Tapestry___Memphis Bridge Charcoal
This piece is inspired by an old railroad bridge I first encountered as a young artist in Memphis. It was a massive structure, built to carry both trains and cars across the Mississippi River. Over time, the roadways disappeared, leaving only the central steel spine to support passing trains. Once a main artery of travel, it even carried power lines across the river. Now, it stands weathered and rusting, a relic of another era.
When I first sketched this bridge, I focused on its raw, layered structure—the steel girders overlapping, stretching into the distance, while beams jutted out like horns and talons of some great beast. I wasn’t just drawing a bridge; I was capturing its weight, its history, and the tension between its strength and decay.
Originally created with charcoal on paper, this piece has now been transformed onto a transparent tapestry, with light illuminating it from behind. The backlighting brings out the details, casting dramatic shadows and highlighting the contrast between solid structure and empty space. Like the bridge itself, this artwork has evolved—once a simple drawing, now a glowing presence, still carrying the energy of something built to last.
Beautiful compositions by Richard transforming industrial details into calligraphic backlight display.
Artwork specs:
Full color fabric prints with light fast UV inks to prevent fading. Display hanging as tapestry. Light box option: includes stretched artwork backlighted with hanging hardware.