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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Tunnelvision, Busted Plug and Neverbust Chain

SC PICTURE PROJECT 2 Comments

SC Picture Project / Richland County / Tunnelvision, Busted Plug and Neverbust Chain

Artist Blue Sky (born Warren Edward Johnson) is known in South Carolina primarily for his trompe l’oeil murals and larger-than-life sculptures. Many are located in the capital city, but others can be found as far away as Union, Florence, and Darlington (see Old Darlington Public Square). The Columbia native is an alumnus of Dreher High School and earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. His work has appeared nationally – including in the Smithsonian – and among his many awards is South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, which he received in 2000.

Tunnelvision Mural by Blue Sky


Tunnelvision, probably Blue Sky’s most well-known work, is adjacent to his giant hydrant sculpture and painted on the wall of the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank at Marion and Taylor Streets, a building soon to be converted into apartments. However, the public art will remain intact on the building when the building becomes living space. Unveiled in 1975, the mural gives the illusion of a tunnel heading into a sunset landscape.

Tunnelvision Mural Columbia

SCIWAY, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Blue Sky says that the vision for this piece came to him in a dream, hence the mural’s title.The 50-x-75-foot painting took Blue Sky a year to complete, for which he was paid $3,000 by the Arts Commission.

Blue Sky Mural in Columbia

SCIWAY, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Busted Plug by Blue Sky


Busted Plug Plaza, a 40-foot-tall concrete, steel, and aluminum sculpture, is also located at the corner of Marion and Taylor Streets in downtown Columbia. The project took 14 months to complete and included the direction of an architect, a structural engineer, and a general contractor. It was unveiled in 2001 and remains the largest fire hydrant in the country.

Busted Plug by Blue Sky

SCIWAY, 2008 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Neverbust Chain by Blue Sky


Neverbust Chain, is a permanent art installation done by Blue Sky in 2000. While the links of the chain appear to be too large to be real, they are actually made of steel. The pieces were welded together and the project proved large enough that it required 2,000 pounds of hydraulic pressure to complete the last link of the chain. The whimsical installation was installed without prior approval from the city. Owners of each building the chain touches granted permission, but since the chain hung over city property, their approval was needed for the piece to remain. After the installation, approval was almost instantly granted by the city, as they recognized the importance of having another of the artist’s pieces on display. Blue Sky was asked the significance of the chain, to which he replied “One building looked like it was leaning a little bit.” The installation can be found on the corners of Main and Hampton Streets, across from the Columbia Museum of Art.

Neverbust Chain

Cortney Price of Camden, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Plan Your Trip: Tunnelvision, Busted Plug and Neverbust Chain

Where is Tunnelvision, Busted Plug and Neverbust Chain located?
Address: Taylor and Marion Streets, Columbia, SC 29201
GPS Coordinates: 34.007665,-81.032191
What else should I see?
Palmetto Baptist Hospital 0.1 mile
St. Paul's Lutheran Church 0.2 mile
Historic Bethel AME Church 0.2 mile
First Baptist Church of Columbia 0.2 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Columbia Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Roadside Oddities
  • See other South Carolina SC Artists
    Tunnelvision, Busted Plug and Neverbust Chain Map

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    Comments

    1. Jessica G. says

      June 3, 2022 at 7:47 AM

      I came across your website while planning my trip to Columbia. What a delight! Not only do you provide the necessary basic information, but you go a step further with context and history. Thank you for your work – it’s both helpful and appreciated!

      Reply
      • Kathy | SC Picture Project says

        June 14, 2022 at 11:20 AM

        Thank you, Jessica, for your nice comments. It’s nice to be appreciated!

        Reply

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    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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