By now, everyone knows the color of the Golden Gate Bridge (international orange, right?), but starting this month the GGB’s less-glamorous sister, the Bay Bridge, will get its time to shine and show off. On March 5, The Bay Lights — the largest light sculpture in existence — will go live, lighting up the Bay Bridge in all its glory.
The Bay Lights is the brainchild of artist Leo Villareal, and it will exist for two years on the west span of the Bay Bridge. The Bay Lights will stretch 1.8 miles wide and 500 feet high, using 25,000 individually programmed LED lights. If you get frustrated lighting up your Christmas tree, you are only beginning to appreciate Villareal’s ambition and accomplishment.
And if a giant light sculpture tweaks your environmental conscience, you might be relaxed to learn that solar energy offset credits will balance it out.
If you can make it to Pier 7 for the event, you’ll be able to take part in the celebration before or after you’ve succumbed to the temptation to have dinner in one of the many local restaurants. But if you can’t get there, you can watch the proceedings live on the Internet via a web-streaming service offered by MediaOne.
Grand Lighting Ceremony of The Bay Lights: Celebrations at Pier 7 plus web streaming, Wednesday, March 5, 8:30–9:30 p.m., live web streaming on www.thebaylights.org
— J. Zipperer
