The intent will be to create a gateway identification artwork that denotes the entry or departure of South Evanston. Transforming a CTA bridge fence into a sculpture that utilizes the effect of motion across distance to create a sense of movement from a changing perspective.

Project Description:

The Custer Street Bridge has a chain-link fence that is 82 feet long on the west and east side.  This project proposes to remove the chain-link from the west side of the bridge. The project would retain the vertical fence posts anchored into the bridge. The horizontal chain-link fence will be replaced steel sculpture sections. These sections will be fabricated out of A36 Steel with 3 X 3 inch square tubing to make a frame in which 3 inch steel plates will be welded vertically with a maximum distance between them of 3 inches. The sections will be anchored to the concrete, to the existing vertical posts and a face plate will connect the section to each other and hide the existing vertical posts. This construction will produce a strong barrier that will function well as a fence. It will be difficult to climb, and allows the viewer to see through the sculpture to view the railroad tracks clearly. The vertical plates of steel will function like vertical louvers in a window shade.  They will create sense of cadence that will occur as one passes the sculpture.  The blue line will appear to rise and fall as one passes.

The blue line will be 12 inches wide and form an arc that runs the length of the bridge.  The arc is made using 1 and 1/2 inch laminated green jade glass positioned behind the steel structure.  1 and 1/2 inches of laminated glass is very strong. The glass will be sandblasted to a frost finish, which will defuse the fiber optic lighting and provide for an easily maintained surface. The blue light is generated from a very efficient LED / fiber optic system. The LED bulb will need to be replaced every 5 years (every 50,000 hrs) A LED lamp will be housed in the end panels, in a locked cabinet. Electricity will need to be supplied at both ends of the bridge. The electrical service panel will need 10 Amp service, a shut off switch and/or breaker switch. From the LED lamp cabinet the fiber optic cable will be installed behind the glass the length of the bridge. 

The objective is to create a artwork that is interesting in motion (from the car) as well as

walking by. In effect fabricating 9 sections that are joined around the existing fence to create artwork out of Steel, Glass and Fiber Optic light.

Finished Photos