California Today: In San Francisco, Public Art Soars High Into the Skyline

You could put lipstick and pearls on that building (which resembles more than anything else, a giant butt plug) and it will still be an eyesore.

Here are the facts in the "BBQ Becky" story: "Lake Merritt has six designated barbecue zones ― three that permit charcoal grills and three designated for “non-charcoal portable grills,” according to the Oakland city website. The family was in a barbecue-designated area, but had a charcoal grill in a “non-charcoal” zone." So the "white" woman was right and the "black" people were wrong. As usual, it was made into racism! when the truth is the woman is just your typical pain-in-the-ass busybody neighbor.

It's obnoxious. Looks like a giant penis marring what used to be a uniquely subdued and welcoming skyline. No upper floor art project of any kind is going to make it look better.

It is despicable that the Orange County DA won't allow the man on death row to at least have his DNA tested before the County puts him to death. Absolutely despicable and I hope there is a time when this DA is in great need of mercy or help and remembers his selfish actions.

Reminds me of the superchunk song “Detroit has a skyline too”

In the article (and comments) about the Salesforce Tower, I read no mention of collateral damage to bird. Avian mortality by impact with man-made structures is, like light pollution, a widespread phenomena. I like to think that considerations were made and preventative measure put in place. Any information?

From the picture, the lit top of The Salesforce Tower looks as if there's someone running away from a predictor. If nothing else, the "art" is contemporary.

You cannot see the installation clearly enough to make any sense of it from far away, and can't see it at all from near the building. Whoops. Design flaw. Simple, culturally thematic, flashing colors – as on the Empire State Building – work well. Video sounds so cool, but it doesn't work in this setting. Duh.

I completely missed the BBQ Becky story in Oakland. Disgraceful. But then the Becky memes with Obama, ML King, and Rosa Parks just made me laugh out loud. Bravo BBQing Blacks! Making lemonade out of lemons.

It’ll be cool for the soaring tower to chime visually on the hour, the way town center did in the olden days.

Generally and despite a lot of pay for play adulatory hype in local media, the public is at most lukewarm to this tower and it’s ‘me me me look at me’ wide stance — and in many cases downright appalled by it.

The fact that the "John Doe's " of America don't like it gives me hope it might be something. People used to hate Christo's work until it was up and they actually experienced it. I can see the building from my Kitchen and hope this instillation improves the Sales Force Tower visually. The bar ain't high, so I look forward to this evening.

Yay, more corporate "art." Kinda looks like a giant Apple ad.

While observing the trial run I found it crass and intrusive. The building already overwhelms the city without subjecting everyone in a 30 mile radius to the whims of this particular artist. The source of funding is irrelevant.

The Salesforce Tower is an oversized obnoxious addition to the City’s skyline. It looks like a missile silo. How long before the art is replaced with ads?

Jim Campbell has a captivating and lovely installation in the San Diego airport. You can see it here: https://instagram.com/p/Bf37uMDBrBi/

Perhaps the artist in charge hit a few points. Downtown SF itself is better viewed from a mile or 2 away. Pity the countless homeless who 'live' to close to enjoy the nightly show. My guess: in a few months the abstract exhibition - on a truly massive skyline changing building - will be met with glancing ambivalence.

"... a party at Lake Merritt along a placid stretch of the San Francisco Bay?" Really? Lake Merritt is in downtown Oakland, pretty much surrounded by buildings that are miles from the Bay.

Thanks, but I'll stick with the blinking neon cowboy saying "howdy" with one hand flashing to wave and welcome me in. That's art. What do techies today know about art anyway. The only Rembrandt they've ever seen is in garish LCD on an iPad. Makes him look like Pop-Artist.

Ah, nice. A giant LED TV on the top of Salesforce tower for all the homeless people to enjoy. All Amazon needs to do is create some kind of GPS-enabled fob so they can get deliveries without having an address. Tech to the rescue!