The light art installation honors Golden Gate Park’s 150th Anniversary and gives San Franciscans a vibrant new socially-distanced way to celebrate the season.
Entwined was originally expected to last until the end of February, but San Francisco Recreation and Parks announced its extension until April 4. You now have another month to catch this magical light display in Peacock Meadow!
The installation forms part of Illuminate SF, an initiative highlighting the city’s incredible light art scene. To date the campaign has adorned 17 different neighborhoods with over 40 light art installations, many of which are permanent fixtures. During its annual Festival of Lights, SF Illuminate is debuted this temporary installation, Entwined.
Entwined is a whimsical installation that transforms Peacock Meadow into a magical space filled with otherworldly shapes and ever-changing light. Visitors can explore an acre of paths of entwined trees, bushes and canopies all made of colorful pixel-like LED lights. It’s an extraordinary life-sized representation of nature, with trees ranging from 12 to 20 feet tall and illuminated canopies standing as tall as 30 feet!
The installation was created by local artist Charles Gadeken, who wanted to create a sense of awe using different nature-inspired lighting effects. Visitors can expect to be wowed by amazing LED imitations of natural happenings like raindrops on the pavement, wind blowing tall grass and flowers, and ripples on a pond.
“Entwined is an immersive light experience for Golden Gate Park visitors to explore, engage with, and enjoy. What does the ‘tree of life’ look like in the world, post-nature? The installation is my latest exploration of this question, blending timeless natural objects with abstract forms and modern technology to evoke wonder, magic, and joy,” said Gadeken in a press release.
Entwined is a temporary installation, but it will be open until April 4, giving everyone plenty of time to experience the magic. It is located in Peacock Meadow, in the east end of the park between McLaren Lodge and the Conservatory of Flowers (across from the new pop-up Welcome Center on JFK Drive).
The installation is free to visit day and night, and illumination takes place from sundown until 9:45pm. No reservations are required to visit, so you can just drop by on a nice evening stroll through the park.
If it is crowded upon arrival, the park recommends coming back later to visit the installation. Wearing a mask and social distancing is required of all visitors, and will be enforced by ambassadors on site.
[Featured images courtesy of San Francisco Recreation & Parks]