Well here we are off to another April Blogging from A to Z Challenge. In case you didn’t catch my theme post, I am blogging this year about a San Francisco experience called “Illuminate SF” which, according to the website, is “a celebration of the ability of light art to transform our most familiar spaces and an opportunity to turn the long nights of winter into an inspiring time to visit San Francisco.” This was it’s 10th year and I don’t know where I’ve been but I hadn’t heard about it before, even when I did the A to Z of SF in 2020.
Unfortunately I read about it a little too late to catch the actual yearly “Festival of Lights” which ran from November 9 to the end of January and therefore missed some of the temporary installations but fortunately there are some that have become permanent fixtures around the town so I am doing my best to capture them. Are you ready for a light show? I would caution that if you are susceptible to seizures, you may have to be careful when watching some of the videos. – LOL
“Archipelago” is our first stop. It is located in the courtyard near San Francisco General Hospital Emergency Room. It was designed by Anna Valentine Murch and opened in 2014. It is supposed to depict the “concept of a river as a metaphor for life.”
I made two trips for this one since I went too early in the evening the first time and didn’t get the full effect. The lights were just beginning to come on and I did not see the 6-foot tall sculpture. I was a little bummed so I decided to try and go again.
When I went the second time it was later in the evening and I did see the sculpture (which was right in front of me!) Also got some shots that show the planters with the lights in full mode.
An archipelago is a group of islands and I can get that sense with these planters but I’m not so sure about the “river as a metaphor of life” concept. Still it was kind of a neat area.
Perhaps I didn’t see the 6-foot tall sculpture the first time because it was right near one of the Hearts of San Francisco that I wrote about in 2020 and I was so excited to see that, I passed right by the sculpture. In fact, if you look closely at the left corner of the picture of the sculpture you can see the tip of the heart in the background.
Best Viewing: Anytime after dark in the outdoor plaza that connects the old and new buildings of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 1001 Potrero Avenue, SF. You don’t have to get sick or have an emergency to see it, just find parking in the garage or anywhere across the street – LOL. Actually, the second time I went it was about 9:15 PM and the circular driveway in front of the ER was empty so I just parked there for a minute and ran to get my shots.
Okay, one done! Hope I’m not being too pedantic when I’m describing my antics around the city. (That was for Linda G. Hill’s SoCS, bonus points for using “antic” and “pedantic.”) Not sure I’ll be able to keep up with all of the SoCS’s but thought I’d throw that one in for now. Tomorrow is Sunday so you know we have a break but I’ll be back on Monday with the letter “B.” Any guesses?
Janet's Smiles 
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“River as a metaphor for life” is a good concept. I often think of rivers in those terms.
Lee
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I hadn’t until this post 🙂
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Fun topic. I’ve not been to SF in years, and did not know about this.
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It was new to me too! Of course I don’t really go into the city much.
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Great word and start to AtoZ 2023. So interesting how the planters represent so much more than something to fill a space. You always present your findings in such a creative way. Good job! Thanks for stopping by…look forward to the rest of AtoZ 2023 for the both of us!!!
CollectInTexasGal
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Thanks Sue. I was disappointed at first but when I went back it was much more exciting.
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Great start for the A-Z! I’m looking forward to more sites from San Fran! Zulu Delta
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Thanks! It’s been fun traveling the city.
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Way to go working Stream of Conciousness Saturday in with your A to Z entry! Is that Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital as in Mark Zuckerberg?
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Yes, it is. A bit of a controversy when he donated and his name was put up. The doctors I type for call it ZSFG.
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I’d be the sort, if I was on my way to the hospital in an ambulance, to tell the driver to take me somewhere else….
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LOL
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I’d never heard of this before, Janet. Thanks for such a great spotlight on it.
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I was surprised I never heard of it before either. Hope I can do it justice.
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Archipelago is a such a great word. I’m not sure that I get the river of life part, either. I usually think about archipelagos in oceans and only recently learned that there’s one in the St. Lawrence River called the Thousand Islands Chain, so maybe working with the concept of an archipelago in a river would help.
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I’m a little slow on metaphors a lot of the time. It was kind of neat seeing it all lit up though.
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I love this Janet, I get to travel without leaving my chair. No guesses for B since I am awful at guessing. See you Monday 🙂
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I agree, Jill. Fortunately I don’t really have to travel far to find these things!
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I’m excited to learn more about the Bay Area.
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I’ll be interested to hear if your kids have seen any of these things. Sometimes the kids get to do more exploring than I do.
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I’ll ask them!
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A great light-hearted start to the challenge Janet. 🙂
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Thanks Deborah! Love how you did that.
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Nice start to the challenge! So many interesting things to see in your area, so I’ll look forward to them. 🙂
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Thanks Barbara!
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A to Z challenges are so much fun – I like your theme, looking forward to reading more!
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Thanks! It’s going to be a wild month for sure.
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Great start to the challenge!
DB McNicol – Small Delights, Simple Pleasures, and Significant Memories
My Snap Memories – My Life in Black & White
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Thanks! I’m starting to make the rounds on everyone else’s now. Gonna be a busy month!
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I’m about halfway through the ones I added to my blog reader, some will disappear and others will be added as the official list comes out.
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How interesting. I look forward to more
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Thanks Jeanne. I am enjoying reading yours as well.
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The moment I read that the archipelago was located on the General Hospital’s premises I was wondering if the hearts were still around!
Looking forward to your posts, happy blogging, Janet!
https://thethreegerbers.blogspot.com/2023/04/airport.html
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Thanks, Tamara! I’m looking forward to yours too. It’s gonna be a long month!
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Fun topic!
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Thanks!
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