Which Of These Is Your Favorite? (Art On Wheels, Part Fifteen)

Yeah, Another Blogger

When I gave birth to Yeah, Another Blogger in April 2015, I had no idea that two years later I would begin a project that would please the heck out of me and to which I’d return, and write about, time after time. Well, as we all know, life is full of surprises, to say the f*cking least. So, much to my amazement, here I am, about to report on the latest episode — the fifteenth — of said ongoing project: Art On Wheels. And I’m hoping that numerous Art On Wheels adventures await me, taking me, at minimum, into the mid-or-late 2030s. I’ll be jumping for joy if things turn out that way, assuming I’m still among the living. Of course, it would be miraculous if I’m able to bounce even half an inch off the ground at that point, as I’d be pushing or exceeding age 90. Still, half an inch is better than nothing. Or so I’m told.

Here’s the lowdown: Art On Wheels escapades find me searching for beautifully decorated wheeled vehicles, photographing them, and then presenting some of those photos, and my wobbly thoughts, on this publication’s pages. I used to track down my subjects by driving all over the frigging place in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In recent years, though, I’ve gone into Philadelphia itself, whose streets I explore strictly on foot. I love walking and I love Philadelphia. On the other hand, I don’t love driving and I don’t love Philly’s burbs, even though that’s where I reside. Thus, Art On Wheels has become even more fun for me than it initially was.

Friday, the 18th of April, dawned peacefully, because Donald Trump hadn’t started in on causing further mayhem just yet. At 9:36 AM I boarded a train in my little town and rode it into Philly. I spent the next three hours pounding the pavement in the center of the city and in neighborhoods to its east and north. When I called it quits, I had racked up six miles of walking, a distance that’s near my upper limit of physical capabilities.

The search for worthy subjects bore less fruit than on any of my previous Philadelphia treks. But I found a few beauties, such as an Urban Village Brewing Company van, its exterior illustrated as snazzily as can be, and a Heineken beer truck, which is a vision in green. The design layouts on Sysco and on Philly Greens rang my bell too.

I was impressed the most, however, by a wheeled object that not only brought me up short but also made me realize I’d never before considered including a certain genre of art in Art On Wheels. Namely, sculpture. The beauty in question, a piece of heavy equipment manufactured by the Caterpillar company, was outside the front door, in Philadelphia’s Old City section, of what once housed the Painted Bride Art Center, a world-class presenter of music, dance and theater from the 1970s through the early 2000s. (Painted Bride still exists, in a different part of town, but is a pathetic shadow of its former self. Barely any shows take place at its new location.) Dig the incredible mosaics, by Isaiah Zagar, that cover the vacant building. Man, I went to dozens and dozens of performances in this venue. I miss it a whole lot.

I’m not sure why the Caterpillar product was there, but it absolutely rocks. For one thing, I’m down with the gold and black color scheme. Mainly, though, I’m taken with the heft of the structure and its efficient angularity, which bring to mind a mutant beetle possessing one hell of a giant pincer. This big guy would not be out of place in a museum’s or other institution’s modern-sculpture garden. Do you agree with me that it is #1, or is another of the wheeled constructions your favorite?

As I type this ending paragraph, I’m already looking forward to my next Art On Wheels expedition. Most likely it will take place in autumn of this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if it will be an eye opener, just as this most recent installment, thanks to Caterpillar, proved to be.

165 thoughts on “Which Of These Is Your Favorite? (Art On Wheels, Part Fifteen)”

  1. Geoff Stamper's avatar Geoff Stamper May 2, 2025 / 4:48 pm

    I love both your idea and execution for Art on Wheels. This round I choose Philly Greens as my favorite.

    Liked by 1 person

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  2. mydangblog's avatar mydangblog May 4, 2025 / 8:37 am

    Love this idea—we have some pretty cool vehicles around here too—never thought of them as art but now I do!

    Liked by 1 person

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  4. Pam Lazos's avatar Pam Lazos May 6, 2025 / 8:55 am

    I love the little Philly Greens truck! Looks like a mobile pantry. Is that right, Neil?

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger May 6, 2025 / 9:53 am

      It was a food truck belonging to a small food business. The business folded a few years ago. So, the food truck isn’t used anymore, as far as I know.

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Jeff the Chef's avatar Jeff the Chef May 6, 2025 / 9:36 am

    Well, I have to admit I have a thing for construction vehicles, so that’s my biased favorite!

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger May 6, 2025 / 11:35 am

      You, me and maybe a couple more people voted for Caterpillar. Believe it or not, the Philly Greens cart has gotten the most votes.

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. denisebushphoto's avatar denisebushphoto May 6, 2025 / 1:10 pm

    The food truck business is booming. This post has me thinking I should be paying more attention to the art. Of these I think the Urban Village is the most creative and therefore my favorite.

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  7. Linda Pearce Griffin's avatar Linda Pearce Griffin May 6, 2025 / 2:47 pm

    Thanks for sharing your expedition. I enjoy them vicariously! I love that you appreciate art on wheels. 🙂 If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Heiniken truck – after all, it’s beer. And although it is not one of my favorites, the symbol of Heniken with its clean green, sparkle of silver, and the bold red star looks refreshing all by itself and suggests a thirst quinching feel even without the brew in your mouth. I think its powerful. But maybe I’m crazy.

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  8. Michele E. Reisinger's avatar Michele E. Reisinger May 8, 2025 / 2:36 pm

    I’m picking the Cat, which I agree has its own special beauty. It puts me in mind of another art form I love, the symphony. Once, I went with my husband to a 2 AM installation of massive bridge girders over 295 in NJ. Two crane operators picked up & leveled opposite ends & suspended them above the highway while laborers attached it to the supports. They had only 15 minutes to pick & install each girder before traffic was allowed to resume. Very movement timed & in harmony. Except for the swearing, lol!

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  9. D. Wallace Peach's avatar D. Wallace Peach May 9, 2025 / 9:13 am

    I’ll admit to being partial to “Urban Village” only because it’s one I’ve never seen before, Neil. I like the creativity and investment of small companies (assuming it’s small compared to the others). I can imagine the excitement of coming up with the design and seeing the first truck roll out. Anyhoo… your comment about the Caterpillar looking like a bug, made me think about how many construction vehicles look like bugs! Did humans recognize those little creatures’ incredible design? Or was it by accident? I shall be pondering that question today. 🙂 Happy Wandering!

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  12. ckennedy's avatar ckennedy May 11, 2025 / 11:16 am

    Yay! I love art on wheels–so many beautiful colors and patterns. Cheers!

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  13. stargazer's avatar stargazer May 11, 2025 / 3:41 pm

    They are all great, but I prefer the urban village van. Really cool design. Congrats with having made it to 10 years of blogging. Quite an achievement!

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  14. Michele Anderson's avatar Michele Anderson May 11, 2025 / 4:41 pm

    I choose “Urban Village Brewing Company.” That’s a very cool paint job, and you know how I love beer.

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  15. Dave's avatar Dave May 12, 2025 / 8:39 am

    Hi Neil. Glad you’re keeping this series going; always look forward to it. I choose Sysco because the hands look like a heart and I like that. I go with my gut on these instead of digging in too deep. Sysco’s spoke the loudest to me.

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  17. roughwighting's avatar roughwighting May 18, 2025 / 11:06 am

    Yes, I’m a Philly Greens fan – I vote for that one. What a great food truck it must have been. Someone should take it over again and sell veggie sandwiches that actually taste good! 🙂

    I know I should know why those Caterpillars are called caterpillars, but the reason escapes me.

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  20. jeanleesworld's avatar jeanleesworld May 26, 2025 / 8:37 pm

    I’m also for Philly Greens! It’s the cheery sunflower against that dark green. Hope you’re finding all sorts of art this spring! xxxxxx

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  21. Carol's avatar Carol May 28, 2025 / 12:08 am

    Interesting project. I take pictures of a lot of street art painted on walls. Maybe I should start adding vehicles.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger May 28, 2025 / 8:00 am

      Hi Carol. I live near Philadelphia, which has an amazing number of murals painted on the outside walls of buildings. It’s really something.

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  22. rkrontheroad's avatar rkrontheroad June 2, 2025 / 9:32 am

    The Sysco truck makes my mouth water. Maybe not so much a work of art, but a very effective ad. Is it lunch time yet?

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger June 2, 2025 / 12:32 pm

      Hi. I used to think that Sysco does business only in the USA. But I learned, via a couple of commenters, that they operate in a bunch of countries.

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  23. Holistic Wayfarer's avatar Holistic Wayfarer June 15, 2025 / 7:07 pm

    Business and advertising on wheels make so much sense with the low overhead and high visibility. I don’t do alcohol, but the Heineken truck works.

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    • Yeah, Another Blogger's avatar Yeah, Another Blogger June 15, 2025 / 10:07 pm

      That truck was parked in a very congested area in Philadelphia. It takes a lot of talent to maneuver a big vehicle like that through city streets.

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