhere.  Just last week I was emailing with Janet and she brought up shoe sole designs.  She's right -so many different treads on shoes....and tires!  My friend Mary Beth Shaw has a mantra, "I see stencils everywhere".  I'm sure you're nodding along with her.  As visual artists we are easily amused by the observation and mental-note-taking of patterns we encounter.  The repetitive combination of shapes that form a pattern is pleasing - which is why we like stencils and stamps as tools for art-making. This week I was using embossing folders to make some decorative paper when I decided to punch out into circles.  Ha!  Do you see what I see?  I also got to use my new foam stamp by my friend Nathalie Kalbach, found in her shop HERE.

 

 

A few more words about pattern:  In an article last March, and for parts of 2015, I shared with you my interest in security envelopes. Another overlooked source of repetitive texture.  Maybe not as fascinating as manhole covers, but finding and collecting these hidden patterns is a cheap thrill .  Just this week I received an invoice with an envelope that had a new-to-me pattern.  I can't tell you how excited I got and right away clipped a strip for my catalog of patterns.  Everyday there is something to get excited about, am I right?

See my previous postings about security envelopes: Inside Out, Happy 4th of July, More Envelope Cutting, Someone Call Security, Painting on a Grid

Don't forget to enter the GIVEWAY.  Drop your name in the comment section on the post from Day 15 HERE.  Drawing is 10/22.

What other patterns are you seeing showing up in your daily observations?  

more guest covers

Day 19:  More covers by friends.  First up is Judi Riesch.  It's her birthday today!!  Just back from France, this was her single offering. I know there had to be a lot more from the streets of Paris, but she will just have to go back and capture a few more next year.  We will forgive her since this cover seems to have my initials.  Not hard to spot the "MW".  Thanks Judi!

 

 

Second:  Sharon Fraser - she got this gem in Prague.  Fantastic!  The bricks are too!  Thanks for sharing this one Sharon.

 

Next - Diane Johnson.  She has been all over the world and has collected photos of covers wherever she goes.  She doesn't have access to her collection right now but was on the Oregon Coast recently and captured this survey marker.  So cool!  Thanks Diane! Love the "Unlawful to Disturb" warning.

 

And last for today, but not least, my friend Jeanne McLaughlin is just back from a trip to England.  I got wind of her voyage through facebook and sent her a request to find us some covers - and she did!  Thanks Jeanne!

 

 

Jeanne is a mixed media artist and one of her passions is eco-dyeing.  I scored this scarf earlier this year.  It's the perfect time of year to be showing off this lovely scarf, if only it wasn't 80+ degrees out this week.  Soon I will be wearing this everywhere.  Do you spy a rusty cover-like imprint?  Me too!  To buy from Jeanne, find her on facebook.

 

 

Even more guest covers to come soon.  I get really fun stuff via email these days :)

Don't forget to enter the GIVEWAY.  See Day 15 HERE.

guest covers: Lisa Hoffman and Jim Cox

Day 18:  As soon as I asked my dear friend Lisa Hoffman to look for and photograph manhole covers in her area she was ON it.  I know she walks her dogs so I thought it would be interesting to see what was underfoot on her daily routine.  Not only did she send those, but she and her partner Jim became eagle eye reporters from all the surrounding areas.  Just look at these findings!!  

This first one has glass inserts, originally clear and meant to let in light below, they become purple over time.  I've only seen one like this in New York - my favorite kind of cover.  This visual as a real score.  See more about glass "vault lights" HERE and more visuals HERE.

How about this one?  Once you go down the rabbit hole of looking online, or looking in real life, you really appreciate the ones that deviate from 'the usual'.  I'm sure this one gets a lot of well-deserved attention, from those who catch a glimpse when walking by in Boulder - and it has to bring a smile, and very likely has them looking at every manhole cover in the vicinity. 

 

Here is the full collection of Lisa and Jim's findings so far....

 

 

Lisa is a mixed media artist and recently started turning her sketchbook drawings/paintings into miniatures.  Big beautiful pages reduced to an adorable collection of stickers.  Genius!  And fun for your planners, journals, blank envelopes and more.  Collection No.1 & No. 2 available on ETSY, click HERE.  Another set is about to launch!  

Visit Lisa Hoffman's blog HERE.

Thank you Lisa and Jim for accepting this mission and educating us on covers in your area. xoxo

 

guest covers: Gabriele Guehr plus painted coasters

Day 17:  I've never met Gabriele in real life but I know we'd be instant friends if we did.  She gets me.  I've recieved wonderful things from her in my mail box - the real kind.  Not long after I started this blog series she pops into my email-box with these two stunning covers.  Aren't they divine?  Here's what she said about them, "from Esslingen, near Stuttgart in the south of Germany".  They are very similar but if you inspect closely you'll see some differences.  So handsome.  THANK YOU Gabriele for surprising me with these photos, and showing us what you walk over in your corner of the world.

 

Here's a quick project you can made with the manhole cover stencils I showed you two days ago.  I used both chipboard and blank wooden coasters, but this same concept could be applied on paper, like in your journal.  I explain the steps in the graphic below. Super easy.  

First coat with gesso.  Then lay stencil/mask in place, and apply more gesso.  I scraped over the surface with an old credit card, then carefully lift off.  Since these stencils/masks are nice and thick the second layer of gesso will dry with dimension.  After it's completely dry, scrub on some Asphaltum glaze.  You can kind of push into the depth with your brush while pulling sideways to lift off some from the top.  The gesso will resist the glaze so don't rub off too much. Let it dry, then buff across the top with fine grit sandpaper to create greater contrast and reveal more of the dimensional shapes.  If you're going to use as coasters you will need to finish with a sealant, and maybe attach a circle of felt or cork to the bottom.

Stencils used: NYC Manhole Cover, Manhole Covers II, from The Ink Pad NYC, and Sunbursts MW-008 from Green Pepper Press (also sold at Stencil Girl Products as Circle 9 #L016 .

 

 

Have you seen the GIVEAWAY?  Visit HERE and leave your name in the comments to be entered in the drawing for manhole covers stencils on 10/22.

 

 

meet Russ

Day 16:  Meet Russ.  I first found him through this article, HERE.  If you click through, you'll notice you can't read the whole piece. Luckily, they cover the important details in the first few lines.  Name, location, and the buzz phrase "street art".  I went on a searching spree and learned a lot more about Mr. Muits, from a full article, HERE.  He's a graphic designer, and originally a Jersey boy.  His website: Storm Print City.  He's been on the hunt for nearly ten years - finding cool covers and taking prints from them.  First print was from a cover in Seattle - I have seen they have really cool ones there.  His catalog boasts of more than 200 unique pieces from more than 50 cities across the country and his enterprise now consists of a team of artists in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Detroit with new cities to come.   

 

 

 

After reading all the interesting posts on his site I clicked over to the SHOP buttons.  He has fine art prints which you can order by region, individually, or in a collection of your choice.  He sells ceramic coasters - tons of them.  He also sells one-of-a-kind printed shirts - check them out HERE.  All very cool offerings from a guy who has literally worked on the streets, sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, to pull prints.  

 

 

 

But here's the project that really impressed me - Prints for Flint.  Russ is a man of action - and has created a collection of goods that benefit the children of Flint.  How cool is that?  A water cover print that turns around and gives back to improve water conditions in an area that has been traumatized.  Love that.  Water.  We turn on the tap and indulge.  Imagine not having that luxury.  

Got myself a tote.  I think you need one too.  Shop HERE.

 

 

 

Thanks Russ, for the permission to use your photos and for letting me share your story.  Very cool art.  Even cooler mission.

Find him here:  StormPrintCity website, shop, Instagram, Youtube + PrintsForFlint

 

 

giveaway!

Day 15: We are half way through the month - I think it's time to post a giveaway.  Up for grabs are two of the stencils I've designed for The Ink Pad - manhole covers, of course.  We launched the series earlier this year.  When I was approached to collaborate with The Ink Pad my first idea is what you see below.  I gave my most enthusiastic pitch - and they went for it.  So cool we were all on the same page.  Visit their online shop for the full collection of New York City themes stencils and masks, HERE.  Scroll down to the comments section and leave your name to be entered in the drawing.

Here is the full set of the first collection - each stencil is 8-1/2" x 11".  Order HERE.

Visit the Ink Pad when you're in the city because they have everything!  Including wonderful classes.  Or stop by their new online store HERE.

Leave your name in the comments section below to be entered for the drawing.  

I will pick a name on October 22 at 9:00 pm Eastern time.  Good luck!!

coasting

Day 14:  How about these cool coasters?  Made by Godinger.  4" aluminum.  Found on Amazon.  

USA cities HERE.  Euro cities HERE.

 

I'm coasting along on a few projects.  When the paint is dry I'll be posting about them.

Lots more to see.  See ya tomorrow.

guest covers: Andrew Borloz

Day 13: I'm pleased to have another roving reporter show us covers from his area.  Andrew has been a long time friend and fellow artist. He's taken some great photos to share and has written a narrative to accompany them.  

You can find Andrew's stencil designs at Stencil Girl Products HERE.  His blog, HERE.  His Pinterest boards HERE.  And he's on facebook with his business page, UrbanPaperArts, HERE.

 

 

Hi! I'm Andrew Borloz and I have been living in Pascack Valley region of Bergen County (northeastern New Jersey)
most of my life. Most of the photos that I took of the manhole covers are usually in either New York City, in Japan,
or in other areas. But I didn't look closely at the local ones until Michelle asked me if I could submit the photos of
manhole covers for her blog.

I looked for the photos that I thought I already took, but I could not find any. So I decided to go out today (October 6),
and take photos of the covers in eight small towns that are part of Pascack Valley. Small enough that I could go
through all of them in about an hour.

After I took the photos from the towns of Emerson, Hillsdale, Park Ridge (where actor James Gandolfini grew up),
River Vale, Montvale, Washington Township, Westwood, and Woodcliff Lake, I have grouped them based on common
features.

The first set below shows the town names "bend" around the perimeter. Westwood (center) is the only one I found 
with the year in the center. I remember the installation of the sewer pipes in my street back in 1966 - no more septic tanks!

 

 

Another set shows some of the covers with wheel spoke design. Some towns used the same design all over within
its own boundaries, but Westwood used at least 3 different ones.

 

 

Not all manhole covers are for the sewer pipes. I have found the ones from a telephone company, an electrical access
to the traffic lights (Westwood), and from drainage pipes (Washington Township & Emerson).

 

 

And here's my last set - they're sort of uncommon and not easily found. Most of them are found within the older
residential area. I've noticed one oddity - a Paramus manhole cover found in Hillsdale (upper left corner). The large
town of Paramus (a shopping mecca) is four miles south of Hillsdale and I couldn't figure out why that cover is in
Hillsdale.

 

 

My favorite one is the hexagon pattern (lower left) - I was surprised to find it right in my town as I have seen so many
of the same one in New York City.

It was fun to see the similarities and differences between these town-specific covers!  ~ &rew

 

THANKS ANDREW!!  You had quite a field trip and gave us a lot to see - love how you grouped them.

Check out some of his new stencil designs.  I think these Grindstones could pass as mini manhole covers!  Find them HERE.

 

driving over manhole covers

Day 12:  While doing visual research I came upon this driveway.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  Isn't this stunning?  Of all the things I've discovered, this is one of my favorites.  The search started with google but linked to pinterest then tumblr then back to pinterest. Round and round I went searching for the original photo.  After a lot of clicking around I finally found my way to Ildiko Laszlo, an amazing photographer.  (check out the galleries on her site - love the botanicals and abstracts!) She has generously granted permission to allow me to share these with you.  Wonderful photos of a very cool project. The artist at this residence in California has constructed the driveway with stonework and found formed metal lids of all shapes from scrapyards, and the adjacent retaining walls are ornamented with tile, glass, and every kind of brick.  

I loved hearing that since this experience, Ildiko is also always looking out for interesting manhole covers.

Thank you Ildiko for sharing your talent with us today - a very impressive visual.

Visit Ildiko Laszlo on her site + blog HERE, and her Fotoblur pages HERE.  She can also be found on Instagram HERE.

 

Photos used with permission.

I'm so inspired by these photos.  I think I need to visit my art journal and see what happens.

p.s.  about the post title "driving over manhole covers", don't google it.  You'll come across a horror show of dash cam videos showing all kinds of mishaps caused by loose covers.  After seeing some of these clips I try to avoid driving over one - unless of course it's a beautiful driveway covered in them.

made in india

Day 11:  After I found the video from yesterday, I came upon the trailer for the documentary Cast In India.  I have seen the covers stamped with Made In India in NYC and was curious about them.

 

 

After seeing how the foundries in the US manufacture covers, it is very interesting to get a glimpse of production in India.  No automated machinery - each piece is a collaboration among workers.  Man made vs. machine - portions of the stamping pressed into place with skill.  I was thrilled to have found my way to Natasha Raheja who has documented the process in her short film Cast In India.  She is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology at New York University with a Certificate in Culture and Media.  Natasha agreed to participate in today's post by allowing me to share about her film - educating us about the activity a world away that shows up underfoot here.  Visit her site to learn more - there are several wonderful reviews/interviews linked on her PRESS page.  Thanks Natasha!

 

 

 

Cast in India Trailer from Natasha Raheja on Vimeo.

 

I learned from listening to one of the interviews with Natasha that manhole covers in the US are produced here at home, in India, China and Romania.  I really love seeing how things are made don't you?

made in u.s.a.

Day 10:  Ever wonder how they make these things?  I found a video....scroll down.

Made in USA, by D&L Foundry, found in NYC.

 

Not all covers have marking from where it's made.  

Here's one from Bridgewater, NJ.  Made by Campbell Foundry Company in Harrison, NJ.  

 

 

Science Channel's "How It's Made": Manhole Covers

 

 

Tomorrow:  more about how they are made outside the US.

 

step inside

Day 9:  Now that we're thinking constantly about manholes, don't you wonder what's down there?  I've gotten a peek down a few as there always seems to be something going on under the streets of New York.  Some barricades and cones cordon off an area just beyond the sidewalk and you can see there is a metal ladder that leads into the darkness.

Just yesterday I was able to ask my father-in-law about what it was like to work down a manhole. He was with British Telecom and had to climb poles and descend the holes. He said there are special keys to open the hatch, then they would scale the ladder down about twenty feet.  When I asked if he wore a hard hat with a light on it he explained that they would use a generator to power lighting below the horizon to work on the cables.

Check this out.  Wouldn't you faint if suddenly this opened up and a guy walked out?  If you happen to visit Weisbaden, Germany, perhaps you can get on this underground tour.  I'm certain that this is not a typical inside view.  Pretty cool, don't you think?  More images HERE.

 

 

 

Makes me think of the scene from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where they find the town children hiding under the castle.

 

I got to thinking about how many movie have scenes in the sewers.....did a quick search ...there are more than a few...and found my way back to Bobbi, who wrote on her blog about a similar sewer in Vienna as seen in the movie The Third Man.  Bobbi's post: HERE. Scene from the movie (I admit, have never watched the film) HERE.

How fun would it be to take a sewer tour?  I've walked the canals of Birmingham, England, before they were cleaned up, then later when they were opened up and integrated as part of the city.  Not sure how I'd feel to be totally contained underground.

Has anyone gone on a sewer tour? 

entering week two

Day 8:  More fine samples that show how vast the markings are on covers around the world.  These are from Nick Sherman.  In case you missed his introduction on Day 1, he has an album with over 800 photos and generously permitted me to share them.  Thanks again Nick, your collection is prolific.  See more HERE, you will be dizzy after the visit.

 

 

I mentioned earlier that I'm new to Instagram.  And I've discovered if you are skilled at adding hashtags, you will find other like-minded people.  Just to get you started:  #manhole  #manholecover  Some really cool people out there sharing their amazing finds.  I'm not sure if it's cool to post links to other folks accounts so just try the hashtags.  Before long you will find more than you ever expected.

 

Thanks again to Nick Sherman.

down the hatch

Day 7:  While doing visual research on manhole covers I quickly learned that there is so much learn and just as much to see.  One afternoon I ended up following several tangents and wound up focused on coal hole covers.  I clicked link after link and was not surprised when I landed at a favorite place, Spitalfields Life.  I'm a follower and get the posts via email, but had missed out on the specific posts I'm about to share as they were published before I discovered the blog.  When I wrote to The Gentle Author seeking permission to share his links and use his photos he very generously agreed.  "BE MY GUEST...I am your loyal servant, The Gentle Author".  Don't you love him already?

His post about covers is HERE.  But what prompted that, was a very cool article about commissioned Roundels - cast sculptural cover replacements by artist Keith Bowler. HERE.  (Seriously, go see.  Couldn't find a working link on the artist so this may be the only place you will discover his work.)

 

Other delicious articles that I've enjoyed by The Gentle Author: A Model Of London 1840s, The Wallpapers of Fournier Street.  Stop by - always an interesting read.  Thanks Gentle Author for being part of my blog series.

Some information on coal hole covers from Wikipedia HERE.  (Photo below borrowed from there.)  I never knew that the hatches were latched shut from the inside.  See?  So much to learn.

 

I found another guy from England who has taken many rubbings of coal covers.  I tried to see about getting his book but it is no longer available as it was part of a college project from seven years ago.  I found this page HERE where he includes a video (below) showing his work-in-progress.  When he wrote me to say I could post this, he told me about another video he made about collecting, and he mentions manhole/coal covers.  See that HERE (starts at about 7:50)  Cool!  Thanks Mark Simmonds.  (p.s. Mark, I have a Tesco's bag from 1984!)

 

SOME EXAMPLES OF COAL HOLE COVERS from MARK SIMMONDS on Vimeo.

 

In the next few days we are going to look at even more wonderful covers, from here and abroad, because I want to make the point of how diverse these things are - from the simple to the ornate - even though it's likely you don't need to be convinced as the images we've seen are proof enough. Yes? Then I'm going to introduce some artists and their connections to street hardware.  I will also have a few surprises.  If you've jumped on the bandwagon, or were already an enthusiast, and you want to share your photos, send them over and I'll be happy to include you this month.  My new friend Bobbi, who will be featured soon, says I should run this series every year. I'm thinking that would be great.  Or as Bobbi would say, grate.

See you tomorrow.

guest covers: Julie Prichard

Day 6:  I told you I've met some new friends I'm going to tell you about soon, but I also have some old friends who have taken up the crusade to show us their manhole covers.  First up is my good friend and fellow artist Julie Prichard.  She's an amazing painter, photographer, workshop instructor and author.  You can find her online classes HERE + blog at TheLandOfLostLuggage.com.  Her book, Acrylic Solutions:  Exploring Mixed Media Layer by Layer is available on Amazon HERE.  She is going be in a show at the San Diego Art Institute in Balboa Park next month!  Meet the Artist November 12, 6pm ~ Show runs through December 3rd.  If you're in the area stop in - you'll get to see and buy amazing paintings, like this one:

 

Julie is sharing all the covers she found in her neighborhood and on her travels in the San Diego vicinity.  How cool are these?  Thanks Julie!!

 

 

Funny story:  as Julie and I were on the phone discussing manhole covers, and where they were located on our own streets, we both pulled up Google maps and were "'walking" down the streets looking for their locations.  You can actually see some of them when you arm-chair-travel that way.

 EDIT:  See Julie's blog post about her guest COVERage HERE.

water meters count too

Day 5:  As you've seen in my previous posts I include all street hardware as part of manhole madness.  Sewer, storm, gas, electric, telephone, water and any other reason for having a piece of metal inserted into a street or sidewalk gets my attention.  If you're a die-hard manhole enthusiast you might not agree that water meters count.  I think they do.  In fact, learning about the famous New Orleans water meter covers got me looking down more often, especially while roaming the charming streets of the French Quarter.  The meter cover was manufactured by Ford Meter Box Company, Wabash, Indiana.  See the wikipedia page HERE.  Another informative article is HERE. My photo of the water meter cover in NOLA is first, followed by variants borrowed from the wikipedia page.  These aren't the only three types, but they are enough to prove that it's fun to observe the slight differences.  Want more? See Google.  

Perspective:  The meter covers are only about 12" wide.

 

 

You can't go into any souvenir store without seeing the crescent moon water meter marking on something.  Aprons, tshirts, potholders, shot glasses....  I scored a lovely charm from Sterling Silvia which hangs from my everyday necklace.  The coasters were a gift from my friend Katherine - love them.  I also left New Orleans with two Kabuki Hats - one is the beret below.  The ornament is from CopperFancy, available through Amazon.  The coasters were a gift from my friend Katherine - love them.  

 

More on manholes tomorrow!  

there's a book for that

Day 4: If you're like me, whenever you're at the beginning of a new infatuation you look for books on the subject.  There's not a lot of publications covering manholes but here are a few.  I have the three, and the bright one is on the way from England.  I have to say while I appreciate the colored covers from Japan, they don't really interest me.  (We will talk about those another day).  I'm sure I'd flip out if I came across one, but I tend to prefer the rusty, corroded covers found on streets and sidewalks plus the surrounding environment like gravel, cobblestone, or pavement.

 

I wish the top two were in color.  The black and white photos don't take away from the content as we are mainly looking at patterns and shapes, but the colored versions would so much more interesting, as in the cover above.

There is a book "Manhole Covers of Los Angeles", a rare find, and out of my budget, but was one of the first to glorify street hardware. Text/Photos by Robert and Mimi Melnick, it was a limited edition print run and is now a collectors's item.  In 1994 Mimi Melnick released the follow-up, Manhole Covers.  I love this book.  Nice big photos, in black and white, and the story behind their crusade to find a lid to hang over their sofa, which started their obsession.  The cover is embossed - a clever detail for a wonderful book and the story of the Melnicks.  

 

 

Designs Underfoot is another great resource.  It separates the different style covers and provides locations of where to find them in New York City. The photos are small, in black and white, but it offers the opportunity to compare similar styles with the choice of chapters.  

 

 

Mandalas from the Streets, by Kim Christiansen is a ninety page book, single sided images as they are intended as a coloring book.  I would never!  I just like seeing how his selection of covers appear as rubbings.  Check out his website for more wonderful examples of his art.

Just this week I found this: Overlooked by Marina Willer.  It features twenty-two rubbings in neon colors.  In addition to the book there are posters (swoon!! GO SEE THEM - two different shaped covers silk screened together).  These were featured at the London Design Festival last month.  From the shop page:  Overlooked is the 45th Pentagram Paper, the self-published series shining a spotlight on quirky or vernacular design, produced by design studio Pentagram. In it, London partner Marina Willer wanted to “celebrate the gatekeepers” to the subterranean world beneath London’s streets – the street or ‘manhole’ cover. 

Gatekeepers.  Cool description.

 

 

And host of other books I don't have but found on Amazon.  Love the title:  Drainspotting.  There are two of them - one from Japan, one from Sheffield.  Several more volumes on the colored Japanese hatches, one is ebook only.  And how about the one that takes the Japanese covers to a new level, turning them into quilts?  Who knew.  

 

I'm finding that there are so many online resources if you just want to look at manhole covers.  Some really wonderful and dedicated photographers who have put together specific albums.  One connection leads to another and all you keep thinking is "I wish all of these were in a book - like all of them from everyone around the world".  I will share links soon - still compiling as I find more every day. Warning:  it becomes addictive.  

This is only day four of Manhole Madness, and I can't tell you how exciting it has been.  I've met so many generous folks.  You write an email, asking a question or seeking permission, and you get one back.  That doesn't always happen.  And the enthusiasm multiplies. Can't wait to introduce you to some of my new friends.  Stay tuned.

 

 

NYC - upper East side

Day 3:  Earlier this summer Fallon and I went to The Met for the Manus X Machina exhibit.  We took the subway to 59th so we could have a quick peek at the Bergdorf Goodman windows, then walked into Central Park, passing the zoo and Conservatory Pond (where they float the little sail boats) then swung back to 5th Ave to arrive at the museum.  Here are the covers found along the way.  Some shadows couldn't be avoided.  One sidewalk vendor parked right over a sewer cover so my view was blocked.  Not all photos are to scale - some of these are HUGE.  I even jumped into the street as a bus was approaching to get the ConEdison.  So here you go - a tiny collection from a 20 minute walk.  Making the point that there are a lot of finds - even on a twenty minute walk.

 

It's amazing what you see when you're looking down.  I have many more NYC sightings as last year I began a collaboration with The Ink Pad NYC and my first idea was to design manhole cover stencils and stamps.  More on that soon.

COVERage from the post office to home

Day 2:  Today we are going to view some local covers.  Because I have an online business I'm at the post office on a regular basis. This summer, I stepped out of the van right onto this beauty.  Never noticed it before.  Clearly it's been there for years.  Perhaps I missed it as the parking lot is usually full and I have to park along the curb.  

 

After 18 years of only noticing covers in the big city or while traveling, I became inspired to start photographing my local sightings. There was the epiphany at the post office, then as I drove home through the neighborhood I captured nearly every cover along my path. The postman caught me standing in the street with my phone. He swerved over to inquire whether I was playing Pokemon Go.  NOT. Love the rusty patina on the one below - it's 40 feet from my driveway.  The one in front of my house is covered in tar and gravel, boo.  

 

 

Lots of duplicates so I won't show every one.  Some only vary by the date stamp.  They are a bit like coins, don't you think?  Trying to make the point that even the most pedestrian of covers can be cool, especially when you look at them all together.  Here they are, from the post office to home, Piscataway, NJ.

 

Then there's this storm grate....

 

And just yesterday morning...heading up my street, there was this.  A sign.  Ha!

 

As we make our way through the month we will be looking at some really fascinating covers.  Friends have shared varieties from their hometowns and while abroad.  Some really unique and interesting stuff ahead.

Have a manhole story or want to share your enthusiasm?  Chime in below.

See you tomorrow!