In my 18-years living here, I’ve witnessed this delightful vision of Purple Rain in Savannah a handful of times. Waiting for what seemed to be an eternity, I managed to capture it en Plein air — although I had to work very quickly and awkwardly and ended up getting soaked in the process.

At long last, I have taken that idea into my studio to expand my initial quick painting to full-size.

Spanning the Savannah River between downtown Savannah and Hutchinson Island, the Eugene Talmadge Memorial Bridge is the point where Historic Coastal Highway 17 connects Georgia with the low country of South Carolina. It’s one of three or four top iconic images in Savannah.

The Savannah River runs west to east, flows directly in front of downtown Savannah, and finally drains into the Atlantic a few miles downstream. Thus, you are looking directly into the setting sun when viewing the bridge at dusk from Savannah’s Historic River Street.

 It is a magic spot during a Purple Rain in Savannah.

 The naming of the bridge has faced significant and continuing controversy because Eugene Talmadge was a consequential leader of a racist and segregationist constituency residing in Georgia long ago. Many wanted to name the bridge for the Native American Yamacraw leader Tomochichi, who assisted James Oglethorpe in the founding location for the new colony of Georgia in 1733. But Tomochichi has a complicated history, too, given that he was an active slave-trader.

 The past is the past, and truths are the truth. The latest proposal is to rename it The John Lewis Freedom Bridge,after the civil rights leader and long-serving House Representative from Georgia.

 In this painting, the irradiant color scheme depicts the bridge at dusk during a light rain. The heavy clouds combined with the warm air squeeze the pink and yellow sunset while the falling rain reflects the remaining blue and violet sky, leading to a purple haze.

  lived in the Twin Cities in Minnesota for a few years when I initially immigrated to the United States and first saw this combination of color over Lake Minnetonka.

 When I later settled here, I again saw the Purple Rain in Savannah. Prince suggested his song was about the end of the world, being with the one you love while allowing your faith to guide you through the purple rain. Ironically, it was the last song he performed during his final concert held in Atlanta, Georgia.