A Seeker Of Beauty Am I: Art On Wheels, Part Two

Yeah, Another Blogger

I’d have to examine this blog’s archives, an activity worth doing on only the rainiest of days, to discover whether or not I’ve ever done a part two for a story before. Off the top of my head I’d say no, but the top of my head frequently is not reliable. Nor are the middle or bottom sections of my head, come to think of it. Not much I can do about any of that though. I was born that way.

The first good-looking truck I saw last week

In any event, soon after I completed my article about artistically-adorned motor vehicles (click here to read it), I was pretty certain that I would revisit the topic. I mean, I’d had fun driving around, keeping my eyes open for good-looking and creative designs painted on the sides of trucks and vans. And taking photographs of them. Three months later the itch to do so again became strong. Itches need to be scratched, as everybody knows. And so, last week, seeking beauty, I took to the roads and to the shopping centers in my suburban Philadelphia area. And beauty I did find.

Now, eye-catching trucks and vans and buses are not uncommon, comprising maybe 15% of the commercial and public vehicle population, I’d estimate. Driving along, you see plenty of them on the road. But, unless you have a death wish, you’d do well not to attempt to photograph them from a moving vehicle. I was tempted to on many occasions, but I kind of enjoy breathing. So I didn’t.

Which is why I hunted my prey in shopping centers and strip malls, where I was able to drive slowly, scouting out the parking areas and store delivery sections. I set off early on Wednesday morn and kept at it for three hours, a lot of time to devote to an admittedly loony quest. I drove all over the local map, visiting shopping places that I’d been to often over the years, and some I’d never ventured to, despite their being not much beyond spitting distance of my home. And, much to my delight, I snapped a photo while on the road of a snazzy waste disposal truck, its sides a vision in yellow and cool shapes, while beside it as we both waited for the traffic light to turn green.

It was a hit-or-miss operation, a question of being in the right place at the right time. As is much of life. And I was in the wrong place more often than not. I couldn’t believe how I kept coming up empty while trolling the huge receiving docks sections of the types of stores that, in some sense, have come to rule sizeable chunks of the world: Target, Lowe’s, Walmart, Staples. What the f*ck? Not only were there no gorgeous trucks there, for the most part there were no trucks at all!

But hey, just when I was giving up hope during various intervals of my expedition, something fine came my way. Such as the image of a sun-drenched wheat field decorating a Schmidt Baking Company truck. I encountered the vehicle in the supermarket where my wife Sandy and I do most of our grocery shopping.

Even better was what I saw in the desolate rear of a Wegmans supermarket, seven miles from my house. Fresh off the strikeouts at Lowe’s, Walmart, etc., I was expecting to uncover nothing there. But lo and behold, what was that in the distance? I drove closer and grinned. Why, it was a masterpiece, my favorite canvas of all I was to see that day. Luscious, exploding with color, the Wegmans veggie painting made me shout “yo, stop the presses! I’m going to become a vegetarian, and maybe even a vegan!” Luckily there was nobody around to hear my outburst. A nanosecond later I reconsidered what I’d said and tossed the idea in my ancient Honda Civic’s ashtray. But I will say this: The Wegmans truck artist sure as hell knows how to make a humble trailer look exquisite. I drove away with all kinds of warm and wholesome feelings in my heart.

A few days after completing my photographic mission a number of things occurred to me. For one, it seems as though you don’t see a whole lot of dazzling trucks or vans with black as their base color. Strange, considering that a hefty percentage of the cars and SUVs on the road are painted black, and that black is a staple in hip fashion. I came across but two fine black-based commercial vehicles: The Shred truck pictured a few paragraphs above, and Air Purity Experts’ van. Both shone like gems.

The truck behind Wawa store

The Air Purity van was parked behind a Wawa convenience store, around one of the building’s corners from a Coca-Cola truck. That truck was the second Coca-Cola deliverer I went eyeball-to-eyeball with that day. The designs on the sides of the Coke vehicles were different yet sublimely similar. And both are timeless. Coca-Cola trucks absolutely flaunt their red, and have for ages. The oceans of red grab the eye, entice, seduce. You want a Coke right now? I wouldn’t mind one at all. That’s an example of the kind of power that good art sometimes has over me.

(Don’t be shy about adding your comments or about sharing this article. Gracias.)

(If you click on any photo, a larger image will open in a separate window)

35 thoughts on “A Seeker Of Beauty Am I: Art On Wheels, Part Two”

  1. andrewcferguson December 5, 2017 / 2:00 am

    Don’t stop at part 2, Neil – as I think I said in response to part 1 (without checking, and, as you say, the top of the head is unreliable territory) it’s a genius idea!

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Alyson December 5, 2017 / 5:09 am

    Like with you, the Wegman’s Veggie truck (lorry over here) just makes me want to become vegetarian, no question. It also reminded me of a word I haven’t used in a long time – Oblong. Think we tend to use the word rectangle nowadays but these trucks are the perfect oblong shape for artwork on the move! More please.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. greenpete58 December 5, 2017 / 8:27 am

    I like the veggie truck. Very healthy looking. Are they organic veggies, I wonder? Neil, you need to take it to the next level and interview the CEOs of these companies. At the very least, the truck drivers. I see a coffee table book in your future. At the very least, a website, or interview on the local news: “Philly Man Has Thing for Truck Art.”

    Liked by 1 person

  5. joyce hamilton December 5, 2017 / 8:47 am

    You have me looking at trucks now !

    Liked by 1 person

  7. America On Coffee December 6, 2017 / 2:09 am

    Haha ha haha! This is great! I can think of many precursors and spinoffs! Amazing!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. The Artist's Child December 6, 2017 / 6:36 am

    What a fun photographic mission. I’d say in the popularity stakes the Veggie truck takes out first prize. The shred truck is a bit like a poster for a scary movie, claws and all and really grabs the viewer’s attention. Such a variety of great truck designs in your city. It’s like a mobile art gallery and you are the curator of the exhibition.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Cristina Crawford December 6, 2017 / 6:58 pm

    What a cool idea to photograph the trucks! I missed an excellent opportunity just yesterday; the Oscar Meyer Weiner-mobile…you know it, right?–was parked in front of our local grocery store. People were snapping photos of it right and left. I was too busy rushing to get home to stop for a spell. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger December 6, 2017 / 8:02 pm

      Hi. You know, I can’t recall if I ever saw an Oscar wiener truck on the street. I’ve seen them in ads, for sure.

      Thanks for adding your thoughts, Cristina. Appreciated.

      Like

  10. Browsing the Atlas December 7, 2017 / 8:25 am

    I’m glad you’ve revisited this. Ever since you posted the first time, I’ve been noticing trucks, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger December 7, 2017 / 9:23 am

      Hello there.
      Are there WB Mason trucks where you live? I was hoping to come across one for this latest story, but didn’t. They are very cool.

      Like

  11. K E Garland December 7, 2017 / 9:13 pm

    I’ve never thought to notice truck art, but now I’m going to be looking a little more.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. cincinnatibabyhead December 9, 2017 / 1:23 pm

    If CB seen that Wegmans trailer on any given day I might try to walk into that scene and that world. It’s a portal to a better place Neil. The Air Purity van is a scary piece of work. I will never look at my dryer the same way again. It’s !@^%%# dangerous.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. tanjabrittonwriter December 9, 2017 / 5:13 pm

    Considering the sad state of your head, Neil, it is amazing what it is capable of!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Mellow Curmudgeon December 9, 2017 / 7:34 pm

    The Wegman’s truck is magnificent.  It is also nicely complemented by the shadows and the building’s walls.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger December 9, 2017 / 8:06 pm

      Hi there.
      You’re right— those neutral tones really allow the truck’s colors to shine.
      Take care. Thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. cathleentownsend December 11, 2017 / 10:23 am

    I agree–love the veggie trailer.

    And you’re not loony. Art can be found everywhere.

    I once attended an art lecture by a locally famous artist. In the audience, we were all expecting great things, and he starts out with, “Now I’m going to show you art that every city puts out totally free.” And he proceeded to display slides of fire hydrants.

    My first thought was, “What?! Is he kidding?” But as the slides went on, we all got into it. At one point I found myself saying (out loud), “Wait–go back. I like that one.”

    So, see there–you’re in good company. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger December 11, 2017 / 10:48 am

      Cathleen, I might just borrow that hydrant idea for a future article!

      Thanks for adding your thoughts. I appreciate it.

      Neil S.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. dfolstad58 December 14, 2017 / 11:47 am

    What an interesting idea for a post, I liked it. I dislike billboards but not on wheels 😏

    Liked by 1 person

    • Yeah, Another Blogger December 14, 2017 / 12:19 pm

      Hello there. Thanks for dropping by and adding your thoughts. Appreciated.

      Like

  17. aprilswopegreene December 26, 2017 / 12:12 pm

    Way to find beauty in the everyday—or even the usually-obnoxious, Neil! Love this twist on the same old.

    Liked by 1 person

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