Tag: artists

Joy and creativity thrive in Spanish Village.

Main entrance to Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Main entrance to Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.

One of the most popular attractions in San Diego’s Balboa Park is Spanish Village. Here are a few pics of the colorful courtyard and the quaint studios of local artists that surround it…

Studio 29 in Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Studio 29 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
Peering at artwork in a studio window.
Peering at artwork in a studio window.
Lots of art can be bought from local San Diego artists.
Lots of art can be bought from local San Diego artists.
Live demonstrations by artists can be enjoyed by the public.
Live demonstrations by artists can be enjoyed by the public.
Artist at work outside one studio in Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Artist at work outside one studio in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
Sculpture of dancers in central courtyard.
Sculpture of dancers in central courtyard.
Dogs from one artist's point of view.
Dogs from one artist’s point of view.
Couple explores folksy studios of Spanish Village.
Couple explores folksy studios of Spanish Village.
Art Glass Guild's room of shining color.
Art Glass Guild’s room of shining color.
People converge to see glassblowing in progress.
People converge to see glassblowing in progress.
Workshop inside San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building.
Workshop inside San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building.

The San Diego Mineral and Gem Society has a building in Spanish Village which showcases amazing rock and mineral collections. The lapidary workshop can only be glimpsed when one inside door is open.

Joyful works of art can be found everywhere.
Joyful works of art can be found everywhere.
Funny face greets those exiting toward San Diego Zoo.
Funny face greets those exiting toward San Diego Zoo.

Great artwork on Harbor Island marina gates.

Whales depicted on a Harbor Island marina gate.
Whales depicted on a Harbor Island marina gate.

On Harbor Island, just east of the Hilton, several gates leading down to the marina have metalwork that is really beautiful. Check out these images…

Underwater scene on a marina entrance gate.
Lively underwater scene on a marina entrance gate.
Dolphins decorate a marina gate on Harbor Island.
Dolphins decorate a marina gate on Harbor Island.
Beautiful approach to one gate on Harbor Island marina.
Beautiful approach to one gate at Harbor Island marina.

Stylish street art in a dark, unexpected place.

Elegant street art found on Highway 163 underpass wall.
Elegant street art found on Highway 163 underpass wall.

I was surprised to discover this polished bit of street art in a place where few venture in Mission Valley:  in the darkness under Highway 163, along Camino de la Reina, among graffiti and windblown litter.  Joggers and the homeless pass through here, but not very often.  Who was the artist?  Why did they paint a stylish image in this location?  It’s a mystery!

UPDATE!!!

This morning, February 5th, exactly one day after the first photo was taken, I walked to work again and the street art and graffiti were painted over! I don’t know if this is pure coincidence, or the result of my blog yesterday…

The street art has been painted over!
The street art has been painted over!

Art, music and fun on San Diego’s waterfront!

Street performer on a bench plays guitar and sings.
Street performer on a bench plays guitar and sings.

Enjoyed my walk today. Took a bunch of pics. Street artists and performers use their talents to add zest to the colorful San Diego waterfront.

Silver robotic mime and a frozen high five.
Silver robotic mime and a frozen high five.
Resting on the grass, waiting to sketch a tourist portrait.
Resting on the grass, waiting to sketch a tourist portrait.
Playing a bluesy guitar near Seaport Village.
Playing a bluesy guitar near Seaport Village.
Passersby talk with a funny caricature artist.
Passersby talk with a funny caricature artist.
Man with horn plays Mariachi tunes near the USS Midway.
Man with horn plays Mariachi tunes near the USS Midway.
Little girl on wall awaits a cool twisted balloon creation.
Little girl on wall awaits a cool twisted balloon creation.
Hand painted names make memorable souvenirs.
Hand painted names make memorable souvenirs.
Caricature artist at work on a sunny San Diego day.
Caricature artist at work on a sunny San Diego day.
Birds perch on guitar-playing white statue-man.
Birds perch on guitar-playing white statue-man.
Captain America patrols San Diego's Embarcadero.
Captain America patrols San Diego’s Embarcadero.
Sax player entertains people on San Diego waterfront.
Sax player entertains people on San Diego waterfront.
Artist sells space art and handmade crafts on the Embarcadero.
Artist sells space art and handmade crafts on sidewalk.
A beautiful day by the water put to music.
A beautiful day by the water put to music.

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The dynamic, spiritual chalk art of Steve Mac.

Steve Mac, chalk portrait artist at Seaport Village.
Steve Mac, chalk portrait artist at Seaport Village.

Artists abound along the Embarcadero near Seaport Village. They’ll paint a quick portrait for a modest donation. Today during my walk, I stopped for a bit to chat with Steve Mac.

Steve uses his talent to capture the essence of his subjects. He has a philosophical outlook on life, shunning the material and the ego for the beautiful essence found everywhere around, and within us. About a year and a half ago he had a profound spiritual experience not far from where we spoke, and he woke up from a state of worry and confusion to a spirit-filled life in the now.

Here are a few of his works he had out on display:

Chalk art contains symbols of yin and yang, and the four elements.
Chalk art and symbols of yin and yang, and the four elements.
Serene face between wolves of creativity and destruction.
Serene face between wolves of creativity and destruction.
Sample of colorful double portrait rendered in chalk.
Sample of colorful double portrait rendered in chalk.
Amazing abstract chalk art captures life's essence.
Amazing abstract chalk art captures life’s essence.

I promised to link to his Facebook page.

My favorite sailor my grandpa.

My favorite sailor my grandpa.
My favorite sailor my grandpa.

Hundreds of colorful tiles encircle a large playground at Liberty Station.  Each tile was carefully painted by a child.  This one contains a special message.

Fun mural on Harbor Drive in Barrio Logan.

Fun mural in Barrio Logan shows flag, kids, fruit, a train and birds.
Fun mural in Barrio Logan shows flag, kids, fruit, a train and birds.

Barrio Logan, just south of downtown San Diego, is bursting with huge, colorful street murals.  Several great examples can be found around the intersection of Harbor Drive and Cesar Chavez Parkway.  The one shown in these pics is immediately north of the intersection.

This mural is fairly large, so I’ve broken it up into several photos, moving from left to right.  The first part depicts kids and playful, animated fruit.  This gives way to a scene of a train moving through what appears to be an estuary full of birds.  A narrow panel along the side of the train is made of a shiny, reflective material.

I believe this mural was painted by Salvador Roberto Torres, who was one of the founders of nearby Chicano Park.

Happy faces of kids on San Diego street.
Happy faces of kids on San Diego street.
A big friendly dog painted on building side.
A big friendly dog painted on building side.
These animated fruit are goofing around in this fun Barrio Logan street mural.
These animated fruit are goofing around in this fun Barrio Logan street mural.
A train with silvery windows passes through scene of lagoon with water birds.
A train with silvery windows passes through scene of lagoon with water birds.
Herons and an estuary in mural on Harbor Drive north of Cesar Chavez Parkway
Herons and an estuary in mural on Harbor Drive north of Cesar Chavez Parkway

Cool street art on construction site fence.

Cool street art on construction site fence.
Cool street art on construction site fence.

The other day, while shuffling along what seemed to be an unremarkable sidewalk in downtown San Diego, my legs were suddenly arrested and my eyes transfixed by this awesome street art.  A fun-loving, imaginative artist did a great job of enlivening this construction site fence, which can be found on 8th Avenue just north of Market Street.

Funky characters make for some cool street art.
Funky characters make for some cool street art.
Street art on 8th Avenue in downtown San Diego.
Street art on 8th Avenue in downtown San Diego.

Scenes of people enjoying life in Balboa Park.

Lady plays harp on El Prado in Balboa Park.
Lady plays harp on El Prado in Balboa Park.

Just some photos taken in Balboa Park of people enjoying life.

Glassblower at work in Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Glassblower at work in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
Folks walk past fountain near Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
Folks walk past fountain near Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
Girl tries to grab brass ring on Balboa Park carousel.
Girl tries to grab brass ring on Balboa Park carousel.
Man plays guitar in Spanish Village gazebo.
Man plays guitar in Spanish Village gazebo.
People ride the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad.
People ride the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad.
Street performer plays an Australian didgeridoo.
Street performer plays an Australian didgeridoo.
Two artists on El Prado paint colorful canvases.
Two artists on El Prado paint colorful canvases.
Two young men enjoy slacklining in Balboa Park.
Two young men enjoy slacklining in Balboa Park.
Boy plays with ball while man reads Balboa Park plaque.
Boy plays with ball while man reads Balboa Park plaque.
Man sails small boat near Balboa Park fountain.
Man sails small boat near Balboa Park fountain.
Handmade boat near Balboa Park fountain.
Handmade boat near Balboa Park fountain.

Surreal images transform a Hillcrest sidewalk.

The heart's persistent eye stares out at the city.
The heart’s persistent eye stares out at the city.

An electrical transformer box on the sidewalk near Sixth and Robinson in Hillcrest has been painted with surreal images.  Here are several colorful pics!

Surreal image transforms a Hillcrest sidewalk.
Surreal image transforms a Hillcrest sidewalk.
Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.
Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.