Notes from the U.K.

Exploring the spidery corners of a culture and the weird stuff that tourist brochures ignore.

Filling potholes, Chicago style

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Ellen Hawley

In case you think Britain’s the only place that does interesting stuff with potholes (that’s a link to an earlier post on the topic), you might want to take a look at what a Chicago artist does to them.

My thanks to K.J. Legry, from Girl Soda Atlas, for the link. It was in the comments but I thought it needed a bit more visibility.

21 thoughts on “Filling potholes, Chicago style”

Mardi Steinau on July 26, 2017 at 2:18 pm said:

Wonderful!

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- Ellen Hawley on July 26, 2017 at 2:21 pm said:
  
  Agreed.
  
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seaangel4444 on July 26, 2017 at 2:28 pm said:

Well I live in Chicago and I’ve never seen them! I will definitely check it out! Thanks so much for posting! Cher 😊

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- Ellen Hawley on July 26, 2017 at 4:06 pm said:
  
  I imagine it’s all in the timing–getting there after he does and before the city paves over them.
  
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Laura (PA Pict) on July 26, 2017 at 2:28 pm said:

Fantastic stuff! I’m aggrieved that the city paves over the artwork with boring old asphalt. Thanks for drawing the link to my attention.

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- Ellen Hawley on July 26, 2017 at 4:05 pm said:
  
  It was too good to keep to myself.
  
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John on July 26, 2017 at 2:44 pm said:

Best looking potholes ever! The city should pay the man for his work.

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- Ellen Hawley on July 26, 2017 at 4:05 pm said:
  
  Really. It’s a shame they get paved over.
  
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First Night Design on July 26, 2017 at 4:46 pm said:

Brilliant idea.

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Laura Wagner on July 26, 2017 at 5:05 pm said:

My father filled potholes for the city of Chicago for 30 years. I think he would have appreciated this and been sorry to have to remove or fill over these. But then, he also used to clean out leaves and sticks from the potholes before filling them; none of his co-workers did.

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- Ellen Hawley on July 27, 2017 at 1:51 pm said:
  
  Yeah, if it was your job–or in this case, his job–you’d have to do it. But what a shame.
  
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Dan Antion on July 26, 2017 at 5:46 pm said:

Nice – of course, now I want an ice cream sandwich.

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- Ellen Hawley on July 27, 2017 at 1:50 pm said:
  
  And now you’ve gone and made me want one. Damn.
  
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  - First Night Design on July 27, 2017 at 2:40 pm said:
    
    And me.
    
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Deb on July 26, 2017 at 8:41 pm said:

Stupid city rules…paving over this art is ridiculous!

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- Ellen Hawley on July 27, 2017 at 1:44 pm said:
  
  Agreed. And I can just hear someone saying, “Listen, lady, rules are rules.”
  
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Gunta on July 27, 2017 at 3:26 am said:

Utterly delightful! Pity to pave any of that over.

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- Ellen Hawley on July 27, 2017 at 1:40 pm said:
  
  It is a shame. I’m willing to bet (some small amount, anyway) that it would last as well as asphalt.
  
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cat9984 on August 8, 2017 at 8:47 pm said:

Wonder if he could do a mural for the spider-web of small holes and lines in a few of the roads out here.

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- Ellen Hawley on August 8, 2017 at 8:48 pm said:
  
  I don’t know, but I bet he’d love to be invited. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to find him.
  
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elle superstar on May 12, 2018 at 8:54 pm said:

That is very cool!

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