Illuminate SF
The Must-See Light Art in North Beach, Chinatown, Union Square, and Nob Hill

See some of San Francisco's most popular neighborhoods sparkle this winter

In San Francisco's most iconic neighborhoods, you'll find truly remarkable light art. Some, like those in North Beach, have become synonymous with the neighborhood over time. Others in Chinatown and Union Square herald the future. And then there are those in Nob Hill that dramatically combine the old and the new in bold and breathtaking ways.

Language of the Birds

Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn, 2008

Permanent

Plaza at Broadway and Columbus Avenue

“Language of the Birds” is a permanent site-specific sculpture installed at a pedestrian plaza linking Chinatown and North Beach. Each of the artwork’s suspended “books” mimic a bird in motion, with various wing positions created by the forms of the pages and bindings. Passing under the flock, pedestrians will notice words and phrases embedded in the plaza floor, which appear to have fallen from the pages above. On closer inspection, the fallen words are in English, Italian and Chinese, and were selected from the neighborhood’s rich literary history. At night, LED lights embedded within the books create visual patterns. At different times, one might see the flock subtly pulsing or giving off a spectacular zoetrope effect. It is the first solar power-offset public artwork in California; the artists teamed with scientist David Shearer and Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Bookstore to provide solar power to the city’s grid, offsetting the energy used by the artwork.

Best Viewing: Stand on the west side of Columbus Avenue north of Broadway. Look up and down to catch the full effect.

Lantern Stories

Yu-Wen Wu, 2022

Permanent

Grant Ave.

Yu-Wen Wu has created 29 illustrated lanterns that brighten one of Chinatown's busiest streets and commemorate the neighborhood's history, culture, and community. Among the notable Chinese-Americans depicted on these lanterns are actor Bruce Lee, author Amy Tan, journalist Helen Zia, and restauranteur Cecilia Chang. Wu has allowed local artists to use some of her lanterns as their canvas. These artists include Philip Hua, Lenora Lee, Summer Mei Ling Lee, Cathy Lu, and Christine Wong Yap. “Lantern Stories” is part of a national project of encouraging civic dialogue and social justice around issues facing America's Asian communities.

Best Viewing: After Dark

Lucy in the Sky

Erwin Redl, 2022

Permanent

Union Square / Market Street Muni Station

The artwork by Erwin Redl for the Union Square / Market Street Station titled “Lucy in the Sky” is an illuminated installation comprised of hundreds of translucent 10-by-10-inch light panels, each containing an array of color LEDs. The light panels are suspended along the entire length of the concourse level corridor’s ceiling in a diamond-shaped pattern and are computer programmed to slowly change color and display simple patterns and animations.

Best Viewing: Anytime you pass through on your way to explore more of San Francisco!

Grace Light

George Zisiadis (2019)

Temporary

Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St.

As light emanates from the eaves directly above Grace Cathedral’s famed labyrinth, visitors look upward through a slight atmospheric haze and are enveloped in a 100-foot-tall shifting curtain of light. Visitors will lie down within the labyrinth or stand just outside the light curtains to experience a 15-minute journey of synchronized light and sound.

Best Viewing: There are no viewings scheduled in December 2021. Tickets for January 2022 viewings will be released on Wednesday, December 15th at Noon via Eventbrite.