Local artists put the finishing touches on the 20 foot long 1915 Centennial Mural in Balboa Park.
My Sunday walk around Balboa Park took me through the Spanish Village Art Center. Not only were local artists painting live Flamenco dancers, but they were completing a fantastic 20 foot mural celebrating Balboa Park’s centennial. (Today I was also introduced by a couple of super friendly people, including a resident artist, to the history of Spanish Village. I will blog about that shortly, after a little additional research…and when I have the time!)
I hope you enjoy my photographs of this awesome mural. Titled “1915 Balboa Park”, it’s an imaginative composite of historical images painted by eleven talented artists. Each image occupies a 2 by 6 foot panel, and depicts locations from the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, and people in early 20th century dress.
Spanish Village is home to some of San Diego’s very finest artists. Wherever you turn, you’ll find painters, potters, sculptors, photographers, glassblowers, you name it! It’s fun to just stroll through the colorful courtyard and visit the charming studios. If you want to purchase fine artwork for yourself or as a gift, this is an excellent place to go!
This weekend the public could watch as artists painted a historical mural in Spanish Village.Spanish Village is like San Diego sunlight passed through a prism, with rainbow splashes everywhere.Bios of artists Carol Foster, Joan Boyer, Joan Nies, Laurie Carlock, Don Knapp, Michelle Gonzalez, Sonia Rumzi, Linda Lepeirs, Lucy Wang, Edward Juarez, Dot Renshaw.Ladies in period dresses occupy the left part of the cool mural.Now we’re working our photographic way to the right, along the base of the Cabrillo Bridge. A hundred years ago there was an artificial lake beneath the bridge! (Where Highway 163 is today.)Two different styles (one with bright colors, the other with shades of gray) are fused together to depict the California Building with its iconic bell tower.There were many lush gardens around Balboa Park a hundred years ago, planted specifically for the Panama-California Exposition.An artist studies the right end of the 20 foot long mural. That golden tree looks like it could be transplanted right into Spanish Village!
Guitar music propels Flamenco dancers in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
This afternoon I enjoyed watching some amazing Flamenco dancing. Balboa Park’s colorful Spanish Village, the home to many artist studios, hosted the special event. As beautifully dressed lady Flamenco dancers performed for the public, local artists at easels painted away!
Flamenco dancing is fiery, stately and proud. Each dance and dancer glowed with unabashed human emotion. The audience learned a little about the nature of this Spanish folk dance, but I was so mesmerized I failed to jot down many notes. I remember that one dance was said to represent defiant joy, another a representation of pure, carefree womanhood.
The public was invited to watch local San Diego artists painting a performance by the La Paloma Flamenco Dance Company.Crowd shouts and claps as the whirling ladies move their limbs and tap feet with graceful, fluid, joyful abandon.The energetic Spanish folk dancing causes colorful fabric to fly and twirl like a gauzy dream.A range of powerful human emotion is transmitted to the audience during each fantastic Flamenco dance.A carefully watching artist has made a few sketches during the performance in Spanish Village.I don’t know how an artist can begin to capture the dynamism and detail of the colorful, kinetic dance!A local artist from Spanish Village in Balboa Park streaks color across a canvas. A skilled hand and eye produces the same bold living essence expressed by the dance.
People enter the Art of Comic-Con exhibit, opening today at the downtown San Diego Public Library.
Today a very special exhibition opened at the downtown library’s 9th floor gallery. The Art of Comic-Con, developed by Comic-Con International and the San Diego Public Library, contains a huge collection of original artwork used throughout the 45 year history of San Diego Comic-Con.
The exhibition runs through August 30 and should draw a crowd during Comic-Con week. During today’s two hour opening reception, super popular cartoonist Sergio Aragones was on hand to talk with fans and sign copies of his 40th anniversary Comic-Con cover. He was very friendly and spoke with everyone in line for a minute or two, always smiling and laughing and posing for the camera. He’s into his fourth decade of writing and drawing the adventures of the hilarious and very successful Groo the Wanderer!
Here are a bunch of photos! My small camera did its best in the dim light of the gallery…
Someone heading in to check out the gallery is wearing a 1997 Comic-Con International shirt.The Art of Comic-Con is a first ever museum exhibition consisting of original artwork used for past comic conventions.A cool mural composed of covers from past San Diego Comic-Con programs, plus other affiliated conventions.Past souvenir program covers feature many different superheroes and pop culture characters.A riot of fun images dazzled many visitors to the opening of this special exhibit.Close photo of part of the Comic-Con program book mural.I see Bart Simpson, a bunch of Marvel heroes, Star Wars characters, Balboa Park and much more.This part of the exhibit traces the history of the Comic-Con International logo and the development of the popular toucan mascot.Fun artwork that was used during the 40th anniversary of San Diego Comic-Con.The toucan is flapping around anticipating another Comic-Con!Someone checks out a display case containing an example of an Inkpot Award. These are presented to outstanding authors, artists and other creative luminaries every year during Comic-Con.I spotted Krypto the Superdog taking a nap among more enthusiastic human Comic-Con fans.Visitors check out original comic book art created for Comic-Con souvenir program books over the past 45 years.The Art of Comic-Con special exhibit contains original work from more than 60 notable cartoon and comic book artistsAll kinds of animals hang out in San Diego!Space alien asks Marmaduke for directions to Comics Con. It will be mere blocks from the Central Library! In a few weeks, I expect to see a few aliens walking around San Diego, too!I guess Jimmy Carter was having troubles during a past Comic-Con.Cartoonists of every stripe have contributed greetings for the Comic-Con souvenir book over the years.I spotted Conan the Librarian in downtown San Diego’s incredible new library!Commander Spock of Vulcan visited Earth back in 1974. Comic-Con then was held in the El Cortez Hotel, a couple blocks from where I’m preparing this blog!Mickey Mouse headed down to San Diego one year. I’m willing to bet he’ll be here again this year!In 1981, Peter Parker lost a game of strip poker with Mary Jane Watson!This guy is probably still looking for the San Diago Convention Center.Kid checks out a hands on exhibit showing how comic books are produced and printed.A penciled panel featuring Batgirl in action. Part of a cool display which demonstrates the processes involved in creating a comic book.Inked and finished cover of the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con souvenir book. The art celebrates the 75th Anniversary of Will Eisner’s The Spirit, by artist Michael Cho.Visitors to the San Diego’s Art of Comic-Con museum exhibit enjoy a huge mural from a 2008 book cover created by legendary cartoonist Sergio Aragones.Check this out! The mural by Sergio Aragones, of Groo the Wanderer fame, contains hundreds of characters romping about San Diego during Comic-Con!Everyone is heading toward San Diego! I bet they’ll crowd into the Gaslamp for an enormous cosplay and pop culture party!Gazillions of fans and cosplayers are assembled in front of the San Diego Convention Center!Superheroes are swinging and flying all over the place!The silly Sergio Aragones characters have materialized in San Diego from a fertile imagination.One wall in the Central Library museum contained original art used to create past Comic-Con souvenir book covers.Artwork used for the 1989 program book cover.1993 cover artwork from the legendary comic book and graphic novel artist Frank Miller.The Justice League flies into action in this original 2011 cover art from fan favorite Jim Lee.John Romita, Jr. drew some of Marvel’s Avengers for the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con souvenir book.Dave McKean cover artwork for 2013 Comic-Con.Jim Lee drew Superman for this WonderCon program book cover in 2013.Cliff Chiang’s Wonder Woman graced the cover of WonderCon’s program book in 2014.Sergio Aragones signed his covers from the 2008 book “Comic-Con 40 Years of Artists, Writers, Fans and Friends”. He’s a super friendly guy!If you’re going to 2015 San Diego Comic-Con, head to the 9th floor of the downtown library. The gallery is up there, along with some great views of the city!
Ant-Man banners in downtown San Diego decorate street lamps for 2015 Comic-Con. According to a nearby sign, the tiny Marvel superhero better not park here!
I just got home from a short walk after work through downtown San Diego. I wandered down Broadway and a bit through the Gaslamp. I noticed a bunch of new street lamp banners are up for 2015 Comic-Con. They all promoted the upcoming Marvel Ant-Man movie!
I’ve also included a couple bonus pics, just for fun!
While I walked around, I spotted this cool guitarist making music by the door of the Hard Rock Cafe.A bar called Analog in the Gaslamp had a huge (non-digital) Rubik’s Cube out on the sidewalk! The security guard said it’s there just for fun!Large Marvel Ant-Man movie banners flutter in the breeze down the center of Broadway.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
A new San Diego Comic-Con trolley wrap features Conan O’Brien turned into what appear to be Funko POP! toy figures. Here he’s a blank-eyed zombie, plus his own ordinary bland self.
I spotted another 2015 San Diego Comic-Con trolley wrap in the past couple days! This one promotes Conan O’Brien’s television show on TBS. He’ll be hosting his talk show live from Comic-Con July 8-12. I’ve read that he’ll also be moderating two panels in Hall H: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 and The Last Witch Hunter.
The images on the trolley wrap seem to show Conan turned into several Funko POP! toy figures! Cool!
Here Conan O’Brien has been transformed into Batman and a green Frankenstein monster.Here’s a wrap on an older version San Diego trolley at America Plaza. Conan will be live from Comic-Con July 8-11.Finally, here we have a commuter who’s entirely unconcerned that Frankenstein Conan is threatening him with scary outstretched monster arms.
Stay tuned for a ton more cool Comic-Con stuff in the coming few weeks!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
People walk down a Hillcrest sidewalk past chalk street art dreams.
Human dreams are wildly varied and ever-changing. I saw proof of this in Hillcrest. Dozens of desires have been documented at a street corner on University Avenue, written in chalk on what appears to be a very large chalkboard. People passing by have paused for a moment to write what they would like to accomplish before they die.
This dynamic neighborhood, just north of downtown San Diego, is youthful and worldly. Those who’ve chosen to contribute to this participative street art have listed many dreams. Some are crude, some are desperate, some are erased. Some are possible, some are impossible. Some are profound. The absurd and the serious mingle together. Some dreams are mere whims, other dreams are ambitious. Some are selfish, some are unselfish.
Before I die I want to… Hunt mud ducks. Feel I am worthy.Save the world. Make love. Visit Paris. Meet my biological parents.Publish a book. Drink one more drink.Find hidden treasure. Find Waldo.People walk toward Alibi as they review reasons for living.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Artist works by the Sybil Stockdale Rose Garden, behind the Command Center at NTC Liberty Station.
Yesterday, while I waited for the San Diego Comic Art Gallery to open, I walked a bit around NTC Liberty Station. I was pleased to stumble upon painters at work in the beautiful rose garden behind the old Command Center. I learned the artists were members of the San Diego Watercolor Society, which has its gallery in one of the nearby buildings. I took a few photos that you might enjoy.
Members of the San Diego Watercolor Society practice painting portraits amid beautiful rosesThis creative lady at an easel wore a unique paint palette hat!Brushes wait on a nearby bench.The painters appeared to be mostly working from photographs.Friendly gentleman receives some feedback as he carefully applies color to a canvas.Artist in a corner of NTC Liberty Station creates a watercolor portrait.Another member of the San Diego Watercolor Society walks toward the old Command Center on a perfect Saturday.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
A very cool comic art gallery created by IDW Publishing opened a little over a week ago in San Diego’s Liberty Station.
This morning I enjoyed an incredible treat. I checked out the new San Diego Comic Art Gallery, part of IDW Publishing’s new headquarters at NTC Liberty Station. IDW is the fourth largest comic book publisher in the United States, and their rapid expansion was the reason for their move. Their new home is in a renovated barracks at the historic Naval Training Center San Diego, located in Point Loma. NTC Liberty Station has become home to a number of other museums, galleries and cultural attractions, a few of which I’ve blogged about already.
The first exhibition at the San Diego Comic Art Gallery concerns the art of Kevin Eastman. He is a co-creator of the stupendously successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He and Peter Laird imagined the funny characters during a casual brainstorming session over thirty years ago. Their Mirage Studios was founded in 1983. IDW now owns publishing rights to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so original artwork provided by Kevin Eastman appropriately fills the comic gallery for the public to freely enjoy. Perhaps the most incredible part of the exhibition is a realistic representation of his studio, filled with creative materials and his own personal collectibles. There are shelves and shelves of toys, figurines and cool pop culture stuff!
Flash photography is not allowed in the museum-like gallery, because the light degrades the extremely valuable artwork. Consequently, many of my photos came out dim or blurred. Here are a few which turned out reasonably okay. They provide a flavor of what you’ll see should you visit!
The first exhibition of the San Diego Comic Art Gallery features the work of Kevin Eastman, co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Kevin Eastman began reading comics and drawing at a very young age. Major influences include Jack Kirby and science fiction. He created a character named Ninja Turtle just for fun.One of several TMNT drawings in a front window at the new San Diego Comic Art Gallery.Many examples of original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle artwork are on display in the fun, family-friendly museum.Foot Warrior Chick and a Foot Ninja with cloak, two enemies of the world-famous comic book, movie and cartoon turtles.Images in one display show some work of comic artist Kevin Eastman and the studio where he has worked.The studio you see before you is what I work in today. Every item has been brought from my home studio, and personal collections spanning over thirty five years. Cowabunga Dude!Photo through glass of the Kevin Eastman studio, transported to San Diego for this special exhibition.Wood panel by studio window shows the four funny, dynamic turtles in action.Venus, wearing a blue mask, overlooks visitors to a room where kids and adults are encouraged to draw, experience and read about comic art.Inked panel is one sample of the fun TMNT artwork on display at the Kevin Eastman exhibition.From sketch to finished page, visitors to the gallery can view a comic book’s creative process.Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Splinter, the Turtles’ sensei.Shredder, the villainous leader of the Foot Clan in New York City.Colorful graphic depicts Raphael, of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.Life is Art. Paint your Dreams.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
A cool San Diego trolley wrap for 2015 Comic-Con promotes Scream Queens on Fox. A killer new series from the creators of Glee and American Horror Story.
I finally got pics of the very first trolley wrap for the upcoming 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. The bold graphics promote Scream Queens, an American horror-comedy television series, which is having its world premiere at Comic-Con. The series will be televised on Fox starting in September.
I spoke to a super friendly trolley driver on Thursday (she always smiles and waves at me!) and I learned that more trolley wraps are in the process of being readied for Comic-Con. What they are, I don’t know. We’ll find out together! Stay tuned!
Keke Palmer, Diego Boneta and Lea Michele all have scary bloody hands!Faces of Scream Queens on a San Diego trolley include Ariana Grande, Lucien Laviscount and Nick Jonas.A bloody-handed Jamie Lee Curtis peers between trolley cars at me! Yikes!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Three Japanese warships are visiting downtown San Diego’s waterfront.
This afternoon I spotted three ships of the Japanese Self-Defense Force in San Diego. They were docked at the downtown Cruise Ship Terminal on the busy Embarcadero. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force must be training with the US Navy off our coast, although I find nothing about any joint naval exercises when I do a quick search of Google News.
A year ago I spotted three warships belonging to Japan docked in the same spot. I see the big training ship Kashima, of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, has returned. (Last year an article I researched referred to it as a landing ship.) I suspect the other two are destroyers, like last time.
It’s an interesting sight you don’t often see up close, so I took a few pics!
A sailboat on San Diego Bay checks out an unusual sight on a cloudy day.Bow of big training ship Kashima, of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 