On June 18, Illuminate and artist Dana King unveiled Monumental Reckoning, an extraordinary new installation in Golden Gate Park.

Monumental Reckoning fully encircles the memorial to Francis Scott Key that was partially toppled by protestors last Juneteenth by placing “350 ancestors” standing in judgment. The 350 individual statues all linked together around the Key memorial represent the first slaves that came to the US from Africa.

In a ceremony that drew more than 1,000 people into the park, San Francisco Mayor London Breed formally unveiled King’s dramatic presentation.

A temporary installation, Monumental Reckoning will remain in the park for two years.

Here’s a three-minute video on the project.

The unveiling took place on Juneteenth, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. An interrelated Illuminate project – the elevation of the words “Lift Every Voice” atop the newly-renovated Spreckels Temple of Music, is expected to follow later this year.

“Lift Every Voice and Sing” was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, the same year the Spreckels Temple of Music opened. For more than a century, it has been sung as the Black national anthem. Born in 1871, Johnson’s 150th birthday falls on Juneteenth this year. Once elevated atop the bandshell, Weldon’s words will sit directly across the Music Concourse from King’s “ancestors.”

For more information on Monumental Reckoning, please visit www.monumentalreckoning.org

On June 1, Illuminate again turned the sky pink in celebration of Pride in San Francisco. One year after creating a sensation with a full acre of pink light above the city, Illuminate again brought (night) life to Patrick Carney’s epic canvas triangle on Twin Peaks – using 2700 pink LEDs. And this year the Triangle remained illuminated for the entire month of June .

Here’s a two minute video about the project

Last year Illuminate stepped in when it became clear that Covid restrictions would prevent volunteers from installing the massive canvas triangle atop Twin Peaks, which had kicked-off the city’s Pride celebration for the prior 24 years.

The lighting was a culmination of an extraordinary day which featured the second year of the Pink Torch Procession around Oakland and through San Francisco on its way to Twin Peaks. Torch bearers from the LGBTQ commnity were escorted by Dykes on Bikes and supported by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence throughout the procession.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf commenced the procession in Oakland and San Francisco Mayor London Breed brought it to a dramatic close, receiving the torch atop Twin Peaks and then leading the lighting of the triangle.