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Riverwalk Mural A 'Quilt Of Images'

Rendering from the city of Tampa

The 400 images for artist Bruce Marsh’s mural for the Riverwalk will be printed in porcelain enamel on steel plates.

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 24, 2008

TAMPA - Meet you at the mural.

That's what city officials hope people say when they plan to spend an afternoon at the Riverwalk.

The city plans to hire Ruskin artist Bruce Marsh this week to design a 40-foot long, 9-foot-tall photo montage, to be located at Channelside and Beneficial drives, near the Tampa Bay History Center. That's essentially the southern terminus of the Riverwalk, which will border the Hillsborough River and link the Channel District with Tampa Heights.

On Thursday, the city council will consider awarding a $150,000 contract to Marsh for the project. The money will come from the $2 million in state funding Gov. Charlie Crist set aside last year for the Riverwalk project.

Mayor Pam Iorio envisions the Riverwalk as a downtown destination for residents and tourists alike to enjoy the outdoors and learn about the Hillsborough River. So far, about three-quarters of a mile of the 2.3-mile pathway has been constructed. The city hopes to raise millions of dollars in private donations and spend gas tax and grant money to complete the project.

Marsh says his art wall will feature 400 images of the Hillsborough River, including pictures he has taken through the years and more he intends to take within the next few months.

The high-resolution photos will include images of the river from the Green Swamp area to downtown, including shots of the bridges and the Sulphur Springs water tower. Marsh plans to include images of the river at different times of day and during different weather patterns.

The images will be printed in porcelain enamel on steel plates. They will be printed in full color, each measuring 10 inches by 12 inches. The durable enamel should keep the color from fading in the sun.

"It'll be like a quilt of images," said Marsh, a retired University of South Florida art professor. From the distance, it will look like an abstract pattern of color and shape, he said. Up close, however, viewers will be able to see the individual photos.

Robin Nigh, the city's public art administrator, tapped Marsh for the project.

"We hope it'll be iconic for the Riverwalk," Nigh said. "I hope it sets the spirit of what they're going to explore on the Riverwalk."

Lee Hoffman, the city's Riverwalk manager, said the city was looking for a piece that will serve as an entryway to the History Center and Riverwalk area. Marsh's art wall should fit that bill, he said.

"We really want something special there," Hoffman said. "We really want something that catches people's eyes."

The city plans to install the permanent piece by December or January.

Marsh also has a piece on display at the Sulphur Springs swimming pool. Installed in 2000, the work is a large glass-tile mosaic.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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