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An art display dedicated to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s world-renowned fusion ignition achievement is on show at City Center Bishop Ranch in San Ramon.
The collection, “Bringing Star Power to Earth”, is composed of nine, 23-foot-tall banners that will decorate the center’s exterior walls with the lab’s success story until at least May 2025. It went up this spring as part of City Center’s “Slate Art Program”, which combines culture, civic life and commerce into visual displays.
“My hope is that people feel a sense of awe and pride at what we create here at the lab,” said James Wickboldt, LLNL graphic designer and artist of the display. “The lab brings in people from all around the Bay Area, the country and the world to do some incredible science. And we had an amazing result with ignition — something that had been multiple decades in the making — and it’s something that we as an area, as a country, should be proud of.”
LLNL made its breakthrough on Dec. 5, 2022 at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), opening the door for advancement in national defense and clean energy. It was the first time in history scientists achieved fusion ignition in the lab, meaning the amount of energy released from combining two light nuclei was greater than the energy put in by lasers – it’s also the process that powers the sun.
“With something this monumental happening in our own backyard, we were very excited to share this story in a new way,” said Alex Mehran Jr., CEO of Sunset Development Company, which owns and operates City Center Bishop Ranch.
When the lab first announced its successful experiment, it released celebratory artwork; this artwork had regained public attention as the main banner at City Center.
Other banners on display illustrate the necessary aspects to the experiment like lasers, computer modeling and simulation, experimental design, diagnostics, optics and target fabrication. They also display the human element of scientific success: collaboration, partners and people.
Creation of the installation started at the beginning of this year when Julie Lovett, the senior vice president of marketing for Bishop Ranch, reached out to LLNL with the idea of showcasing fusion ignition as an installation.
“By partnering with LLNL, we aimed to bring this groundbreaking work into the public eye, recognizing our local scientists and fostering a sense of pride within our community,” Mehran said in a press release.
Wickboldt was honored by interest from Bishop Ranch and began designing the banners with contributions by John Jett, group leader of the NIF and photon science document services team at LLNL. They drew inspiration from “Art of Fusion,” an art series by the lab’s Document Services that commemorates successful ignition.
“This installation is not just about celebrating a scientific breakthrough; it’s about inspiring the community, igniting curiosity, and showcasing the collaborative spirit that drives innovation forward,” Mehran Jr. told Embarcadero Media Foundation.
Bishop Ranch is set to commemorate the lab’s achievement with the community on Sept. 29 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. The event will include family-friendly science activities and special guests including Lab Director Kim Budil, Bishop Ranch leadership and local dignitaries.
