The “Pixel Poles” connect the two playgrounds with a forest of lighting fixtures spread across both playgrounds of the Helen Diller Civic Center Playgrounds in San Francisco. Extending the playgrounds' theme of fog into the evening hours, the Pixel Poles were designed to invoke the sensation of trapped fog as white light pulses in each fixture. The fixtures' pulses are synchronized across the light-pole forest to create rippling effects. Motion sensors respond to visitors' presence and add color to the white background animations.

The installation extends the playground designs of Andrea Cochran Landscape Architects into the evening hours. ACLA also served as key design advisors.

This project exists due to the support from the Helen Diller Family Foundation as well as the work from The Trust for Public Land, San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, Bothman Construction, and endrestudio.

  • Cory Barr: Artist, Software Engineering, Project Director

  • George Zisiadis: Artist

  • Christian Cerrito: Artist, Physical Computing

  • Peter Scheidl: Mechanical Engineering

  • Andrea Cochran Landscape Architects: Design