Outdoor sculptures being installed in Balboa Park!

Many outdoor sculptures are being introduced into Balboa Park. The exhibit is titled Art of the Open Air. It is a unique project of the San Diego Museum of Art.
Many outdoor sculptures are being introduced into Balboa Park. The exhibit is titled Art of the Open Air. It’s a unique project of the San Diego Museum of Art.

During the past week, a number of sculptures in the San Diego Museum of Art’s collection have been carefully moved into the Plaza de Panama, a large outdoor gathering place in Balboa Park. For the next two years, anyone in San Diego will be able to freely enjoy the sculptures, and see them in changing light, beneath different skies. Moving such large pieces has taken a lot of work, but I noticed today that the installation, titled Art of the Open Air, is approaching completion.

Included in the unique outdoor exhibition are works by world-famous artists Joan Miró, Auguste Rodin and Tony Rosenthal. I wasn’t able to approach the artwork too closely–right now, while the sculptures are being readied, they’re still roped off. The same goes for a new piece in the museum’s May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden, which I also photographed from a bit of a distance. I put some identifying information in the photo captions.

Art of the Open Air is set to run from February 11, 2016 through February 13, 2018. I can already see that Balboa Park is going to be more lively and interesting than ever!

Alexander Calder. Spinal Column, 1968. Steel. A sculpture being installed in the San Diego Museum of Art's outdoor May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden.
Alexander Calder. Spinal Column, 1968. Steel. A sculpture being installed in the San Diego Museum of Art’s outdoor May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden.
Lynn Russell Chadwick. The Watchers, 1960. Bronze. Now stands in Balboa Park's beautiful Plaza de Panama, part of the Art of the Open Air exhibition.
Lynn Russell Chadwick. The Watchers, 1960. Bronze. Now stands in Balboa Park’s beautiful Plaza de Panama, part of the Art of the Open Air exhibition.
Auguste Rodin. The Prodigal Son, 1905. Bronze. Installed in the northwest corner of the Plaza de Panama, where the sculpture Youth Taming the Wild (Horse Trainer) used to stand.
Auguste Rodin. The Prodigal Son, 1905. Bronze. Installed in the northwest corner of the Plaza de Panama, where the sculpture Youth Taming the Wild (Horse Trainer) used to stand.
I can't find anything about this piece, but it seems somehow familiar. If you know what it is, leave a comment!
I can’t find anything about this piece, but it seems strangely familiar. If you know what it is, leave a comment!  UPDATE: I learned the bronze sculpture is called Mother and Daughter Seated, by Francisco Zuniga, 1971
Two very fine sculptures that will soon will be approachable in Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama.
Two very fine sculptures that will soon will be approachable in Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama.
Joan Miró. Solar Bird, 1966. Bronze. Standing guard near the entrance to the San Diego Museum of Art.
Joan Miró. Solar Bird, 1966. Bronze. Standing guard near the entrance to the San Diego Museum of Art.
Tony Rosenthal. Odyssey III, 1967. Aluminum.
Tony Rosenthal. Odyssey III, 1967. Aluminum.
Photo across front of the San Diego Museum of Art, the north end of Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama. Outdoor art is being installed.
Photo across front of the San Diego Museum of Art, the north end of Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama. Outdoor art is being installed.
Luis Jiménez. Border Crossing/Cruzando el Rio Bravo, 1989. Fiberglass with acrylic urethane finish. Stands outside the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Panama 66.
Luis Jiménez. Border Crossing/Cruzando el Rio Bravo, 1989. Fiberglass with acrylic urethane finish. Stands outside the May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Panama 66.
Monumental totem-like sculpture depicts artist's immigrant grandfather carrying wife and son, crossing the Rio Bravo River.
Monumental totem-like sculpture depicts artist’s immigrant grandfather carrying wife and son, crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico.
A large sculpture seems to stride into the life-filled Plaza de Panama in San Diego's historic Balboa Park.
A large sculpture seems to stride into the life-filled Plaza de Panama in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park.

Do you like to read original, thought-provoking fiction? Please visit Short Stories by Richard.

Do you love Balboa Park? Please enjoy my brand new, very special blog which I call Beautiful Balboa Park!

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Richard Schulte

Downtown San Diego has been my home for many years. My online activities reflect my love for writing, blogging, walking and photography.

12 thoughts on “Outdoor sculptures being installed in Balboa Park!”

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