Language of the Birds
Site-specific public installation • Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn
Style & Movement
Contemporary Public Art / Conceptualism
Medium & Technique
Translucent polycarbonate sculptural books, LED lighting, and stainless steel aircraft cable with solar-powered electronics
Creation Period
2008
Dimensions & Format
Variable/Site-specific; spanning the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Broadway in San Francisco
Subject Description
A flight of 23 'flying' open books suspended over a plaza, mimicking the movement of birds taking flight. The books feature LED lights that glow at night, casting shadows of words from various languages and literary sources (Chinese, English, Italian) onto the pavement below, representing the diverse linguistic history of North Beach and Chinatown.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good; subject to urban environmental exposure
Estimated Market Value
Not applicable (public municipal property)
Auction Estimate
Not applicable (permanent installation)
Provenance History
Commissioned by the San Francisco Arts Commission for the North Beach neighborhood; maintained by the city as public property since its completion in 2008.
Art Historical Significance
A landmark of San Francisco public art, this work serves as a bridge between the literary legacy of the Beat Generation (centered at nearby City Lights Bookstore) and the cultural intersection of the Italian North Beach and Chinese immigrant communities. It is significant for its early integration of solar technology and interactive light-based typography in a public setting.
Notable Features
The installation's shadows contain text from 90 different authors. It is the first permanent solar-powered public art commission in San Francisco and serves as a literal and figurative gateway between two iconic neighborhoods.
Condition Issues
Regular exposure to coastal weather, urban exhaust, and potential cable tension slack. Requires periodic cleaning of polycarbonate surfaces and LED component maintenance.
Conservation Recommendations
Routine inspection of the stainless steel structural cables, cleaning of the translucent 'pages' to maintain light transmission, and monitoring of solar cell efficiency.