Art

Item Description

Fiddler on Skates

Taken on the set of Heaven's Gate

David Mansfield created the musical score by adapting classical music and classic songs and arranging melodies from the immigrants' native folk songs. David and his fiddle take to the floor to warm up the skaters.

Print Description

15" x 20" print
9.5" x 14.125" image size
16.625" x 21" framed

Hand-signed by artist, Susan Bridges
No limited editions.

Carbon/pigment print on 100% Cotton Paper
Archival framing materials
Square black satin-finish moulding
Conservation Clear 99% UV-blocking glass

Inside Heaven's Gate | Behind the Scenes with Susan Bridges

Ranchers Lawmen Cattlemen and Immigrants

The film Heaven's Gate was shot in 1979. It is director Michael Cimino's vision of the Johnson County War. 

Skirmishes between immigrants and the Cattlemen's Association were taking place all over the American West in 1892. That year was the worst of a long conflict in Johnson County, Wyoming. Cimino's fictionalized story is bold and beautiful in its brutality.

Heaven's Gate was controversial for many reasons, not the least being it was the most expensive project to ever come out of Hollywood to date. The film developed a cult following and is now considered a masterpiece by many for its exhilarating cinematography and expansive, gritty story of the West.

These photographs were shot with Leica and Nikon 35 mm cameras. I also used a Widelux 35 mm panning camera. All photos were shot with Plus-X or Tri-X black-and-white negative film. At the time I was an enthusiastic student of photography studying at the California Institute of the Arts and the ArtCenter College of Design.

The generosity of Michael Cimino (director), Joann Carelli (producer) and Vilmos Zsigmond (cinematographer) allowed me unlimited access to the set, although I was not present for the entire shoot of six months.

This exhibit is a story of survival. The negatives for all the pictures from 1979 survived an earthquake, a fire and a debris flow that destroyed many years' worth of photographic work. When I discovered the Heaven's Gate negatives miraculously intact for the third time, I decided it was time to share them.

About the Artist

Susan Bridges

Susan Bridges is an accomplished photographer and philanthropist who has spent her life championing many causes. She is a mother of three daughters, a grandmother and the wife and partner of actor Jeff Bridges.

A native of the Midwest, Susan attended the University of Minnesota and the University of Montana. In 1974 she moved to Los Angeles to begin a new chapter of her life.

Susan attended the ArtCenter College of Design and the California Institute of the Arts to explore the art of photography. She also studied with photographer Lisette Model in New York City.

Susan has taken photographs on feature films, including Heaven's Gate, The American Success Company, and a film she associate-produced, Cold Feet. Her photographs have been published in numerous newspapers and magazines.

She supports many organizations, including VNA Health, The Food Bank of Santa Barbara, Unity Shoppe, Direct Relief, Livingston Food Resource Center, The Livingston Farm to School Program and Yellowstone Forever. She is a founding member of Vital Ground Foundation, a nonprofit land trust organization that preserves habitat for wildlife in the northern Rocky Mountains.

Most dear to her heart is family. She and Jeff have been married for 45 years and enjoy dividing their time between Santa Barbara and Montana. Susan loves watching her family grow to include three sons-in-law and three grandchildren.

Item Special Note

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