Walks in the park under smokey skies have become a bit too common these days, thanks to California’s never-ending wildfires.
But this Saturday, in at least one park, a more whimsical smoke filled the sky.
Clouds of rainbow-colored plumes billowed above Golden Gate Park as famed artist Judy Chicago unleashed her latest pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” to large crowds gathered in front of the de Young Museum.
Crowds gather in the Music Concourse of Golden Gate Park to get a peek of Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” as it is ignited outside the de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” is ignited outside the de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Families filled the thick grove of Scotch elm trees that cover the Music Concourse for a peek of Chicago’s 27-foot tall pyramid scaffolding before it would ignite at 6:45 for an 11-minute atmospheric performance of mixed color, smoke and light.
Chicago, now 82, has been doing this type of ephemeral art for decades but this was her first such event in San Francisco and it coincides with a retrospective of her other art pieces on display inside the de Young until January 2022.
Judy Chicago waves to the crowd outside the de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, after her pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” was ignited. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Crowds in smoke-filled Golden Gate Park photograph Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young.” (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” is ignited outside the de Young Museum. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) The sword of Leonidas, King of Sparta cuts through the thick, colored air from Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young.” (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) A viewing platform of photographers documents Judy Chicago’s pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” as it begins to send smoke past the statue of Leonidas, King of Sparta outside the de Young Museum. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Judy Chicago walks through the crowd outside the de Young Museum in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, after her pyrotechnic art exhibit, “Forever de Young,” was ignited. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
