I've been reflecting and remain quite affected by my first open studio showing during Art-A-Whirl in NE Minneapolis. More than 500 people came through my studio and there were some amazing conversations. I want to share one of those stories with you as it involved both my poetry and my art. In my experience, when I weave together my art and poetry, there is the potential for some magic.

I used to commute to the east side of the Twin Cities. To make it more interesting, I would occasionally drive through Lilydale Park set on the banks of the Mississippi near downtown St Paul. But it's quite hidden away and not many know that it's there. There's an old swing bridge down there, built in 1915, that is still operated manually by a bridge tender. I started to empathize with the isolation and loneliness of the bridge tender and wrote this story in 2013. The story was noticed by the Bridge Tender's union (part of the AFL-CIO) and was published in their newsletter later that year.

"The Bridge Tender" Poem, written by me, 2013

For 27 years, I have tended this old railroad bridge. Deep in the basin of the Mississippi, the sandstone cliffs tower above me. On top of these cliffs, the city bustles. Lawyers, doctors, bankers and insurance workers scurry to their jobs, concerned with their next promotion, the success of their children and the angst of their love lives.

And yet I sit here, day after day. They do not know I'm here, but I do not mind. When I started, the trains would deliver grain to the brewery daily. I was important. But the brewery is no more, the bridge is rarely used, but still I sit, filling the time. I think about my childhood, the sweetheart I loved in high school, and the father that I lost. Time is passing me by, but I am still needed. After all, I am the bridge tender.

My Painting of The Bridge Tender

Nearly a decade would pass and I started to grow into my artistry, eventually committing myself to an art education. I returned to the bridge, set up my easel and painted it. For whatever reason, the bridge and the story I wrote about it still resonated in me and I thought it was important to paint it. But I never really thought anyone else would understand its meaning or care about the painting.

So then Art-A-Whirl happens and it's just crazy and overwhelming, with everyone coming through our studio. But in the midst of this, some amazing conversations do occur.

I noticed a gentleman about my age taking an interest in my painting of the bridge and some other small paintings I had done in that same area. I walked over, introduced myself and encouraged him to read the poem that I had posted nearby. He started telling me about the early history of the "Omaha Bridge" (its name) and some of the early things that happened that resulted in its unique counter-weighted construction. I shared a few tidbits I knew about its history also. You can read more about the history of Omaha Road Bridge Number 15 here.

He went on to tell me that he has a boat on the Mississippi and that he regularly has to pass through the bridge. Because of the height of his boat, he has to call the bridge tender to have the bridge opened. So he actually knows the bridge tender!

We just looked at each other in a state of mutual shock and then I said, "Well I really think this painting should be yours." I walked away to chat with others and then he came over and said he wanted both the painting of the bridge and a painting of the old St Paul Power Plant (that also had a poem associated with it.

I delivered the paintings to his home about a week later. He was kind enough to share a few pictures of the bridge that he had taken from his boat. I'll never forget him saying to me, "I'll take care of and cherish these paintings Doug. They're in good hands."