Charles Gadeken’s Entwined 2023, a immersive LED light installation On JFK Promenade has been delighting San Franciscans since it first opened in 2020. The whimsical installation is an otherworldly ecosystem of glowing trees, bushes, and other natural elements created from colorful pixel-like LED lights. In years past, the trees ranged from 8-20 feet tall, accompanied by dozens of glowing flower clusters and bushes that created an otherworldly garden.
The beautiful installation is reaching the end of it’s run in golden gate park. The installation will close one April 28, so you only have a few more weeks to see it.
This year, the piece returned better than ever with a new iteration of the beloved installation. Entwined: Elder Mother centers around the Elder Mother tree. Standing at 30 feet tall and casting a 25-foot canopy of light that welcomes people to sit and enjoy its glow. Despite being made of metal, the new installation still moves with the wind while it glows. The Elder Mother tree is truly interactive, with 6 QR codes you can scan that allow you to control the light patterns of the tree.
The evolving art installation is moving from its former home at Peacock Meadow to JKF Promenade in front of the meadow. Entwined in Golden Gate Park, it officially opened on December 7, 2023, and is completely free to the public, like many of the other art pieces along JFK Promenade.
The new addition to the interactive installation was highly anticipated.
“Please join us for the next evolution of Entwined, sit in the shade of Elder Mother, and listen to a fairytale or two. Come out and enjoy the parts of the sculpture that you loved in the past, and explore our new creation and the secrets that it holds,“ said artist Charles Gadeken who creates the iconic installation.
The installation still has the enchanting visual effects from past installations, such as ripples in a pond, raindrops, and wind blowing tall grass and flowers. Over 150 lighting patterns with hundreds of variations and an accompanying audio system bring another level of immersion to the otherworldly forest.
The massive glowing tree is visible as you enter Golden Gate Park from the panhandle, glowing in the distance, beckoning people to come into the park. You’ll find kids playing on the massive tree, and there are plenty of benches around the display for you to sit and take in the changing lights. The installation is also the site of various events, and this Saturday you can go on a blind date with a book picked by the booksellers at Green Apple Books.
Entwined at the UN Plaza
Now, Entwined has expanded even further, reaching Downtown San Francisco. Elements of past Entwined installations have been added to UN Plaza. The glowing shrubs sculptures made with hundreds of LED lights have been added to UN Plaza. There are a total of 9 sculptures, standing between 4.5 and 5 feet tall. The installation is a welcome addition to the newly renovated plaza which opened only a few months ago. The plaza includes a free skating plaza, activities, and games designed to help invigorate the neighborhood.
Local artist Charles Gadeken created this installation with the goal of engaging people of all ages and all walks of life. His work prioritizes accessibility in art and has been seen at Burning Man, Coachella, and more.
Entwined: Elder Mother is a temporary installation, but it will be open all the way until April 28, 2024, giving everyone plenty of time to experience the magic. It is on JFK Promenade by Peacock Meadow in the east end of the park between McLaren Lodge and the Conservatory of Flowers. Visitors can see Entwined: Elder Mother from 5-10 pm each night.
By Dana Flynn and Jamie Ferrell