SAN FRANCISCO — One of the largest landmarks on San Francisco’s southeastern waterfront is about to become a nighttime projection screen.
CRANE will transform the historic Hunters Point Shipyard gantry crane into a large-scale light, sound and video installation on Oct. 9, 10, 16 and 17. The main crane performance is scheduled from 8 to 8:40 p.m. on each of the four nights.
The project combines projected imagery, original music, live performance and oral-history material focused on Hunters Point Shipyard and the Bayview Hunters Point community. Shipyard Trust for the Arts says every performance will also be livestreamed.
When is the Hunters Point CRANE light show?
The organizer’s current schedule lists performances on Friday, Oct. 9; Saturday, Oct. 10; Friday, Oct. 16; and Saturday, Oct. 17.
The principal projection runs from 8 to 8:40 p.m. each night. Livestream programming begins earlier, with viewers told to connect from 7:45 p.m.
Some earlier project material described a broader October illumination period. SF News Today is using the four performance dates on the organizer’s current event page because that is the more specific and more recent schedule.
Do you need a ticket to see CRANE?
Tickets are required for the organized indoor watch parties, but the project is not limited to ticket holders.
Shipyard Trust for the Arts says people can experience the illuminated crane from locations where they can physically see it while using the livestream on a phone or other device for synchronized sound and closer imagery.
The organizer does not currently publish a definitive list of recommended public viewing spots. SF News Today is therefore not presenting unverified map sightlines as established viewing locations.
What happens on opening night, Oct. 9?
The opening-night watch party is at Zaccho Dance Theatre, 1777 Yosemite Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m., the welcome is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., the choir begins at 7:45 p.m. and the crane performance runs from 8 to 8:40 p.m.
Tickets start at $25. The organizer also lists a $10 community price for eligible 94124 residents, students and unemployed attendees.
There is an important catch for anyone buying a ticket specifically for a direct view: the crane itself is not visible from the Zaccho venue. The opening-night audience watches the projection on screen while hearing the live choir in the room.
What happens Oct. 16 and 17 at Hunters Point Shipyard?
The Oct. 16 and 17 watch parties move to Building 101, 451 Galvez Ave. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with food, a bar, gallery activity and live music before the CRANE performance.
The main projection again runs from 8 to 8:40 p.m. The organizer says the crane will remain illuminated until about 9:15 p.m. on those nights. Ticket options range from community-priced admission to higher-priced reserved seating.
Can you watch CRANE online?
Yes. The organizer says all four performances will be livestreamed, with the stream opening at 7:45 p.m.
That creates an unusual way to experience the installation: people who can see the crane can watch the illuminated structure directly while streaming the soundtrack and close-up imagery on their own device.
Why is the Hunters Point crane being illuminated?
The Hunters Point gantry crane is one of the most recognizable surviving industrial structures on San Francisco’s southeast waterfront. The CRANE project uses the structure as a canvas for stories about shipyard workers and Bayview Hunters Point history.
The project is also arriving during a busy stretch for arts activity at the shipyard. Readers planning an October visit can also see SF News Today’s SF Open Studios guide for the Hunters Point weekend later in the month.
Because viewing conditions depend on actual sightlines, buildings, terrain and event access, SF News Today will update this guide if organizers publish verified public viewing guidance before the first performance.