How a 45 foot Nude Has SF Debating Public Art

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For the past several weeks a 45-foot tall wire sculpture of a nude woman has loomed over San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza. “R-Evolution,” which first appeared at Burning Man in 2015, has gotten a very mixed reception, sparking controversy in the city over who public art is for and who gets a say. We’ll talk about how public art gets selected, how it illuminates the different relationships people have with shared urban spaces, and why private funding is complicating it all. Guests: Sarah Hotchkiss, senior associate editor, KQED Arts and Culture Cheryl Derricotte, artist Lynne Baer, public art advisor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	There's not many things as epic as jumping over a volcano in a monster truck or even swinging over a crocodile-infested river.
0:06.9	But 15% off when you spend 15 pounds at Mackeys comes pretty close.
0:10.4	Deal drop.
0:11.0	Redeem all week only in the app.
0:13.7	18 plus app only.
0:14.7	One use per week until the 1st of June.
0:15.8	Minimum spend and discount only applies to food and drink.
0:17.5	Fees apply to delivery.
0:18.3	Participation varies.
0:19.1	Season C supply. Support for forum comes from Broadway S.F, presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true
0:26.1	story. From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:33.8	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:39.4	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and
0:46.3	devotion. The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orpheum Theater for three
0:52.1	weeks only, May 20th through June 8th. Tickets on sale now at
0:57.3	Broadwaysf.com.
1:00.7	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Alexis Madrigal.
1:17.7	For the past several weeks, a 45-foot-tall wire sculpture of a nude woman has loomed over
1:23.5	San Francisco's Embarcadero Plaza.
1:26.2	The work, which first appeared at Burning Man in 2015,
1:29.7	has ignited controversy in the city and beyond,
1:33.1	raising the questions, who is public art for,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of KQED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.