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 and symbols of yin and yang, and the four elements.Serene face between wolves of creativity and destruction.Sample of colorful double portrait rendered in chalk.Amazing abstract chalk art captures life’s essence.
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 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.A big friendly dog painted on building side.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.Herons and an estuary in mural on Harbor Drive north of Cesar Chavez Parkway
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.Street art on 8th Avenue in downtown San Diego.
Just some photos taken in Balboa Park of people enjoying life.
Glassblower at work in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.Folks walk past fountain near Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.Girl tries to grab brass ring on Balboa Park carousel.Man plays guitar in Spanish Village gazebo.People ride the Balboa Park Miniature Railroad.Street performer plays an Australian didgeridoo.Two artists on El Prado paint colorful canvases.Two young men enjoy slacklining in Balboa Park.Boy plays with ball while man reads Balboa Park plaque.Man sails small boat near Balboa Park fountain.Handmade boat near Balboa Park fountain.
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.Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.
Roof of Broadway Pier’s beautiful Port Pavilion and clouds in blue sky.
I really like the above photo. That’s the rooftop of the relatively new Port Pavilion at San Diego’s Broadway Pier. I got this colorful pic while standing to the south on nearby Navy Pier.
Until recently the Broadway Pier was a bit barren. Years ago I remember a small two-level observation structure in the middle, with some potted trees arranged about it.
The pier itself was built in 1919. It has been used by the Navy, the local fishing fleet, and even the royal yacht Britannia during a visit in 1983 by Queen Elizabeth. Today the pavilion accommodates special events and cruise ships.
Broadway Pier and downtown San Diego skyscrapers.
This second photo puts that rooftop in context. What a gorgeous December day!
Here comes a third pic taken on a summer day. The silvery stainless steel artwork on the building’s facade was created by internationally renowned artist and lighting designer Leni Schwendinger. It’s called Tidal Radiance.
The shining public art appears like sunlight reflected from rippling water. It also lights up at night.
Tidal Radiance on front of Port Pavilion, facing Harbor Drive.
Here’s another pic taken on a later day just for fun…
Water, pier piles, harbor cruise boat and the beautiful pavilion.
And, finally, two more! The last photo, taken in early October 2014, shows colorful umbrellas and tables recently added near the foot of the Broadway Pier.
Very nice!
Altered photo of the glittering Tidal Radiance.Tables and umbrellas have been added near the foot of the Broadway Pier.
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This friendly guy was playing the guitar while sitting on the bridge that crosses Balboa Park’s reflecting pool. (If you can call it a bridge–it’s just a walkway, really.)
This Sunday afternoon’s free concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion featured two of this year’s Spreckels Organ Scholarship winners! The scholarship is provided by the Spreckels Organ Society to promising young organists. Both young ladies who played were terrific!
This photo was taken as I entered the pavilion. Lots of folks were out and about on this beautiful sunny day, and a fair number of people were enjoying the music on the benches.
Here’s a pic of Trinity Schulz speaking to the crowd. She then went on to play “How Firm a Foundation”.
This pic shows Suzy Webster. She played a fun “Chopsticks for Organ”, and then Prelude and Fugue in C Minor, by J.S. Bach.
Cool San Diego Sights! 