Introduction
This curriculum unit examines the role of art in bridging the gap between school and community by using local bridges as a metaphor, and as actual structures of importance throughout neighborhoods. The curriculum will help students understand the diverse nature of the community where they live. The school is conveniently located within easy walking distance of many roadway bridges which have recently undergone reconstruction. The work to replace and repair several of these bridges caused great changes in the traffic patterns in the surrounding neighborhoods. Many parts of the community were impacted. Road closures lasted as long as a year. The importance of timely completion of these projects became very clear to members of the community as walking and driving times lengthened and new traffic routes had to be established.
As students look at the problems which arise when reconstruction starts, they will also study the rather lengthy planning process the community must go through before any of the actual bridge work begins. They will learn that the process is very complex and is filled with controversy, particularly for art work on any of these bridges. We will study issues as large as cost and placement of newly built bridges, and issues as small as color selection. Students will examine the reasoning behind the upkeep of bridges of historical interest. Architects, engineers, and city planners can help with these explanations, and we will enlist the help of City of Santa Fe Public Works staff and representatives from the various trades involved in creating these structures. Some of the small bridges we will study have a great deal of steel ornamentation, stone masonry, and concrete. We will discuss with a consultant from the Santa Fe Arts Commission the process of selecting materials, based on factors such as looks, maintenance requirements, and availability.
The students should understand the Arts Commission's role in each bridge's process. The Arts Commission within the Public Works branch of the City of Santa Fe, ultimately decides what art work will be placed on bridges or anywhere else in the city. The Arts Commission puts out the initial call to local artists in New Mexico to submit ideas and designs which might be incorporated into any new, replaced or repaired bridge. Selected artists begin to work with the Arts Commission's design team of architects, engineers, arts commissioners, and a contractor. The team has many questions to answer as it proceeds through the planning phase. One of the first things the team examines is the purpose of the bridge, and why it needs creation, replacement or repair. Does the bridge need to keep cars safe, or is the primary purpose to keep people safe?
Many roadway bridges over the Santa Fe River and the city's many arroyos are concrete box beams, although some are box culverts. Most of the spans throughout the city are less than one hundred years old and built with concrete. Many were built in during the depression era. Recently, city road inspectors determined that one of the concrete bridges is in great need of repair. It is basically one large slab, reinforced with steel. The structure has moved and settled enough to make it increasingly unstable. Pre-stressed concrete methods used today were not employed in the original bridge. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to observe a design team analyzing the design and construction elements of a new bridge. Proposals for the design of the new bridge have already been submitted to the design team.
There is a great deal of public input and concern when the railings and fascia on bridges are chosen. We will study a bridge for which the Commission design team has chosen a local artist who does a lot of work with the public schools. Students will meet this artist and discuss with her the process for creating art work for the bridge. She will describe the public's concern that the bridge be constructed in such a manner as to blend in with the surrounding city park, giving particular attention to appropriate symbolism which might be displayed. Many revisions to the original drawings were made. Compromise is often required of all parties in order to complete public projects.
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