The Exploratorium’s visitor-favorite GLOW: Discover the Art of Light is in still in full swing, but only for a few more weeks! See brand new and expanded installations created by six local artists until January 29, 2023 at the Exploratorium at Pier 15.
This year’s featured artworks
The Last Ocean by Jen Lewin
An interactive landscape made from reclaimed ocean plastic, inspired by the Brunt Ice Shelf and the A-74 iceberg that calved off of it in February 2021. Visitors can step on the platforms and see them illuminate in different colors.
Museum of the Moon by Luke Jerram
Check out this large glowing moon sculpture modeled after NASA imagery to show every detail of the moon’s surface. The sculpture was created on a scale of about 1:700,000, so one centimeter equals about 7 kilometers (1 inch is about 11 miles). It’s a visitor favorite from last year.
All the Flowers are for Me (Turquoise) by Anila Quayyam Agha
A suspended steel cube with intricate patterns inspired by Islamic textiles and architecture casts an immersive shadow.
Teardrop (After Robert Irwin) by Anila Quayyam Agha
A laser-cut steel disk carved with intricate patterns casts fragmented shadows that appear to move from different perspectives.
Entangled Attraction by Sally Weber and Craig Newswanger
Gaze upwards at 300 spiraling lights orbiting around each other in unpredictable swirling patterns.
RayLights by Craig Newswanger
A dynamic light artwork changes color and pattern sequences every time a guest claps, talks, or sings.
The Enchanted Tree by Burt Libe
This glowing tree with a hand-built circuit board used to light up at the sound of clapping during the 1970s and 1980s at the Exploratorium. It’s now over 50 years old and doesn’t function perfectly, but you can tap your foot on a pedal to make it light up.
“We are excited to continue our holiday tradition of showcasing brilliant light installations throughout the museum,” said Kirstin Bach, interim director of arts at the Exploratorium. “This year’s GLOW exhibition brings pieces that spark curiosity, heighten our perception, and stimulate conversation.”
You can catch GLOW at the Exploratorium before the end of January 2023. Keep an eye on the calendar for ticket releases.
Find the Exploratorium at Pier 15 of the Embarcadero.