Reporters from throughout the Bay Area gathered in the Ferry Building today for a press conference to discuss The Bay Lights art installation on the Bay Bridge with visual artist Leo Villareal, project organizer Ben Davis and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.

Photo by Matt Crawford

During the conference, Villareal discussed his motivation and inspiration for the project, which organizers say is one of the largest light installations in the world with 25,000 while LED Lights covering 1.8 miles of the Bay Bridge. In the video below, he says he wants to create a place to relax that is the “equivalent of a digital campfire” where people can interact:

The Bay Lights will make its debut with an opening ceremony starting at 8:30pm and the installation will begin at 9pm. It is scheduled to continue for two years, but Mayor Lee said at the conference that he expects a foundation will be established to keep the installation on the Bay Bridge for many years.

• Tag: Leo Villareal, The Bay Lights