Judy Bales, Fairfield, Iowa, www.judybales.com
Proposal for US 1/64 Pedestrian Greenway Bridge
About the artist
“During 2004-05, I completed two bridge projects: the Maryland Avenue Bridge Public Art Project in Phoenix, Arizona; and the BNSF Trail Bridge in Fairfield, Iowa. As a result of working on the Maryland Avenue project, engineer Jerry Cannon contracted me to design elements for the 35th Avenue and Salt River Bridge in Phoenix and to collaborate with him to design a pedestrian walkway as part of the historic rehabilitation of the Old US-80 Bridge at the Gila River near Phoenix.
“After successfully completing the BNSF Trail Bridge with the help of an NEA grant, the Jefferson County Trails Council received a second NEA Challenge America Grant to hire me as design team artist for two bridges (one existing, one new) on another link of their trail system. During 2005, I competed as a finalist in three public art projects, two of those being major highway bridge projects.
“Although the two completed projects described contrast dramatically in funding and complexity, both required that I, as project artist, integrate elements of warmth and humanity into structures that by nature must be rigid and often uninviting. They both also required that I take into account local history, budget, and community input. Both involve artistic enhancements for the bridge superstructure as well as interior details. This has required that I work simultaneously on a monumental scale and an intimate, human scale. I am comfortable working in collaboration with engineers, city planers, fellow artists and young children. Public art projects have given me the opportunity to create permanent works that will be of great benefit to communities for many years.
“My interest in, and experience with bridge enhancements makes me especially qualified for this important project. I am familiar with almost all types of bridge construction, and am experienced designing for metal and concrete fabrication, and with planning for safety, longevity and ease of maintenance. I would be pleased to be involved in such an important project as the US 1/64 Pedestrian Greenway Bridge.”
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