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Golden Gate Bridge, Metaphors, Guns
Dec 27, 2009 — 28 comments
Preface: I recently walked across the Golden Gate Bridge. Thought: I am tired of the overused metaphor of the bridge as a connection between two things. To me, the metaphorical bridge as a link, a connection, is an oversimplification that ignores the absurd and unique structural power bridges represent. When I see a suspension bridge, I see a composition of innumerable interconnecting parts, working as one giant mechanism whose singular purpose is to resist the constant and unavoidable force actively trying to destroy it (specifically: gravity). Its entire existence defies nature; things heavier than air are not meant to be suspended in it. Its construction takes place in a constant state of difficulty: ocean floors are exposed, wind is resisted, and multiple massively heavy things dependent upon each other to remain suspended are sent into the air at separate times, before the supporting structure is fully complete.
I generally focus on the central section, between the spires, the gap-annihilating gravity resistors who, farthest from the land, anchored by the supports, meet successfully in the middle. These things are straining, struggling to remain in an unnatural place, inwardly saturated with a unifying tension, outwardly serenely beautiful and balanced.
But success is only temporary. The bridge will fail. It cannot last forever, nothing does; gravity will win, it will eventually plummet in the direction of the center of the earth. But it can be rebuilt.
Clearly I’m overthinking all of this. A bridge connects two things that would otherwise be separate. Done. The Golden Gate Bridge is an amazing structure, by the way.
Here are a couple of digital illustrations I did of guns. The second one is a 1911, which I have fired a couple of times, also an amazing piece of machinery that has lasted:
And one more shot of the GGB, just because it’s cool. It was really bizarre how the fog rolls in right through the channel, you can feel the blanket-effect of it, very surreal, and more than a little creepy.
