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LOS ANGELES RIVER SERIES #43
Los Angeles River Series #43
Double Decker 7th Street Bridge
Downtown Los Angeles
Acrylic on Canvas 30” x 40” x 1.5”
Los Angeles River Series 43
(2021)
According to Bridgehunter.com, the Seventh Street double decker bridge is not really a double decker bridge at all. “This bridge was built in two stages. In 1910 the lower grade was built at grade to allow trollies across the river, which was unlined and much lower than it is now due to the LA River being an open quarry for aggregate mining. In the mid-1920’s it was decided to raise the bridge above grade as the trolley traffic was 90 degrees to the freight [train] traffic going north and south. Rather than demolish the bridge, they simply built on top of the existing bridge. Despite appearances, it is not a true double-decked bridge, as the lower deck is not connected to either bank. All traffic goes on the top deck”.
Los Angeles River Painting 43 depicts five structures just southeast of downtown collectively crossing the river in the warm glow of early dusk: the Seventh Street Bridge, Interstate 10 overpass, Olympic Boulevard Bridge, Washington Boulevard Bridge, and a train trestle. Originally completed as a midday scene with skies of blue, the painting was reworked several weeks later after I viewed another local artist’s image of the same subject where upon newfound inspiration motivated me to modify Painting 43 to its current state with skies of gold and pink.
If you are interested in this painting, you may like others that are available in the
Store. If you would like to learn more about the City of Los Angeles' River Project, explore the links below.
More on the Los Angeles Revitalization Project
An interactive map that highlights a number of the developments planned and occurring along the Los Angeles River.
Home of the Los Angles River Project, an organization dedicated to restoring the vital ecosystem along the river.
