Ben Davis: Creator of Bay Lights & City of Awe
The Bay Lights by artist Leo Villareal first went live on March 5, 2013. Exactly one decade later, the beloved artwork went dark. Ben Davis is the driving force behind The Bay Lights and the effort to bring the artwork back with twice the number of LEDs in a radically accessible new configuration. With the project 75 percent funded—and $2.5 million more needed to proceed—Davis will reveal what's next for the historic effort: organizational vulnerability.
Davis is the founder and leader of Illuminate, the art nonprofit behind many of San Francisco's large-scale and iconic public artworks, including lighting The Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks, activation of the Golden Mile on JFK Promenade, the Summer of Love lighting on the Conservatory of Flowers, Grace Light in Grace Cathedral, the revival of the Golden Gate Bandshell, and the series of giant laser art installations across San Francisco this summer.
Davis will also talk about his vision for San Francisco as the City of Awe.
The program talk will be followed by a reception and live music by "KAVIN" on the rooftop. In-kind food donations provided by local SF Hot Cookies and Casa Sanchez.
Community partner: Beyond The Fog Radio
MLF ORGANIZER
Robert Melton
NOTES
An Arts Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.
Speakers
Ben Davis
Founder and Chief Visionary Officer, Illuminate; Creator, Bay Lights
Carolyn Tyler
Former Anchor and Reporter, KGO-TV/ABC7; Member, San Francisco Film Commission—Moderator
Robert Melton
Art Curator andCo-Chair, Arts Member-led Forum, The Commonwealth Club of California—Program Host
