See http://www.international-orange.org
Quoting: "Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, International Orange — named for the unique paint color of the span — offers fresh perspectives on an enduring landmark. This exhibition at Fort Point presents new work by contemporary artists responding to the bridge as icon, historic structure, and conceptual inspiration."
Off at the bridge bus stop, started off on the Battery East Trail (down a short but steep slope: first pic), under the low-overhead walkers' tunnel (second pic), along the main Battery East Trail with its glorious views (pics 3 and 4), and down the curving wooden view-steps (153: next two pics). Then west on the vehicle street to get to Fort Point (seventh pic). Ugh. Too many cars. It was farther than it looked.
Since I hadn't been here in so long, forgot what was inside the rooms last time (pic 8: Fort Point was constructed between 1853 and 1861), so not positive if some of these new ones were actually ones I'd come across before back then. Remembered some period furniture and cannons. Most definitely I could've used a live tour here. From a small online pic, was expecting to see a bunch of B&W bridge photographs displayed amidst some orange draping.
Finally asked someone where the photography was. Since I only asked about the photography, however, I missed out on most of the rest of it. On the third tier are seven exhibits; on the second tier, eight; and two on the first floor. I still didn't see many old photos though.
Didn't even see the "International Orange" infobrochure until I'd walked around a bit. Inside is a map of the numbered exhibits on each of the three floors. I just could have used some big-lettered noticeable signage, like "This way to Exhibit…" and easy-to-notice brochures to take when I first got there so I could've looked inside it right away.
So there are 17 artists in all exhibiting, with names, titles, and brief descriptions of each of their works in this brochure. Because I didn't study it ahead of time, only noticed or gave more than a passing glance to a few of these as I wandered around on each floor.
Assumed the Fort Point Buntings exhibition, seen immediately upon entering, was put there as regular decorations for the bridge's 75th anniversary. Didn't realize until later that this is one of the installations (#2 in the brochure: "Fort Point Bunting.") There are 75 of them on the inner balconies.
Of what I did see, I liked the little mag called "Average-The Golden Gate Edition" best. The author is offering a free edition of her magazine in which she interviews several people, including a Fort Point surfer and a ranger, who represent "daily life at and around the bridge."
Passed the "The International Orange Commemorative Store (A Proposition)" exhibit and assumed it was an actual little shop selling real bridge souvenirs but just not open at the time. None of the orange items in the tiny place are for sale. You can take a free postcard, however: "a reminder that there are many experiences money can't buy," so states the brochure.
An exhibit on the ground floor is called "Sea Vision T.V." After a few minutes got too hyper sitting inside watching videos on such a nice day, but this media presentation apparently documents all the installations. Should've stayed to watch it all.
The International Orange artworks will be displayed until October 28.
What was actually most interesting to me was to walk around in the old fort again after several years: on each of the floors, up and down its steep inner stairways, and around on the windy rooftop area to get different perspectives from my usual blufftop wanderings.
Back to the stairway, the Battery East Trail, and up to the bridge area again, was pleased to see the wild roses on the trail are doing well.