New website follows the life of San Ysidro.

There’s a brand new website that follows the life and history of San Ysidro. It’s called San Ysidro Archive.

I learned about this new community resource today during my visit to The FRONT gallery and cultural center in San Ysidro.

San Ysidro Archive‘s stated mission is to serve as a living repository for the countercultural histories of 92173. By documenting local activism, joy, and resilience, the archive curates a communal memory that thrives independently of the border.

The website collects old and new photographs that people can contribute. It also tells the stories of individuals who make San Ysidro their home, including business owners, artists, longtime residents, and everyone in between. The website also helps people stay up to date with what is going on in the neighborhood through upcoming events, recent happenings, or ways to get involved.

What an awesome community project!

The San Ysidro Archive website is up and running, even though it officially launches in a couple days. I encourage you to check it out today!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Casa Familiar art collection exhibited in San Ysidro!

Casa Familiar has been serving residents of South San Diego County since 1968. Over those many years, the organization has amassed a collection of art that represents the life and culture of the South Bay border community. Through the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art, Casa Familiar promotes and encourages appreciation for the vibrant artistic community it serves.

Casa Familiar operates a gallery and cultural gathering space called The FRONT in San Ysidro. Today–and for about another week–The FRONT is home to an exhibition of pieces from Casa Familiar’s art collection. The exhibition is titled MOMENTOUS.

The exhibit contains four distinct sections: transborder culture, the poetics of living, the original people of this land, and art created for Casa Familiar’s annual ABRAZO Award.

I stopped by today to enjoy this important exhibition. The artwork is not only quite good, but it stems from each local artist’s personal experience, and is emotionally stirring. The image of a heart enters much of the art.

I was amazed and happy to learn some of the fine pieces were created by individuals that Casa Familiar has assisted!

Abrazo Award 2015, by David Flores, watercolor on Arches paper.
Bodies, by Andrea Echeverri, high temperature glaze ceramic.
Untitled, 2004, by Paulino Marquez, oil painting.
Mi Abuelita, mi nietecita, 2015, by Arturo Rodriguez Torija, photo print.
Triptych, 2014, by Jamex and Einar De La Torre, photo transfer on metal.
Hotel Nelson, 2024, by Paola “Panca” Villaseñor, acrylic on wood.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

The Space Between Words at UC San Diego Park & Market.

A thought-provoking exhibition of art opened recently in San Diego’s East Village, up in the second floor gallery of UC San Diego Park & Market. It’s titled The Space Between Words.

Any art that concerns language immediately intrigues me. What is the space between words? I wondered, thinking literally. Between written words: a short (or long) space. Between spoken words: a little (or much) breath.

According to a sign concerning the exhibition, language is more than something we speak. It is something we carry, remember, lose, invent, and share…

I recall reading or hearing that language is a prerequisite for human-level intelligence. Words are infinitely combinable symbols we share that can convey complex meaning.

Presented by Vanguard Culture’s ARTS LAB, The Space Between Words brings together the work of artists Jon Savage, Ale Uzarraga, Kelvin Lopez, and Jess Bergman. Their pieces explore the many ways we communicate when words alone are not enough.

So, I suppose, beyond language expressed by mind and body, there is art that itself speaks–art created by an artist’s mind and hands…

Some examples:

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Women of the Armed Forces exhibition at Bonita Museum.

An excellent exhibition opened in July at the Bonita Museum. Strength of Service: Women of the Armed Forces celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America by highlighting voices of local women who’ve served their country.

As the exhibition webpage explains, visitors can enjoy a unique look at local Military Women, history, personal stories, and inspiring artistic tributes.

A variety of military uniforms worn by local heroes stand at the center of the museum gallery. They bring home the fact that real people actually wore those uniforms and sacrificed to protect freedoms that we enjoy.

The walls surrounding the uniforms feature military honors, articles, personal memories, emotionally moving works of art, historical flags, and posted thank you notes penned by grateful visitors.

Two of the gallery walls contain a long, detailed timeline, covering the Revolutionary War to the present. Words, illustrations and photographs recall many ways women have served our nation over the course of its history.

If you’re in the neighborhood, I recommend a visit to the free Bonita Museum before this exhibition wraps up on August 29, 2026.

(I hadn’t visited the museum in a very long time and was excited to find new public art outside. I’ll be blogging about that shortly!)

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Xander Bogaerts mural in National City!

There’s an awesome mural depicting San Diego Padres baseball player Xander Bogaerts in National City!

I spied the street art today for the first time. I was told it was painted about a year ago.

The artwork was spray painted on a large wall beside AM Barber Studio, at 706 Highland Avenue. The artist is Mode (@mode_nbc).

Also depicted is Petco Park and the Padres mascot the Swinging Friar!

I love it!

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Yosemite Fall chalk art at the Timken Museum!

Look what I happened upon this afternoon while walking through Balboa Park!

Some incredible chalk art has been created in the Plaza de Panama, right in front of the Timken Museum of Art!

The chalk art was created by @sidewalk_chalk_dad. It’s a colorful recreation of Albert Bierstadt’s 1864 oil painting Cho-looke, the Yosemite Fall, which is displayed among other masterpieces inside the free museum.

How amazing is this?

The museum is closed today–a Tuesday–so I couldn’t ask about the chalk art. I suppose it was created over the weekend.

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Jerry Coleman, Tony Gwynn remembered at History Center.

Two of San Diego’s most beloved citizens are being remembered at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park: Jerry Coleman and Tony Gwynn, a pair of Padres legends.

The museum’s Inside|OUT exhibit behind glass in the atrium contains artifacts honoring the memory of two all-time San Diego baseball heroes.

Both Jerry Coleman and Tony Gwynn were a big part of my youth. They helped develop my own love for the San Diego Padres.

They were two amazing people, whose positive influences were greatly missed by all of San Diego when each passed.

I attended the memorial services of both. If you’d like to relive the services at Petco Park, where so much love was expressed, click here and here.

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Balboa Park’s historic Hall of Nations building restoration.

The Hall of Nations building at Balboa Park’s International Cottages is in the process of being restored. The City of San Diego has repaired much of the water-damaged exterior of the historical building, and some painting is underway.

Last year I noted how sections of stucco had fallen off. I later learned that–thank goodness–the damage wasn’t as severe as it might have been.

The Hall of Nations building was constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Back then it was the Kansas State building and housed exhibits and events representing the state of Kansas.

It’s good to see the city taking care of San Diego’s crown jewel Balboa Park. It appears to me more work in various places around the park needs to be done!

Thank you!

…

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

Master Gardeners replant Founder’s Plaza in Balboa Park!

Volunteer members of the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County were working in Balboa Park’s Founder’s Plaza this morning, removing old overgrown vegetation so that new, beautiful plants can be introduced.

For many years they’ve maintained this small garden that surrounds statues of Balboa Park’s founders. Their efforts are part of Balboa Park’s Adopt-a-Plot program.

I learned the new plants will require less water than most, and will attract pollinators such as butterflies.

I can’t wait to see the finished garden!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

More fun new street art in East Village!

A bunch of electrical boxes were recently painted with fun street art in San Diego’s East Village.

I happened to stumble upon another one today. It’s not far from Petco Park, which explains the Padres graphics!

I see it was painted about a month ago by artist Kate Caughey (@kcaughey).

To see more newly painted boxes near Petco Park, click here and here!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!