Urban Gardening

Providence: I-95 and US Highway 6

22" x 19"

In Providence, US Highway 6 carries heavy traffic in from Connecticut.  The 6-10 Connector meets I-95 in a big multi-level stack interchange.  The roadway is characterized by lopsided geometry, weaving sections and short ramps, making for a lovely, flowerlike pattern.  This interchange map inspired me to try a series of paintings showing my take on urban gardening: a rose growing in Providence.

The Bronx: Urban Garden at the Bruckner Interchange

21.5" x 17"

Flowers growing at the junction of I-95, I-295, I-278, I-678 (the Cross-Bronx Expressway, the Bruckner Expressway, and the Hutchinson River Parkway).

Los Angeles: Tropical flowers growing at the 91 and the 110 Freeways

19" x 18"

Aptos - CA Highway 1

Aptos, CA: Highway 1 and State Park Drive

On this stretch, California's famous Highway 1 is a busy freeway between Santa Cruz and Watsonville. 
16" x 16.5"

Atlanta: I-20 and the Downtown Connector

Atlanta: I-20 and I-75 / I-85  #2

18" x 18"

In Downtown Atlanta, the main hub of vehicular energy happens at the interchange of I-20 and the Downtown Connector (the overlapping I-75 and I-85).  Wikipedia calls this spot a "pile-up intersection".

Atlanta: I-20 and I-75 / I-85   #1
18" x 18"

Florence, SC

Florence, SC: I-95 and I-20 interchange, # 2

17" x 12.5"

Florence, SC: I-95 and I-20

15" x 12"

Florence, SC:  This major interchange is the center of the world, the proof being that it is the halfway point between New York City and Miami, and it also stands squarely between Dallas/Birmingham/Atlanta and the beach.

near Florence, I-95 and TV Road exit
13.5" x 10.5"

Atlanta's Freedom Parkway

Atlanta: I-75 / I-85 at the Freedom Parkway overpass   # 2

11" x 13"

Freedom Parkway is a stub of a freeway that was proposed in the 1960's to extend east from Interstate 75 / 85.  This freeway was never built because residents rose in protest against the new corridor cutting through their neighborhoods.
  

The land taken by eminent domain sat vacant and overgrown with kudzu for more than 20 years.  Shortly after Atlanta was selected for the 1996 Olympic Games, the stack interchange with Interstate 75 / 85 was completed as Freedom Parkway.

Atlanta: I-75 / I-85 at the Freedom Parkway overpass   # 1

11" x 13"

Providence - endless loops

Providence: I-95 and US Highways 6 and 10

27" x 22.5"

This exchange has an involved history of stop and start construction, on-again off-again planning.  I hope to write more about it in a future post.  The resulting loops make a beautiful pattern.