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 decorated with beautiful mosaic art and acts as a memorial for a famous Austin radio DJ named Larry Monroe. The bridge's low walls are covered with tiny tiles. These tiles show things about Larry Monroe and the music he loved to play on the radio for over 30 years.
Artist Stefanie Distefano led the project, designing the art and guiding the many volunteers. You can find this colorful bridge in South Austin, connecting Stacy Park and Little Stacy Park over Blunn Creek.
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Remembering Larry Monroe
Larry Monroe was a popular radio DJ in Austin for more than three decades. He was known for helping local singer-songwriters and Austin-made music become famous. When he passed away in January 2014, his fans and friends wanted to honor his life and his big contribution to music in Austin.
His companion, Ave Bonar, thought of the idea for a mosaic bridge. She asked mosaic artist Stefanie Distefano to create the design. Together, they worked with over 100 volunteers who made the mosaic tiles.
What the Mosaics Show
The tiles show many things related to Larry Monroe's life and career. You can see mosaic radios, cassette tapes, and even ceramic portraits of him. There are also copies of his special Segway license plate and the logo from his website. Artist Sam Hurt designed the original logo.
The bridge also features tiles that look like vinyl records. These records have the names of artists and songs that Larry Monroe enjoyed. Some tiles even have song lyrics from musicians whose music he played. One amazing part is a 22-foot long musical score (like sheet music) from the song "To Live Is to Fly" by Townes Van Zandt.
Local art programs, the City of Austin, and donations from people helped make this project possible.
Bridge Dedication
On June 18, 2015, the Austin City Council officially named the bridge after Larry Monroe. This was done to remember his important contributions to the city. A special event was held on June 20, 2015, to celebrate the new artwork. At this event, a city leader named Kathie Tovo accepted the artwork for the City of Austin.
Annual Celebrations
Every year, around the end of August (which is Larry Monroe's birthday month), his friends and guest musicians gather at the bridge. They perform music and celebrate his life and legacy. It's a way to keep his memory and his love for music alive.
Images for kids
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Bridge decorated with mosaic art to honor the legacy of Austin radio personality Larry Monroe
