ILLUMINATE SF

ORION

Spence Finch (2020)

Permanent

SFO Terminal 1 (view map)

Each star in Finch’s installation is made up of 32 LED lamps. The position of the star sculptures in the installation roughly correlates to their position in the night sky. The distance of each star from the floor is determined by the distance of the star from the Earth. The higher the star, the more lightyears away from Earth it is. Orion includes the seven major stars of the constellation Orion, which are Alnilam, Alnitak, Bellatrix, Betelguse, Mintaka, Rigel, and Saiph. The colors of the filters on each lamp represent the spectral emission of that star. For example, Betelgeuse, a very old star, therefore red, has more filters at the red-end of the spectrum, while other stars are much bluer, and have a greater percentage of blue filters.

Best Viewing: SFO Terminal 1 after dark.

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.