From the heart of the University of San Francisco campus, let’s explore The Moon’s Gravity Causes the Ocean’s Tides sculpture. This striking artwork by Sarah Sze isn’t about literal tides. It’s a symbolic representation of time and water movement, inspired by the German term “der Gezeiten”—the ebb and flow of time. The Moon’s Gravity Causes the Ocean’s Tides sculpture is made of steel, suspended between the first and second floors, indoors. It was installed in 2020. Made of steel, the suspended artwork hangs between the first and second floors, indoors, drawing viewers into its intricate design. Three circular forms, resembling waves, interlock and flow into each other, symbolizing the past, present, and future. Yoko Kubrick created a different “Tides” sculpture for USF, made of Carrara marble and exploring similar themes. Sze’s work, however, is distinct, employing steel and a suspended form to capture the essence of time’s ceaseless motion. The Moon’s Gravity Causes the Ocean’s Tides invites contemplation on the human construct of the fourth dimension. How do we perceive time? How does it shape our understanding of the world? The sculpture’s dynamic form encourages us to consider these questions, mirroring the constant push and pull of time, much like the moon’s unseen influence on our oceans.
San Francisco State University
Peeking through the trees imagine the year is 1899. San Francisco State University is born. It began as the San