Launch Intention
-UPCOMING-
Artist: Griffin Loop
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Location: Marina Green Triangle San Francisco, CA
Partners: Building 180, SF Rec & Park
Photo credits: Render by Building 180; artist headshot by Daniel Johnson
At the western edge of the Panhandle, where the city opens into Golden Gate Park, movement is constant. Cyclists, runners, and neighbors pass through this corridor each day, creating a steady rhythm between urban life and open space. Seed of Self by Kate Raudenbush introduces a moment of pause within that flow.
Seed of Self is a meditation sculpture in the form of a glowing, monumental seed, symbolizing the life force within each of us. Split into two halves—past and future—the artwork invites visitors to sit within the threshold of the present moment. One half reflects the past through a laser-cut brass mandala surrounding a mirrored sphere, encouraging quiet self-awareness within an intimate, acoustic space. The other half gestures toward the future, formed as an open, unfinished frame.
Between them rests a wooden meditation bench, positioning visitors at the edge of what has been and what is yet to come. The sculpture becomes an experience rather than an object, offering a space to inhabit reflection and possibility simultaneously.
As day shifts to night, the work reveals another dimension. A warm, golden interior light illuminates the sculpture from within, extending its presence into the evening and transforming it into a quiet beacon along the Panhandle. This inner glow acts as a metaphor for the human life force—steady, radiant, and always present—inviting reflection not only in stillness, but across all hours of the day.
In a site defined by movement, Seed of Self offers a gentle counterpoint. It does not interrupt the flow, but instead creates an opportunity to slow down within it—holding space for reflection, renewal, and the subtle energy that connects us all.
About the Artist
For over a decade, Griffin Loop has created large-scale, site-specific works across the United States in both private and public sectors. His practice focuses on realizing the experiential potential of a setting - using art and design to shape how people move through and connect with space, creating lasting impressions that define identity and foster stewardship.
Each work is developed in direct response to its environment - land, architecture, and human presence - integrating seamlessly while influencing how space is perceived, navigated, and inhabited. His approach centers on guiding experience intuitively, creating moments that invite reflection and participation.
Griffin’s foundation began building ski lifts alongside his father, developing a deep understanding of large-scale structural systems in extreme environments. In his twenties, he went on to design and build freestyle terrain parks and event environments for leading resorts, brands, and athletes.
In 2013, he joined Summit Series, where he designed environments to foster connection and inspiration. During this time, he created his first large-scale artwork: a 50-foot metal paper airplane titled Launch Intention. This work evolved into an ongoing nationwide sculpture project engaging communities, particularly youth, in clarifying and sharing intention, and has been featured at international art fairs and on CBS Sunday Morning.
Since 2016, Griffin has worked independently, collaborating with municipalities, institutions, developers, and private clients to create installations that activate space and deepen engagement. His work is driven by the pursuit of potential within environments, individuals, and shared experience.