Reverse, Lateral, and Loop
Images clockwise: full mural, detail of fracture (middle
of mural), detail of a front-end cab engine (left mural),
detail of right side of mural.
Reverse, Lateral, and Loop
In the summer of 2002 I had the pleasure of collaborating
with New Zealand artist Marc Spijkerbosch on this project
in Tehachapi, California. Renowned for his landscapes,
Marc's contribution to this piece produced a majestic
vista and resonated gloriously like a sunset pastoral
symphony. Thanks, mate!
The title -- Reverse, Lateral, and Loop -
makes reference of two juxtaposing subjects that colorfully
highlight the history of Tehachapi. The first, Reverse
and Lateral, refer to the type of faults causing
a 7.4 earthquake in 1952 that destroyed most of this
small downtown. Many lives were lost, and the wall on
which this mural is painted was one of the only two
structures still standing.
The second subject is the internationally celebrated
'Tehachapi Loop'. The loop concept was a suggestion
given by a nine-year old water boy when railroad engineers
were trying to solve the problem of maintaining a required
train grade on the steep Tehachapi accent. As depicted
in the mural, the trains circle literally over themselves
as they climb up to the pass. It's really something
to watch as two trains transverse simultaneously on
this giant toy train set-like loop.
The interplay of the train and the vertical rift as
they bisect each other creates a different kind of pathway
shape, and a different way of perceiving heritage. Like
a crossroads of time and space, when things and events
intersect -- material and temporal histories intertwine
to create a kind of multi-dimensional fabric. This new
material conjures fresh feelings and perceptions; it
infuses a new sense of place. Yet it is vitaly nostalgic,
for it is a new tapestry woven from the past.
