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SF’s Amazing Month-Long Light Festival “Illuminate”

Explore 37 light installations during the longest nights of the year
By - posted 11/28/2018 No Comment

Illuminate SF Festival of Light happens Thanksgiving 2018 through New Year’s Day 2019 and shines a light on San Francisco’s ever-expanding light art scene.

Get your glow on during this two-month celebration during the longest nights of the year, featuring free light art tours, nighttime neighborhood walks, artist talks and participatory experiences.

> 2018 Light Art Installations – 37 different light sculptures (both permanent and temporary) in 17 neighborhoods by 34 artists with three free light art tours.

2018 Illuminate SF Festival of Light
November 22, 2018 – January 1, 2019
All over San Francisco
FREE (most events and installations)

The sixth annual light fantastic includes several dramatic, eco-friendly light art installations accessible by public transit and admission-free.

Many of San Francisco’s intimate neighborhoods will also light up shopping districts, streets and galleries, and host participatory holiday activities.

What’s New for 2018:

Four New Installations:

  • Squared, Charles Gadeken (2018), Hayes Valley, Patricia’s Green (Hayes at Octavia)
  • Night Bloom, Lightswitch (2018), Conservatory of Flowers: 101 John F. Kennedy Dr. – Begins December 2nd
  • Day For Night, Jim Campbell (2018), Embarcadero, 415 Mission St.
  • Point Of View, Saron Paz and Matthew Passmore (2018), Pier 27

There are 25 permanent light artworks within the city’s 49 square miles, including:

  • “monument” for V Tatlin, Dan Flavin (1969), SFMOMA Floor 5, 151 Third St., SoMa
  • Untitled (to Barnette Newman) two, Dan Flavin (1971), SFMOMA Floor 5, 151 Third St., SoMa
  • Constellation*, Nayland W. Blake (1996), San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Civic Center
  • Three Gems, James Turrell (2005), de Young Museum, Barbro Osher Sculpture Garden, Golden Gate Park
  • Anima, Jim Sanborn (2006), Alexandria Real Estate Equities, 1700 Owens St., Mission Bay
  • Skygarden, James Turrell (2007), 90 Seventh St. facing Mission Street, Central Market
  • Ocean Mirror with Fragments, Jim Campbell (2007), Saunders Court, UCSF, Inner Sunset
  • Language of the Birds*, Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn (2008), Broadway and Columbus Avenue, North Beach
  • Yud, Daniel Libeskind (2008), 736 Mission St., Contemporary Jewish Museum, SoMa
  • PaRDes, Daniel Libeskind (2008), 736 Mission St., Contemporary Jewish Museum, SoMa
  • Firefly*, Ned Kahn (2012), 525 Golden Gate Ave. at Polk Street, Civic Center
  • The Bay Lights, Leo Villareal (2013), San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge West Span, Embarcadero
  • San Francisco at Night: Model Art Map, Lisa Gemmiti (2011), W San Francisco Hotel, 181 Third St., SoMa
  • Lumina, MADLAB (2013), 181 Third St., W San Francisco Hotel, SoMa
  • Bayview Rise, Haddad – Drugan (2014), Pier 92 at Third Street and Cargo Way, Bayview
  • Handsignals*, Matthew Passmore/MoreLab (2014) McCoppin at Valencia Street, SoMa
  • Ethereal Bodies*, Cliff Garten (2014), 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco General Hospital, Potrero
  • Archipelago*, Anna Valentina Murch (2014), 1001 Potrero Ave., San Francisco General Hospital, Potrero
  • “…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 Street, Central Market
  • Lamp of the Covenant, Dave Lane (2015), Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St., SoMa
  • Spiral of Gratitude*, Shimon Attie and Vale Bruck (2015), 1245 Third St., Mission Bay
  • Monarch, Cliff Garten (2015), Kaiser Permanente Medical Offices, 1600 Owens St., Mission Bay
  • Jacob’s Dream: A Luminous Path, Benjamin Bergery & Jim Campbell (2016), Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., Nob Hill
  • “Hope Will Never Be Silent,” Illuminate (2017), Harvey Milk Plaza, Castro Street
  • IIuminavia, HYBYCOZO (2017), Hotel VIA, ground level space at Bar VIA, 136 King Street, South Beach

Six permanent light art installations at SFO 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

*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.