NINA K
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​The Colfax Ave. Bridge

Picture

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

Picture
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.
Picture
​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”
Picture
“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.
Picture
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.
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  • Home
  • Art
    • Public Art >
      • Seated in History >
        • Boy Scouts #1 at 201
        • Refugees, Vietnam
        • Bertha and what I didn't know
        • The Collages
        • Mausoleum extra
        • The Native American Contribution
        • Ted Williams in Seated in History
        • making a plaque
        • Texts in the panel above the bench
      • Climate River
      • Coronado Seniors
      • Colfax Ave. Bridge
      • Terrain Art
      • Nothing in the Desert
      • Signifire
      • Orange Villas
      • 70th St. Trolley Station
      • Crying Wolf
      • Recipe for Friendship
      • Solara
      • Awards
      • Talmadge Apartments
      • Bench Marks
      • Mayberry Townhomes
      • Parkside Apartments
      • Iowa Street Seniors
      • A San Diego African American Legacy
      • COMM22
      • Mission Cove
      • Social Circles
      • Rosa Parks Memorial Transit
      • Paradise Creek
      • Saline for Insite
      • SMart San Luis Rey Mission
      • A-Where-Ness
      • Los Vecinos
      • Articles
    • Studio Art >
      • MS collages
      • Gang of 5 Reconnecting
      • Pull Down
      • California Center for the Arts, Escondido
      • Divisible at Spruce St. Forum
      • Up/Down
      • Circa 9 Exhibit
      • Mono-pours
      • Sort of Studio
      • Trust
      • Felt pieces
      • Design/Architecture >
        • Family Room revamp
        • cork topped vases
  • Classes
    • List of classes
    • Direct Nature Sketchbooking
    • Clay Play, Take Time class
    • Chaparral Book Making
    • Collage Class
    • How to Make a Salad
    • Charcuterie
    • Support book class
  • Warner Springs
    • Trail Fest 2025
    • Trail Fest 2024 >
      • Overnight accomodations
      • Vineyards local
    • Cultivate and Celebrate
    • StarWatch Oct 2024
    • Gardening Class Warner Springs >
      • Cultivate and Celebrate
  • Alzheimer's
  • Stance Studios
  • Journal Blog
  • Art Map
  • DONATE
  • About
  • Gang of Five
  • Eye Chanting
  • Public Address