Bluebridge

The artist’s response to the controversy of the City of Victoria’s Blue Bridge replacement. After an ongoing debate, the city lifted the pedestrian/cycle drawbridge portion, deeming it unsafe. And there it sat, like a phallic symbol in the sky for all to see, while taxpayers and city council argued over what was to be done. The bridge was eventually replaced, but memories of the mammoth erection will always live on.

The distorted background water and bridge replicate the muddiness of the situation between the city and its people. Instead of one solid colour for the water, 2½-inch blocks were woven around the bridge, making it harder to clearly see the bridge. Like the opposing sides of the argument, at times neither could see clearly.

If one looks closely, all the crosses connect in a construed fashion to represent the inoperative bridge. The largest piece, the fulcrum of the erect bridge, sits precariously on a tiny piece that connects to the ground.