Bridge Charms

Artist Team: Dale Wilhelm and James Schmidt
Dedicated: August 28, 2009
Budget: $9,000

“Bridge Charms” is a sculptural work that consists of suspended stainless steel cable strung through the girders at either end of the 82nd Drive / Park Place Pedestrian Bridge. From the cable, dangle objects, bejeweling the Bridge like a charm bracelet. The ornamental pendants represent the recreational uses of the Bridge/Clackamas River area, the natural aspects of the region and the historical references of the region. Additionally, circular colored pendants reflect color onto the Bridge and the surrounding environment.

After extensive research and feedback from the stakeholder committee, WES employee and bird aficionado Dan Strong, Oregon City Mayor Alice Norris, and Erik Thorsgard and Tony Johnson, Cultural Liasons from the Grande Ronde Confederation, the artists selected the following objects for the pendants:

Model-T Automobile                   Wagon Wheel                   Old-fashioned tree saw
Old fashioned faucet                  Merganser (duck)             Bicycle
Fishing fly                                 Chinook paddle                Fish skeleton
Canoe                                       Cedar                              Osprey
Sneaker (shoe)                          Salamander                      Salmon

Stakeholder Committee:
Amy Kyle, Water Environment Services
Anya Relleve, Water Environment Services
Lynda Orzen, Local Artist, Three Rivers Artists Guild
LeeAnn Gadilauskas, Clackamas County Public Art Steering Committee

Staff:
Cheryl Snow
Betsy Bostwick