Sea Lion sculptures to raise awareness in San Diego!

Is that a sea lion on a rock in the middle of Balboa Park’s Spanish Village?

No, it’s a life-size sea lion sculpture among other works of art at the San Diego Sculptors Guild! It’s the first of many more sea lion sculptures to come!

Sergey Gornushkin, President of the San Diego Sculptors Guild, is the creator. He’s part of a project that includes the San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club and the Seal Society of San Diego. The goal: raise awareness concerning the protection of sea lions on our coast.

What is the plan? Sergey explained that his Whale of a Tale sculpture presently in the middle of the Spanish Village Art Center patio will soon be replaced by this sea lion. Then, eventually, a mold will be made of this sculpture, and 10 to 20 additional sea lions will be cast.

Those additional sea lions will be artistically painted by school children and artists from around the region, then placed in and around La Jolla, where there’s a great deal of concern about human encroachment on the sea lion population.

When I took photos today I learned this sea lion sculpture isn’t quite finished. But take a look. It’s already incredible!

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Inspired art exhibit at Liberty Station!

Artist: Weston Riffle.

You might enjoy the artwork now on display in the Dick Laub Command Center Gallery at Liberty Station. The current exhibition is titled Inspired.

Works by seven Liberty Station based artists hang in the lobby of the NTC Dick Laub Command Center. If you are interested in a particular piece, all are for sale. Swing by the studios of more than 40 artists in the nearby barracks buildings, and you can find even more!

It seems every time I walk in Point Loma through Liberty Station, I discover new art! More blog posts from my most recent visit are upcoming!

The Inspired exhibition is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, through October 3, 2026.

Some of what you’ll see:

Artist: Chakib Bouhdary.
Artist: Katerina Husar-Lazarova.
Artist: Colleen Veltz.
Artist: Lauren LeVieux.

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Ground Truth exhibit at Cabrillo National Monument.

Every so often a new exhibit will be installed in the Visitor Center at Cabrillo National Monument. The latest is titled Ground Truth: Stories of Hope in Conservation.

A series of photographs demonstrates how National Park Service personnel, scientists and volunteers work to understand and conserve the complex natural environment at the tip of Point Loma.

Ground Truth is defined as the direct observation that supports a theory, confirms a recovery, and validates the hard work of restoration.

One sign in the exhibit continues to explain: From the recovery of a species to the restoration of a fragmented habitat, these photographs move beyond abstract headline to show the tangible reality of a world fighting back and those fearless leading the fight.

Photos show the measuring and mapping of life in tide pools, the removal of invasive plant species in the park, the intensive surveying of biodiversity, the monitoring of fog which provides moisture for coastal plant life, and more.

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Art benches inside Liberty Station’s Dance Place!

Artist: Alicia Hourican, Shanna Little.

Many years ago I shared photos of art benches scattered about Liberty Station. See those by clicking here.

Today I happened to walk through the Dorothea Laub Dance Place building at Liberty Station. What did I discover? Seven more artistically painted benches!

I actually found eight, but there was one that I had photographed previously (it must have been subsequently moved into the Dance Place.) I won’t include it in this blog post.

These seven colorfully painted benches include artist names. So read the captions.

Artist: Morse High School.
Artist: Jennifer Peterson.
Artist: Viviana Lombrozo.
Artist: Alfred Ventura.
Artist: Blair Thornley.
Artist: Elizabeth Andrews Zaikowski.

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Star Wars exhibit coming to Liberty Station!

I discovered something cool today while walking through Liberty Station in Point Loma. Pisano Artistry, located in a building adjacent to the Dick Laub NTC Command Center, will soon have a Star Wars exhibit!

I learned the fun news while peeking through the window of artist Joe Pisano’s gallery.

You’ve seen Joe Pisano’s unique and patriotic drywall screw art on Cool San Diego Sights previously. Here and here and here.

I haven’t spoken to him about it, but it definitely appears that he’s a Star Wars fan.

Can’t wait to see it!

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Tlaxcala art and more at House of Mexico!

Tlaxcala, the smallest state in Mexico, located in east-central Mexico, is known in part for its agriculture. So it’s no surprise that much of Tlaxcala’s traditional art and crafts originate as seeds.

Visitors to Balboa Park’s International Cottages can see this in a newly installed exhibit. The House of Mexico’s cottage is now filled with beautiful objects that promote Tlaxcala!

I stopped by today and was wowed by the art and crafts on display!

Should you step into the cottage when it’s open on weekends, you’ll see small mosaic murals made of different colored seeds. You’ll see necklaces made of dried corn. You’ll see beautiful crafts made of plant fibers.

Here’s a fun fact! Did you know that Tlaxcala’s name comes from the native Nahuatl word tlaxcalli, which means tortillas? At least 12 heirloom varieties of corn are grown in Tlaxcala.

The Mexican state is also famous for its traditional wool and cotton weaving.

What else did I learn? There’s a Tlaxcala Firefly Sanctuary. During peak Summer, millions of endemic fireflies turn the mountain woods into a glowing fairytale-like nighttime spectacle!

In forever amazing Balboa Park, there’s always something new and interesting to learn!

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Animals tracks lead away from San Diego Zoo!

A pathway that connects the San Diego Zoo to the rest of Balboa Park is imprinted with all sorts of different animal tracks.

Can you identify the wildlife that is represented?

This morning I walked south from the zoo toward the heart of Balboa Park.

My second-to-last photograph provides one hint!

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Art created by neighbors at Father Joe’s Villages!

Look at all these great works of art! They were created by neighbors at Father Joe’s Villages.

Father Joe’s Health and Wellness Program includes activities that foster creativity, well-being, and personal growth. That includes making art!

The latest Painting the Town exhibition, now on view at the San Diego Central Library, celebrates this art.

Father Joe’s Villages helps those in San Diego experiencing homelessness. They provide emergency and transitional housing for adults and families with children, provide showers, laundry facilities, a public lunch line, a health center, employment and education services, and more.

Look at this beautiful art and see hope.

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House of Afghanistan lawn program in Balboa Park!

In January, the House of Afghanistan became an associate member of the House of Pacific Relations in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Today they held their first cultural lawn program!

The Afghan people have a history that goes back thousands of years. A speech by the Founder and President of the House of Afghanistan, Omed, explained a mission of the organization isn’t merely to archive the past, but to boost a sense of heritage in the present day community.

As their website explains, the House of Afghanistan is working to awaken, document, preserve, and carry forward the philosophical, intellectual, and cultural inheritance of the Afghan people — so future generations inherit more than fragments.

Their first ever lawn program was excellent. All sorts of traditional Afghan food was available, including cream rolls and bolani, a thin, pan-fried flatbread stuffed with various tasty fillings. (Similar to a quesadilla!)

Afghanistan is famous for its pomegranates. Under one canopy pomegranates were being juiced.

Many signs posted around the lawn explained how the Afghan people have contributed to world history. Fun fact: Did you know the first known Afghan in America fought at Gettysburg?

The most inspirational sign concerned how kite flying is one of Afghanistan’s best-known traditional pastimes. The kite operates as a symbol of a resilient people.

In the early afternoon the program took to the International Cottages’ outdoor stage. A contest was held between ladies, to see who could recognize the many spices for which Afghan cuisine is famous.

Soon thereafter, there was the reading of poetry–another thing for which Afghans are famous. Then beautiful singing!

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Helen Keller exhibit at San Diego Central Library.

A small exhibit can be viewed in a glass display case in the I CAN! CENTER at San Diego’s downtown Central Library. It concerns the incredible life of Helen Keller.

Photographs and artifacts beautifully document how Hellen Keller overcame huge personal challenges to become the source of inspiration for countless people across the world today.

The I CAN! CENTER provides assistive technology, adaptive equipment, and accessible services for people with disabilities.

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