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Annular Eclipse

Annular Eclipse
(1 of 11) (11947 views)

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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
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Tall Sculpture
(2 of 11) (7132 views)

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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
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Bamboo Grove
(3 of 11) (7059 views)

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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
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Base In Pond
(4 of 11) (7063 views)

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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
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The Pivots
(5 of 11) (7048 views)

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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
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Two Circles Edge On
(6 of 11) (7064 views)

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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
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Lowest Shaft Section
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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
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Middle Shaft Section
(8 of 11) (7099 views)

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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
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Top Shaft Section
(9 of 11) (7017 views)

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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
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Circles Approaching Eclipse
(10 of 11) (7038 views)

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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
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Overview
(11 of 11) (7042 views)

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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
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