Canalside
9×12″
Oil on panel
©2015 Lucinda Howe
$295

Columbia is defined by threee rivers.  The Broad and Saluda Rivers merge to become the Congaree River.  Along the banks of these rivers is the Three Rivers Greenway, a 9.5 mile park that includes trails, boardwalks, and views of the rivers.

During a recent visit to downtown Columbia, I spent some time on the east bank of the Congaree near the Columbia Canal.  The canal was built in the 1820’s to bypass dangerous rapids in the river.  Later it was used for generating hydroelectric power.   Today there is a boardwalk along the river that passes the old water works and overlooks the rapids.

On the bluff above the river is the site of the state penitentiary called Central Correctional Institue (CCI) that operated from 1866 to 1994.  As an article in The New York Times said, CCI was “both an eyesore and a curiosity on the riverside” before it closed in 1994.  Since then, the site has been cleared and rebuilt with loft apartments.  It’s a prime location with proximity to the University of South Carolina, the Congaree Vista, and the rivers.

This painting is the view looking east from the river toward the Canalside lofts with the Columbia skyline in the background. I was interested in how the hazy summer conditions make the tall buildings in the background look blue,  providing contrast with the warmer colors of the lush green vegetation in the foreground.