By now, if you've been paying any attention, you've heard about The Hidden Life of Bridges. Or maybe you noticed something going on while crossing the Hawthorne Bridge last night. Either way, the installation is finally open, and it turned out to be just what I expected: a thought-provoking spectacle.

Theres life in there!
  • There's life in there!

We previously reported (per the press release) that the film would be looping at 15-minute intervals, but apparently the artists - Ed Purver, who I just found out last night has a delightful English accent, and Portland's own Tim DuRoche - got so much usable stuff from their interviews with County Bridge Section staff that the prerecorded audio is more like a half hour long, repeating, and overlaid with always-live sound from the Hawthorne Bridge itself.

I was watching last night from the center span of the Hawthorne, where hefty outdoor PAs make the audio pretty loud and clear. And hearing the sound that's broadcast along with the ambient sound and feel of being on the bridge definitely makes it the best spot to watch/listen from. But for a closer view of the projection on the Morrison piers, you can watch from the Waterfront park and listen live by calling 503-713-5852 or tuning in on the website. I didn't get a chance to try that method; if you did, please share your impressions in the comments. Hell, share your impressions either way.

Two more nights to experience this, dudes. Tonight and tomorrow, 9-11pm. Then, of course, the audio continues for another month.