- In this Americana Landscape Painting, "Union
Railroad Hot Metal Bridge Night," an original oil on panel,
I was attempting to speak to the mystery living in the shadows
and reflections of the Union Railroad Hot Metal Bridge at night
under a full moon. A bridge such as this is shows us where we
came from as we crossed in to today. The moon has risen and fallen
over this place in the landscape since the dawn of time and like
all other places it reflects all the cycles of life that are
present in this wonderful world we live in. I find interest in
how a bridge fits into this landscape considering a bridge is
not a natural product but is imposed on the landscape by the
hands of man for the very purpose of crossing by us human inhabitants.
Now that we have crossed this bridge made of iron that delivered
us to this new era I think it's time to reflect on the cycles
of life that are coming to bear on this giant but now sleeping
bridge that once delivered the raw elements needed at the Carri
Furnace to make iron. Once at this location by night I found
that it was so still and quiet out there amongst the living reminders
of our past, in fact I couldn't help but notice that this area
was tucked away from the lights of the town of Homestead ( part
of Pittsburgh ) in such a way that it seems more involved in
the forces of nature now than the forces of man. In short the
bridge harmoniously shares shimmering reflections of a great
human effort on the surface of the Monongahela right along with
the moon as the river of life in Pittsburgh flows towards new
horizons.
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