ILLUMINATE SF

HANDSIGNALS

Matthew Passmore/MoreLab (2014)

Permanent (Civic Art Collection)

Mission: McCoppin Street at Valencia Street (View Map)

A playful re-imagining of the pedestrian traffic signal, Handsignals creates a meditation on community symbolism. Marking the entrance to the plaza as well as signifying the McCoppin Hub neighborhood, Handsignals references the well-understood vocabulary of theater marquees and signs prevalent in the Mission District to “advertise” a new public space. "McCoppin" is spelled out in bright yellow cast aluminum lettering on the north-facing side of the piece.The work's south-facing side replaces familiar “red hand” and “walking figure” symbols with ones designed to represent themes embedded in Mission District culture. The modules blink on and off in a slow, irregular pattern during the day and at night, creating new combinations of symbols whose meaning and relationship to the neighborhood will change as the neighborhood continues to evolve.

Best Viewing: Stand on the Valencia Street sidewalk to get a close-up view of the art work, then walk up the terraced steps of muliti-level McCoppin Hub plaza for a higher view.

Presenting Sponsor


5M is a new, vibrant mixed-use destination in the heart of San Francisco located at the intersection of 5th and Mission streets. Developed by Brookfield Properties, named “Developer of the Year” by the San Francisco Business Times in 2021, the four-acre parcel was previously home to parking lots and underutilized buildings. Now, it has been transformed into a lively community for locals and visitors alike.