“WORLD FORUM ON MANHOLE COVERS”

AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY FURNITURE FAIR

JACOB JAVITS CENTER, NEW YORK MAY 20TH 1:30 PM, BOOTH #1433



The ‘World Forum on Manhole Covers will be held at the 2003 International

Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City on May 20th at 1:30pm, Booth

#1433. The event will bring together a panel of scholars, artists, public

works people and preservationists in a ground-breaking discussion of manhole

covers in New York and around the world. The event is organized by Urban

Illuminations, and The Society for the Preservation of New York City Manhole

Covers.



Panelists include Lisa Frigand and Len Burshstein of Con Edison, New York

based artist Michele Brody, Artist Bobbi Mastrangelo, Simeon Bankoff of the

Historic Districts Council, and Diana Stuart, author and New York’s “Manhole

Cover Lady”. This panel will be moderated by Thorin Tritter, PhD, History

Department, Princeton University. Manhole covers are best known for their

everyday municipal work ethic. The panel, however, will uncover the

unassuming marvel below the 200 lb. cast-iron surface and reveal sides to

the manhole cover that the public rarely sees; their historical, aesthetic,

functional and some would say spiritual value.