Not Out Of The Woods Yet Sculpture

Gazing up at Not Out Of The Woods Yet, do you see a simple network of aluminum struts, or something more? Richard Deacon’s 2003 sculpture, nestled at 500 Howard Street, is more than meets the eye. Not Out Of The Woods Yet is a puzzle, a conversation between metal and light, a challenge to our perception. Kenneth Baker, writing for the San Francisco Chronicle, described it as “muscular,” a fitting word for the thick, hexagonal beams that form the sculpture’s core. These gleaming, tread-plated surfaces catch the light, especially important given the canopy’s shadowed location. Not Out Of The Woods Yet is made of six identical aluminum elements. Three form the base, notched together as if supporting each other. Three mirrored elements sit above, creating a sense of balance and symmetry. Look closely at where each bottom element touches the ground. It forms a nine-sided polygon, a shape without a common name. It’s these details, the unexpected geometry, the interplay of light and shadow, that make Not Out Of The Woods Yet so captivating. Deacon wants us to question how we describe what we see. He plays with our expectations. Notice how no strut connects directly to a corner. This seemingly small detail throws off our understanding, making the structure harder to grasp. The Not Out Of The Woods Yet sculpture is a test of memory and perception. You might leave it confused, struggling to hold its complexity in your mind. But next time you see it, maybe, just maybe, some of the puzzle pieces will fall into place.