See the full post on the official SF Gov Site
San Francisco, CA—Mayor Gavin Newsom today joined the Black Rock Arts Foundation (BRAF) and the Port of San Francisco to celebrate the unveiling of Raygun Gothic Rocketship, a 40-foot-tall sculpture created by a team of Bay Area artists lead by Sean Orlando, Nathaniel Taylor, and David Shulman. The Rocketship, poised as if to board passengers for a typical run to a nearby stellar destination, will remain at the Pier 14 Tidal Plaza, at the base of Mission Street, on the Embarcadero for a 14-month temporary exhibition.
The 40-foot-tall artwork offers a retro-futuristic, highly-stylized vision of space travel circa 1930’s-1940’s science fiction and is the latest in a series of temporary public art exhibitions sponsored by BRAF to enliven and activate public spaces. The sculpture will be accompanied by a companion piece, the Rocket Stop designed by Alan Rorie, which tells the story of the Rocketship’s exploits, providing route, schedule and other information. The installation will be illuminated for nighttime viewing.
“We are very proud to have the work of local artists of this caliber represented along San Francisco’s iconic waterfront,” said Mayor Gavin Newsom. “Sean, Nathaniel, and David’s Raygun Gothic Rocketship is an important piece of our City’s strong temporary public art program that adds an important vibrancy and a vitality to our public spaces.”
“We at the Port are charged with creating opportunities for residents and visitors alike to connect with San Francisco’s spectacular waterfront,” said Port Executive Director Monique Moyer. “As the third in a series of large-scale sculptures to be installed temporarily at Pier 14, we are confident that this compelling piece will engage people and enhance their experience of the area. Pier 14 provides a fitting and fantastic backdrop for this whimsical work of art.”
To find out more about this project visit: www.blackrockarts.org/projects/raygun-gothic-rocket
Photograph by Steve Rhodes from flickr
[…] (left) and San Francisco (right) dedicated new rocket sculptures in public parks this summer. Which do you […]
As a native San Franciscan and Roadman for San Francisco Yellow Cab I was conveying a group of Canadian tourist along the waterfront to Pier 39 when I saw IT. I pointed and yelled BOOYAH as my passengers screamed in delight when they too saw IT. IT was a four stories tall Flash Gordon Rocketship to Mars, direct from the TWILIGHT ZONE, that had landed at Pier 14 as crowds of amazed citizenry gathered around IT. I shook my head and marveled as once again an extraordinary and instantly iconic gem of public art revealed itself to a delighted and appreciative audience. It is little wonder that San Francisco is the #1 tourist destination in the United States and the all-time favorite of world travelers. Pushing the boundries of ZANY and right on the cusp of EXTRAORDINARY San Francisco has once again proven that it is indeed THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE. Kudos to the Black Rock artists, the Port and Arts Commission and to Hizzoner Gavin Newsom. May the Light Forever Shine.
[…] This picture was taken on Day 3 of the Burn last year. The 40' tall Raygun Gothic Rocketship was built by a huge crew of 60 artists from the Bay Area of San Francisco led by Sean Orlando, Nathaniel Taylor and David Shulman. To find out more check it here: http://www.raygungothicrocket.com. They did a 'launch' on the Friday night which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf6a-xwEvGM. The very cool Raygun Gothic Rocket can be seen for the next 14 months at the Pier 14 Tidal Plaza at the base of Mission St on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. http://www.raygungothicrocket.com/blog/2010/08/11/mayor-gavin-newsom-unveils-monumental-raygun-gothi… […]