About the Bridges • Frank Pictures Gallery Exhibition • Overview Booklet • Kids' Guide • Past Events
 

DAVID EDDINGTON
Endangered Bridges Over the L.A. River

Water Levels, 70" x 84"

Paintings in Metallic Acrylic
Plus Historic Photographs by Horace Bristol
Through September 10, 2008

Photos from August 10 Artist's Reception

Photos from August 17 Kid's Workshop

4th Street Bridge, 40" x 50"

Frank Pictures Gallery
Bergamot Station A-5
2525 Michigan Avenue
Santa Monica , CA 90404

The Conservancy is proud to partner with Frank Pictures Gallery to showcase the historic bridges spanning the Los Angeles River, some of which are threatened with severe alteration or demolition. With this exhibition, the gallery joins the Los Angeles Conservancy’s effort to preserve the Los Angeles River bridges as integral monuments to the city’s history.

The Conservancy will receive a portion of the proceeds to help in our efforts to save these iconic structures from demolition or unnecessary alteration.

Symbolizing mobility, progress, connection, and monumentality, the historic river bridges stand for all that is unique about Los Angeles, and Eddington’s work hones in on this exactly.

6th Street Bridge, Los Angeles 1933

The show also includes a selection of vintage photographs by the great Horace Bristol of the iconic Sixth Street Viaduct.

For more images and gallery information, please visit frankpicturesgallery.com.

Structure, 46" x 50"

Gallery Hours

Tuesday – Saturday
11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
and by appointment
310.828.0211

Artist's Statement

Better to build bridges than walls, or battleships, my attention turned to the LA river downtown, for most of the year a green ribbon of recycled water. One bridge in particular, the Macy Street Bridge, became my model. The grandiose aspirations and sadly displaced persons of LA, random metaphors for dominance and progress, are here on my doorstep.

Macy Bridge, 45" x 50"

In these bridges, alongside industrial engineering and steel spans, there are glimpses of Versailles and ancient Rome - an illusion, enhanced by the destitute. It is easy to imagine oneself partaking in the middle-distance adventures of a Piranesi etching.

I love LA moments like these. Allowing the neo-baroque bridges to play upon my mind, haunted by the dark underbelly of their structures, their curves within curves reminding me of Leibniz's "folds in the soul." My obsessions continue in this baroque world, which I gravitate to drawing, photographing, just viewing.

Although ultimately, painting itself is the subject: the interwoven trellises, striations, a matrix in uneven translucencies; from within, there is no need for a window since I am still outside.

-- David Eddington

Learn more about the bridges