Bay Lights Fade to Black, for Now

Fans and supporters of the Bay Lights gathered at San Francisco’s waterfront in early March to bid farewell to the art installation that turned the north face of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge into a canvas for a nightly display of dancing lights. The lights ignited joy in locals and tourists alike during their two-year run as a temporary installation. Now Illuminate the Arts, the sponsors of the project, and artist Leo Villareal have pulled the plug so they can replace the 25,000 LEDs with more robust equipment. MTC’s Bay Area Toll Authority has committed to covering the $250,000 annual cost of operating the lights once they come back on in early 2016. See our photo gallery.