Crazy Random Question: Blue Signs Under Downtown Lamar Rail Bridge (Austin: electricity, money)

[thesonofgray]

I've passed them soooooo many times and every time I drive myself crazy trying to determine their purpose.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can kind of see them attached to the retaining walls in this aerial view: Your web browser and the Maps site are incompatible

So anyone have any ideas???

[atxcio]

They are a work of art called "moments" by Carl Trominski. Here is some info about it: City of Austin.

also Blue Panels on Lamar Underpass | Austin Metblogs. The concept for the art sounds much more exciting than the actual result.

There is also a mural painted in the center support of that bridge. It is a memorial by a mother to her son -- mary boyd

It was accidentally painted over by city workers (it had achieved "do not touch" status) in 2001, but she came back and painted it again. I think it is now an "art in public places" protected piece now, but I can't find it on the city AIPP list.

[Cardiff Giant]

Originally Posted by atxcio

The concept for the art sounds much more exciting than the actual result.

So true. I never did quite see what the artist was attempting to convey.

[thesonofgray]

Originally Posted by atxcio

They are a work of art called "moments" by Carl Trominski. Here is some info about it: City of Austin.

also Blue Panels on Lamar Underpass | Austin Metblogs. The concept for the art sounds much more exciting than the actual result.

There is also a mural painted in the center support of that bridge. It is a memorial by a mother to her son -- mary boyd

It was accidentally painted over by city workers (it had achieved "do not touch" status) in 2001, but she came back and painted it again. I think it is now an "art in public places" protected piece now, but I can't find it on the city AIPP list.

I was afraid of that. So much for finding a "purpose" for the blue panels.

The artist's original concept (from the blog you linked to) sounds much more interesting, but as usual money posed a problem:

This was not the artist’s original concept. The Railroad Commission was supposed to provide electricity for blue lighting under the bridge and the walls were to be painted blue and green but time and money ran out. The concept for the project was to seem like you were going under water when you drove under the bridge. The artist was not pleased with the results...

[atlanta hope]

I feel bad for the artist -- it would never occur to me in a million years that you felt like you were under water. It looks like some kind of traffic signage!?!