Eight extraordinary mosaics decorate two sides of the Chase Bank at Mission Bay Drive and Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. Six of the mosaics depict figures representing San Diego history; the other two show delightful scenes unique to our city.
This beautiful public artwork was the creation of Millard Owen Sheets, who in the mid-20th century designed Home Savings Bank branch buildings around Southern California. Sheets Studio in Claremont, California employed a team of artists that produced numerous amazing mosaics for the buildings, one of which Chase Bank now occupies. You can see another very fine example in Coronado, which I blogged about here.
These eight mosaics set in travertine were created in 1977. Like the mosaics that were created for other bank branches, they celebrate the local community’s unique heritage.
These mosaics–at least one–appear specifically to be the work of Sheets Studio artist Susan Hertel. The initial S.H. can be seen in the corner of the mosaic titled Children’s Zoo.
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I am familiar with Sheets’ paintings, but did not know about his mural and mosaic work. We will plan a road trip to see these beautiful mosaics. Thank you.
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Many of the mosaics are still visible around Southern California. Look at his Wikipedia page to see the locations of a few others!
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Beautiful art work. Thanks for the pictures.
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I read somewhere that these mosaics might be endangered. Thanks for the reminder to get down there and take some pictures… just in case.
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I read the same thing. The area is being redeveloped because of the new trolley station coming to Balboa Avenue, and I guess the bank wants to build a new building–or something like that. I’m not sure where things stand right now.
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