As part of the city's cultural revitalization, SPECTRA, a new LED public art installation, will soon radiate with color and energy at Fulton Plaza. The project, a collaboration between arts nonprofit Illuminate, the San Francisco Public Library, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, spreads its wings over 1.6 acres of cityscape atop the San Francisco Public Library and the Asian Art Museum, embedding 1,271 LEDs that dance in an audio-sensitive blaze. The Library not only serves as the installation site for SPECTRA, but Library staff were instrumental in managing the project and coordinating funding efforts with community partners.
Local artist Joshua Hubert, tapped for his vision in late 2023, shaped SPECTRA to mirror not just the surrounding koi fish murals by Jeremy Novy but also the essence of San Francisco's diverse inhabitants, "Public art belongs to everyone—it’s a living, breathing entity, and SPECTRA is a reflection of the energy we all bring to it," Hubert explained, per the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.
Phil Ginsburg, the General Manager of Rec and Park, wholeheartedly endorsed the project's significance, noting the contribution the installation makes to one of the city’s emerging public spaces, "The Civic Center area—including Fulton, Civic Center, and UN Plazas—is quickly becoming one of San Francisco’s most dynamic public spaces, and SPECTRA takes it to the next level," he shared with San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, this installation transforms the plaza into a breathtaking fusion of light, sound, and movement—an experience that reflects the creativity and innovation that define our city.
Illuminate's intent to dazzle the Civic Center does not end here; with a track record of city-wide installations such as The Bay Lights and The Golden Mile and a successful $11M fundraising effort, they plan to bring back The Bay Lights to the waterfront in fall 2025. Attendees can first witness SPECTRA in action on Saturday at Night of Ideas, a sprawling citywide event celebrating our city's rich tapestry of art, culture, and forward-thinking.
"Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect the accurate institutions involved in the project."
