Central Subway Blog

The San Francisco Arts Commission(SFAC) in conjunction with the SFMTA’s Central Subway Project has opened the station artwork exhibits in the future station areas of Chinatown, Union Square/Market Street (UMS) and Moscone. These displays contain the conceptual drawings and ideas of the nineteen finalists for the “landmark” and “wayfinding” station art designs. We want you to be part of this process; therefore, we encourage the public to view these amazing concepts and to comment on them. The public comment period will end on Friday, July 16, 2010, so we hope you will take the time to pay a visit and give the SFAC’s Public Art Program your feedback!

To help whet your curiosity, we wanted to show you a small preview and description of the artist concepts on display for the UMS station. For the viewing of the actual proposals, please visit the exhibit location at the following address:

 Weinstein Gallery
291 Geary Street, 2nd Floor
Operating hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

 The following are the artist proposals displayed for the UMS station:

 Landmark Proposals

Artist: Brian Goggin
Title: SiO2 (Alma’s Folly)
“SiO2 (Alma’s Folly) is a site-specific sculpture that shelters the entrance to Union Square’s Central Subway station. The uppermost portion takes the form of the Silicon Dioxide molecule in an open matrix of steel bars, colored stainless steel orbs, and three streetlamp fixtures which all seem to rest on a frosted glass ceiling. The structure appears to be supported by inverted vintage streetlamp posts set at oblique angles as if they are in motion. Steel bands which echo the profile of the lampposts are set rhythmically in between, carving out an interior space. The lamps, separated from their poles, hang within the molecular matrix and illuminate at night, making the orbs shimmer. SiO2 features lampposts like those from around Union Square, putting this sculpture in perpetual dialogue with its site.”

Artist: Ilya and Emilia Kabakov
Title: They Are Looking Down
“Pedestrians traversing the long concourse in the Union Square/Market Street Station will be startled as they hurry across two mysterious white squares in the floor under their feet. A group of playful boys appear to be leaning over the edge of one of the squares looking up at the passengers with interest and amusement, as though from the other side of the world. What do they think of us? The other large white square depicts the children peering down into an empty square, seemingly transfixed on something far below that we cannot see. What are they looking at? The pedestrians experience being both outsiders, looking down into the white space over the heads of the children, and insiders, being looked at by the children as they hurry to their many destinations.”

 

Artist: Erwin Redl
Title: Lucy in the Sky
“The ceiling’s long span is covered with hundreds of proprietary, translucent 10 x 10 inch “light pixels” aligned in a diamond grid. The distance between the light pixels is about six feet measured along the diagonal grid lines. Each light pixel consists of a framed, clear, ½ inch acrylic panel. Each acrylic panel has an 8 by 8 grid of surface holes on both sides. The holes are lit up by RGB-LEDs embedded in the metal frame. The individual light units are computer-controlled and display simple patterns and animations. A vexing scenario unfolds throughout the space’s volume while individual light pixels slowly change color in synch, rendering space a palpable experience. Individual pixels, transparent or lit up, aligned behind each other or seen individually, offer an ever-changing and dazzling spectacle for the viewers.”

 

Wayfinding Proposals

 

Artists: Michael Davis and Susan Schwartzenberg
Title: Union Arcade
 “Union Arcade is an environment of light features, and pattern inlays traveling along the mezzanine and platform levels, designed to celebrate Union Square and its history. By their sequential features these artworks will draw people through the passageway and down to the platform, while suggesting the world above.”

 

Artist: Keith Godard
Title: Passing Time
“I imagine a passenger entering the concourse and descending to the platform, beginning his/her journey guided by a series of plaques representing either vertical or lateral ‘portholes in time’ covering certain years from over three centuries. The pieces would be smooth non-slip flat embedded into the station floors. A consideration for the wall installations could be rendered in low relief. As the traveler walks through the station’s concourse, the plaques progress from past to present until the viewer arrives at their destination of Union Square.  In the reverse direction, the visual process begins in the modern era so the commuter metaphorically walks back in time toward Market Street.”

 

Artists: Jim Campbell and Werner Klotz
Title: Reflected Loop
“Reflected Loop is a site-specific installation that circumscribes the entire concourse and platform levels above the pedestrian walkways, creating a unifying circuit of light and ambient reflections throughout the station. The band winds its way down one escalator shaft, spans the entire platform level, winds its way back up through the opposing escalator shaft,  and then runs the entire concourse level to reconnect with itself. The installation is a loop that has no beginning or end.”

 For more in-depth proposal information and images please visit the display at the Weinstein Gallery or visit the San Francisco Arts Commission Web site and give your comments on the proposal. Comments at the San Francisco Arts Commission Website must be posted to:

Zoe Taleporos, Program Associate
zoe.taleporos@sfgov.org