Journey with me back to June 16th, 2007. That was the day San Francisco dedicated Passage. It also marked the opening of the renovated breakwater as a public pier.
Passage is a sculpture by Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito. You can find it on Pier 14, on the Embarcadero waterfront. It was originally installed at Burning Man in 2005. The sculpture is made of reclaimed steel. It measures 30 feet high, 20 feet wide, and 9 feet deep.
Passage represents the passing of legacy from one generation to the next. The artists often explore themes of hope. They are also concerned with environmental and humanitarian ideals.
The Burning Man event founder, Larry Harvey, once asked Dan Das Mann a question. Why were the mother and child figures facing away from “the Man?” Dan explained they were leaving Black Rock City. They were going to live their lives in the wider world.
In 2006, the Black Rock Arts Foundation sought permission to install Passage on Pier 14. The San Francisco Port Authority agreed. It quickly became a beloved landmark.
When Passage was removed, locals wanted more high-caliber art. The Port Commission approved a temporary installation of Spider. It was by Louise Bourgeois. Later, the Raygun Gothic Rocketship was installed. Sean Orlando, Nathaniel Taylor, David Shulman, Alan Rorie and their crew created it.
There was an initiative to make Pier 14 a temporary exhibit site. The Bay Conservation and Development Commission approved it. The site was reserved for large-scale sculptures. This continued until at least 2012.
Imagine the reclaimed steel gleaming in the San Francisco sunlight. Picture the mother and child. See them embarking on their journey beyond the playa. Feel the hope and legacy embodied in Passage.
Passage invites us to consider the future. It makes us think about the world we leave behind. It reminds us of the importance of passing on our values. It inspires us to embrace hope for generations to come.