Image
Annular Eclipse

Annular Eclipse
(1 of 11) (11965 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112256_B11_3573.jpg

A sculpture named "Annular Eclipse" was installed in the open plaza next to the 560 Mission Building. Moved by wind, it was composed of two circles that would occasionally eclipse each other. The plaza was always open to the public and featured a small pond and grassy levels next to a bamboo grove.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:22:56 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3573
Add a comment or report a mistake

Tall Sculpture
(2 of 11) (7141 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112415_B11_3577.jpg

This sculpture was very tall. At almost 30 feet (9 meters), it towered over the plaza.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:24:15 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3577
Add a comment or report a mistake

Bamboo Grove
(3 of 11) (7068 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112433_B11_3578.jpg

Behind the sculpture was a tall and wide grove of bamboo. When the wind blew, the to rings of the sculpture would move and the bamboo would sway behind it.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:24:33 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3578
Add a comment or report a mistake

Base In Pond
(4 of 11) (7072 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112457_B11_3580.jpg

The base of the sculpture was set into the center of a shallow pond. Built of stainless steel, the sculpture appeared as fresh that day as it did 10 year before.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:24:57 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3580
Add a comment or report a mistake

The Pivots
(5 of 11) (7057 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112503_B11_3581.jpg

The two pivots around which the two circles would rotate. They appeared stoutly constructed and well lubricated. The statue moved in compete silence.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:03 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3581
Add a comment or report a mistake

Two Circles Edge On
(6 of 11) (7073 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112515_B11_3582.jpg

The two circles viewed edge on with a tall building behind. This view showed the spacing between the two circles.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:15 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3582
Add a comment or report a mistake

Lowest Shaft Section
(7 of 11) (7068 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112523_B11_3583.jpg

The lowest of the three vertical shafts that held up the two circles. Notice how the second shaft was smaller and was inserted down into the first shaft and welded in place.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:23 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3583
Add a comment or report a mistake

Middle Shaft Section
(8 of 11) (7108 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112526_B11_3584.jpg

The middle of three shafts ended just above the edge of the circles. It had the final and smallest shaft inserted down inside it and welded in place.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:26 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3584
Add a comment or report a mistake

Top Shaft Section
(9 of 11) (7026 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112537_B11_3585.jpg

The topmost of three shafts ended at the horizontal bar that supported the two circles.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:37 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3585
Add a comment or report a mistake

Circles Approaching Eclipse
(10 of 11) (7047 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112604_B11_3586.jpg

Viewed from its side the two circles were moving slowly back into alignment to form the eclipse.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:26:04 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3586
Add a comment or report a mistake

Overview
(11 of 11) (7051 views)

./Annular_Eclipse_George_Rickey_20110226_112654_B11_3588.jpg

An overview of the plaza with the Annular Eclipse sculpture in it. Notice that the plaza extended all the way back to the alley behind and was lined with a lush growth of tall bamboo. Cars and bicycles were included in the photo for scale.


"Annular Eclipse" 1999-2000   •  Artist: George Rickey external link   •  560 Mission Street external link San Francisco, California   •  Public Plaza and Seating Maintained by Hines   •  (Photo posted Sunday 27 February 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:26:54 Saturday 26 February 2011)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #B11_3588
Add a comment or report a mistake


Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home contact topic guide top 25 photos video writing blogs upload terms privacy