Art tiles painted by children decorate San Diego.

child art tiles on bench 01

Along the Embarcadero near the Maritime Museum of San Diego you’ll discover a great walkway at the edge of the bay.

One can look straight down at gentle water lapping wood pilings, see small fish darting below like silver points of light, watch least terns wheeling in the sky and diving, see black cormorants hunting underwater like feathered submarines…and gracefully soaring pelicans, and sailboats racing, and a blue sky, and huge ships coming in carrying cars from Asia, and airplanes landing at Lindbergh Field, and a glittering downtown skyline nearby, and the distant lighthouse on Point Loma…

You get the idea. It’s an extremely interesting stroll at any time of the year!

Along the walkway, twelve colorfully tiled benches await those who’d like to sit. The tiles were painted by many local K-6 student artists in 2004, Celebrating the Big Bay, in partnership with the Port of San Diego and the San Diego Children’s Museum.

The benches contain pictures of the ocean, fish, fantastic sea creatures, gulls, whales, ships, mermaids, palm trees, and happy, smiling stick figure people, as envisioned by artistic children with a paint brush.

The above photograph shows the left end of one bench.

Below, someone fishes nearby…

Fishing on the Embarcadero.
Fishing on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
A painted tile in a bench on San Diego's Embarcadero.
A painted tile in a bench on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
A red fish just swimming along in blue bubbles.
A red fish just swimming along in blue bubbles.
A tropical fish with long spotted green fins.
A tropical fish with long spotted green fins.
A very nicely rendered seahorse and colorful flowers.
A very nicely rendered seahorse and colorful flowers.
Beautiful work of art created by a local child.
Beautiful work of art created by a local child.
Creativity is splashed all over these tile benches.
Creativity is splashed all over these tile benches.
Eye-catching abstract design painted by youth.
Eye-catching abstract design painted by youth.
Fantastic tile artwork produced with many colorful painted dots.
Fantastic tile artwork produced with many colorful painted dots.
Here's a green mermaid jumping rope atop the blue ocean!
Here’s a green mermaid jumping rope atop the blue ocean!

Classic figurehead of historic ship Star of India.

Female figure at the bow of San Diego's historic Star of India.
The Greek muse Euterpe graces the bow of San Diego’s historic Star of India.

Here’s the oft-photographed figurehead of San Diego’s famous tall ship Star of India. I learned from a Maritime Museum of San Diego docent that the figurehead represents Euterpe, one of the Muses from Greek mythology. Euterpe was the muse of music. Euterpe was also the original name of the Star of India, when it was built at Ramsey in the Isle of Man in 1863. Her name was changed from Euterpe to Star of India in 1906 by the Alaska Packers’ Association, which had purchased the ship in 1901.

Closer look at Star of India’s classic figurehead.
Closer look at Star of India’s classic figurehead.

Here’s a cool pic with high contrast applied…

Figurehead of tall ship Star of India.
Figurehead of tall ship Star of India.

San Diego loves the beautiful Star of India.

star of india 01

During today’s morning walk I took a couple other photographs which I will share. Here’s a pic of San Diego’s beloved tall ship Star of India! Many visitors don’t realize that this iron-hulled three-masted bark is the oldest active sailing ship in the entire world! If you ever swing by America’s Finest City, you can go onboard and enjoy a memorable glimpse of maritime history.

With clouds of white sails fluttering in the breeze, she remains the queen of The Big Bay! She’s 150 years old and still appears to be in great condition!

Star of India’s California Historical Landmark plaque.
Star of India’s California Historical Landmark plaque.

Bonus pics taken at various later times:

A familiar sight along Harbor Drive on San Diego's Embarcadero.
A familiar sight along Harbor Drive on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Bow of Star of India includes the classic female figurehead.
Bow of Star of India includes a classic female figurehead representing Euterpe. That was this ship’s original name.
Early morning photo of San Diego's Star of India.
Early morning photo of San Diego’s Star of India.
Star of India captain's wheel and tangled Maritime Museum rigging.
Star of India steering wheel.
Beautiful sails and clouds.
Beautiful sails and clouds.
Ticket booth and entrance ramp next to the Star of India.
Maritime Museum of San Diego ticket booth next to the Star of India.
American flag flutters in the breeze at stern of the historic old ship.
American flag flutters in the breeze at stern of the historic old ship.
People out for a stroll by the Star of India.
People out for a stroll on San Diego’s Embarcadero by the Star of India.

Sexy sand sculpture pirate on the Embarcadero!

sexy sand sculpture pirate

This morning I strolled down to San Diego’s always dynamic Embarcadero before the late August heat and rare humidity became unbearable. I wanted to get pics of the 2013 U.S. Sandcastle Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exhibition out on the B Street Pier.

Unfortunately the event hadn’t opened yet, and all I could snap was this awesome (and sexy) lady pirate sculpture in front of the Cruise Ship Terminal. If it cools down tomorrow or Labor Day, perhaps I’ll check out the many amazing sand sculptures and other artwork!

Stylish mural on San Diego’s Cruise Ship Terminal.

cruise ship terminal mural

Check out this stylish piece of art decorating the south side of San Diego’s Cruise Ship Terminal on the B Street Pier. The Trompe-L’oeil Mural painted in 2005 by artist Joshua Winer definitely has personality! I like how a bunch of stools have been randomly grouped next to the mural–as if they’re part of the scene! It’s a shame nobody was perched on one!

I considered cropping out the security camera at the top of the photo, but didn’t. It adds a somewhat disturbing dimension to the colorful bit of innocent nostalgia.

Here are some pics I took at a later time…

The lively Cruise Ship Terminal mural includes an elephant!
The lively Cruise Ship Terminal mural includes an elephant!
Part of the fun mural shows fishermen with a big catch.
Part of the fun mural shows fishermen with a big catch.
Standing back a bit to provide a little context.
Standing back a bit to provide a little context.

Masts of tall ships docked on San Diego Bay.

festival of sail early morning 02

Here’s another pic taken in downtown San Diego this morning while I strolled along the Embarcadero. The intricate masts, yards and rigging projecting into the early morning sky belong to tall ships that will be participating in the 2013 Festival of Sail. I like how mysterious these ships can appear just after sunrise, as if they’re nautical ghosts visiting from the past! I wouldn’t have been surprised to glimpse Captain Ahab or The Ancient Mariner striding toward me along the bayside sidewalk!

UPDATE!

It’s a year later, and visiting tall ships have begun to arrive a couple days before the 2014 Festival of Sail. Here’s a pic I took early in the morning! This year I’ll make it a point to attend the big Labor Day weekend event and take loads of photos!

Two tall ships have arrived a couple days early for the 2014 Festival of Sail.
Two tall ships have arrived a couple days early for the 2014 Festival of Sail.

Early morning at San Diego Festival of Sail.

festival of sail early morning 01

This photograph was taken early this morning when I walked through downtown to catch the trolley for work. I strolled a short distance along the Embarcadero near the County Administration Building and was pleased to see many tall ships had already arrived to take part in the 2013 Festival of Sail this Labor Day weekend.

In addition to the San Diego Maritime Museum’s venerable Star of India, HMS Surprise and Californian, numerous high-masted sailing vessels will participate in the historic event. And simulated cannon battles will take place on San Diego Bay! Lots of excited people will be touring these beautiful ships!

Here’s a bonus pic from the following morning:

dark masts in a colorful sky
Masts of many tall ships in a colorful morning sky.

UPDATE!

It’s a year later! I checked out the 2014 Festival of Sail early Friday morning before the event began and took a few pics from behind the fence! Here they are! (I will be attending the event on Sunday, so look for many more detailed ship photos on the Cool San Diego Sights blog!)

HMS Surprise of San Diego Maritime Museum and masts of visiting tall ships beyond.
HMS Surprise of San Diego Maritime Museum and masts of visiting tall ships beyond.
Navy sailors run along Harbor Drive before the Labor Day weekend event begins.
Navy sailors run along Harbor Drive before the Labor Day weekend event begins.

The runner with the flag led a bunch of lustily singing Navy personnel on a run right next to the festival venue!

A view of tall ships participating in 2014 Festival of Sail on the Embarcadero.
A view of tall ships participating in 2014 Festival of Sail on the Embarcadero.

A splash of colorful art in Mission Valley!

ribbon of life mural 03

Here are a couple more photographs of the beautiful Our River mural just north of the San Diego River, east of Mission Center Road.

San Diego contains many examples of fantastic outdoor urban art, and I hope to document many of them on this blog. Stay tuned for all sorts of colorful surprises and fun!

Colorful mural on parking lot wall near Carl's Jr.
Long, very colorful mural on parking lot wall near Carl’s Jr.

More photos from the ribbon of life mural.

ribbon of life mural 02

Here are more photographs that I took of the wonderful mural Our River, which depicts a sinuous blue ribbon of life, symbol of the San Diego River.  The long blue ribbon is held up and cherished by those who live along it. The flowers, tree, cloud and happy children give this fine example of public art amazing vitality. The surprising parking lot mural contains joy from one end to the other!

Two figures hold up the long blue ribbon of life.
Two figures hold up the long blue ribbon of life.
Small portion of the Our River mural in Mission Valley.
Small portion of the Our River mural in Mission Valley.
A figure from the extensive Our River mural.
A figure from the extensive Our River mural.
Happy faces at the beach on an outdoor mural.
Happy faces at the beach painted on an outdoor mural.

Ribbon of life mural by the San Diego River.

ribbon of life mural 01

Here’s a photograph of one small section of the very colorful mural that can be found on the north side of the San Diego River, just east of Mission Center Road. The mural, Our River, decorates a long wall along the parking lot below Carl’s Jr. This great example of meaningful public art depicts the river in the form of a long blue ribbon, being held by many diverse San Diegans representing every walk of life.

This is a good place to begin a walk along the river, heading east. Shady trails run along either side of the river, offering surprisingly peaceful and beautiful views of the rippling water, green trees and assorted wildlife, including pelicans, cormorants, herons, egrets, ducks and seagulls. And you’ll see passing red trolleys, too!

A project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.
The beautiful Our River mural was a project of the San Diego River Park Foundation, completed on April 5, 2009. The artist was Andrea Arroyo.