The Bay Lights, the Bay Bridge light sculpture that dazzled residents and visitors of the Bay Area for two years after its unveiling in March 2013, will make its triumphant return at the end of January.
Photo by James Ewing
By BC Staff
Published: January, 2016
The Bay Lights, the Bay Bridge light sculpture that dazzled residents and visitors of the Bay Area for two years after its unveiling in March 2013, will make its triumphant return at the end of January.
The lights were originally installed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Bay Bridge. Over 50 million people saw the captivating work of art, which consists of 25,000 choreographed LED lights creating one-of-kind nighttime patterns that can be seen for miles.
Designed by visual artist Leo Villareal, The Bay Lights became a beloved global icon during its initial two-year installation. A must-see attraction for visitors and locals alike, the sculpture drew international praise and had significant economic impact on the region. The original permit that Illuminate (formerly Illuminate the Arts)—the group that was formed to realize The Bay Lights—received for the light sculpture expired on March 6, 2015, and the sculpture was removed to allow Caltrans to perform maintenance on the cables.
Due to the popularity of the installation, many members of the community wanted to make the lights permanent. But in order to do so, $4 million was needed to replace the original installation with a sturdier and more permanent set of lights designed to weather the harsh environment of the Bay. Bay Area philanthropist Tad Taube helped Illuminate reach its fundraising goal by stepping forward with a challenge grant of $2 million. This pivotal gift inspired matching gifts, increased visibility of the need for support and created real momentum.
“The Bay Lights enriches San Francisco’s beauty and majesty, as well as that of our extraordinary San Francisco Bay,” said Taube, chairman of Taube Philanthropies. “I am proud of and grateful to our fellow citizens for joining us in ensuring this magnificent work of art remains a part of our city.”
Re-installation of the monumental LED sculpture began in October on the western span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Crews connected the strands of new, more resilient LEDs to the cables at night to avoid interfering with traffic. Thanks to generous private donors and an agreement between Illuminate and Bay Bridge officials, the artwork will be re-lit on January 30, just in time to shine for Super Bowl 50 and beyond.
“Two years is a good, long run for a piece of public art,” said Villareal. “I am personally very satisfied with the experience and embrace the temporary aspects of the artwork. At the same time, I am humbled and honored that the people of the Bay Area have overwhelmingly expressed their interest in having the light sculpture remain and become part of their daily lives. There is no higher compliment you can pay a work of art than wanting to spend time with it.”
After the re-lighting, the artwork will be gifted to the State of California for ongoing stewardship. Following the precedent of the necklace lights that were added to the suspension cables in 1986 and became a fixture of the Bay Bridge in 1989, The Bay Lights will become a permanent part of the western span, maintained by Caltrans. Villareal’s masterwork of public art will lift the gaze and spirits of Bay Area residents and visitors for the foreseeable future—at least 10 years.
“The Bay Lights would not exist without the ever-expanding constellation of believers who made it possible,” said Illuminate executive Ben Davis. “We are profoundly grateful for the support of so many people, including our generous private patrons, our hardworking technical team and the dedicated people at Caltrans, the City and County of San Francisco and the Bay Area Toll Authority. The Bay Lights is an act of community love. Together we have elevated public art to a higher consciousness.”
Illuminate recently announced a program called “Shine It Forward,” which celebrates The Bay Lights and will support the creation of future works of awe-inspiring public art. With a new, friendlier and streamlined interface, Shine It Forward again allows people to dedicate one of the Bay Lights LEDs to honor a friend, a family member, a special occasion or simply as a way to connect to art history.
Each year, Illuminate will dedicate the eight highest lights in The Bay Lights to eight inspirational people. The cable-top lights can be personalized with a donation of $2,500, while all of the other lights in the iconic sculpture can be personalized with a $100 donation. Once all the lights are claimed, no new dedications will be possible.
For more information about The Bay Lights, visit www.illuminate.org.
Re-installation of the monumental LED sculpture began in October. Crews connected the strands of new, more resilient LEDs to the cables at night to avoid interfering with traffic. Photo by Lucas Saugen
In January, The Bay Lights will become a permanent part of the western span, maintained by Caltrans. Leo Villareal’s masterwork of public art will lift the gaze and spirits of Bay Area residents and visitors for the foreseeable future—at least 10 years. Photo by David Yu
