A giant light sculpture that looks surprisingly like a holiday present was turned on Wednesday night and will brighten Liberty Station through the new year.
The red box with yellow ribbon is 36 feet wide by 28 feet deep by 16 feet high and decorated by four rows of white snowflakes that light up in sequence. The artwork covers a historic pump house structure on the former Navy barracks.
“If you want to know what’s inside, just pick it up and shake it,” quipped artist Jay Newington, who is known for installation art projects throughout San Diego.
The artwork — titled “Snow Time! Like the Present?” — incorporates 100 snowflakes wired with over 4,300 small lights.
Newington, who is producing an upcoming festival of light art, said he chose the “seductive technology” of animated lighting so that the installation can be enjoyed day and night.
“There is a trend with that sort of cutting-edge technology,” he explained.
It’s the third annual art installation commissioned by the Liberty Station Community Association and NTC Foundation.
The arts district in Pt. Loma is planning a series of holiday season events and has already opened the annual skating rink. A nighttime holiday market takes place from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Christmas Eve.
