TOTEMS

The recently completed 14.3 million rebuilding of the Houston Street Bridge over Salado Creek near the AT&T center in San Antonio, Texas has been eye catching with the added funded project to add Art work to the 310 foot long span bridge comprising of sculpted clay panels and steel galvanized sculptures.

Galvanizing the sculptures correlate with existing industrial aesthetics in the immediate area.

Through funding of TxDOT and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, two local artist submitted plans to the city, one of the selected, Bernice Appelin-Williams was selected to design the sculptures. The art work comprises scenes of natural history, indigenous peoples, and the early East Side community. There are references to the early segregation of San Antonio and several East Side landmarks.

Galvanizing the sculptures correlate with existing industrial aesthetics in the immediate area. The process also allows for minimal maintenance requirements for the City of San Antonio as well as longevity of the sculptures. Because the sculptures are located along a highly traveled thoroughfare they are quite visible yet non-distracting.