What is the Bay Lights?
The Bay Lights is the largest contemporary art LED light sculpture the world has ever seen. Designed and orchestrated by internationally renowned artist Leo Villareal, this monumental dance of light transforms the San Francisco Bay Bridge every evening into an illuminated canvas eight times the scale of the Eiffel Tower’s 100th Anniversary lighting. Spanning 1.8 miles and consisting of 25,000 energy-efficient white LEDs sparkling in an infinite array of never-repeating designs, the Bay Lights bridges earth and sky—art and science–infrastructure and wonder like nothing else.
Who is the Artist?
Leo Villareal is one of the world’s most prominent LED artists with prestigious international commissions and solo exhibitions around the globe. A pioneer in the use of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and computer-driven imagery, his art is part of the permanent collections of prestigious museums including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Naoshima Contemporary Art Museum in Kagawa, Japan. Recent exhibitions include a survey show organized by the San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA, which continues to tour several museums in the United States.
Why You Should See It
Rated Number One of “25 New Things to See and Do in 2013,” by United Airlines Hemispheres magazine, the Bay Lights is a very rare and special San Francisco art installation surrounded by the breathtaking beauty of the San Francisco skyline and the glimmering Bay. This dazzling, elegant project combines technology, engineering and art in celebration of the Bay Area’s force of culture, ingenuity and human connection on a grand scale—it is a bridge after all!
The Time is Now
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to among the first to celebrate the magic and enchantment of the Bay Lights as it shines from dusk until 2:00 a.m. through 2015. The Bay Lights interactive map can help you discover restaurants, hotels, businesses and public places with amazing views. All eyes will be on San Francisco in 2013—there’s so much to see and do! It’s a BIG year for Arts and Culture, and in celebration of the Port of San Francisco’s 150th Anniversary, 2013 offers endless events during this special “Year of the Bay.”
• January opening of SFJAZZ Center ongoing concert series
• The America’s Cup Race—September 2013
• Re-opening of the Museum of Craft and Design
• 150th Anniversary of the Port of San Francisco—throughout 2013
• Opening of the new Exploratorium at Pier 15—Spring 2013
• Grand Opening Celebration of the Bay Bridge East Span—Labor Day Weekend
Bay Lights on Instagram
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The Bay Lights by the Numbers
- World's largest contemporary art LED light sculpture
- 8 times the scale of Eiffel Tower's 100
- 1.8 miles long by 500 feet high
- 25,000 hand-wired LEDs
- 1 LED spaced every 12 inches
- 60,000 zip ties lash the LEDs
- 100,000 linear feet of armored cabling
- 8 to 10 electricians worked all night for 5 months
Essential Toolkit
San Francisco Icons
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| Alcatraz | Bay Bridge | Cable Cars |
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| Coit Tower | Ferry Building | Golden Gate Bridge |
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| Haight-Ashbury | The Painted Ladies | Palace of Fine Arts |
Transit Updates
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