| 2S2N stands for "two swings and two nets". Our
goal was to hang two nets and two swings under the working and huge steel drawbridge
that goes over the Chicago River as part of 18th street. The bridge is unique in
that it lifts from one side only, making it very high when the whole structure
is raised to lets boats pass underneath. The day we chose for this show
happened to be a day when the bridge was let up to let some sailboats by
for final docking. |
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This is an overhead map of the
site, which was taken by the United States Geological Survey. These maps
are available to the public and are great aides for perspective on outdoor
sites (pre-google earth). The land to the right (east) of the bridge, is part of the vast forested
area that EE had used for its previous outdoor shows. The two big circles
are storage tanks by a railyard. |
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With the bridge
being over the river, there was no terra firma to place ladders or hoists.
All connections for the nets were to be made by free climbing on the girders
under the bridge. This photo shows the scale. Dave Christensen is climbing on the
lower right.
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The nets were installed, then
the swings. Here is a shot of some of the attendees to the event. About
thirty people showed up, including our friend and dj Wil B I and his jam
box. It was a great playground. I see Charlie and Saverio Truglia!
At one point, we noticed sailboats gathering by the bridge and yelled
for everyone to get out ot the net because the bridge was to be raised.
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Luckily, I
got my camera and took a shot while the bridge was up. If you look closely,
you can see the suspended nets on the upper right of the underside of
the raised bridge. Riding it up would have been quite spectacular.
"had to be there".
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After the bridge lowered again,
it was time to hang and watch astounded boaters passing by looking up and
wondering what was going on. People lounged, climbed, jumped, and played. The swing was up and you could launch yourself into the net. |
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This photo
just about sums it up, taken from standing on one of the girders. Meanwhile,
cars were constantly whizzing overhead, and boats underneath. This space
had probably never been occupied before.
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A photo from above the swing
from the girders, showing folks at play, on the swing is Chicago photographer
and EE fan, Saverio Truglia. |
The Chicago Police came by boat
and were equally befuddled. We told them we were art students. That always
seems to be the best naive excuse that has gotten EE out of any sort of
trouble. The day was too short but remarkable.
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A new photo from the Darwin
Stevens archive. He was there and snapped this color pic of a familiar angle. |
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Again, Darwin
Stevens took this photo of Mike Smith taking a photo. These two photos
were recently added to this archive in May, 2002. It lives!
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