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Date: Monday, August 29, 2005
Contact: Jill Manton, SF Arts Commission: 415-252-2585
New Public Artwork along Octavia Boulevard by Wang Po Shu
To be Dedicated on September 9th
Traffic as viewed through four different lenses.
The San Francisco Arts Commission is pleased to announce the completion of a new permanent public artwork, entitled “Ghinlon/Transcope,” by Wang Po Shu installed at twelve locations along the new Octavia Boulevard from Market Street to the Hayes Green. The artist created a series of slender pole-like sculptures equipped with kaleidoscopic lenses that function as miniature observatories providing pedestrians with a transformed view of the surrounding environment and passing cars. The mounted scopes transform vehicular movements, colors, shapes and lights into extraordinary and beautiful real time moving pictures. Each observatory is equipped with a unique mirror lens combination giving the viewer an ever-changing kinetic snapshot of their environment. The sculptures have two standard designs: one for standing adults, and one for person in wheelchairs and/or children. The sculptures have a 60-degree vertical swing and a 180-degree horizontal swing. The slender support column on each sculpture includes the artist’s prosaic interpretation of the unique lens/mirror combination.
“Ghinlon/Transcope” enlivens the new pedestrian-friendly streetscape that resulted after a multi-year effort by local residents to replace the elevated Central Freeway, north of Market Street with a surface-grade boulevard along Octavia Street. This decision represented a significant victory for freeway opponents, culminating more than a thirty-year effort. Severe structural damage incurred by the Central Freeway as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake provided the impetus for the voters to decide between a retrofit or removal of the overhead freeway above Market Street.
A dedication ceremony to celebrate the new public artwork and the grand opening of the Octavia Boulevard and the new Central Freeway will be held on Friday, September 9, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of Market & Octavia streets. The event is free and open to the public.
Hong Kong-born artist Wang Po Shu creates site-specific sculptures and installations that respond to natural phenomena and the environment. He has completed public art commissions throughout the United States and Europe. His most recent Bay Area projects include a 110-foot tall hand carved redwood tree sculpture which was created with two other artists for the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, a sculpture in downtown Berkeley, and an artwork for the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland.
Art enrichment for the Octavia Boulevard Streetscape Project is funded by 2% of the eligible construction costs for a wide range of capital improvements and is administered by the Arts Commission in accordance with the City's Administrative Code. Wang Po Shu was selected for this project by a panel of community members and arts professionals through a public competition.
For more information, please contact Jill Manton, Public Art Program Director at the San Francisco Arts Commission: 415-252-2585.