Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation: San Francisco’s Bay Bridge is the dollar store version of the famed Golden Gate Bridge: it’s a bridge that transports cars, sure, but it’s less attractive and prone to breaking at inopportune times, like in the middle of earthquakes and occasionally just for no reason. Before the Bay Bridge closes down this summer for final touches on the new, safer eastern span, the bridge is getting gussied up by artist Leo Villareal, who is individually programming 25,000 white LED lights to generate an endless series of sparkling patterns across the structure.
10 comments:
This sounds absolutely incredible. It's nice to hear about projects that effect the lives of so many and make something useful beautiful as well; it's a good example of what we can do with our theatre design education that doesn't actually involve theatre, but will brighten the day of countless people in the Bay Area. I appreciate Villareal sharing some incites about his process, and especially brining up the fact that he doesn't want to distract drivers and create a safety hazard with his installation. This reminds us as artists that what we do truly does effect the world around us often in a wider variety of ways than we might think from a preliminary look.
I really want to go back to San Francisco to see this. I love San Francisco, and I think that it's a very pretty place. But the largest light show would make it even cooler. The bay bridge is an impressive structure, even though it's not as renown or as cool as the Golden Gate. Putting tens of thousands of LEDs on it, of course will make it cooler, and because they're having an artist do it, I expect it'll be a really cool show.
I think that this is a wonderful project but not because of the scale of the project. I think this is a truly fantastic project because every light is random the patterns are all random and even the artist will not know what the lighting will look like until it is finished. This reminds me very much of john cage in the idea that he tried to produce random music and this project like that will always be surprising and will always be different no matter where or when. when preformed these are one of the very few that actually make something artists can't do. Create something that is always different.
My first two reactions to this installation were "That's Awesome!" and "How will the drivers see?". Both of my reactions were satisfied upon finished the article. I think that the lights will be completely unique each time is so creative, and that a computer doing algorithms will provide that art is just a neat combination of science and beauty. Also, that it will only be on during dusk and midnight (yet still cost $11,000 month) is a reasonable solution. It would be a waste to be lit during the day, and during the early morning hours. Though it'd be beautiful to go and watch it at 2am, the fact is, that not enough people would be looking at it/driving over the bridge at that point to get appreciation from it, especially not enough people looking to double the cost per month. I don't often go out towards San Francisco, but since the installation will be up for two years, hopefully I'll have a chance to go and see it!
Pretty awesome Idea!!! What really stuck out to me was the fact that the project will not be visible to the drivers on the bridge. This I think is awesome and very clever idea for Villareal to figure out. This just makes the art installation a lot safer for everyone to participate in. I also love the fact that he will not see the art until it is turn on in March. That aspect has to be a little nerve wrecking to wonder about the reality of the project, but only have a computer screen to look at. Finally I hope that they get there money back. I know the display will be beautiful to watch, but just hopefully the estimated boost to the local economy will be near that 100 million dollar mark. I wish them the best of luck come the first NIGHT!
I think this is a brilliant idea! Im a huge fan of useing light in art and also a huge fan of turning everyday things into art pieces, it really makes people think and gets them out of there heads when they see something that theyre used to seeing everyday turned into a form of art, or even just something different. So useing the San fransico Bay Bridge, a huge iconic land mark i thinhk is an amazing way of combining all of the afore mentioned things! i would love to be able to see it!!!
Now that I live in San Francisco ill have to go back and see this installation. I think this is a great idea. The bay bridge itself is really nothing to marvel at so turning it into an art piece will really improve the surrounding area and beautify the bay. I also like that it will never be the same pattern because that way it will not get boring as fast as it would if it were a repeating pattern.
Here I go commenting on another SF article. I bore even myself. But I just had to defend the Bay Bridge from such slights as "less attractive" and "prone to breaking." Yes, the Old Grey Lady has had a few difficulties in her day, but considering she is twice as long and was built in nearly half the time as the Golden Gate, it's no wonder. I have had intimate relationships with both bridges, I'm happy to say, and they both have their merits (they even share paint!) I know Ben Davis simply as a local, free-lance lighting designer and producer, and for me, this accomplishment highlights the fact that anyone with a good idea and the dedication to see it through can produce great things that will be appreciated (or loathed as some of the comments at the bottom of the article suggest) by millions. I am not personally a big fan of blinky art, but I am inspired by the possibilities of collaborations like this.
'Art' installations have always been something relatively interesting to me and this is definitely on that list. There are a good deal of cities, Pittsburgh included that are rather beautiful at night if you're into that sort of thing and I think that lighting a piece of architectural as significant as the Bay Bridge really pushes the envelope of this aesthetic.
I don't really know about this idea. At first, I thought it will look incredible. But I started looking at pictures, and I just feel that the vertical lines are too far apart from each other. You would only get the movement of light effect from far away. I also would like to know if the LED's will be strong enough to reflect in the water. One thing that is gorgeous about lit bridges is the reflection of light in the water, so it looks like the light never ends. I think the idea of lighting a bridge in a new way is great, but I don't think I will be impressed by the execution.
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