“Cupid’s Span”, the sixty foot high sculpture made of painted fiberglass and stainless steel by Claus Oldenburg and his wife Coosje van Bruggen is a cool piece of public art located in Rincon Park on the Embarcadero in San Francisco. Inspired by the city’s reputation as the home of the port of Eros, “Cupid’s Span” depicts a bow shooting an arrow into the earth with its tail feathers pointed up toward the sky. Your perception of the piece changes depending upon your viewing angle and how far you are from it; from a certain angle it calls to mind the hull of a ship, from another the taut cables of the Bay Bridge or even palm fronds similar to those that line the walkway along which it is located. Situated along the waterfront where you can enjoy views of the Bay Bridge, the buildings of downtown San Francisco and the distant mountains, “Cupid’s Span” is a fun and interesting piece and definitely worth a visit next time you are in the area.
