"Come Roam the Dome...Convenient to downtown, near freeways, waterfront and regional transit – Tacoma's Dome District is a vibrant urban community with many transit options. Come and enjoy this walkable and bike-friendly neighborhood." (source)
Once in Seattle I discovered this beautiful utility vault cover, with the fanciful words "City Light - City Bright" (Seattle City Light is Seattle's publicly owned electric power utility). This photo was posted to my Instagram feed, where someone mentioned it's the creation of Nancy Blum, whose work — now that I've discovered it — I adore.
Her website says this about the piece: "This 42 inch in diameter, cover is placed in 50 locations around heavily trafficked parts of Seattle, WA. Cast in iron, the 'flowers' graphically represent the city and the 'electric' pattern underlying is symbolic of the utility. 2001" Isn't it wonderful when the mundane is made decorative?
Weather Diary, February 28: Hi 50, Low 36/ Precip .03
Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Thanks for sharing these. I do love the train on the tree grate.
ReplyDeleteA great detail for sure.
DeleteLove the Seattle Light, Seattle bright one. If you notice on the Dome one, the entire circle with the diamond pattern is very much like a view of the Tacoma Dome from above. Blending past and present.
ReplyDeleteAha! Excellent! Had you seen this before or did you pick up on it in looking at the image? That's terribly clever...I love it.
DeleteI'd never seen it before, just got it from your image.
Deletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WMm66BtXAVE/UDzyx1oXdQI/AAAAAAAAAW0/P_y6LZQcLlU/s1600/Tacoma+Dome-Image9.bmp
ReplyDeleteThe detail and pattern on utility objects can add another dimension. Love these!
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice little "day brightener" when you discover them.
DeleteWhen we visited Seattle in 2000, I remember taking lots of pictures of interesting grates.
ReplyDeleteDo you still have them?
DeleteThose are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGlad you agree.
DeleteCivic pride. Must be a blue state.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chuckle!
DeleteI love seeing things like this. I especially like the Seattle one.
ReplyDeleteMe too. When I showed the photo to Andrew his first remark was "what, do they want that thing to be stolen?"...I imagine it's a little heavy for that.
DeleteAfter seeing the first picture I thought: I hope Danger sees the lovely iron utility covers we have in Seattle... and of course, you did. I checked Nancy Blum's art. See seems to work in all kinds of different mediums. Very cool stuff.
ReplyDeleteCool stuff indeed! I am thrilled to have spotted it.
DeleteI've never seen grates or utility covers that fanciful! And I don't think it's just that I don't look down enough...
ReplyDeleteI think I got lucky, and now I'm going to pay more attention to the ground.
DeleteWhat wonderful details! I like them both, but especially the last one. I think I need to do some more looking down...
ReplyDeleteJust don't make a habit of it. Wouldn't want you to run into a pole.
Delete