BRIDGE OVER BARRIERS, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (2005 – 2012)

In January of 2005 NeighborWorks of Salt Lake invited Lily Yeh to lead community members to create one of the largest public art projects in the state of Utah.

Under Lily Yeh’s direction, several prominent Utah artists were trained to take her methods and engage the community at large to create a comprehensive and aesthetically pleasing design that reflected the lives and cultures of these neighborhoods.

The Bridge Over Barriers project consists of sixteen mosaic tile covered pillars and more than 22,000 square feet of stained concrete murals on the I-15 overpass at 300 North.

NeighborWorks Salt Lake marked the completion of the mural on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration.

All of the photographs posted on this page are from Scott G Winterton, Deseret News.

In August 2022, Maria Garciaz, the director of NeighborWorks of Salt Lake shared: “In 2008, NeighborWorks in partnership with Utah Arts Council and Lily Yeh of Barefoot Artists started a 3 year process to transform a blighted underpass on 300 North and 650 W to one of Salt Lake’s largest mural and mosaic projects called Bridge Over Barriers. Twelve amazing artists, more than 1500 volunteers and hundreds of gallons of stain and 1000’s of tile to paint Father Time and Mother Earth on the ramps and install 16 pillars of mosaic tile to highlight community leaders such as firemen, Navajo code talkers, etc. Under the guidance of artist JuanCarlos, other local artist Comi, and many youth volunteers, a refresh was done on Father Time. Next year… Mother Earth. The youth are all now young adults, college graduates and doing great things in community.”