MEMEstreets (Now four years old!), features photographs of ephemeral art (graffiti, cryptic markings, and found art, both deliberate and accidental), discovered in the San Francisco Bay area and documented with my trusty Nikon digital camera. New photos are posted erratically, but I shoot for Monday, Wednesday and Friday.



sidewalk code

Posted January 2, 2009

I’m tempted to just call these things surveyer’s marks, but I’m not sure that’s precisely correct. Actual surveyers marks (I believe) are embedded medallions, known locations in terms of positioning, from which you can start other measurements. These are temporary marks – code, if you like – to guide workers who need to deal with existing pipelines, powerlines and the like, or who are installing links to same. In any case it’s not graffiti – it’s made to be removed and the well-paid guys that do it aren’t facing being assigned to any city clean up crews.

Someday I’ll do my homework here, but if anyone can shed any light on the subject, please comment.

Happy New Year, btw…


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