Road to Nowhere
In 2019, Johnson was commissioned to photograph the last days of the Alaska Way Viaduct, an iconic elevated highway along the waterfront edge of Seattle, as it was unwoven from the fabric of the city. During the weeks after the Viaduct had closed to traffic but before demolition began, he made multiple walks along the entire lower level of the highway, photographing back at the city. This vista, a cinematic slice of Seattle framed top and bottom by the Brutalist structure of the Viaduct, had been an iconic perspective for anyone traveling along the highway as it made its way, at times within feet, passed the city. These photographs offer a visual reminder of that shared and unique perspective, now a part of the city's collective history.
Johnson has published a limited edition book of this work following an innovative double-sided accordion design. The book is available here.
ROAD TO NOWHERE
$65.00
For his most recent project, Seattle photographer Eirik Johnson recorded the last days of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. In the fall of 2018, the city’s Office of Arts and Culture commissioned Johnson to document the demolition of the iconic structure, which was torn down over the course of 8 months in 2019. He discusses his approach to his work and contemplates what comes next for the waterfront.
Produced, shot, edited by Brad Curran for Crosscut.
https://crosscut.com/author/brad-curran