Almost gave up after circling way too many blocks looking for this ornate cover. It was on the main drag, during rush hour, and next to a bus stop. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was funny and fun to make this while groups of teenagers and other commuters stood by. Lots of onlookers …
Spent a Sunday morning at FDR skatepark in Philly and decided to drive through the old Navy Yard at the end of Broad Street. It’s not really old anymore. Developers transformed the abandoned grounds and turned it into a thriving business park with many well known corporate headquarters. Since it was Sunday, it was basically empty and we …
Kept driving around the Navy Yard in Philly trying to stay out of unmarked “no access” zones. We wanted to get as close to the ships as possible and, like clockwork, we find the “SS” right in front of an air craft carrier. It turned out to be the USS John F Kennedy christened on …
Found this cover near 21st and South Streets. It was very old and hard to get the ink to stick. We were really excited to see the outcome thinking it was going to read “Philadelphia MEATS” until we realized our spelling was not up to par. Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Philadelphia, …
First night back in Chicago. It was great to be in the old neighborhood. Found this one in the middle of Lincoln Square. Original Artwork is ink on canvas.
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Kentucky predominantly relied on coal for heat. Using carts or wagons, workers would deliver the coal through chutes into the basements of homes and businesses. The coal would fall into a bin near the furnace ready for use. Many had shapes filled with glass allowing the light to …
Founded in 1849, the Snead & Co. Iron Works manufactured decorative and architectural cast iron throughout Louisville and much of the region. Many buildings throughout the city boast their markings on fences, tree grates, doorways, and buildings. One of many late night google searches led me to an image with this design and at the …
Louisville Coal Hole Cover, 3 of 3 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Louisville, KY.
Stopped in downtown Louisville to use the WiFi at Qdoba. Walked out and found this by the back door where a few employees were having a smoke break. They watched as we swept and started to ink the Kentucky blue. By the time we pulled the print and packed the car, the guys had called more …
First morning in Indy and ran into this. Never saw a cover with the word “traffic” on it before. Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Indianapolis, IN.
After a few hours of driving, decided to take a quick detour as we were in need of a major caffeine kick. Passed this one en route to a coffee shop in the Short North neighborhood. Ended up blocking an alley while inking the cover. The coffee was great, but this was even better. Columbus, OH …
This was done right in front of Heinz Field. No one bothered us. What a beautiful day! Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Pittsburgh, PA.
Sewer cover made in 1894 found in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. “DC Sewer Dept. 1894” Washington, DC November 2014
Wicker Park – November, 2015 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Chicago, IL.
Early on, I’d work in the cover of darkness. I’d spend days doing recon, taking photos of the covers, the cross street signs or some kind of visual reminder, and sometimes I’d even write it down. Like a true non-tech in a tech world, I didn’t have or never thought of setting my location services. I …
“BS” Brooklyn, NY November 2014 Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in NYC, NY.
“Chicago Sewer – Dump no waste. Drains to Waterways” Found this particular piece a few years ago on Milwaukee Ave in Bucktown. After a few test prints over a couple of months, we pulled this one on a freezing cold November night. Finished it off with a beer at Estelle’s and moved on. If only …
“Narragansett Electric Company” September 2015 (Providence RI) I was making a U-turn trying to get out of the park after making what I thought was the last print of the trip. I hopped out and noticed the unique typography in a football type shape before reading what it actually said. I don’t know much history about …
I’m going through a ton of old canvas right now . Which means I’m doing some reminiscing….. Three years ago, I wandered into a shop in Portland, ME. “I’m looking for some old manholes. Happen to know where any are?” A sweet lady named Beverly proceeds to open her phone and show me photos she …
Started out the day packing and putting the final touches on the print mobile before the 8 hour drive north. After stopping for gas twice and making it through New York City at the perfect time, we rolled across the Maine state line around 6 pm. Checked into a sweet Portland hostel where we had the …
With only a few hours in Boston, we went straight to the “Cheers” block and picked a cover quickly. The only thing I knew about Boston at this point was my grandmother’s favorite team. During the playoffs, she would call and place $2 to $5 bets on the Celtics with the kids. I don’t know …
“Boston Water Meter” September 2015 Having just one night in Boston, it seemed the right thing to do was have a beer at Cheers, then wait for them to close so I could make a print. Growing up, my dad would turn the news off once a week and laugh for an hour. Not sure …
STORM West Chester, PA Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in West Chester, PA.
Growing up in South Jersey, we used to watch the fireworks in Camden each year. There is a waterfront with museums, an aquarium, The Battleship New Jersey, and a great concert venue. Beyond the river banks is a desolate city labeled for years as America’s poorest and most dangerous. There are no downtown shops, restaurants, …
New Jersey is a great state. Within an hour you can be on the beach, crossing the bridge to New York or Philly, picking ripe produce, or exploring the state capital – Trenton. We spent the early morning pulling some prints in Princeton and then headed to Trenton. Even thought they are less than 10 …
We started out the morning headed towards Newark. After hitting some traffic on the Turnpike, we decided to take a detour towards Princeton – a city we had not been to in decades. It’s a college town filled with mansions, estates, and a ton of money. We drove through a residential area a few blocks …
My dad was born and raised in Atlantic City and I was so happy to spend the morning with him pulling a few prints. We started off on Missouri and Pacific Avenue right in front of Caesar’s which is the main intersection in the city. We drove around for about an hour looking for interesting …
My dad was born and raised in Atlantic City and I was happy to spend the morning with him pulling a few prints. We started off on Missouri and Pacific Avenue right in front of Caesar’s, then found this one on Texas and the Boardwalk. I listened to stories from his childhood and came home …
“Telephone – India” 42×42″ Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Seattle, WA.
“Olympic FDY Co – Seattle, WA” 32×32″ Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Seattle, WA.
“Storm and Surface Water – Olympia, WA – Made in USA” The State Capital – 32×32″ My buddy Nathan and I left Seattle for Portland looking for some unique covers and ended up hitting traffic around Tacoma. We decided to head towards the state capital – Olympia. It’s a small city at the lower end …
“Storm and Surface Water – Olympia, WA” The State Capital 32×32″ Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Olympia, WA.
“SF Sewer – FDYR Made in USA” 34×34″ Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in San Francisco, CA.
“SF Cali” 32×32″ Tribute to the Giants Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in San Francisco, CA.
Spent the first night walking around the Sunset Neighborhood with a storage bin lid as a palette with rollers and piles of ink – definitely not looking shady. The rest of the time – it was awesome getting to ride around San Fran with the boys in the pimped out Mazda minvan driven one handed …
We went back to the same spot 3 times for this piece while letting the ink dry and set in between trips. The plan was to create a pattern with the circles. Finished it off with a few brush strokes and a touch of yellow. Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in West …
This was a fun one. Found it walking around town on a Sunday morning and had to go back. Reads “Ford Water Meter Box Co., Wabash IN” We went on a Sunday night and pulled a few shirts. Then went back two days later for the print on canvas. A lady in a moo moo …
This is a personal favorite. If you are from Seattle and have ever hung out in Chinatown, you probably know Jerry (15 cent). He is a local guy who hangs outside Bush Garden and Purple Dot singing his classic “15 cent will help me buy a sandwich” and “My Cherie Amour” for change. He is …
Phoenixville, PA has some of the coolest covers I have seen so far. They have the phoenix in flames, Made in USA, and Established 1849. It is an old steel town and one of few in the country that actually poured their own manhole covers. Many of the originals are along the main strip in …
“Dump No Waste – Drains to Waterways” Original Artwork made directly from a utility cover in Chicago, IL.
I woke up before the sun and started packing the car up. We had spent the last 48 hours stomping around New Orleans after exploring Atlanta and Birmingham the days before. Zach was flying out that morning and we had plans to be in Nashville for the night. I had never been to that part …
I woke up before the sun and started packing the car up. We had spent the last 48 hours stomping around New Orleans after exploring Atlanta and Birmingham the days before. Zach was flying out that morning and we had plans to be in Nashville for the night. I had never been to that part …
I’ve spent years seeking out historic, symbolic, and ornate “manhole covers” and have been calling these chunks of metal just that. If you search online, you’ll see the majority of people using that same term for any piece of iron that covers the human entrances to our underground utilities. I’ve always wondered if the gender-based description was ever questioned.
