Evolving into a world-class health sciences campus, UCSF Mission Bay also promises to be a showcase for extraordinary public artworks by contemporary artists.

"It's a great opportunity to be able to integrate art as the campus develops," says Mathieu Gregoire, art consultant for the UCSF Mission Bay art program. "This program will comprise a full spectrum of artworks, including work that is fully integrated and site specific, along with acquired works that can be placed in existing spaces. This project is unique in its variety and scope."

What began in the spring of 2003 with the first art installation by California artist Jim Isermann — a molecular-like chandelier made of five 30-foot tall pendants, along with furniture and artist designed carpeting in the seating areas around the atrium at Genentech Hall — will continue in the months and years ahead as buildings and landscaped grounds are completed at the new campus.

As has been done at other UCSF sites, Chancellor Mike Bishop wanted to enrich campus life at Mission Bay by integrating a wide range of art into public spaces reflecting the diversity of the community and representing various artistic disciplines and points of view. He has pledged non-state funds for art at the Mission Bay campus equal to 1 percent of the first phase construction costs just as other major universities have done across the country.

Current plans for artworks at UCSF Mission Bay include:

Placing an eclectic collection of furniture and fixtures designed by nationally acclaimed artist Roy McMakin around the perimeter of Koret Quad in January 2004.
Installing a 12-foot three-dimensional geometric sphere painted in iridescent metallic green created by Los Angeles-based artist Liz Larner in the atrium of the Genetics, Development and Behavioral Science building, also in January 2004.
Placing a major sculpture depicting four figures carved out of a single tree by internationally recognized German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol in the 80-foot atrium of the Campus Community Center.
Exhibiting about 60 two-dimensional works representing 18 California artists, with a particular focus on the Bay Area, in various public locations.
Mounting ongoing exhibitions of black-and-white photographs documenting the evolution of the Mission Bay campus by Bay Area photographer Mark Citret, who specializes in architectural photography, in various buildings on campus.

In May 2000, Bishop appointed a team of experts to guide the art program at Mission Bay. Comprising the Mission Bay Art Advisory Board are San Francisco art collector Steven H. Oliver, chairman and a member of the board of trustees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) since 1989; Mary Livingstone Beebe, director of the Stuart Collection at UC San Diego; Oakland-born Neal Benezra, director of SFMOMA; and Sandra Ann Percival, executive director of the Public Art Development Trust in London.

This group advises the chancellor and the Mission Bay Art Committee, which is composed of faculty, staff and students, and chaired by Sam Barondes, UCSF professor of psychiatry.

"We hope that the art at Mission Bay will be both distinctive and enduring," added Barondes, who has been involved with the general campus art program for more than a decade. "We are grateful to the board for its guidance."

While the initial strategy is to commission works of art that will be permanent and site-specific, the goal of the Mission Bay campus art program also entails purchasing existing works and mounting temporary exhibitions of loaned art.

Source: Lisa Cisneros

Last updated April 11, 2005

Genentech Hall sculpture

With the new hanging light sculpture as dramatic backdrop, UCSF students walk toward the main elevators. Photo by Majed.