On May 31, 2018, San Francisco mayor Mark Farrell, announced to a large audience that the project which stood behind him was “one of the coolest things” he has seen. This project is titled “Point of View” and contains cameras, as well as a 360-degree periscope which connected to an identical structure in Haifa, Israel. Viewers can, in each metropolis, peek into the screen of this installation and instantly become transported across the world to their “Sister City.” Farrell described this as a “Sister City” project that allows the city of San Francisco to reach beyond its borders and connect with the world … “in a way that really embraces San Francisco values.” Farrell, as well as other speakers and members of the community, joined together in celebrating this historic day.
During the “Point of View” tower unveiling on May 31st, members of the San Francisco and Israeli community joined together to welcome this innovative and historic bridge between cultures. Ariel Waterman, Haifa’s City Engineer, stood before visitors and in his remarks, stated that this project “looks to the past, to the present and to the future.” Another keynote speaker, Consul General to the Pacific Northwest, Shlomi Kofman, stated that “with such an expansive, multicultural conglomeration of thinkers, dreamers and doers, it is no wonder that this city is a hub of technological advancement, unimaginable artistic creation and the future of innovation.” Consul General Kofman stressed the important relationship between Haifa and San Francisco, as well as the historic nature of this event.
“Point of View” tower was the brainchild of artist Matthew Passmore (from Bay Area-based Morelab) and experience designer Saron Paz, who hails from Tel Aviv. This project of the San Francisco/Haifa Sister City Committee was jointly undertaken by the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Consulate General to the Pacific Northwest. Together, Passmore and Paz embarked on a towering feat – to construct a public, live-feed video installation which would provide a visual connection between Haifa and San Francisco, to bridge a connection of diverse cultures and points of view. In an interview with Saron Paz, he stated that his intention was to use the “classic light tower symbol – which used to be the point from which people would … explore the world” to help create “physical manifestation of the internet,” but in a “physical, poetic and more intimate” way. Through this metaphor, Paz explains how he has worked towards making “Point of View” tower a beacon of accessibility, interconnection and shared experience.