The view from the Embarcadero at dusk on Thursday felt like a metaphor for San Francisco itself.
To the north, ominous storm clouds loomed, and huge puddles emerged from the river. Torrential rain Dotted on the road. But in the south, one of the world’s largest sculptures of light, he shimmered, illuminating the silhouette of the Bay Bridge, a nearly full moon rising behind it, pelicans swooping in, and raucous people sipping martinis in bright stores. . water bar.
with this Unsettled time in San Francisco,confronting chain of crises Over the past few years, the city could turn in two directions. It’s either towards darkness and darkness or towards beauty and creativity and light. Ben Davis He’s betting on the latter — and he’s got an exciting plan to make it happen.
Founder of to revealA non-profit organization that creates light-filled public art.
But ten years later, the installation looks a bit like San Francisco itself. Repair costs are getting higherWhen I notice a bald patch on the display where the lights fail for an extended period of time, I realize my installation needs to be updated.
So unfortunately on March 5th the “Bay Lights” will be dark. But there is a glimmer of hope. Davis has more plans than ever to get them back. He needs the money to do it.
If he can collect $1 million each from 10 wealthy people (one committed so far), plus a small donation of $1 million, he’ll be at the head of a new facility. I’m going to stand Labor he lights up the bridge again with double the number of lights by the weekend of the day and is much sturdier. He explained that his colleague had only one of him. In fact, it’s easier to raise more money from a few people than to get a lot of people for the same amount.
Lights will be adorned on the south side of the same cable as well as the north side of the bridge, visible only to those living north of San Francisco and Marin. This means that the display will be visible not only to people in Auckland, Alameda, and beyond, but also to people in the southern part of the city.
And they can even be seen by drivers heading into town past a wall of twinkling “Welcome to San Francisco”-style lights. I thought it would be distracting to touch the . Salesforce Tower light showhe is no longer worried.
“We are working closely and safely with bridge officials to reimagine the ‘baylights’ on both sides of the cable,” Davis told me, describing his vision as “a city where people can enter. It was described as a magical portal.
We chatted at the water bar which has the best indoor view of the light show and has a famous light artist Leo Villarreal I designed a “bay light” next to the picture window overlooking the bridge. He is also signed on to create a new version.
“It’s a crazy idea. The Bay Area feels like the perfect place for crazy ideas to become a reality,” Villarreal told me. “The impact the artwork has on people is very inspiring and I sincerely hope it helps the city get through this period.”
The new version, named “Bay Lights 360”, is similar to the current version. An ever-changing, abstract pattern with no beginning, middle or end. Villarreal says ‘Bay Lights’ inspired him to create similar light shows in other cities.he worked Illuminated river in London For example, on the bridge over the Thames in 2021.
The original “bay lights” were off-the-shelf products of an international conglomerate, but Davis secured Musco Lighting, a family-owned company in Iowa, to handle wind, rain, fog, car exhaust, and other hazards. He said the elements are much better.
Anyone who makes a $1 million tax-deductible donation to the project will receive a special edition of Villarreal artwork, a waterfront plaque recognition, and an invitation to a special celebration. His web developer Matt Mullenweg, who created WordPress, promised $1 million.
Prior to acquiring Illuminate, Davis ran his own public relations company called Words Pictures Ideas, specializing in branding and communications related to infrastructure projects, including a project to improve the seismic safety of the Bay Bridge. .
The idea for his “Bay Lights” came to him in September 2010 at the Ferry Building early in the morning while drinking coffee. He vividly remembers watching the sun rise between the cables of the bridge. He never got the same love and adoration as his big red neighbor up north.
‘How can I make this bridge shine again in the local consciousness?’ he remembers thinking. “What if this was a canvas of light?”
The bridge opened in November 1936 after just three years of construction. (Imagine! It takes twice as long — or more — to build affordable apartments in the city these days. )
“It was a proud moment coming out of the Great Depression,” Davis said. “It was a symbol of American ingenuity.”
But just six months later, the Golden Gate Bridge opened and caught the attention of citizens, photographers, and postcard makers.
“The Bay Bridge became the Cinderella Bridge, this industrious and largely overlooked bridge,” Davis said. “Even if people thought about it, it was mostly out of annoyance that they had to get over it.”
Realizing that it would take a lot of time and money to glamorize the bridge with a light show, he dissolved the company and founded Illuminate to direct the fundraising and creation of gigantic works of art. . ‘Bay Light’ opened as his temporary sculpture in March 2013, but became permanent in 2015. Davis admitted that he had expected the lights to last longer than they actually did.
The Bay Lights was just the beginning of what Davis himself called a “magical journey.” It has been a magical trip to San Francisco as well. Illuminate has brightened up the city during the gloomy past years. For example, his Golden Mile on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park spearheaded his project, transforming the boulevard into a bustling, car-free space complete with murals, pianos, seats and chairs. Doggy Diner Head.
It also illuminated the Conservatory of Flowers, Grace Cathedral, the Music Concourse Bandshell, and installed Harvey Milk’s words, “Hope Will Never Be Silent,” in the neon lights of Castro and Market Streets. Even the Pink Triangle atop Twin Peaks during Pride Month received an illuminated treatment, and the pink canvas gave way to his 3,000 LED pink nodes on the hill.
Davis said he loves creating artwork for free that everyone can see and enjoy. But it takes a lot of money to get there. And he refused to go the route of corporate branding, rejecting a multimillion-dollar offer from Audi years ago to light up the bridge’s four-circle logo.
Asked why the wealthiest citizens should pay for a light show when there is a more pressing need in San Francisco, Davis said that rather than withholding money from philanthropists for other reasons, the deeper He said he wanted to dig deeper.
And that art is especially important in bleak times like these, as it not only lifts people’s spirits, but it also draws tourists to the city to support its restaurants, hotels, and other establishments. Group led by McKinsey Bay Lights estimates it boosted the local economy by $100 million annually.
Waterbar Managing Partner Pete Sittnick confirmed that Bay Lights has benefited both financially and emotionally. Tourists and locals alike always want a table with the best view of the light.
“Making people happy is ultimately the goal of the restaurant,” Sitnick says.
What if Davis didn’t raise $11 million? Simple. No more bay light.
“We’re going to do our best,” he said with a shrug. “If we fail, we will lose one of the most beautiful aspects of San Francisco. These are difficult times and San Francisco needs to reinvent itself once again.”
If the bay lights and the city itself can regain its lost luster, I believe San Francisco can. And if they do, we will be even more grateful to both of them.
“Light,” Davis said as we parted.
Heather Knight is a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf