BRIDGE FOR BLANKETS WAS A PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION AND PART OF THE 2013 PDX BRIDGE FESTIVAL . INSTALLATION ON THE BROADWAY BRIDGE MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT FROM MULTNOMAH COUNTY. MATERIAL COSTS WERE PARTIALLY CROWD-FUNDED. ALL KNIT WOOL PANELS WERE C
SE PANEL, 1 OF 4 PANELS INSTALLED ON THE BROADWAY BRIDGE AS PART OF THE AUGUST 2013 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE BROADWAY BRIDGE ERECTION IN 1913. EACH PANEL WAS 18’ X 21’ IN DIMENSION.
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THE 4 18’ X 21’ KNIT PANELS WERE MADE FROM THE COMBINED EFFORT OF OVER 200 PDX AREA VOLUNTEER KNITTERS. TEAM LEADERS COORDINATED PICK UP, DROP OFF, AND FURTHER CONSTRUCTION OF EACH BANNER. BRIDGE FOR BLANKETS USED A SUPERWASH WOOL THAT WAS SOLD AT
THE ARTIST AND PROJECT COORDINATOR, TYLER MACKIE, TAKING A BREAK ON A COMPLETED KNIT PANEL.
COMMUKNITCATION WAS A LOCAL YARN BOMBING GROUP THAT MADE STEALTH KNIT INSTALLATIONS IN N AND NE PORTLAND AROUND 2012. THIS SMALL KNIT SLEEVE TAG ON A SW RAILING OF THE PEDESTRIAN-BIKE DECK OF THE BROADWAY BRIDGE WAS THE INITIAL SPARK OF INSPIRATION
SOME FUNDRAISING AND KNITTING DATES FOR VOLUNTEERS WERE HOSTED BY MIGRATION BREWING IN NE PORTLAND. THANK YOU!
A HANDFUL OF THE BRIDGE FOR BLANKETS VOLUNTEERS GATHERED IN MID-SUMMER, 2013 TO STITCH TOGETHER THE KNIT 1’ SQUARES INTO COLOR BLOCKS, AND THEN BRIDGE PANELS. VOLUNTEERS GATHERED AT HOME OF SE/NE/NW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, SHARON MACKIE.
A HANDFUL OF THE BRIDGE FOR BLANKETS VOLUNTEERS GATHERED IN MID-SUMMER, 2013 TO STITCH TOGETHER THE KNIT 1’ SQUARES INTO COLOR BLOCKS, AND THEN BRIDGE PANELS. VOLUNTEERS GATHERED AT HOME OF SE/NE/NW VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, SHARON MACKIE.
MUCH OF THE REMAINING WORK TO REINFORCE EACH 18’ X 21’ KNIT PANEL WAS DONE IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE NIGHT IN MACKIE’S HOME WITH A HANDFUL OF FIERCELY DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS.
SW PANEL PHOTO TAKEN BY ERIK CARLSON.
SW PANEL PHOTO TAKEN FROM WESTSIDE WATERFRONT BY MICHELE LEE BERNSTEIN , PROJECT VOLUNTEER.
TWO BRIDGE PANELS TAKEN FROM A PASSERBY ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BROADWAY BRIDGE PEDESTRIAN-BIKE RAMP.
PHOTO OF BROADWAY BRIDGE AND STEEL BRIDGE TAKEN FROM FREMONT BRIDGE DURING THE PROVIDENCE BRIDGE PEDAL IN MID-AUGUST 2013. THIS EVENT IS THE ONLY TIME IN THE YEAR THAT BICYCLES ARE ALLOWED ON THIS BRIDGE; IF YOU SQUINT, YOU CAN SEE THE FAINT SILHOUE
ONE OF THE PANELS DURING INSTALLATION, BILLOWING IN THE STRONG SUMMER BREEZE THAT THE BRIDGES EXPERIENCE OVER THE WILLAMETTE RIVER. ALL GRATITUDE TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEERS FOR BRAVING THE HEIGHTS, WIND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTAC
MACKIE COORDINATING INSTALLATION LOGISTICS FOR THE FINAL PANEL TO A MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEER. ALL GRATITUDE TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEERS FOR BRAVING THE HEIGHTS, WIND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTACHING THE PANELS TO THEIR CABLE
TONY LESTER, A RECENTLY RETIRED ENGINEER FOR THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE SHOP, CAME UP WITH THE BRIDGE INSTALLATION SCHEMATICS AND WAS A CONSTANT SUPPORTER OF BRIDGE FOR BLANKETS FROM START TO FINISH. HERE HE IS SECURING THE LAST LOWER CORNER OF THE
SOME DISTANT PERSPECTIVE ON THE FIRST PANEL INSTALLED. ALL GRATITUDE TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEERS FOR BRAVING THE HEIGHTS, WIND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTACHING THE PANELS TO THEIR CABLE SECUREMENTS. PHOTO TAKEN BY CHARLIE VAWTER.
A RARE OCCASION WHEN AN ART INSTALLATION CAN CLOSE DOWN A BRIDGE FOR A WHOLE DAY. ALL GRATITUDE TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEERS FOR BRAVING THE HEIGHTS, WIND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTACHING THE PANELS TO THEIR CABLE SECUREMENTS. PHOTO
AND THEN THE PUBLIC ART LIFE OF THE PROJECT CAME TO AN END IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013. ALL GRATITUDE TO THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY BRIDGE ENGINEERS FOR BRAVING THE HEIGHTS, WIND, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTACHING THE PANELS TO THEIR CABLE SECUREMENTS; AND THEN
DONATION ROUND 1 OF 12 6’ X 6’ BLANKETS WENT TO SNO CAP COMMUNITY CHARITIES .
DONATION ROUND 2 OF 12 6’ X 6’ BLANKETS CLACKAMAS WOMEN’S SERVICES .
DONATION ROUND 3 OF 12 3’ X 6’ BLANKETS WENT TO RANDALL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT LEGACY EMANUEL.
DONATION ROUND 4 OF 12 6’ X 6’ BLANKETS WENT TO HUMAN SOLUTIONS AT PARKROSE UCC .
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