Concept:

"Guide Post" is an allegorical and poetic mechanism. This site-specific sculpture, assembled from contrasting elements, is a vertical beacon that celebrates the area's multifaceted history, complements the playful ambience, steers the community to a central location, and inspires conceptual exploration.
Additionally, the artwork is inspired by the history of local, effective human potential and its ability to guide global consciousness.

Inspiration:

This artwork considers themes from the area: history and evolving human interactions, community, leadership, safety, and recreation.

Using a vocabulary of site-inspired imagery that derives from multiple time periods, "Guide Post" adopts visual metaphors to reflect aspects of the community's history and ongoing relationship with its site and neighborhood. Among the allegorical associations: the steering helm celebrates the nautical history, gears and sprockets allude to cooperation and innovation, while the megaphone urges communication and preparedness. To preserve a sense of recreation and levity, these relationships are constructed in a humorous fashion.

The sculpture relates to and is inspired by historical characters such as George Moscone, who is associated with San Francisco's progressive, daring and idealistic sprit. The lifeguard tower, while referring to this maverick character, also alludes to the existing neighborhood's beaches, and the 19th century Harbor View Sea Baths and 1906 temporary earthquake shelters, which once stood nearby. The tower also references the area's ongoing role as a designated gathering place for community members seeking shelter and safe haven in case of future emergencies. Expanding on this theme, some of the artwork's other individual components such as the umbrella, first-aid kit, and steering apparatus can be interpreted as subtle reminders that residents are encouraged to cooperate and prepare for all potential eventualities.

The nature of the sculpture's whimsical design is drawn from the association with playful social interactions at the Moscone Recreation Center, the park's athletic fields, and adjacent kid's playground. For example, the sculpture's industrial design resembles the park's light tower construction, while its mechanical parts and curious elements celebrate the nearby Exploratorium.

Experience: "Guide Post" offers a burst of unexpected joy and levity inviting the onlooker to explore layers of the area and community's characteristics. Also, the artwork promotes viewers to interact with each other through storytelling and dialogue.

Upon initial encounter, "Guide Post" may only appear like a playful and functional instrument. Yet, the piece has a mysterious air about it. It appears useful, but for what purpose? Is it a metaphysical machine or orientation device? In essence, one may not be able to derive the full sense of the piece from a mere, single viewing. Consider the possibility: familiar components play the role of a common language addressing unconventional juxtapositions to consider multiple lyrical relationships.

The visitor will be free to walk under and around the structure to explore the artwork; each angle reveals new elements and offers opportunities for discovery. Thus, viewers are drawn into the artwork's poetic frame of reference to investigate its multiple details. The observer may explore, ponder, question, and develop myths and stories associated with the art, ideally promoting thought-provoking dialogue between visitors and within the community. As the artwork ages and takes on a natural layered patina, so will the artwork's relationship with the community evolve with layers of new associations and emotional responses.

At night, parts of "Guide Post" will radiate soothing light: the globe will illuminate casting a blue glow, while the gauges near the chair will emit an orange luminescence. With this and other ambient light from the area, the artwork will stand out even after dusk.