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.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
I greatly enjoy our Art on Wheels series and have been following them for quite awhile. Wonderful project. I love the coordinating greens in today’s feature.
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A very green day!
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I’ve like your Art on Wheels project, Neil and have always enjoyed looking at what you’ve found. Cheers.
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Hi, and thanks. I get a kick from wandering around in search of Art On Wheels vehicles.
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Thank you, Neil, for your impressive energy in walking 6 miles in search of your Art on Wheels. I like all your finds! Don’t underestimate Trump and what he will do next! Good luck!
Joanna
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Hi. Trump is disgusting. I’ve despised him for years.
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You have my sympathy, Neil. I feel the same!
Joanna
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I really like the Heineken. It makes me feel at home.I hope you can keep ‘ walking the steets’ for a very long time. Looking forward to reading about your adventures.
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I like doing offbeat stuff now and then, and Art On Wheels falls into that category.
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They’re all very impressive, and I like the green theme.
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Hi Emma. I’d have liked to have found more subjects than I did, but that’s the way it sometimes goes!
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I like the Caterpillar bucket lift or whatever that is. It looks like someone took a Mattel Hot Wheels pocket-size vehicle and expanded it to a life-size toy.
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Hi. The Caterpillar is cool. I think I know who this is, but I’m not positive. You’re listed as Anonymous.
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Your Art on Wheels project is fab. It always makes me smile! Love the Heineken one!💜
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Definitely a great-looking truck.
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I agree that the “mutant beetle” with the “giant pincer” has interesting angularity. The other paintings are equally impressive. Shame we can’t paint Pumpkinhead into a corner then seal him up like Cask of Amontillado.
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Trump eats it. I can’t stand him. He’s a bigot and fascist and a giant piece of shit.
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great read. Thanks for sharing!
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Many thanks.
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Such a cool project! Thanks for sharing this great write up and photos!
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Hi there, Richard. I always have fun during my Art On Wheels adventures.
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I very much love your Art on Wheels project. I find that car branding is a powerful tool that transforms everyday vehicles into eye-catching, mobile advertisements. I have seen exactly the same Sysco truck in Sligo, although not that long ago, they used to be called Pallas Foods. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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What you mention about Sysco is really interesting. I had no idea they were not just a USA business. Thanks for adding your insights. Have a great day!
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Crossing the road in style.
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Hi Jerry. Have you been to Philly? It’s a fascinating city. I think you would like it.
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On my way…
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Have to go with the Sysco truck Neil- emphasizing fresh food from farm to table. The little Philly Greens cart wins in the “adorable” category however!
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Sysco looks real good. That truck was parked beneath elevated tracks used by public-transit trains.
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l definitely love your art on wheels. I also love Isaiah Zagar and have to visited the Sculpture garden many times over the year. I always took out of town visitors there. Yes the Caterpillar was number 1. That was an amazing photo. It should be submitted in a photo contest. Keep up the great work on Art on Wheels!!!!!!
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Hi Joyce. Right, the Caterpillar construction vehicle is something else. It has a futuristic look to it.
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We have wonderful wall art around the town here and every time I take note of it I think, “Neil would enjoy these” and I determine to walk around with the camera and post a set of photographs. I think I’ve been saying that since Neil started his art on wheels reports in 2015 but there’s still a chance that, as Neil would put it, I’ll get off my hairy ass and actually do something about it but then there are always beautiful flowers for me to photograph and I get distracted. May I comment that I feel Neil is particularly drawn to vehicles which carry beer!
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I’m definitely a beer person. And a few nights ago I drank Murphy’s Irish Stout, which is brewed in Cork. Delicious!
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Ah, you have found the very best stout and my absolute favourite, far, far superior to the much vaunted Guinness. A delicious drink! Cheers!
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Good finds. I always enjoy seeing art on wheels.
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Art On Wheels gets me out of the house and puts my legs into motion!
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That mutant beetle thing, with sunflower splendor, is a find.
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It has a powerful presence!
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The Heineken truck is pretty + noticeable in a good way. Plus… 🍻
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Cheers!
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I love the Urban Village one.
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It’s a good one. Hi, who is this? You’re listed as Anonymous.
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Uh-oh for the Caterpillar sculpture by the Zagar mosaics. I do love the little Philly Greens truck.
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Hey, Sam. I’m not sure what will become of the vacant former Bride. But the mosaics probably are in jeopardy.
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I enjoyed this Neil. I think it is terrific to get out and look for art in unusual places. your choices are excellent. Thanks for sharing.
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I appreciate that. Thanks a lot.
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The are all quite impressive to look at. I so enjoy these posts [they inspire me to go exploring – with new/fresh eyes].
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Hi and thanks. I don’t know who this is, though. You’re listed as Anonymous.
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I think Philly Greens just because it’s such a cute little vehicle!
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It’s got charm!
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Interesting to hear that you’ve expanded your definition to include sculpture! I hope the machine wasn’t there to knock down the building.
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That building’s fate has been tied up in litigation. I’m not sure where all of that stands at this point.
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First of all, walking 6 miles is very impressive. Secondly, your “Art on Wheels” project is my favorite thing you’ve undertaken. Thirdly, I really dig the Urban Village truck, mostly for the incredible intricacy of its front side panel!
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Hi there. I wish I could have gotten a better photo of that vehicle. But it was wedged between cars in a parking lot.
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Always enjoy your Art on Wheels posts 🙂 The Sysco truck pops. I’ve never seen a vehicle like the Philly Greens: Interesting design. I agree with your description of the Caterpillar machinery: It’s an eye-catching, functional design.
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Evening. I never know what I’ll come across during Art On Wheels expeditions, which makes them a lot of fun.
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I agree. There is something funky going on with caterpillar vehicles. I mean, they look good and at the same time do their jobs incredibly well.
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Hello there. The Caterpillar company has good designers and engineers, for sure.
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Some good finds today, Neil. I’ve enjoyed some of your previous collections as well. Very cool idea, and you’re getting some exercise.
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Yeah, Art On Wheels gets me off the sofa and out of the house!
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👍
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my son lives in Philly.
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Hi. Which part of the city is he in?
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A 15-minute walk to university center. How do you know the city?
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I know Philadelphia very well. I’ve lived in or near Philly for most of my adult life.
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I absolutely love the look of bold beautiful gold and black heavy equipment. It always makes a statement. Our local Caterpillar dealer lines them up next to the road at their location and outlines them all in white lights at Christmas. You can’t help but love it.
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That dealer has the eye of an artist!
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Well done on 10 years of blogging, Neil. The mosaics, by Isaiah Zagar are incredible.
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Zagar has created mosaics on and/or in many, many buildings. His artworks are something else.
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This made me laugh: Friday, the 18th of April, dawned peacefully, because Donald Trump hadn’t started in on causing further mayhem just yet.
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Hi. Yeah, I like that line too.
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Hey Neil, I am voting for Philly Greens. It’s such a weird, wonderful, truncated little piece of vehicular motion–the truck equivalent to a VW Bug. And six MILES–I walk daily and six miles is a GOOD trek. In the spirit of your piece, and the times we grew up in “Keep on truckin’ bro!”
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Evening, Amy. I think I found Philly Greens a couple of minutes after I ran across the Heineken truck. They were on Girard Avenue in a very congested part of town.
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I keep trying to like your comment but WordPress in its infinite wisdom is not allowing me to do so. So here it is: LIKE!
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My favourite in category 1: the Heineken truck but I am a push-over for big machines and yellow and black is an awesome colour combination
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Both of those vehicles rock!
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I don’t know of any other blogger who does Art on Wheels posts. I always enjoy contemplating your choices. From this lot, I like the Sysco truck best. Nice tomato plants and tomatoes. (I’m a gardener, after all.) But I agree with others that the Heineken truck has a nice green vibe too.
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Evening, Audrey. I like the Sysco truck quite a lot. Believe it or not, an earlier commenter said she has seen a Sysco truck with the same design in Ireland. I had thought that Sysco does business only in the USA.
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I think I might have seen Sysco trucks here in Canada too.
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I like the Sysco truck. I see one or two every day, delivering to local restaurants, assisted living places, and so on. I do love the Caterpillar piece. In fact, I did a search for the phone number written on its lift, and found the site of an equipment rental place in New Jersey! It may be in Philly only temporarily, until its job is finished. The phone number seems to have been changed, but the address is the same, and the number shown on the equipement is all over the internet, listed for that business.
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Excellent detective work! That piece of machinery being where it is doesn’t bode well for the fate of the vacant building that once housed the Painted Bride.
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I liked the machine…..one of the pleasures of life here is seeing the cement mixers on the road,barrel turning happily while we all wonder what happens to the content if the truck is held up in the usual traffic jam on the way to the capital.
Why do these venues – like the Painted Bride – go wrong, do you think?
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The Painted Bride truly was world-class once. I don’t know this for a fact, but I suspect that its downhill slide was due to incompetent administrators.
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The Caterpillar truck has a dune buggy-esque vibe to it, set off with the amazing mosaic in the background.
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The mosaics on that building are fantastic. The building eventually will be converted into housing or maybe something else, so the mosaics may be in jeopardy.
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It’d be nice if the mosaics could be preserved.
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i like the sysco one because of the bright colors. But yeah the caterpillar one is cool!
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Hi, and thanks for stopping by. Both Sysco and Caterpillar have gotten a lot of votes. They are eye-catchers.
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Six miles on pavement is brutal! I’d rather do ten on a more forgiving surface. You do suffer for your art.
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We do what we must do!
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I love going along for the ride, and the very different perspective on Urban Art, but canNOT pick my fave. I have to vote for all of them. PS, I’m still not quite 92 – quite, that is – but in my lovely new Hokas I can bounce at least 6″. I just checked. Go for it 😊
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You set a very high bar!
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My favorite is Philly Greens. Love the sunflower!
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Philly Greens has gotten a lot of votes!
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Philly Greens with its tiny little cab and painting on the side appeals to me most today. I can’t tell, though, if it’s a place to compost or buy something, even when I click on the photo to enlarge it. Do you mind elaborating?
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I found out that it was a food truck for a small business that is no more. The vehicle probably hasn’t been used in at least a couple of years.
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That’s too bad. I would love to buy my lunch there!
Thank you for letting me know.
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I think my favorite is the Urban Village. I’d probably have to go down into Berkeley to get some interesting Art on Wheels!
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Coincidentally, a couple of days after my Art On Wheels trek, I had a mug of one of Urban Village’s beers in a restaurant. The beer was pretty good.
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I think I like the Philly Greens photo best…..reminds me of the little engine that could!
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I see what you mean! By the way, who is this? You’re listed as Anonymous.
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I enjoy all your posts, but your art on wheels are my favorite!
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Thanks a lot.
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Love the blog, but which deserves 1st place from these painted vehicular lovelies?
I like the quirky shape of Philly Greens, I think.
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Hi there. Philly Greens has gotten a lot of votes, maybe more than the other candidates.
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The Sysco one! I love the whole post and the series, and look forward to the next installment.
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Hi, and thanks!
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Art on Wheels, what a great way to get out of the neighborhood into the city with your creative juices flowing.
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Hey there. I get a bang from my Art On Wheels treasure hunts, for sure.
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