Tag: art

Birds, Stars, Our Lands represented in La Jolla.

A large, very beautiful mural in La Jolla shows three birds–a Black-throated Sparrow, a Rock Wren, and a Cactus Wren–in their native habitat. It’s titled Mukikmalim, Su’ulim, Chem-tema-ki’ay, which is in the Kupa language. It translates as Birds, Stars, Our Lands.

According to this article, it’s the first public display of the Kupa language. The artist, Gail Werner, who descends from three of the county’s native peoples, Kupa (or Cupeño), Luiseño and Kumeyaay, received her inspiration for the mural from her hikes in the Anza-Borrego desert, beyond the mountains east of San Diego.

The public art debuted in downtown La Jolla in 2023, and is part of the ongoing Murals of La Jolla project. I saw the artwork last weekend on Herschel Avenue as I approached the bus stop on Silverado Street.

According to the Murals of La Jolla website: The bird imagery is inspired by traditional Southern California Native American songs, called Bird Songs, and the accompanying dance, the Bird Dance. These songs and dance weave a story of how the people came to be where they are and the accompanying journey that brought them to this land, which is said to parallel the migration of the birds.

In my own opinion, Mukikmalim, Su’ulim, Chem-tema-ki’ay is one of the most beautiful murals I’ve ever encountered in La Jolla

The imagery transports me to wilder places around San Diego . . . to hikes I’ve enjoyed.

With all its buildings, streets and parking lots, it’s hard to imagine how La Jolla (or any San Diego neighborhood) might have appeared before the first Europeans and settlers transformed the natural world they found.

And now for my photographs–of unspoiled nature represented on a building, taken from across an asphalt parking lot…

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A new Tony Gwynn mural in La Jolla!

Tony Gwynn, one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history, is quite possibly the most beloved person in all of San Diego. Even years after his passing, tributes continue to pop up in communities throughout the city and beyond. He was loved not only for his legendary on-the-field heroics, but for his always sunny personality.

A very cool mural depicting Mr. Padre was painted in La Jolla this summer. It decorates one side of the Mandarin House restaurant in La Jolla. It was created by Ground Floor Murals, who’ve already painted many outstanding Padres baseball player murals.

Taking photos around San Diego for the past 11 years, I’ve documented various artworks and events that honor Tony Gwynn. You can see many of them by clicking here.

And now a bonus photograph!

There’s a second cool mural on the opposite side of the Mandarin House’s building! It depicts an Asian dragon in a watery setting. When I walked by today, I didn’t notice an artist signature…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Creating a giant 1980s sand sculpture in IB!

A gigantic sand sculpture now stands near the foot of the Imperial Beach Pier. The “Back 2 IB” retro sculpture, created using 80 cubic yards of sand, celebrates nostalgia from the 1980s. It’s the centerpiece of Imperial Beach’s family friendly 2024 Sun & Sea Festival!

Carved into the massive sculpture are images from the 1980s that many will recognize. Pac-Man. Ghostbusters. MTV. Rubik’s Cube. Cabbage Patch Kids. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Back to the Future. Nintendo Entertainment System. A video game arcade. A boom box. Music on cassette tapes…

Is this the coolest sand sculpture ever, or what? Why was it built? Each summer, during the annual Sun & Sea Festival, Imperial Beach is also known as Sandcastle City!

When I visited the festival late this morning, the local sand artists, including members of the Imperial Beach Posse Sand Carvers, appeared to be nearly finished. They’ve been working on their monumental work of art for several days.

I walked around the “Back 2 IB” sand sculpture and took these photographs of the sand sculptors hard at work…

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Play more, learn more in Escondido!

I love this street art! It’s painted on an electrical box in front of the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido.

Bright, happy colors. PLAY MORE LEARN MORE. Painted Lady butterflies and flowers watered by a rainbow. A bird, a snail, a ladybug. Two kids perched on a mushroom, reading a book.

Mr. Rogers and his quote: Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.

The artwork is by Paige and Brenda Townsend (@BrilliantSpectrumArt).

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

The Art and Science of Indigo at Mingei Museum.

Next month, on September 14, 2024, a colorful new exhibition will debut at the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park. It’s titled Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo.

As I walked through the Mingei last weekend, I came upon a display that previews the coming exhibit. Glass cases near the museum’s front desk contain exquisite crafts and works of art: blue glass, Shimaoka ceramics, and lapis lazuli colored objects and jewelry.

Blue Gold: The Art and Science of Indigo is one of many exhibitions and programs to be presented in Southern California as part of Getty’s 2024 PST ART initiative. Returning in September 2024 with its latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, this landmark regional event explores the intersections of art and science.

For me, the blue of sky and water and the indigo plant intersects with a feeling of wonder. So much beauty can be found in this world we live in. And much beauty can be created.

Learn more about the upcoming exhibition by clicking here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Painting a super cool mural in City Heights!

San Diego artist Hugo Fernando Fierro (@hoyote) was spray painting a wall in City Heights today. He’s finishing off a huge, super cool mural on the side of Inscriptu: Custom Printing and Laser Engraving Services, at the corner of University Boulevard the 42nd Street.

I learned about this project from Carlos Quezada of Love City Heights, who told me that hopefully more great murals will be appearing in this east San Diego community’s future.

When I arrived to check out the artwork this afternoon, Hugo was taking a break and we struck up a conversation. Not only is he a great muralist (see other City Heights murals painted by Hugo here and here), but he’s an illustrator, video producer and animator.

Check out the artwork’s neon colors, crazy characters and complex, dynamic composition! When I asked for the title of this mural, he said he hadn’t decided yet.

Hugo then stepped onto the lift and began adding black spray paint to the mural, to resemble dripping printer’s ink. The touches of black make the colorful graphics pop even more.

If you look closely at the mural, you’ll see elements that pertain to Inscriptu, a print shop that specializes in large format.

One day local firefighters driving down the street paused to admire the developing artwork. They suggested that a reference to San Diego Fire Station 17 be added. Do you see it?

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Historical mural debuts in downtown Escondido!

An extraordinary mural officially debuted yesterday in downtown Escondido. Back in the Day was painted by local artist and prolific muralist Zane Kingcade on The Photographer’s Eye building, a few steps east of Heritage Park. The mural recalls Escondido as it appeared years ago. Look for this new public art near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Juniper Street.

On Saturday afternoon an enthusiastic group gathered to celebrate the new mural. Escondido’s Mayor White presented long-time resident and author Arlene Cook Shuster with a plaque in appreciation for her generous contribution to the project, then Arlene spoke at length about the historical places depicted in the mural.

We heard the history of the Escondido Lumber, Hay & Grain Company, Sunkist (founded in Escondido!), Shelby’s Grocery, the Times-Advocate, Havens’ Studio, Grape Day, Rube’s Fabulous Country Corner, Homer Heller Ford, The Wagon Wheel, and 15 cent Burgers! We learned that some of the places shown in the mural have vanished entirely, while a few of the old buildings, or remnants of buildings, remain to this day.

Zane Kingcaid then spoke about his creation of the mural–how in the dark of early morning over the course of a couple weeks he sketched images from old photos that were projected onto The Photographer’s Eye building.

Escondido artist Zane Kingcade gestures toward his newly created mural Back in the Day.

Escondido Mayor Dane White introduces Arlene Shuster.

Arlene Cook Shuster tells those who’ve gathered about the history of special places in Escondido.

A special day in Escondido as history is painted into the present.

I also learned that Zane Kingcade recently finished another mural, one block north of Heritage Park on Valley Parkway. The artwork decorates the exterior of Joor Muffler & Complete Auto Service, not far from the big iconic Joor Muffler man! This mural is titled All Roads Lead to Esco.

I had to check it out!

Joor Muffler man.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Art students find magic in everyday things.

The museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido now features an exhibit titled A Practical Guide to Modest Magic.

The premise for the exhibition is brilliant. Art students at colleges in the San Diego region are presented with instructions to find magic in everyday things.

What are some of these instructions? Create an artwork using alchemy or magic to correct a problem. Make a mural commemorating the best day of your life. Create an artwork to say “thank you” for something in your life for which you are grateful. Make a medal or a trophy for someone that you think deserves one. Think of the worst idea you can for an artwork and try to turn it into a good idea. Make a piece of art that attempts to be universally understood as if an alien from another planet would view it thousands of years in the future…

Following assigned instructions, students artistically transform familiar things, and the pieces that result can be very personal or surprising. Human creativity is akin to real magic!

When I visited the museum today I didn’t know what to expect. What you see in these photographs provides a taste of what I found.

A Practical Guide to Modest Magic continues for only one more week. It can be viewed in the museum at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido through August 17, 2024. Then–poof–a moment of rare magic ends.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Rainbow artist brightens world with creative lamps!

A number of local artists were displaying their work today at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. I happened to walk by their event, so I had to check it out.

A display of fun, super creative table lamps immediately caught my eye. I was looking at the multi-media artwork of Rainbow artist Clark Warren.

He’s been assembling these wonderful, whimsical lamps for thirty years, Clark told me. People he knows give him the figurines and other found objects that are incorporated into his wonderful “sculpture” lamps.

He turned one lamp on that looked like a steampunk contraption, and the light continuously changed color. I saw photos of other lamps, including one that rises strangely from a sewing machine. His creativity knows no limits! And he’s too nice!

I wasn’t surprised at all when I learned his work will be exhibited at the Oceanside Museum of Art sometime in 2025.

If you’re interested in the Light Expressions art of Clark Warren, I’ve posted a photo of his business card.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.

Three new murals on Garnet in Pacific Beach!

Check out three colorful murals that I discovered last weekend during a walk down Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach. All three were painted in the past year or so.

The bird mural at Pacific Beach Tattoo, above, is titled The California Least Tern Mural. It was created by artist Todd Murphy. According to a tiny sign that I spied while preparing these photographs, the beautiful mural is dedicated to the community of Pacific Beach on August 12, 2023 with the purpose of promoting conservation and awareness of this local endangered species.

The next photograph shows the latest Guru Tattoo mural. It’s by Bowen Bramwell (@illustrationbybo). Other spray painted Guru Tattoo murals have decorated this same wall in the past. You can see two of them (and other examples of street art in PB) here and here.

Finally, check out this beach scene mural beside the Broken Yolk parking lot. (Is that sandy Coronado Beach with the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in the distance?)

The mural was created by artist Emily Fallon in 2024, in collaboration with San Diego Paint and Stain.

If you’d like to see even more cool street art in Pacific Beach, I’ve photographed a lot of it over the years. Additional examples can be found here and here and here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.