I believe in rollerblading. More fun utility box art in a San Diego neighborhood.
At the corner of Fifth and Spruce is a convenience store. Stop here on a sunny day and you can do more than grab a bag of chips. You can enjoy two colorful examples of street art!
It’s always sunny in Hillcrest!
To be exact, this is Bankers Hill. Hillcrest begins at Upas Street, a couple blocks to the north. I suppose that’s why someone drew an arrow.
Dark shadow can’t harm this joyful street mural painted on a parking lot wall.Magical fairy, flowers and tree behind dumpster. A touch of charming creativity in the city.
UPDATE!
Years later, I noticed the tooth fairy had magically appeared! (I believe the building with the mural is home to a dentist.)
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This bright, smiling chalk face is gifted with a third eye.
In downtown San Diego, across the street from the New Children’s Museum, right next to the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade, you’ll find a play area. You might have seen my blog post on Christmas about The Garden Project. The play area can be found right next to it.
Strangely, this playground doesn’t contain many swings or happy things to play on. It does include a wide concrete floor and a high, blank concrete wall, however. Which combine to make an inviting canvas. The hard surface is softened with faces, hearts, strong feeling and thought. The voices of youth.
Here is what I photographed yesterday morning. Many of the ever-changing chalk images are faint. I had to increase the contrast for most pics quite a bit.
Many-colored chalk face appears to be in deep thought.An uncertain heart. No way? Yes way?A large blue eye seems to stare from a hard concrete wall.I wish you could see the world through my eyes!A small pink face with long hair gazes up from underfoot.A burst of sudden joy. WELCOME HOMEA young person worries: Can’t you see me?These words contain terrible agony with a sad nod of wisdom.Guy cleaning the play area in the early morning with a noisy blower.A small delicate flower made of temporary dust.Philosophy written carefully, meaningfully: Embrace The Journey.
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HEALTH is written at base of fantastic tile mosaic on bench.
A super long walk yesterday took me past Cancer Survivors Park at Spanish Landing, which is located between Harbor Island and the San Diego International Airport. I first blogged about the inspirational installation of art over a year ago.
The purpose of Cancer Survivors Park is to educate, provide hope and encourage appropriate, prompt medical treatment. A domed structure at one end contains beautiful tile benches designed by artist Marlo Bartels. Each differently colored bench invites restful meditation and is dedicated to a single idea written near the base.
Beautiful dome of San Diego’s Cancer Survivors Park contains artistic tiled benches and words of encouragement.CELEBRATIONTHRIVINGLOVEWELLNESSHOPEGazing across grassy park toward bronze sculpture of people beating cancer through prompt, appropriate treatment.
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Welcome to the City of Encinitas, home of sun, surf, cool sights, and a wonderful endless summer.
Here’s just a bunch of cool pics from my weekend walk around Encinitas. I mostly stuck to Coast Highway 101, often referred to as Pacific Coast Highway, south of Encinitas Boulevard. I also took a short stroll along Cottonwood Creek down to beautiful Moonlight Beach, and a short walk to the D Street Viewpoint.
Surfer crossing sign on Pacific Coast Highway near trail to Moonlight Beach.Approaching Moonlight Beach along Cottonwood Creek trail.Path down to concession stand at beautiful Moonlight Beach.Just another perfect day at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California.Gazing a short distance along the coast from a scenic overlook point.Sign on Pacific Coast Highway explains history and importance of Cottonwood Creek.Photograph of Cottonwood Creek nature trail from Pacific Coast Highway.Heading down old Coast Highway 101. Sculpture on street side is titled Encinitas Child, by artist Manuelita Brown.Pacific Coast Highway through Encinitas won Great American Main Street award in 2004.Coast Highway 101 is one of the most amazing drives, especially through San Diego’s North County.Cool sights as I walked included this big peace sign and tie dye design.The big Encinitas landmark sign over South Coast Highway 101.Colorful murals along the sidewalk in this happy, carefree beach town.Public art shows sailors running their boat to shore through breakers.Lots of small shops, eateries and galleries line Pacific Coast Highway.Classic image on building shows surfer and his longboard.Cool street art on side of business just off Pacific Coast Highway.Electrical transformer box decorated with sun, surf and guitar.People wait at Swami’s pedestrian crossing, with exotic golden domes of the Self-Realization Fellowship across PCH in the background.Elephant mosaic on side of Self-Realization Fellowship gift shop.Java Hut is a typical little beachy place.Funky art along sidewalk is hung about a cactus.Bikes and surfboards are abundant in sunny Encinitas.Tile art on trash can depicts the D Street Viewpoint.Photo of wooden stairs down to beach from D Street Viewpoint. Don’t you wish you were here?
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Tile mosaic on Pacific Coast Highway shows fisherman rowing out over the ocean.
During my recent meandering walk in Encinitas, I noticed some colorful mosaics in the sidewalk. The circular tile and glass artwork seemed to be at intervals up and down Coast Highway 101, the historic Pacific Coast Highway. I took photos whenever I noticed one. A few were partly covered by shadow.
When I got home and did some research on the internet, I learned these pieces were created by artist Terry Weaver, who grew up in Encinitas, and that there are 16 mosaics all told. I only recorded seven! Had I paid closer attention, I might have found many more!
Encinitas artwork near train station depicts Coaster coming down track.Beautiful Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is celebrated with fun sidewalk art.Colored tile and glass form hot air balloons soaring through a swirling sky.The famous S.S. Encinitas and S.S. Moonlight “boat houses” are docked on this sidewalk!A pod of dolphins seems to be swimming down Pacific Coast Highway.Surfer rides an eternal wave under the feet of passing pedestrians.
UPDATE!
During a later visit to Encinitas I discovered three more of the sidewalk mosaics…
Cool image of surfer by sand, Pacific Ocean and his woodie at Swami’s Beach, overlooked by the grounds of the Self-Realization Fellowship ashram.Beautiful flowers including bird of paradise.Tile mosaic depiction of the historic La Paloma Theatre building in Encinitas.
And here are two more I stumbled upon during another walk…
A poinsettia.Encinitas woody with surfboard.
And two more even later!
Hummingbird and flowers.More hot air balloons!
And, finally, two more mosaics I spotted in 2021!
I believe I’ve now managed to photograph all 16…
Music and dance.Bicyclists.
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A happy dog tries to jump through space and catch the moon.
I got lots of pics yesterday during a long walk in Encinitas near the beach. I was amazed by all the different artistic banners on street lamps that line Coast Highway 101.
Very awesome! Check them out!
Elephants and a spiritual butterfly surfboard. Hindu imagery is popular in Encinitas near the beach, due to the presence of the visually distinctive Self-Realization Fellowship ashram.Bold art on a street banner along Coast Highway 101.The Yogi Surf Crossing is a popular path for surfers, locals and tourists alike.A beautiful female figure in sunny beach destination Encinitas.I think these are heart-covered puppy dogs, but I’m not sure.Playing a cool saxophone near the Pacific Ocean.A typical beach scene with palm trees and setting sun.Artwork shows the coastline along San Diego’s North County.Fun, lush art on many banners on Encinitas street lamps.Surfers carry their boards on the beach at Swami’s Reef point break.Exotic figure references Hinduism and Eastern philosophy. The world famous Swami’s surfing spot is overlooked by the Self-Realization Fellowship grounds in Encinitas.Colorful image adds life to an already delightful beach town.Waves and sunset seem nestled in a tree above a street sign.Graphic shows dirt path down to the beach.Several jellyfish seem to soar through the blue sky.Encinitas street banner depicts a tropical island girl.A sleeping cat dreams of being a lion king!
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A human heart hovers above the Serra Museum atop nearby Presidio Hill in this extremely unique ceramic artwork.
There’s some fascinating public art in Mission Valley that few people see. It’s located in the deep shadows beneath Interstate 8 where the freeway passes over Hotel Circle. Eyes are adjusting to darkness as motorists, turning a corner, quickly pass five ceramic panels high on drab concrete pillars. The one sidewalk is located on the opposite side of the street. To really appreciate the artwork, you have to cross traffic dangerously and stand in a narrow band of dirt right up close.
Today I walked to work past the darkly obscured art and decided to finally get a closer look.
Vital Parts, installed in 1999, was created by local San Diego artist Joanne Hayakawa. The pieces seem to be stratified, crumbling and sculpted by time and memory. They seem to blend with the dirt beneath the bare bridge.
The very dark Interstate 8 underpass at Hotel Circle features seldom appreciated public art.Vital Parts, by artist Joanne Hayakawa, was installed on five pillars of a Mission Valley freeway bridge in 1999.Mysterious fossil-like hand hovers above nearby San Diego River and what I believe are Native American structures.Human brain, made golden by underpass light, crowns image of old Mission San Diego and the ever-present blue river.Spine rises over what I believe is modern Qualcomm Stadium. This earthy art is very unusual and evocative.Chin and silent mouth seem like a timeless clay mask beside the eternally flowing river.
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LOVE spelled out in chalk in the grassy park near the WorldBeat Center.
Today has been designated World Water Day. The essential message is that we should use our often limited water resources carefully and engage in water conservation.
I read that a World Water Day Celebration was to be held in Balboa Park at the WorldBeat Center, so I headed from downtown up Park Boulevard to see what was going on.
What I discovered was a lot of interesting knowledge and very cool fun!
World Water Day in Balboa Park included a kids poster contest, painting, music, dance, a water blessing, and a global meditation.Kids listen to stories out in a patch of shade on a warm Spring day in San Diego.This board included many great ideas on how to save water. This is unusually important in Southern California because of our ongoing drought.Lots of creativity was being unleashed during World Water Day.A talented artist named Alexander had his work on display.A smile and unique self-portrait by Alexander.
This super friendly, cool artist was working with Live Art by Davina Mendoza.Inside the popular World Beat Center dance and music awaited.Poster inside shows how water is harvested from the air in Ethiopia!Watair creates atmospheric water generators (called air juicers). These devices produce pure drinking water while cleaning the air!The colorful interior of the WorldBeat Cultural Center is alive with dancers and a line of drummers!
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Youth helps paint a public mural along the San Diego River Estuary.
This morning, after I checked out the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, I headed out to the San Diego River Estuary and enjoyed a long, leisurely walk. I’d read that kids would be painting a cool mural next to the river, directly south of SeaWorld and east of the Sports Arena Boulevard/West Mission Bay Drive bridge.
When I arrived, the mural was nearly completed. The project was hosted by The San Diego River Park Foundation. Young artists also had an opportunity to do a little birdwatching!
Bicyclists heading down Old Sea World Drive spy a line of colorful artwork.The San Diego River Park Foundation is working to preserve the life-filled estuary.Lots of paint cans contain the colors of wildlife and river scenery.San Diego River Park Foundation banner is positioned near mural painted by kids.Most of the painting was completed when I walked by in the late morning.Adults were putting some finishing touches on the cool public art.A project of River Kids Discovery Days on March 14, 2015.Two great egrets in San Diego River Estuary not far from the mural project!San Diego Park Rangers were also painting. This panel depicts a snowy egret.Mural artists put their names on sign beside the San Diego River Trail.Lots of kids turned out to add life and color to a fence bordering nature’s beauty.
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Cool San Diego Sights! 