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Nice short hike with many tall cypress trees .. at the end of the hike there is a view of Alcatraz in distance ..
From Aguello road, you can see the spire poke out from within the woods. What secrets or tales revolve around this work of art? If you're hiking along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, it is very much possible to come across this Presidio Landmark. Standing at 100 feet tall, the named Spire is a sculpture by world-renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy who resides mostly in Scotland. This is first Presidio piece he was inspired to create after he visited the park in 2006. Since then he has gone on to imagine three more pieces; Tree fall, Wood line, and Earth Wall - making the Presidio home to the largest collection of his works on public view in North America. Spire is a powerful symbol of the rejuvenation of the beloved Presidio forest, first planted by the Army in the 1880s.The aging Monterey cypress are now reaching the end of their life and are being slowly replaced with healthy young saplings. Working closely with the Presidio Trust forestry crew, in 2008 Goldsworthy selected 37 Monterey cypress trunks from trees felled at the site and meticulously fastened them together. Planted around its 15 foot-wide base are young cypress trees that will ultimately grow to obscure the sculpture - a bit like the old forest welcoming the new. The Spire stands tall amongst other power towers in San Fransisco such as the Transamerica Pyramid, Sutro Tower, and church spires, to name a few. Overall; it is a sight to see and take in. The Spire pierces the sky with a powerful message that I think everyone should experience in person.
I didn't know this place even existed until I saw photos on Instagram. Curious, I asked where the location of this artwork was and was surprised to find out that it was in the Presidio. I've lived in San Francisco for over 30 years and didn't even know about it. Until I did some research and discovered that it was recently constructed in 2008 by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy. The sculpture is made up of several Monterey Cypress Tree trunks (38 to be exact) at the end of their life cycle that were cut down to make room for newly-planted trees. The trunks were fastened together and erected standing at least 90 feet high. Eventually, the young trees surrounding this sculpture will tower over it and obscure the view as planned. I won't be around it when that happens, but I am curious to find out what it would look like. I can only imagine that it will still be standing tall and surrounded like a cocoon of Monterey Cypress protecting it from the elements. It is a very unique piece of artwork and one that fits perfectly in its natural surroundings. One might also call is a sustainable piece of art since the piece itself came from its surroundings. And located inside the historic Presidio just adds to its mystic, and the piece is very photogenic regardless of the weather. How to get here? It's on the western entrance of Presidio on Arguello Gate near the Presidio Golf Course on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. And since you're in the area, go ahead and look for his other art piece that he called Wood Line. You won't regret it.
One of the four sculptures created by British site-specific artist Andy Goldsworthy for the Presidio, Spire is not easy to find unless you're really looking for it. Created in 2008, this was the first installation of the series. The artist used 37 large Monterey cypress trunks from the site that were declining and, along with the Presidio Trust forestry crew, fastened them together. Spire is 100 feet tall and 15 feet wide at the base. Looking at older pictures from when the piece was created, I can tell that the area around it was clear, but 11 years later, Spire is surrounded by trees that have grown since then and obscure the piece from the casual passerby. Thanks to signs pointing the way, my husband and I found it. We had fun tracking all four of the Goldsworthy sculptures down plus getting lots of steps in. This is the one of two pieces in the series of four that is bound to disintegrate over time (Wood Line is the other), so I'm glad we got to see it.
If you feel like you've completely exhausted your San Francisco to-do list (believe me, it can happen fast), there's always Andy Goldsworthy's Spire. While searching through different lists of "off-the-beaten" things to do in the city, I came across the mysterious Spire of San Francisco. Essentially, the Spire is a giant, pyramid-shaped tree trunk in the Presidio that's part of Andy Goldsworthy's art collection. According to the Interwebs (http://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/), Goldsworthy likes to create artworks using nature. And the Spire is one of his projects. The Spire is located right near the edge of the Presidio on Arguello Blvd. It's actually in a super convenient location if you plan on driving around the area. You can park at the Vista Point/Inspiration Point on Arguello and walk like 2 minutes to get to the Spire. In a nutshell, the Spire really is just a gigantic tree trunk that's been carved into the shape that it is. As people have said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and so you may or may not think that this is worth visiting. But if you have seen this place on Yelp already, you've probably made up your mind on whether you want to go. I personally think the Spire is worth visiting because it's one of those things in the world that you don't quite understand, but still feel in awe about. And plus, you can totally just pass by while checking out the Presidio. All in all, I give the Spire a "nice-su, you can take your parents here and they'll be happy" rating. Well, maybe if they like nature art. I'll definitely be back to check out Wood Line, Earth Wall, and Tree Fall, his other exhibits. Oh yea, this is free btw, ignore the "$$$$" signs! Have fun and prosper,
I had no idea this sculpture even existed until I saw it pop up on yelp! prior to visiting the spire, I decided to research it and I found out that the Spire is comprised of 38 large cypress trunks, and it reaches 90 feet to the sky -pretty cool if you ask me! Andy Goldsworthy (the artist) . . . his iconic art is famous around the world for interpreting the subtle shifts of place and time, and the spire is meant to date back to history/memories.
Fantastic Andy Goldsworthy art installment in the Presidio. Just steps away from Inspiration Point... Do yourself a favor and check it out!
9 months ago
This is one of several notable artworks in the city, by Andy Goldsworthy. Spire is located in the presidio, along the Bay Area Ridge Trail. The pathway, coming from the parking lot (with signs to Presidio Golf Course and Ironwoods Bar & Grill), leads directly to the sculpture. But we parked across the street at Inspiration Point and walked over during our visit this past weekend. The monument is roped off and surrounded by coniferous trees, with a couple logs situated directly in front, ideal for sitting while viewing the art piece. Curious about the blackened surface, I read a little more about its history, and learned the story of how it survived a fire during the pandemic and still stands strong. Built of Monterey cypress trees which are endangered and aging out of existence, this particular work of art symbolizes rebirth of the forest. This landmark is intriguing, blending in with nature beautifully and yet recognizable as one of Goldsworthy's many amazing creations. read more
I appear to be discovering British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy's work one piece at a time in the Presidio. My discoveries coincide with the urban hikes I take while I wait for my car to get serviced. Since that happens every six months, I turn it into a little safari expedition because that's about as adventurous as I get without a passport and a global entry ID. I've walked up and down his Wood Line before (review: http://bit.ly/2z732dM), so I went looking for his Spire. It's close to Inspiration Point, just a short walk off the Presidio Cafe. Shooting up more than ninety feet, it's constructed out of 37 felled Monterey cypress trees and honestly looks like a really tall Burning Man pyre. But don't you get any ideas. It's art. RELATED - Looking for some greenery in San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2P5dHRe read more
From Aguello road, you can see the spire poke out from within the woods. What secrets or tales revolve around this work of art? If you're hiking along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, it is very much possible to come across this Presidio Landmark. Standing at 100 feet tall, the named Spire is a sculpture by world-renowned artist Andy Goldsworthy who resides mostly in Scotland. This is first Presidio piece he was inspired to create after he visited the park in 2006. Since then he has gone on to imagine three more pieces; Tree fall, Wood line, and Earth Wall - making the Presidio home to the largest collection of his works on public view in North America. Spire is a powerful symbol of the rejuvenation of the beloved Presidio forest, first planted by the Army in the 1880s.The aging Monterey cypress are now reaching the end of their life and are being slowly replaced with healthy young saplings. Working closely with the Presidio Trust forestry crew, in 2008 Goldsworthy selected 37 Monterey cypress trunks from trees felled at the site and meticulously fastened them together. Planted around its 15 foot-wide base are young cypress trees that will ultimately grow to obscure the sculpture - a bit like the old forest welcoming the new. The Spire stands tall amongst other power towers in San Fransisco such as the Transamerica Pyramid, Sutro Tower, and church spires, to name a few. Overall; it is a sight to see and take in. The Spire pierces the sky with a powerful message that I think everyone should experience in person. read more
I didn't know this place even existed until I saw photos on Instagram. Curious, I asked where the location of this artwork was and was surprised to find out that it was in the Presidio. I've lived in San Francisco for over 30 years and didn't even know about it. Until I did some research and discovered that it was recently constructed in 2008 by the artist, Andy Goldsworthy. The sculpture is made up of several Monterey Cypress Tree trunks (38 to be exact) at the end of their life cycle that were cut down to make room for newly-planted trees. The trunks were fastened together and erected standing at least 90 feet high. Eventually, the young trees surrounding this sculpture will tower over it and obscure the view as planned. I won't be around it when that happens, but I am curious to find out what it would look like. I can only imagine that it will still be standing tall and surrounded like a cocoon of Monterey Cypress protecting it from the elements. It is a very unique piece of artwork and one that fits perfectly in its natural surroundings. One might also call is a sustainable piece of art since the piece itself came from its surroundings. And located inside the historic Presidio just adds to its mystic, and the piece is very photogenic regardless of the weather. How to get here? It's on the western entrance of Presidio on Arguello Gate near the Presidio Golf Course on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. And since you're in the area, go ahead and look for his other art piece that he called Wood Line. You won't regret it. read more
One of the four sculptures created by British site-specific artist Andy Goldsworthy for the Presidio, Spire is not easy to find unless you're really looking for it. Created in 2008, this was the first installation of the series. The artist used 37 large Monterey cypress trunks from the site that were declining and, along with the Presidio Trust forestry crew, fastened them together. Spire is 100 feet tall and 15 feet wide at the base. Looking at older pictures from when the piece was created, I can tell that the area around it was clear, but 11 years later, Spire is surrounded by trees that have grown since then and obscure the piece from the casual passerby. Thanks to signs pointing the way, my husband and I found it. We had fun tracking all four of the Goldsworthy sculptures down plus getting lots of steps in. This is the one of two pieces in the series of four that is bound to disintegrate over time (Wood Line is the other), so I'm glad we got to see it. read more
If you feel like you've completely exhausted your San Francisco to-do list (believe me, it can happen fast), there's always Andy Goldsworthy's Spire. While searching through different lists of "off-the-beaten" things to do in the city, I came across the mysterious Spire of San Francisco. Essentially, the Spire is a giant, pyramid-shaped tree trunk in the Presidio that's part of Andy Goldsworthy's art collection. According to the Interwebs (http://www.goldsworthy.cc.gla.ac.uk/), Goldsworthy likes to create artworks using nature. And the Spire is one of his projects. The Spire is located right near the edge of the Presidio on Arguello Blvd. It's actually in a super convenient location if you plan on driving around the area. You can park at the Vista Point/Inspiration Point on Arguello and walk like 2 minutes to get to the Spire. In a nutshell, the Spire really is just a gigantic tree trunk that's been carved into the shape that it is. As people have said "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and so you may or may not think that this is worth visiting. But if you have seen this place on Yelp already, you've probably made up your mind on whether you want to go. I personally think the Spire is worth visiting because it's one of those things in the world that you don't quite understand, but still feel in awe about. And plus, you can totally just pass by while checking out the Presidio. All in all, I give the Spire a "nice-su, you can take your parents here and they'll be happy" rating. Well, maybe if they like nature art. I'll definitely be back to check out Wood Line, Earth Wall, and Tree Fall, his other exhibits. Oh yea, this is free btw, ignore the "$$$$" signs! Have fun and prosper, read more
7 years ago
12 years ago
I had no idea this sculpture even existed until I saw it pop up on yelp! prior to visiting the spire, I decided to research it and I found out that the Spire is comprised of 38 large cypress trunks, and it reaches 90 feet to the sky -pretty cool if you ask me! Andy Goldsworthy (the artist) . . . his iconic art is famous around the world for interpreting the subtle shifts of place and time, and the spire is meant to date back to history/memories. read more
10 years ago
11 years ago
I didn't even know this existed. I came across it trying to find my way to Haight and Ashbury. I spotted it right away and had to know what it is. Interesting story. Beautiful work of art. San Franciso has so many surprises. read more
10 years ago
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San Francisco, CA 94129
Presidio
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