Tag: artists

Meowseum of Fine A(rt) comes to San Diego!

The Meowseum of Fine A(rt) has brought a purrfectly wonderful exhibit to San Diego. Visitors to the San Diego County Fair have the rare opportunity to view amazing masterpieces inside the Pets Rock Live on Tour theme exhibit!

A sign near the famous paintings explains: In The Meowseum of Fine A(rt), explore a sweeping retrospective of feline creativity–from purr-impressionist masterpieces to post-litterbox minimalism. This groundbreaking exhibit showcases how cats have redefined the art world through disruption, lounging, and high-concept box installations. Each work captures the eternal struggle between the feline spirit and the constraints of the hooman-designed world.

Examples of the stunning artwork that visitors will gaze upon…

Girl with a Purrl Earring, by Johan Vermeower.
Mewna Lisa, by Leanardough da Vinci.
The Meow, by Ed-purred Meow-nch.
Vincent Van Grrr (Self-Pawtrait)
Cubist Cat Cuddles, by Pawblo Picatso.
Sunpurrs, by Vincent Van Gough-Away-I’m-Napping.
The Kibble Kiss, by Gustav Klimpt.

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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.

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Pets in fine art at San Diego County Fair!

A popular attraction at the San Diego County Fair is the Exhibition of Fine Art on the first floor of Grandstand East. The fair’s theme in 2025 is our love for pets, so it isn’t surprising many of the fine art entries depict beloved animals.

The exhibition is extensive and broken up into many categories based on media and subject matter. Artists who’ve submitted their work, hoping for a blue ribbon, are from many walks of life all around San Diego County. When I checked out the exhibition, I couldn’t help noticing pets were a common subject, and not just dogs and cats. I saw rabbits, parrots and other critters!

There are pet portraits, pets painted humorously, pet abstracts! If you have a pet or simply love animals, the art will definitely put a smile on your face.

I photographed random examples that I really like…

Look who I met as I left the fine art exhibit. Woof and Meow!

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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.

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Pet chalk art at San Diego County Fair!

Three panels of awesome chalk art welcome people arriving at Grandstand East during the 2025 San Diego County Fair. The theme of the fair this year is “Summer Pet-Tacular” and images of dogs, cats and other non-human friends are all over the Del Mar Fairgrounds!

Stay tuned for the next day or two. I’ll be sharing fun photos of pet art that I found and like! Other stuff, too!

First, check out this incredible chalk art!

Three dogs ride a roller coaster at the San Diego County Fair. Chalk art by Meg and Toni Canilang.
A party hat cat! Chalk art by Katie Bush.
Two friends among flowers. Chalk art by Maribeth McFaul.

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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.

Feel free to share!

ArtReach mural in Hillcrest: Ignite Creativity!

IGNITE CREATIVITY proclaims this fun, very colorful mural in Hillcrest. It was painted last year on the side of ArtReach San Diego‘s building on University Avenue.

Information in a nearby window indicates the mural’s lead artists were Esteban Sanchez, Isabel Halpern and Ian Stiles-Mikl, and that over 200 community members helped to paint it.

ArtReach is an inclusive and welcoming place where art is transformative. Youth who participate in ArtReach programs can turn their dreams to reality.

As the organization’s website explains: Through artmaking, young people find a powerful outlet to express themselves, process emotions, and build self-esteem—all while forming bonds with their peers in a nurturing yet inspiring environment.

I took these photos about a week ago during a walk through Hillcrest.

Over the years I’ve photographed many ArtReach public art projects all around San Diego. To see those very creative murals, click here or here or here or here or here or here or here.

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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.

Feel free to share!

Island of Misfit Toys appears on Silver Strand!

The Island of Misfit Toys has magically appeared at Silver Strand State Beach!

The sandy “island,” where beach toys await boys and girls, is open to all comers near the State Beach’s lifeguard building!

The delightful toy chest you see in my photos was built about a month ago by Silver Strand State Beach maintenance personnel. It was painted beautifully with local and related natural scenes by talented artist Victoria.

The open chest is is full of lost toys that have been found on the beach, like shovels and pails used to build sandcastles. Families visiting the beach can borrow the toys which might otherwise have been discarded.

A wonderful idea!

By the way, everyone I spoke with at Silver Strand State Beach today was super friendly! You all are awesome!

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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.

Feel free to share!

Pet mural at Lazy Eye Coffee in North Park!

Here’s a really fun mural in North Park! The faces of pets have been painted on a wall at Lazy Eye Coffee. The artist is Hanna.

The artwork is filled with expressive dogs and cats–most radiate love, but one pooch appears devilish!

Emblazoned on the mural is Let’s Get Lazy. Sounds good to me! (Wait a minute. Doesn’t caffeine have the opposite effect?)

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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.

Feel free to share!

Inspiring mural at The Chrysalis in Barrio Logan.

Should you walk along Main Street in Barrio Logan, you might see this inspiring mural. It depicts a heart sprouting butterfly wings.

The mural is painted at The Chrysalis: Monarch Center for the Arts, a 6,000 square foot arts space in Barrio Logan with a dedicated 100-seat theatre, dance studio, visual art classroom, and storefront gallery.

Before the butterfly comes the chrysalis. According to their website: We envision a world where youth and adults use the tools and resources of the arts to help imagine, create, and build the vibrant and successful life they desire and deserve.

The Chrysalis is home to Creative Youth Development and Community Programs. As the beautiful mural suggests, it is a place filled with positivity and hope.

A poster in the window encourages people to “Host your next event in our space!” Why not support people who strive to help youth and the community?

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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.

Feel free to share!

Birds of Mission Hills street art debuts!

An effort at urban revitalization is underway in Mission Hills. The Mission Hills Business Improvement District is beautifying electrical boxes with its Birds of Mission Hills Wayfinding Art Box Project!

Last weekend artist Becca Dwyer painted three utility boxes at the intersection of Goldfinch Street and Fort Stockton Drive. Bright goldfinches now appear on the corner near the Meshuggah Shack!

The Mission Hills Business Improvement District aims to repaint many of the boxes in the community.

Walking around today, I noticed most of the electrical boxes I photographed nine years ago along Washington Street are badly faded and really could use a refresh. The cool thing is, the street art that is coming will reflect Mission Hill’s bird street names. Yes, from Albatross to Dove to Goldfinch and etcetera, birds will be the subject!

I look forward to seeing the new art!

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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.

Feel free to share!

Beautiful mural at 7-Eleven celebrates Encinitas!

There’s a very beautiful mural on a long wall at the 7-Eleven in Leucadia. Look for it at 1766 North Coast Highway 101.

The mural, celebrating Encinitas and some of its landmarks, was painted by Kevin Anderson. The artwork is set back from the Coast Highway, behind the 7-Eleven store and its gas pumps. It’s easy to miss.

The mural shows the world-famous Swami’s surf break, the Self-Realization Fellowship’s iconic Golden Lotus Towers, and other sights one might find in Encinitas!

Enjoy some photos…

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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.

Feel free to share!

The lively Home mural at Liberty Station!

How can you not love this colorful mural at Point Loma’s Liberty Station? It was created in 2023 for the arched passage between Barracks 14 and 15.

The over 2,500 square foot mural, designed by local Chicana artist Scarlett Baily, is titled Home. The installation was painted by many in the community.

According to a nearby plaque, it bridges the history of the Naval Training Center with regional indigenous maritime culture. Native flora and fauna stage the celebration of San Diego’s heritage and acknowledge the generations that have called Point Loma home…

You can’t help smiling as you walk up to and through this lively artwork!

I see faces, flowers, a whale, seagulls, a heron, even a sea lion!

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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.

Feel free to share!