Today I spotted this cool new mural outside Pokez Mexican Restaurant during a walk through San Diego’s East Village. It’s by artist CALEB AERO (@calebaero).
I don’t see this mural on the artist’s Instagram page, but a couple of people who seemed knowledgeable, including someone working inside the restaurant, indicated this artwork was painted several months ago.
…
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 Twitter!
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have made their official debut in San Diego!
The famous character with two personas and two names, originally created by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, has been recreated in downtown San Diego. His two halves–the good and the evil–occupy a mysterious cabinet inside the studio of artist James Watts (@jewattso)!
Early this year I found James Watts working on his inspired Jekyll and Hyde cabinet in his utterly fantastic studio, and I posted photos and a little explanation here. This afternoon I beheld the finished creation!
Like any work of true art, the cabinet and its contents ignite mind, emotions and imagination. What does it all mean? A few suggestive words were provided by the artist.
On the rear of the cabinet is the image of a baby, symbolic of innocence, before choices are made in life…
Here’s the front of the mysterious cabinet with its sliding door. The cloud designs are influenced by Japanese art. Which side of the cabinet do you dare open first?
Here we have Dr. Jekyll, made of sailcloth sewn by hand. He’s wrapped up in tidy fashion, sitting politely and civilized.
On the opposite side lurks violent Mr. Hyde. He appears inhuman, hard and boney, and he has a hole in his head and heart!
James Watts then showed me how he’s working on a cool finger project now. He’s whittling lots of different fingers.
One can use one’s own fingers to pick among fingers…
James Watts works on new fingers on the sidewalk outside his downtown San Diego studio!
…
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 Twitter!
Today, May 6, was annual national Free Comic Book Day!
Southern California Comics in Kearny Mesa held a big event celebrating the day, and I dropped by to see what I might see. (And to pick up a big bag of free comic books! Later arrivals were allowed to grab 15 comics. I have some reading to do!)
In the parking lot outside the store a number of small vendors were selling all sorts of pop culture collectibles, and independent artists were showcasing their original creations.
I wandered a bit and spoke to some of the friendly artists.
One thing that was obvious is these people are driven by dreams and ambition and a relentless passion to create. As an author of short fiction, I can relate.
No matter what level of success any artist might achieve, it’s good to remember these words by Frida Kahlo: “I paint flowers so they will not die.”
Every artist has the ability to work that magic.
I really like the work of Ruben Rosas. He does illustration and digital art. See some of his stuff here.
I learned there’s a group of artists who call themselves the Comicbook Artists of San Diego. The two guys who greeted me were super friendly. According to their website: CASD was founded with the intention of building a local community of comicbook artists to foster artistic growth and to showcase their artwork. They want to put San Diego on the artistic map!
More cool artists! These smiling humans are two of the creators of Accidental Aliens, a local comic art studio! Check them out here. A description of their 2nd Shift Volume 1 includes: When evil incarnate tears through San Diego, four fledgling superheroes band together…
Oh, look! It’s Horrorgasm! I once saw an exhibition of their art at the Comic-Con Museum here.
It appears Ronald McDonald has traveled to Free Comic Book Day from a galaxy far, far away.
Great cosplay. And an earnest pitch to check out the 60 Pages 14 Creative Teams 1 Big Punk Rock Comic Kickstarter page here!
…
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 Twitter!
Before heading up to Southern California Comics in Kearny Mesa for their big event, I enjoyed a random walk around Pacific Beach, my eyes searching for street art I haven’t photographed before.
Street art–any art that is seen while heading down the street (as I define it)–is often very similar to art you’ll find in a comic book. It’s usually bold, colorful, impactful and memorable. Whether it’s on a wall, sidewalk utility box, above a door or in a window, it’s art that quickly grabs and engages attention!
These images represent my walk a short distance north on Ingraham Street, then west along Garnet Avenue nearly to Mission Boulevard. Some of the art is faded and obviously years old. Some appears to be more recent.
Art on the street is ever changing, with a life of its own…
…
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 Twitter!
I met the above super cool people today. They had a table at Fangaea Con 2023 in San Diego. They are four creators of a budding animated web series: Buck Bastard.
These makers of Official Monkey Business were among the friendliest, most outgoing, most enthusiastic people I’ve met at any pop culture convention. We talked for a bit and I learned about a new character they are bringing to life: the would-be hero Buck Bastard!
We talked about the characteristics of Buck Bastard. From what I could gather, he wants to become a larger-than-life intergalactic hero in order to gain a desperately needed sense of self worth. And in so doing he actually becomes a hero.
You can get the gist of the character by watching the first produced episode of Buck Bastard here.
I love complex, character-driven stories and this particular concept. I’m positive Buck Bastard will develop into something special!
Check out Buck Bastard’s first short adventure “Hammer Time” by clicking here! And consider providing these passionate creators with a little support!
…
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 Twitter!
Fangaea Con 2023 is underway in San Diego! Every imaginable pop culture fandom has gathered together to enjoy, share and celebrate their passion for creativity!
It was exciting to see that a really good crowd had already gathered before noontime at the Scottish Rite Event Center in Mission Valley. I wandered through several large rooms jam-packed with artists, vendors selling art and collectibles, autograph-signing celebrities, local fan groups, and a whole lot of great cosplay!
I learned this is the fourth Fangaea Con event–the first in a couple of years unencumbered by difficulties brought on by COVID.
It seems manga and anime might be the most popular fandoms at this event, but I also noticed a love for traditional superheroes, science fiction (yes, Star Wars in particular), fantasy, and every type of gaming. What intrigued me most were the many original characters and stories brought to life by talented creators.
Diverse activities at Fangaea Con include a cosplay workshop, a Pochita plush sew along, and how to create a supervillain!
If you read this blog in time, you’ll be glad to know Fangaea Con continues through 10 pm tonight! Head on down!
…
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 Twitter!
The big annual Without Walls Festival, presented by the La Jolla Playhouse in association with the San Diego Symphony, is taking place all this weekend at the Rady Shell!
Today after work I headed behind the San Diego Convention Center to Embarcadero Marina Park South where very unique outdoor performances and activities could be freely enjoyed!
I saw many families and theatre lovers enjoying music, food, and of course, the intriguing productions.
One play involves the actual recreational vehicle used by an actress during COVID, and her strong experiences during a cross-country expedition.
Interactive activities include exploring the inspiration behind a Mexican restaurant in Barrio Logan, negotiation between yourself and a stranger that might result in personal transformation, an imaginative playscape for children, an immense puzzle whose solution requires collective cooperation, thought-provoking artwork beside the water of San Diego Bay, and the chance to mingle among gigantic, stilt-walking puppets that resemble birds from prehistoric times! WOW, indeed!
Learn all about the what and where and when by clicking here.
…
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 Twitter!
I saw some of the artwork during my own Friday morning walk through Piazza della Famiglia and Piazza Basilone. Artists were being interviewed by a television reporter to promote the event. I snapped a few fun pics as I passed by!
Looks like the annual Art Walk will be great fun as usual! Come down to Little Italy this weekend and support local artists!
…
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 Twitter!
The first three murals decorate fences in San Ysidro’s Cultural Corridor, which is located on Cypress Drive, north of San Ysidro Boulevard and south of the trolley tracks.
First up is one I really like.
If you’re curious about the image, CBX is the Cross Border Xpress pedestrian bridge that connects Tijuana International Airport with a terminal in San Diego…
Next up is a mural with many diverse characters that was painted this year by Yvette Roman (@yvette_roman).
Right beside it is another mural by Yvette Roman…
Finally, here’s a super colorful street mural spray painted on a building’s side and adjacent construction wall. I spotted the artwork on San Ysidro Boulevard a bit west of Cypress Drive…
…
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 Twitter!
What is Trino’s World? It’s a world of cartoon fun that opened today at San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park!
Trino is the “pen” name of popular, award-winning Mexican cartoonist José Trinidad Camacho. You might recognize some his wacky characters.
With his humorous, often irreverent art, Trino both lampoons and celebrates Mexican life. I noticed that his subjects include lucha libre, movies, soccer, politics, ordinary people…
The funny thing is, his humor can provoke laughter from just about everybody. His wry illustrations can resonate with many. Human foibles seem to be universal.
The cool artwork on display for Trino’s World comes from the artist’s personal collection. This is the first exhibition of Trino art in a United States museum.
…
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 Twitter!
Cool San Diego Sights! 