Transamerica Pyramid laser show by arts nonprofit captures imaginations of San Franciscans

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The San Francisco sky was lit Friday night with dozens of colored lasers beaming from the Transamerica Pyramid toward Coit Tower and One Sansome Street.

It's a skyline show from a familiar source.

"It's exciting, you know. No one really knows what it's going to look like until we do them, and they change throughout the night. They change based on the weather and light," said Ben Davis, founder and chief visionary officer of Illuminate, the arts nonprofit that's also behind The Bay Bridge Lights and other installations across the city. "Illuminate is continuing our work in developing this new monumental art form. We're the only city in the world to do it, and this is one more installation in the city of awe."

Davis says this weekend's show is purely an artistic endeavor, offering a behind-the-scenes look from the 47th floor of the Transamerica Pyramid.

Illuminate is also responsible for the iconic lasers shooting down Market Street during San Francisco Pride, and for the past several years, it's been putting on a free concert series at the Bandshell at Golden Gate Park.

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"Illuminate has produced over 750 shows out here, free shows for our community, both at a time during COVID when we need this kind of uplifting vibe, but even in our recovery," said Steffen Franz, a producer with Illuminate.

"I think the organization has brought a vibrancy to a lot of public spaces that engage and bring out the community," said San Francisco resident Pete O'Neil.

Davis added, "If everyone gets generous and everyone brings their creative self out, we can really show what it means for people to live together in a creative and powerful way. And my measure of success is not how much money people spend. It's how little a family of four can spend and have a magical day in the city."

The plan is for the lasers to be turned on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from sundown to sunrise.