By Sierra Hartman
For the last two years, The Bay Lights have given the Golden Gate Bridge a run for its money in the most beautiful bridge contest. After this Friday morning though, the Bay Bridge will be dark for nearly a year. The original plan for the world’s largest LED light sculpture only called for a two-year display. People loved the Bay Lights so much, though, that the nonprofit organization behind it, Illuminate The Arts, managed to raise $4 million to make the exhibit a permanent fixture.
If you’ve only noticed the glowing display in your rearview mirror while driving back from Oakland, this week is a perfect opportunity to get a better look at it. This Thursday, March 5th, at 7:30 p.m., Illuminate The Arts will be giving out commemorative LED tea lights on the patio behind Waterbar to the first 1,000 visitors. Artist Leo Villareal and Illuminate The Arts Chief Visionary Officer Ben Davis will give a speech at 8 p.m. No matter where you go to see them, I highly recommend getting some Bay Lights viewing in this week. The custom software designed to run the lights is programmed to never repeat the exact same pattern. The Embarcadero is the obvious place to see the Bay Lights but Coit Tower is my personal favorite viewpoint.
On Friday, March 6, at 5:45 a.m., early rising fans are invited to meet on the patio behind EPIC Roasthouse to watch the last hour of lights. The aptly named Sunrise String Quartet will be on scene to set the mood while you enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries. If you’re the kind of person who loves getting one-of-a-kind selfies in front of iconic structures, sunrise on the last morning of The Bay Lights should be right up your alley.
The 25,000 LEDs will come down so Caltrans can perform maintenance on the bridge cables. They’re planning on having them back up by February 2016, though, just in time for Super Bowl 50.
In case you’re on the fence about it, check out these videos and tell me the Bay Lights isn’t one of the greatest pieces of public art you’ve ever seen.
Photo by Greg Del Savio
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