Wave Organ
The Wave Organ is an acoustic sculpture constructed on the shore of San Francisco Bay in May 1986 by the Exploratorium.[1]
Through a series of pipes, the wave organ interacts with the waves of the bay and conveys their sound to listeners at several different stations. The effects produced vary depending on the level of the tide but include rumbles, gurgles, sloshes, hisses, and other more typical wave sounds. The structure incorporates stone platforms and benches where visitors may sit near the mouths of pipes, listening.
The Wave Organ is located at the end of a spit of land extending from the Golden Gate Yacht Club. The stone pieces used in its construction were salvaged from the demolition of the Laurel Hill Cemetery in San Francisco. Exploratorium artist in residence Peter Richards conceived and designed the organ, working with sculptor and mason George Gonzales. [2]
There is a panoramic view of the city across the narrow channel into the St. Francis and Golden Gate yacht clubs, bounded on the left by the Fort Mason piers and to the right by a towering eucalyptus grove bordering Crissy Field. The park and trail to it are wheelchair accessible, with the trailhead at the Marina Green park. [3]
The Wave Organ includes 25 PVC organ pipes and is dedicated to Frank Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was the founding director of the Exploratorium, led the fundraising efforts for the Wave Organ, and he died seven months before construction started.
See also
- Sea organ (in Zadar, Croatia)
- Blackpool High Tide Organ (in Blackpool, U.K.)
References
- ↑ The Wave Organ, Exploratorium. http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/wave-organ. Accessed Jan. 1, 2016.
- ↑ Edwards, Megan. "A Visit to One of San Francisco's Most Delightful Secrets". Road Trip America, Sept. 19, 2008. http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/waveorg.htm. Accessed Jan. 1, 2016.
- ↑ Lewkowicz, Bonnie. "Fort Mason and the Marina Green in San Francisco." WheelchairTraveling.com. http://www.wheelchairtraveling.com/fort-mason-and-the-marina-green-in-san-francisco/ Accessed Jan. 1, 2016.
External links
- Map: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Official website
- Google maps
- BlooSee Infopoint
- Wave organ on The Traveling Twins
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- Pages with broken file links
- Official website not in Wikidata
- Hydraulophones
- Landmarks in San Francisco, California
- Coastal construction
- Buildings and structures in San Francisco, California
- Sound sculptures
- Outdoor sculptures in California
- Organs (music)
- Stone sculptures in California
- 1986 sculptures
- 1986 establishments in California
