Why the Y?

It’s a unique architectural object that continues to inspire artists and visitors to the City of Zanesville each day.

The Y-Bridge landmark is somewhat of an oddity to outsiders, but to those living in the Y-city, the bridge is something special.

Even driving some to use the bridge as inspiration for their work.

“The Y-Bridge just has a great appeal to me,” said Zanesville artist Joesph Murphy. “You can stand anywhere around it and it’s interesting to look at. It has such history.”

A mixed media artist from Cambridge Gary Rochus added, “It’s an interesting architectural feature because it’s a Y of course. I think from the artist aspect it has a lot of possibilities as far as creating something different and look different then what it really is.”

Originally from Japan, the “Y” was one of the first structures Kioye Howland saw in Zanesville and she fell in love.

“It’s so beautiful,” said Howland. “We don’t have places like this. When we first came here 26 years ago we come to here, so my husband take pictures and I paint.”

Other artists agree the bridge is special.

“It helped direct me to the beauty of this place,” said artist Nora Daniel. “We live in such a beautiful city here with the rivers and the waters. It’s just beautiful.”

“I really enjoy the colors and I like the landscape,” added Murphy. “It really inspires me to put the hills and the trees down on paper.”

The Y-Bridge served as the backdrop for the first annual Y-Bridge Festival this weekend.

Today local writers also shared their talents by reading stories they wrote about the famous structure.