Larry Monroe Forever Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Larry Monroe Forever Bridge |
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Bridge decorated with mosaic art to honor the legacy of Austin radio personality Larry Monroe
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| Artist | Stefanie Distefano, et al. |
| Completion date | 20 June 2015 |
| Location | Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| 30°14′51″N 97°44′40″W / 30.247540°N 97.744402°W | |
| Owner | Art in Public Places, City of Austin, TX |
The Larry Monroe Forever Bridge is a special bridge in Austin, Texas. It's not just any bridge; it's a beautiful mural and a memorial dedicated to a famous Austin radio personality named Larry Monroe. The bridge has two low walls covered in colorful mosaic tiles. These tiles show things related to Larry Monroe and the music he loved. Artist Stefanie Distefano created and led this amazing project. You can find the bridge on East Side Drive, where it crosses Blunn Creek, between Stacy Park and Little Stacy Park in the Travis Heights neighborhood.
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About the Larry Monroe Forever Bridge
Larry Monroe was a popular disc jockey (DJ) in Austin for over 30 years. He was known for playing and promoting music by local Austin singer-songwriters. He also shared music from many other artists. After Larry passed away in January 2014, his friends and fans wanted to honor him. They wanted to remember his life and how much he helped the music scene in Austin.
Larry's companion, Ave Bonar, came up with the idea for a mosaic bridge. She asked mosaic artist Stefanie Distefano to design the project. Together, they worked with more than 100 volunteers. These volunteers helped make the many mosaic tiles that decorate the bridge.
What You'll See on the Bridge
The mosaic tiles on the bridge are very special. They look like old radios, cassette tapes, and even portraits of Larry. You can also spot fun details like a copy of his unique "Segway" license plate. There's also a copy of the logo from his website, which was designed by artist Sam Hurt.
Many tiles look like vinyl records. Each record has the name of an artist or song that Larry Monroe loved to play. You'll also find tiles with song lyrics from some of the musicians he supported. One amazing part is a 22-foot long musical score from the Townes Van Zandt song To Live Is to Fly.
This project was made possible with help from several groups. These included the Austin Art in Public Places program, the Austin Arts Commission, and the South River City Citizens. Many private donations also helped fund the bridge.
Officially Naming the Bridge
On June 18, 2015, the Austin City Council made the bridge's name official. They passed a resolution (a formal decision) to name it the Larry Monroe Forever Bridge. This was done to recognize Larry Monroe's lasting impact. A special ceremony was held on June 20, 2015. At this event, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo accepted the artwork on behalf of the City of Austin.
Some Artists Honored on the Bridge
The mosaic tiles feature many musicians Larry Monroe played on his radio shows. Here is a partial list of some of the artists you can find:
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deceased
