The Colfax Ave. Bridge
Colfax Avenue Bridge passes over the LA River in Studio City. It has a foot bridge leading to a hiking path which gives great connectivity access for bicyclists and people on horseback. CBS Studio is adjacent to the bridge. When you approach the bridge from Ventura Blvd., there are no clues that you are traveling over a very famous and treacherous river. This new bridge stimulates an appreciation for the LA River and visually indicates that the river is below. The belvederes offer a look out point. A visceral connection with the waterway occurs when standing on the belvederes. Look for two stone sculpture and a photographic plaque to see the entire art components.
Ricardo Rabines architect, TY LIN Engineer, MCM Construction, artist Nina Karavasiles. 2011
Approaching from the north, a perfect cube of granite is seen. Upon closer inspection one sees that the low relief texture is the surface of the river flowing. This cube exemplifies the control we put upon the Los Angeles River. Crisp edges, conformed, same as the river. The 'Cube of Water" is a counter point to the natural boulder.
A half ton natural granite specimen with an embedded plaque. In this piece volume + space describes force. Collected from the San Gabriel Mountains, this stone enables a viewer to comprehend the tremendous power of water below them and how the boulder hypothetically arrived here.
“In the past, a boulder like this one could be propelled by rushing waters from as far away as the San Gabriel Mountains through an uncontrolled Los Angeles River during a flood. Nina Karavasiles”
“In the past, a boulder like this one could be propelled by rushing waters from as far away as the San Gabriel Mountains through an uncontrolled Los Angeles River during a flood. Nina Karavasiles”
“In February 1938 a giant angle of sticks and rock debris moved through a somewhat controlled LA river and demolished this bride and 10 others. The wooden trestle style bridge ultimately became added debris wreaking havoc downstream. This reenactment pays homage to the old Colfax bridge built in 1923 of wooden timbers. Please notice what we have learned”
Text on photographic reenactment plaque on the path to the hiking trail.
Text on photographic reenactment plaque on the path to the hiking trail.
An amusing side story, and there is always a side story in public art. The LA Times refused to allow me to use their 70 year old image on a plaque on the bridge. I did have the original drawings of the old bridge. I made a model of the bridge in my studio and flooded it with a garden hose to recreate the original image. Here I'm holding a paper photography of a vehicle of the time. I could control the angles and lighting and so that is actually an original image from my studio and not the image from the newspaper.
