This evening I was walking along Broadway past the new, almost completed InterContinental San Diego when I noticed a couple of guys installing artwork near the waterfront luxury hotel’s entrance.
I spoke briefly to one of the workers and learned they were following a general design that was provided to them. I’m not sure who the artist is, but I like what I see so far!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
A couple months ago I blogged about the debut of a fascinating dodecahedron sculpture called Unfolding Humanity. The San Diego Geometry Lab had begun building their project by a parking lot at University of San Diego.
Today I finally saw the interactive metal sculpture completed! It was among the many cool inventions on display at 2018 Maker Faire San Diego in Balboa Park!
If you want to learn more about Unfolding Humanity–the mathematics behind it, and how it’s symmetry and complexity is similar to the structure of the universe–please check out my earlier blog post here, or visit the artwork’s extremely interesting website here.
I learned from Diane Hoffoss, Associate Professor of Mathematics at USD, that the San Diego Geometry Lab might be building additional similar projects in the future. Probably every other year. Because it’s quite an undertaking!
I also learned that many people enjoyed stepping inside Unfolding Humanity during Burning Man! Someone even performed magic tricks inside it!
This is what I saw at Maker Faire San Diego today…
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I learned this huge robotic praying mantis that shoots flames from its legs is named Zap!
Another October! Time for another Maker Faire San Diego in Balboa Park!
Today, after checking out Trolley Dances at Hazard Center, I headed into Balboa Park to simply walk around and absorb the creativity. It’s amazing what human intelligence and imagination can produce! The potential is limitless! Marvelous new inventions keep on coming!
2018 Maker Faire San Diego continues through Sunday. Check it out!
Visitors to Balboa Park look at a map showing the many exhibitors and demonstrations at 2018 Maker Faire San Diego.A big crowd surrounds 30-foot-tall, flame throwing Robot Resurrection during 2018 Maker Faire San Diego in Balboa Park.These students invented a contraption that can fire multiple Frisbees in rapid succession.Russell the Electric Giraffe is back for another Maker Faire San Diego!Exploring the sensors and capabilities of a cool robotic giraffe!Kids were riding cupcake cars around the Plaza de Balboa during the annual maker event.Other kids have fun controlling robots that move blocks.Karen, of the Southwestern Artists’ Association in Spanish Village, was painting stones out on the patio!Karen’s Rescue Rocks are fun and colorful!Artistic kids were using lapidary equipment inside the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society Museum.This guy on the Spanish Village patio was creating small works of art from onyx.People were testing out virtual reality at the Japanese Friendship Garden during Maker Faire San Diego.Nearby, others were piecing together stuff that was 3D printed.The potted Rootbound Players would play music when their leaves were touched by a finger!People make Kokedama, Japanese traditional moss art! The roots of small plants are bound in living moss!This guy had created some small but very cool working submarines.UCSD students had created an unmanned aerial vehicle for an academic competition.Creative kids were cutting out words and piecing together their stories with Words To Go!This guy was melting glass and forming a beautiful jewelry pendant.Ladies were making crafts inside the House of Sweden at the International Cottages. Perhaps they should have been a part of Maker Faire San Diego!Do You Trust is a sculpture that enfolds visitors and plays an audio recording of poetry concerning trust.This cool minibike is made of odd objects, like a vegetable strainer, radio tuner, cereal bowl and umbrella. It’s called the Time Machine.Alastair, The Great Fairy Tinkerer hangs out in front of the future Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park.A small human meets friendly Know Mann – Giant Robot Puppet!
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Audience looks down as a dancer portrays a homeless person during the first stage of 2018 Trolley Dances at Hazard Center.
This morning I watched the first dance of the 2018 Trolley Dances at Hazard Center shopping mall. This unique annual event is a production of the San Diego Dance Theater.
Arriving early, I stood a couple of floors above the outdoor performance, and let my eyes wander about as I took in the entire scene.
The first dance portrayed the homeless. As the invisible curtain rose, dancers, who sat alone among their scant possessions, rose and converged in a dizzy, tragic performance.
Two male dancers tussled over a shopping cart, but that seemed to be the extent of their malice. The twisting dance showed troubled souls coming together, having a moment of hope and happiness, raising each other up before departing to go their separate ways.
After the first dance ended, I followed the mobile audience as they were led west down the nearby San Diego River Trail to the next outdoor stage. Chairs were set up short of the place where Highway 163 crosses Mission Valley.
I continued walking. What I saw thereafter wasn’t part of the program.
As the audience gathers on the south side of the Hazard Center shopping mall, one performer appears be homeless, sitting alone.The gathered audience awaits the first outdoor dance of 2018 Trolley Dances.The performance begins, and another dancer rushes onto the stage.Dancers converge in front of the audience. The raw, disturbing dance portrays the lives of different people who are homeless.Dancers move about fluidly, showing a variety of emotions, including pain, loss, uncertainty, anger, hopelessness.A shopping cart is a focal prop. Seen from above, it is empty.Performers tussle briefly over the shopping cart, while a nearby couple dances.The dancers spread out and face the audience.The dancers move together, as if suddenly animated by a unifying energy.One dancer is raised up by the others.
The dancers finally exit the stage, struggling up sets of stairs at Hazard Center.They return to take their bow. There is great applause.The dancers collapse and lie on the concrete.This performance is over.The audience will be led across the street and on to the next nearby dance location, on the path by the San Diego River.What the audience did not see. An empty drug baggie at the bottom of some stairs behind Hazard Center. Very few people use these particular stairs.The audience heads west along the San Diego Trolley tracks.The mobile Trolley Dances audience is guided through a short stretch of Mission Valley along the San Diego River toward the next unique stage.Empty chairs and graffiti on a construction wall await at the next Trolley Dances stage.That is as far down the path the audience would venture.Had they proceeded farther, they would have reached a place where many homeless gather and take shelter–in shadowy places beneath Highway 163.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
Statue of Hall of Fame relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman at Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres.
“There is no shortcut to true success.” Those are the words of Trevor Hoffman, 2018 inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He is remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of baseball.
The wise quote adorns the base of his bronze statue, which was unveiled this summer at Petco Park.
Great achievements require hard work and persistence. Achievements that endure the test of time must be built game by game, inning by inning, pitch by pitch.
The San Diego Padres have honored two of their Hall of Fame players with magnificent statues at Petco Park. Both Tony Gwynn and Trevor Hoffman are now immortalized in bronze. Both sculptures were created by artist William Behrends, who has been referred to as the Sculptor of Sporting History.
I posted a few photos of the Tony Gwynn statue five years ago here.
Neither Trevor Hoffman nor Tony Gwynn chose the easy path. Both worked constantly, studied the game, and never stopped honing their skills.
“There is no shortcut to true success.” To those who have high aspirations, important words to remember.
A sculpture of Trevor Hoffman overlooks the Padres bullpen, just beyond left field at Petco Park.There is no shortcut to true success. Trevor Hoffman.The high leg kick of Hall of Fame relief pitcher Trevor Hoffman immortalized in bronze.Two legends of baseball now intersect at Tony Gwynn Drive and Trevor Hoffman Way, just outside Petco Park.The bronze sculpture of legendary pitcher Trevor Hoffman, by artist William Behrends.
Arthur Putnam’s sculpture The Padre on Presidio Hill.
If one considers San Diego’s founding to have occurred in 1769, the year both Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the El Presidio Reál de San Diego were established on Presidio Hill, then 2019 will be our city’s 250th Anniversary!
That’s no small thing! One would suppose that huge celebrations are being planned!
Well, when I perform an internet search, I can find no plans for celebrations mentioned, apart from Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá’s announced church events, and a Founders’ Day Festival in Old Town.
It’s hard to believe, but I find almost no discussion of the city’s upcoming 250 year anniversary.
Unfortunately, as many of you might remember, the occasion of Balboa Park’s Centennial in 2015 was not celebrated with the fanfare that would have been appropriate.
I do hope that behind the scenes serious plans are being made for the appropriate celebration of San Diego’s 250th birthday! Or that plans will be made!
Just a thought from a silly blogger who loves San Diego!
UPDATE!
The City of San Diego has placed a huge 250th Anniversary banner on a sail of Star of India. You can see photos here!
UPDATE!
The City of San Diego has created a website dedicated to its 250th Anniversary. It lists several events that commemorate this special year. Visit the website here!
UPDATE!
In May, 2019, I noticed San Diego 250 banners have appeared along streets all over downtown!
UPDATE!
On July 1, 2019, a gigantic 250th anniversary banner appeared on the County Administration Building.
It celebrates the fact that San Diego was California’s first port and first city! I posted several photos of the banner here!
Today is Free Ride Day in San Diego! San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District are providing a fun, free ride to anyone riding the trolley, bus, Coaster or Sprinter!
And as an extra added bonus, lots of smiles are included!
An important exhibition of paintings by acclaimed artist Kadir Nelson is now showing at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park.
On display is the original artwork used to illustrate the picture book Blue Sky, White Stars, this year’s KPBS One Book, One San Diego for Kids Selection. Young students across our city will be reading the picture book this year, sharing their experience together. The author is Sarvinder Naberhaus.
The book’s original paintings by Kadir Nelson contain iconic American imagery, and often include the patriotic red, white and blue of the American flag. Ideals such as Liberty, Justice and Equality proudly live in the faces of his subjects. His powerful, humane artwork has been compared to that of Norman Rockwell.
Kadir Nelson spent his formative years in San Diego, attending Crawford High School. The exhibition at the San Diego History Center includes a few examples of his early drawings.
As an artist of international stature, Kadir Nelson has produced art for many award-winning books, The New Yorker magazine, Sports Illustrated, The Coca-Cola Company, and Major League Baseball. His work appears on United States Postal Service commemorative stamps and on Michael Jackson’s posthumously released album. His paintings can be found in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, The National Baseball Hall of Fame, and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Visit this exhibition at the San Diego History Center and you’ll quickly see that Kadir Nelson is a truly extraordinary American artist, whose striking images linger in your mind. You’ll also perceive the optimism and heart that gives amazing life to his work.
The Spectacle, 2016, gracing the front cover of Blue Sky, White Stars, was painted by Kadir Nelson.In a short video at the San Diego History Center, Kadir Nelson talks about his work and inspiration.Displayed in the exhibition are seven books featuring the bold, powerfully moving artwork of Kadir Nelson.Eight extraordinary The New Yorker covers with artwork by Kadir Nelson.A drawing by Kadir Nelson from his teen years. Crawford Horse Sitting on Mascots, 1991, pen and ink on paper.Pioneers (White Rows), 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.Sew Together (Betsy Ross), 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.Well Worn: Abe Lincoln, 2016, Kadir Nelson.We Shall Overcome, 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.Stand Proud (Civil War Soldiers), 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.Cracker Jacks, 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.The Patriot, 2016, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson.
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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Cool San Diego Sights! 