Bob Dylan Way Manhole Cover Art Contest

Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don’t wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don’t wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don’t work
’Cause the vandals took the handles
~ Subterranean Homesick Blues

The news is on the street. Yes, it's for real. There will be new manhole covers cast for Bob Dylan Way, and the deadline is just around the corner. Here's the story, extracted from this week's blog post at Perfect Day Duluth.

Bob Dylan Way Manhole Contest
By Jeff K. on May 21, 2010 in Art

Common Language is sponsoring a competition for artists interested in designing Bob Dylan-themed cast-iron manhole covers for Bob Dylan Way in Duluth, Minnesota. The manhole covers will be cast at the 9th North Shore Iron Pour, which will be held this summer in Duluth.
Artists selected will be given free instruction at the North Shore Iron Pour seminar and an honorarium of $300. They will see their work installed on Bob Dylan Way.

Artists may submit designs in either digital or printed format. Printed designs may be no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Do not send original artwork. Printed designs for Bob Dylan-themed manhole covers should be sent to Common Language c/o Jeffrey Kalstrom, 114 Laurie Street, Duluth, MN 55803. Digital designs should be sent to jkalstrom@gmail.com. The postmarked deadline for submission is June 11, 2010. The selection will be made by the Duluth Public Arts Commission. Artists selected will be informed by June 18, 2010.

This activity is funded by the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota state legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, and an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature.

Contact Information:

Common Language c/o
Jeffrey Kalstrom
114 Laurie Street
Duluth, MN 55803
218-310-8411
jkalstrom@gmail.com


It could be fun having one's Bob Dylan art permanently installed as a manhole cover here in the Northland. My ultimate aim will be to produce something both street legal and worthy of Jack Frost. Even though it would be more prestigious to produce art for a Dylan album cover, a manhole cover works for me.

You can check out my blog entry from 2008 for more information about Bob Dylan Way.