Sixth Annual “Illuminate SF Festival of Light” – Perfect Time to Celebrate San Francisco as a Gallery of Light Art

Now in its sixth year, “Illuminate SF Festival of Light” celebrates 37 dramatic, eco-friendly light art installations located throughout San Francisco.   

The San Francisco Travel Association offers a guide to all of the installations and artists at www.illuminatesf.com/.

Located in 17 different neighborhoods, the works are accessible by public transport and many are free for all to view. From Thanksgiving 2018 through New Year's Day 2019, art lovers are invited to embrace the power of light and tour San Francisco's art installations by a diverse range of 30 local and world renowned light artists.

The works come to life at dusk throughout the city with a luminescence that will turn any evening into an illuminating adventure, especially when combined with exploring San Francisco's world-class museums performing arts and restaurants. The light art can be found in neighborhoods in the Embarcadero along the waterfront, in North Beach, Civic Center, Central Market, the Inner Sunset, South of Market (SoMa), Potrero, Mission Bay, Bayview, Golden Gate Park, Hayes Valley, South Beach, the Castro, the Mission District and even flying in or out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

There are four temporary light artworks on view, including:

• Nightbloom, Lightswitch (2018), Conservatory of Flowers: 101 John F. Kennedy Dr. Dec. 2, 2018 – Jan. 9, 2019
• Squared, Charles Gadeken (2018), Hayes Valley, Patricia's Green, Octavia and Hayes Streets, through 2018
• Point of View, Saron Paz and Matthew Passmore (2018), Pier 27
• Glow, Various Artists, Exploratorium, Pier 15 on the Embarcadero, Dec. 6, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

There are 27 permanent light artworks within the city's 49 square miles, including:

1. The Bay Lights, Leo Villareal (2013), San Francisco Bay Bridge West Span, Waterfront
2. Language of the Birds*, Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn (2008), Broadway and Columbus Ave., North Beach
3. Lamp of the Covenant, Dave Lane (2015), Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., SOMA
4. Yud, Daniel Libeskind (2008), 736 Mission St., Contemporary Jewish Museum, SOMA
5. PaRDes, Daniel Libeskind (2008), 736 Mission St., Contemporary Jewish Museum, SOMA
6. “monument” for V Tatlin, Dan Flavin (1969), SFMOMA 5th Floor, 151 Third St., Yerba Buena
7. Untitled (in Honor of Leo at the 30th Anniversary of His Gallery), Dan Flavin (1987), SFMOMA, 151 Third St., Yerba Buena
8. Lumina, MADLAB (2013), 181 Third St., W San Francisco Hotel, SOMA
9. San Francisco at Night: Model Art Map, Lisa Gemmiti (2011), W SF Hotel, 181 Third Street, SOMA
10. Constellation*, Nayland W. Blake (1996), San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Civic Center
11. Buckyball, Leo Villareal (2016), The Exploratorium, Pier 15 on the Embarcadero at Green St.
12. Skygarden, James Turrell (2007), 90 Seventh Street facing Mission St., Central Market
13. "…and my room still rocks like a boat on the sea" (Caruso's Dream), Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn (2014), 55 Ninth St., south of Market St., Central Market
14. Three Gems, James Turrell (2005), de Young Museum, Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden, Golden Gate Park
15. Handsignals*, Matthew Passmore/MoreLab (2014) McCoppin at Valencia St., SOMA
16. Spiral of Gratitude*, Shimon Attie and Vale Bruck (2015), 1245 Third St., Mission Bay
17. Ocean Mirror with Fragments, Jim Campbell (2007), Saunders Court, UCSF, Inner Sunset
18. Monarch, Cliff Garten (2015), Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, 1600 Owens St., Mission Bay
19. Anima, Jim Sanborn (2006), Alexandria Real Estate Equities, 1700 Owens Street, Mission Bay
20. Archipelago*, Anna Valentina Murch (2014), 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco General Hospital, Potrero
21. Ethereal Bodies*, Cliff Garten (2014), 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco General Hospital, Potrero
22. Bayview Rise, Haddad – Drugan (2014), Pier 92 at 3rd Street & Cargo Way, Bayview
23. “Hope Will Never Be Silent,” Illuminate (2017), Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro St.
24. The Seed, Aphidoidea (2017), Jane Warner Plaza, Castro
25. IIuminavia, HYBYCOZO (2017), Hotel VIA, ground level space at Bar VIA, 136 King Street, South Beach
26. LOVE OVER RULES (2017), Hank Willis Thomas, Annie Alley at Mission St., Yerba Buena
27. Day for Night (2018), Jim Campbell, Top of Salesforce Tower, 415 Mission St., Embarcadero

Six permanent light art installations at San Francisco International Airport include:

• Ceiling Flood*, Keith Sonnier (1999), International Terminal, Boarding Area G, Level 2, Post-Security
• Four Sculptural Light Reflectors*, James Carpenter (2000), International Terminal, Main Hall, Level 3, Pre-Security
• Light Beams for the Sky of a Transfer Corridor*, Vito Acconci (2000), International Terminal, A-G, Level 2, Pre-Security
• Wind Portal*, Ned Kahn (2000), International Terminal between BART Station and AirTrain
• Spirogyrate*, Eric Staller (2014), Terminal 3, Boarding Area E, Level 2, Post-Security
• Sky*, Merge Conceptual Design (2014), Terminal 3, Boarding Area E, Level 2, Post-Security

The official website www. IlluminateSF.com was made possible by Storied.co. The visually stunning website features photographs, videos, interactive and downloadable light art maps, events listings, artist information, best viewing and more to make the artworks easy and accessible.  

*The San Francisco's Civic Art Collection encompasses more than 3,500 objects, including historic monuments, murals, paintings, sculptures, installations and other media. The San Francisco Arts Commission oversees this rich and diverse collection, which helps distinguishes the city as an important cultural destination. To learn more visit www.sfartscommission.org.

“Illuminate SF Festival of Light” and www.Illuminatesf.com are presented by the San Francisco Travel Association in collaboration with local civic, arts and cultural partners. 

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco. For information on reservations, activities and more, visit www.sftravel.com, read The San Francisco Traveler or call 415-391-2000. 

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San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop service by 41 international carriers serving 47 international cities and connects non-stop with 83 cities in the U.S. on 12 domestic airlines.  In 2017, SFO set an all-time record for passenger traffic with 55.8 million travelers using the facility, representing the eighth consecutive year of record-breaking traffic levels at SFO.  SFO offers upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com.  Follow SFO on www.twitter.com/flysfo and  www.facebook.com/flysfo.

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Note to editors: 

Images of current installations are available here: https://sftravel.box.com/s/xhq3zrwkbhjs36bdb8oseahphpfml0ek

The San Francisco Travel Photo Video Library is available at http://sftravel.photoshelter.com/index.

Press releases and other media resources are available at www.sftravel.com/media.