Five minutes after checking in to the hotel in Copenhagen, I was snapping this pic of the Nyhavn – a 17th-century waterfront and an iconic part of the city. The northern side of Nyhavn is lined by brightly colored townhouses built with wood, bricks, and plaster. The oldest house dates from 1681 which instantly blew my mind.
My Grandfather immigrated to America from the Netherlands in the 1920s. He passed away before I was born so I never had the chance to meet him but always wanted to see his home town. I heard it was a beautiful city full of kind people, amazing art, and delicious food – it did not disappoint. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to paint the streets he walked on, explore the neighborhoods he enjoyed, breathe the same air, and return home with the ultimate memento.
I laid out all of the supplies, dusted it off with a towel, and started to think about colors. I looked down the path towards the street and took notice of the buildings just outside the park. There was a cafe on the corner of tan brick, maroon stone trim, and a teal sign with gold lettering – the palette was right in front of me!
Barcelona is full of beautiful antique and ornate pieces of street iron – actually, there is art all over the place. Besides architecture, murals, and sculptures I only dreamed of seeing before that, the city is famous for the floor tiles laid into sidewalks, streets, and alleys. I love the concept and of course, appreciate …
With under a week left to create a Grand Rapids print for ArtPrize, I sketched up a thumbnail and we made a plan. Over the next five days, I painted, printed, and preserved eight pieces of historic utility covers creating one large layered print from seven different covers. This is the first design I saw …
Storm Print City turns printmaking into a public act of art, at once preserving history, making art, and serving as a beacon of curiosity for any passerby. Once a dear-friend clued me in to the work of Russell Muits, it resonated with so clearly.
“Chicago Street Iron” is a composition of nine street prints made around the city of Chicago during the Spring of 2018. It includes antique, unique, and common covers in the neighborhoods of Wicker Park, Bucktown, Irving Park, Lincoln Square, Logan Square, and downtown. I started out by taking photos of the specific covers I wanted …
I first saw the square Water Meter a few years ago while exploring Capital Hill in Seattle. W.M. is actually my brother’s initials and I knew I would go back and print it someday. Fast forward three years and I’m back in Seattle hanging with none other than big bro. We stumbled across the square …
I’ve made a few prints of this cover in Bucktown, Chicago. I believe it’s an old coal hole cover dating back to the late 1800s to early 1900s and it reads “Richards & Kelly Co. Chicago, Illinois.” The small circles would have been glass inserts allowing the light to shine down into the basement when …
Spending years on a manhole hunt across the country, you start to appreciate our intricate, massive, and presumably indestructible infrastructure. Most of the prints are created from sewer or water covers and many are over 100 years old. We can admire the beauty of their exterior designs but have no clue what’s happening below. Like most American’s, I …
Seattle Spring is a composition of six prints pulled directly from utility covers in the city of Seattle. The idea was to bring life to normally overlooked and dull objects by painting them in bright, bold colors. The final mono print measures 66 x 92″ and was displayed at Founders Brewing during ArtPrize 10 in …
I started the morning after visiting Founders in Grand Rapids I used the farms, fields, and landscape as the inspiration for my color palette. Layer 1: “New Telephone Co. Made by Cleaveland Fence Co.” Found in the Herron Morton Historic District in an alley behind an old iron foundry technical school. Layer 2: “C.G. Foundry and Pattern …
“Under the L” is an amalgam of ten utility cover prints made under and around the Chicago Transit L tracks. Each print represents the specific line by corresponding colors and location. Original Artwork made directly from utility covers in Chicago, IL.
I made a single print of this cover the first time I came to Grand Rapids. I went back to this same location in July where there are three covers in a row each with their own unique nuances, but all using the same markings. The story behind this particular foundry and design is awesome! …
7 unique prints from antique iron covers on one canvas including phone, electric, gas, and water covers designed and produced in Philadelphia over the past 100 years. When I first started this piece it was 5 degrees out and the ink and brushes were actually freezing as I painted. When I finished, it was 95 degrees …
The Chicago water system played an important role in the city’s history and the development of the infrastructure. If you take a look down while you’re waking, you’ll see the different styles, patterns, and fonts used over the past century. Some are square, most are round, a few are rectangles. There are meter covers, hatch covers, …
Over the past couple of years, many people have been reaching out about the project. Asking things like: What type of ink do you use? Have you ever been arrested?, What’s your favorite city for manhole covers? How have you not gotten run over by now? Some even say “How much for an original?” That’s …
When I made my first print and started this journey, I would have never imagined where it would take me. It’s been almost 11 years since that night and I’ve managed to explore countless cities, alleys, streets, and neighborhoods with limited time, finances, and resources. I’ve captured antique, ornate, and iconic covers in cities and …
“Empire Foundry Co. Troy NY” Troy, NY May 2018 I really didn’t know anything about the Capital District of New York state before this year. It’s the metropolitan area surrounding Albany including a bunch of cities like Schenectady (the reason I was there), Sarasota Springs, Colonie, Rotterdam, and Troy – where I was lucky enough …
Last fall, I was spending a lot of time at hospitals and medical buildings around Chicago. One Tuesday morning, feeling somewhat defeated, I stumbled upon a beautiful and very old sewer cover outside of Illinois Masonic – which changed my mood instantly. I felt weak and unmotivated, but I knew the supplies were in the …
East Jordan Iron Works (EJIW) was founded in East Jordan, Michigan in 1883 and manufactured everything from machine and ship parts to farming equipment and railroads. By World War II, EJIW shifted their large-scale production to street castings, water valves, and fire hydrants. EJIW is now one of a few suppliers of infrastructure products to almost …
If you grew up skateboarding in the 90s, you knew about LOVE Park. Nestled just below the shadows of city hall, “JFK Plaza” was coated in smooth, hard, and almost dream-like marble slabs. From the ground to the benches and around the fountain, EVERYTHING was skateable and grindable. Starting in the 80s and into the …
“PTC Co Memphis” Memphis, TN April 2015 A few of us took a road trip from Philly to DC, Atlanta to Birmingham, then a few days rest in New Orleans — making prints the whole way. The next plan was to drive straight to Nashville where we had a place to stay that night. I checked …
As American cities slowly grew over the 20th Century they incorporated whole townships that had at one time been more independent. In the streets this can be seen in the old covers of forgotten utility companies, such as this cover from the Lincoln Park Service Electric Company. Tracking down information about the utility company’s history …
“Hey, wanna paint a hatch cover at sunrise tomorrow?” It’s a question I’ve asked a bunch of times over the years which is usually answered with a laugh or “You’re nuts.” It’s been too long since I hung out with Adam and some quality time was much overdue. He agreed to meet on Alki Beach …
I didn’t know anything about Grand Rapids before heading into town a few months ago to check out some spaces. I had spent the whole first day on the hunt – walking, driving, circling blocks and searching alleys while finding a few promising chunks of iron. I went out the next morning with a plan …
I’ve made a few prints of this particular cover in Bucktown, a neighborhood in Chicago. I believe it’s an old coal hole cover dating back to the early 1900s and it reads “Richards & Kelly Co. Chicago, Illinois.” The small circles would have been glass inserts allowing the light to shine down into the basement …
“Drain” Seattle WA March 2017 It’s always great to get a message from an old friend when you happen to be a few blocks from each other. It had been a while since I saw Nick and after a quick phone call, we were standing on the corner of 2nd and Bell Streets deciding how …
“KT Co.” September 2016 Founded in 1900 the Keystone Telephone Company was the first in the world to install a phone line system. They were bought out in 1945 by Bell System and these covers remain in the streets of Philly. Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Philadelphia, PA.
Spending 7 years on a manhole cover hunt across the country, you start to appreciate our intricate, massive, and presumably indestructible infrastructure. Most of our pieces are created from sewer or water covers and many are over 100 years old. We can admire the beauty of their exterior designs but have no clue whats happening below. Like most American’s, I …
September, 2017 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Little Rock, AR.
The Alphabet District – December 29, 2016 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Portland, OR.
Forest Park – December 27, 2016 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Portland, OR.
Original cover art by Nathan Jackson, 1979 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Seattle, WA.
This is the first in a series of prints made around Wrigleyville in 2016 to celebrate the Cubs magical season. We have since made at least one print for each game of the playoffs on different manhole covers around the stadium. Looking forward to putting together the Wrigley Collection in the coming weeks. Original Artwork …
Started the day thinking “No more ink, or prints for at least a month” – Four hours later after finding this coal hole cover in Bucktown, I’m standing infront of my document shredding with old canvas and deciding how many yards to buy. It’s the first one I’ve seen like this in Chicago after searching …
Public Service Company of Colorado traces its roots to 1869, when William N. Byers, owner of the Rocky Mountain News, ColonelJames Archer, Walter Scott Cheesman, and five other leading Coloradans gathered in Denver and agreed to finance a local gas lighting company. They incorporated the Denver Gas Company in November of 1869. By the end of 1870, Archer laid two …
A friend from Chicago who has been with the Fire Department for the past 25 years told me about the old cisterns and how there might be some unique manhole covers on them. Cisterns were used in the early 1900s to store water for fire departments and were placed strategically in neighborhoods throughout the city. They …
San Francisco Golden Gate Meter Box Water Department 26 x 36 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in San Francisco, CA. Shop:
Started the day thinking “No more canvas, ink, or prints for at least a month” – Four hours later after finding this coal hole cover in Bucktown, I’m standing at the canvas roll deciding how many yards to buy. It’s the first one I’ve seen like this in Chicago after searching for the past few …
May, 2015 32 x 32″ Ink on canvas Once I heard about the covers that line East Passyunk Avenue in South Philly, I had to go. My buddy Tim came along for his first night mission and we pulled a few full covers and a few of the heads around 11 PM on a Friday …
Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Chicago, IL.
“The Detroit Edison Co.” Detroit, MI June 2016 While waiting to have some canvas stretched outside of Flint, we decided to steer the print mission towards the Motor City. Passing by the exit for 8 Mile headed downtown and actually listening to some old Em at 4:30 PM on a Thursday, one would expect heavy …
First cover in Detroit! Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Detroit, MI.
”City of Flint Water Div.” Flint, MI July 2018 Spending years on a manhole cover hunt across the country, you start to appreciate our intricate, massive, and presumably indestructible infrastructure. Most of our pieces are created from sewer or water covers and many are over 100 years old. We can admire the beauty of their exterior designs but have …
“J.B. Clow & Sons. Chicago” Chicago, IL Known today as Clow Valve Company, James B. Clow & Sons produced wrought iron pipe and other foundry products dating back to 1878. In 1890, Clow added fire hydrants and waterworks valves to its line by becoming a distributor for the Eddy Valve Company of Waterford, N.Y. In the …
It was a really hard decision to commit to the colors – to stray from my team, or the team of this city. What should you do if you are a Sixers fan in Chicago watching the Warriors about to win a 2nd consecutive championship? Find a sweet manhole cover and dedicate it to the …
Spending 7 years on a manhole cover hunt across the country, you start to appreciate our intricate, massive, and presumably indestructible infrastructure. Most of our pieces are created from sewer or water covers and many are over 100 years old. We can admire the beauty of their exterior designs but have no clue whats happening below. Like most American’s, I …
Spending 7 years on a manhole cover hunt across the country, you start to appreciate our intricate, massive, and presumably indestructible infrastructure. Most of our pieces are created from sewer or water covers and many are over 100 years old. We can admire the beauty of their exterior designs but have no clue whats happening below. Like most American’s, I …
Growing up, the annual summer vacation was the drive down to Grandpop’s house in New Smyrna Beach. I vaguely remember early years with my brother in a car seat and one of us vomiting for half of the 20 hour trip. At the time, there were a few houses on his street, hardly any traffic, …
Until we looked to the left about half way from Atlanta to Birmingham, I thought Talladega was the fictional home of Ricky Bobby. Just kept thinking “no rain, please no rain.” It was way too long of a drive to not get a print. As soon we passed the speedway, the sun came out along …
After cruising through the Northeastern states this past year, we completely underestimated the size of the South. A twelve hour drive from DC with a somewhat wasted print attempt in Raleigh, one sick passenger, and rain on the way made for a great first and only night in Atlanta. Started the hunt early the next morning …
Original cover art by Anne Knight, 1976 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Seattle, WA.
I spent a few days in Portland around the holidays in 2016. It was a nice break from work in Seattle and the idea of making a few prints sealed the deal. It rained almost the entire time. I spent the first two days scouting out possible covers and fell in love with this one …
With a long trip ahead and a few DC prints under the belt, the thought of sleeping in was tempting, but midnight google searches for manhole covers had the alarm set at 4:45. A blogger’s directions said to head towards New Jersey and L Streets down in the old Navy Yard. It’s now called “The Yards” with construction booming, the …
“City of New York Parks and Recreation” Battery Park, Manhattan November 2015 HUGE shout out to one of my OG IG friends and favorites… @insta_twit_manholes for leading me to this New York Parks and Recreation cover. I saw it on her feed and sent a message while on the way to NYC from Philly. She …
We searched all over Hoboken for a unique looking storm drain and finally found this one – right on a busy corner in downtown. It was a beautiful sunny day and the streets were crowded. Decided on the colors and mixed them to form a rich army green which looked awesome with the gold lettering. Had to …
