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A Brief History of Seattle's Hatchcover Art
The idea for artist-designed hatchcovers (manhole covers) in Seattle came from Seattle Arts Commissioner
Jacquetta Blanchett, after seeing hatchcovers in Florence, Italy in the late 1950s. Paul Schell, then director
of Seattle's Department of Community Development, also thought it would be a good idea to replace some of the
old and battered personnel hatchcovers downtown. He persuaded Blanchett to make a private donation, which paid
for 13 hatchcovers displaying a design created by artist Anne Knight. Other donors supported the project as well,
and a total of 19 hatchcovers of Knights' design were installed.
Anne Knight produced a relief map of downtown Seattle. Thirteen major Seattle landmarks are keyed
around the rim of the map. A stainless-steel button on each hatchcover indicates its location within
the city. Each of the 19 hatchcovers produced weighed 230 pounds.
Seattle's Art in Public Places program awarded subsequent commissions with funds originating from
Seattle City Light and the Seattle Water Department.
Nathan Jackson was commissioned in 1976, and produced a Tlingit whale relief, originally carved
in wood and later cast in iron. Thirty-two of these hatchcovers were made, ranging in diameter
from 32 inches to 36 inches.
Garth Edwards design consisted of a circle of cartoon-like faces rimming the hatchcover, as if peering
down into the opening at a worker below or up at passersby. Nine of these hatchcovers, each weighing 350
pounds, were installed.
Visit www.danheller.com/manholes.html for images
of hatchcovers around the world, including Ann Knight's relief map of downtown Seattle.
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