Landmarks serve a simple yet essential purpose: marking the land.

There are many reasons for doing this, but the main function of landmarks is to act as navigational points. However, in the 21st century, landmarks have lost their charm as technology continues to advance. It’s no surprise that Google Maps and other apps have become the go-to method for getting directions these days. So where does that leave landmarks?

Pensacola’s “Graffiti Bridge” is an iconic structure that continues to stand the test of time. Indeed, CSX Transportation has been using the bridge’s rails for quite a while. But this arrangement has proven to be more of a nuisance for the locals than an advantage. If the bridge had no other purpose, it’s safe to say that the interest in it would be non-existent. But it also serves another purpose: aesthetics.

The 17th Street underpass is not your ordinary bridge. It provides a vibrant platform for people to connect, exchange ideas, dreams, and even their deepest fears, all through the medium of artwork. There are always those who misuse this gift to spread negativity, but the majority of Pensacolians consistently outshine the haters with their genuine compassion. Graffiti Bridge is more than just a canvas for artwork, though. Not only does it provide inspiration, but it also sparks creativity.

One Pensacola resident harnessed this inspiration to create a book of Graffiti Bridge images, taken over the span of a year.

“What [the naysayers] taught me was that even though somebody’s story is covered up and changed, it’s really never gone, and that’s the same with people,” said Rachael Pongetti, the photographer behind the 365-day project. “People’s lives and their stories are written on that bridge, and they tell something important, and even though it’s gone in a matter of a few hours, it’s really not gone; it simply became a layer.”

Pongetti, a UWF graduate, has shared her artistic expertise as an instructor at both Pensacola State College and UWF. She has collaborated with the PACE Center for Girls and the Pensacola Museum of Art in the past. Pongetti’s highly anticipated book “Layers” is set to be released in the coming months, although an official date has yet to be announced.

According to Cody Lonon, a UWF senior majoring in Health Science, spray painting the bridge is virtually a rite of passage. “It’s something that everyone does at least once in high school or in college. If you haven’t, you’re one of few.”

“Tagging” the Graffiti Bridge has become a tradition for locals, so much so that the Pensacola Police Department does not interfere when the bridge is being painted. They occasionally make an appearance to oversee things, but for the most part, they remain impassive. It’s the only spot in Pensacola where you won’t be ticketed for hefting a spray paint canister in front of an officer.

The bridge is in a constant state of flux, because it is always changing. Pongetti expressed her delight in this, saying it’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of Graffiti Bridge. It allows for freedom of expression through the use of images and words. Residents of Pensacola are invited to make their mark on the iconic Graffiti Bridge and contribute to the ever-growing layers of artwork.

“Graffiti Bridge serves as a platform for expression. It is a stage to express political views, a billboard to inform of upcoming events, and a canvas for street artists,” Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward III said in a statement to First City Art Center, which hosted an exhibition of the book’s photos in April 2015.

The Graffiti Bridge has its own Facebook page where you can keep up with the new artwork on a daily basis. You can see a time-lapse video that Pongetti made on YouTube. For more on Pongetti’s project, visit her website.

With love,

Kinsey

Kinsey Keys

aspiring memoirist rummaging through my noggin, stubbornly clutching the past to my chest like it’s a newborn babe starved for mother's milk.

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