Tag: balboa park

Waka poems as art at Japanese Friendship Garden.

Waka poems are a type of poetry in classical Japanese literature. A waka poem is unique in that it consists of 31 syllables.

An exhibit at the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park contains examples of waka from Japan’s Heian period (794 – 1185) written in kana script. Each composition is beautiful, not merely as a poem, but as a visual work of art.

The exhibition is titled Love Letters from the Heian Period — Emotions in 31 Syllables.

A sign in the garden’s Exhibit Hall explains: “Among the aristocracy of the time, romantic relationships often began through the exchange of waka… Since men and women had limited opportunities to meet in person, emotions were conveyed through poetry…”

Learn more about this exhibition at the JFG website here.

I was completely unaware of this type of poetry before visiting the garden today. Spellbound, I stood before the examples on display and read translations of each Japanese poem.

The English translations do not contain 31 syllables, obviously, but they definitely convey feelings indicative of romance. I noticed these wakas often employ metaphors taken from nature.

Here are a few of the translations:

There are many villages where the cuckoo bird sings. It’s a bird that I find attractive, but I don’t feel close to it. I like it, but it’s not mine, so I feel a bit jealous. Poet: The Tales of Ise

I won’t allow you to meet me, even if you imitate the crow of a rooster before dawn. Poet: Sei Shōnagon

I was dying to see you, but after I met you I want to live forever. Poet: Fujiwara no Yoshitaka

Should my heart waver and betray our love, then even the impassable waves of a tsunami would cross over the mountains. In other words, I would never be unfaithful. Poet: Author unknown.

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Historical folk dance art in San Diego!

Last weekend the annual Harvest Festival at the Balboa Park Club featured folk dance and dancing workshops. Sadly, few people arrived for an event that has greatly faded in popularity over the years. I’m told young people are no longer taught folk dancing in school, as they once were years ago.

Shortly after entering the Balboa Park Club building, I discovered historical art painted on old signs, from the days when folk dancing brought both young and old together for a fun social gathering.

I learned that the wonderful graphics in my first photos were painted to promote the now defunct Kayso Folk Dance Club, which thrived in San Diego back in the 70’s and 80s. A gentleman named Kayso, originally from Armenia, painted the costumed dancing figures himself. The images might have become a bit worn over the years, but they still have great personality!

I also love the following old sign, which I learned is from the 1950s. It promotes the Cabrillo International Folk Dance Club, which is still alive and well!

The International Dance Association of San Diego County has a website here that lists dance clubs currently operating in Balboa Park and elsewhere around the city. You’ll find many opportunities to learn different dances, and to dance at every level of experience!

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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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Visitors to Timken museum Make the Sun Shine!

How often do you see artwork made by visitors to a fine art museum–displayed prominently at that museum?

Should you visit the Timken Museum of Art in Balboa Park, that’s what you’ll find!

Composed of squares decorated by visitors to the museum, Make the Sun Shine is displayed in the Timken’s elegant Central Gallery.

Marisol Rendón, the museum’s resident artist this summer, furnished the golden circles, and the public, using markers, stamps and pens, created the surrounding rays. People took their inspiration from the many masterpieces that fill the museum galleries.

I was told Make the Sun Shine will be on view for a few more weeks.

The amazing Timken Museum of Art is always free to the public. It might be small, but it’s loaded with Old Master masterpieces. In fact, it’s the only museum in San Diego with a Rembrandt in its permanent collection.

Look how beautiful these shining suns are!

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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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Mexican Independence Day celebrated at Old Globe!

Here’s a collection of photographs for you to enjoy. I took them in Balboa Park today. Mexican Independence Day was celebrated in the Old Globe’s outdoor Copley Plaza!

I lingered for a little over an hour, listening to rousing mariachi music and watching joyful, colorful baile folklórico dancing.

A good crowd at tables around the outdoor stage enjoyed free Mexican candies and played Mexican lotería too! Many families enjoyed the festivities!

Anyone wandering about could also check out artists at their table. I recognized Maricruz Alvarado! You can see some of her beautiful work here and here!

What entertainment did I enjoy at this great Mexican Independence Day Celebration? Música Del Barrio with their pre-show music, Mariachi Continental SD, DanzArts folklórico dance, and the Radican Ensamble choir. There would be even more groups after I left to resume my Balboa Park walk.

The cultural celebration was produced by the Old Globe’s AXIS performing arts public engagement program. Learn more about AXIS 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.

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Join the 2025 Walk in Remembrance with Hope.

The 19th Annual Walk in Remembrance with Hope will be held in San Diego tomorrow morning, Sunday, September 14, 2025.

The Walk in Remembrance with Hope celebrates the lives of loved ones lost to suicide. It also raises awareness about suicide prevention.

The walkers and others will gather in Balboa Park on the grass near Sixth Avenue, south of Laurel Street. Registration begins at 7 am.

I met the good people setting up for the event this afternoon. The Walk in Remembrance with Hope is organized by Survivors of Suicide Loss. See their website here.

All ages, friends, family and pets are welcome to join! Start a team and invite your friends & family, or walk individually.

The event is a helpful resource fair, too, with vendor booths and more.

Even if you’ve never been personally affected by the tragedy of suicide, you can still help out these good people with a donation. Make your donation 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.

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March of Transportation mural in Balboa Park.

Visitors inside the world-famous San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park should look up. Not only will they see amazing aircraft exhibits suspended from the ceiling, but they might notice a very long mural painted along the museum’s circular inner wall.

The March of Transportation mural was created in 1936 for the California Pacific International Exposition. At over 9,300 square feet, it’s the largest mural of its kind found in North and South America.

Because so many cool aviation displays are jammed into the museum, I found it difficult to photograph large segments of the mural. But I’ve captured several glimpses, so you can get the idea of how the art appears.

A couple years ago I photographed the very end of the mural, which depicts futuristic forms of transportation (as conceived almost a hundred years ago). You can see those photos here.

Several murals decorated the Ford Building during the California Pacific Exposition in 1935. After the Exposition, the Ford Motor Company deeded the building to the City of San Diego for use as the “Great Hall of Transportation.” In preparation for the 1936 Exposition, this large mural was commissioned to express the theme–“The March of Transportation.”

The 1936 “Great Hall of Transportation” exhibits included vehicles of all ages, from reed boats, to the locomotive, to the concepts of air and space travel. The mural, 18 feet high, continues along the inner circular wall for 468 feet…

Master Artist Juan Larrinaga served as the Art Director for the 1935 and 1936 Expositions. He was assisted by New York illustrator, Charles B. Falls, and artists P.T. Blackburn, Mahlan Blane and Nicolas Reveles. Larrinaga labored long hours to produced the drawings from the artist assistants to fill in. More than 40 persons eventually contributed their talent and energy to the completion of the mural.

After years of deterioration, the building began a restoration in 1977. In 1979 the mural, too, was restored.

While this artwork depicts world history, it is also an important part of San Diego’s uniquely rich history.

So go visit the San Diego Air & Space Museum . . . and look up!

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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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Amazing transformation coming to Balboa Park!

An amazing transformation is coming soon to Balboa Park!

Hopefully by Thanksgiving, definitely in time for December Nights I’m told, the front entrance of the Municipal Gymnasium will be radically altered. The historic building will more closely resemble how it appeared when it debuted in 1935 as the Palace of Electricity and Varied Industries during the California Pacific International Exhibition!

A construction fence in front of the Municipal Gymnasium was put up recently. Today I spotted workers atop the building’s marquee preparing the structure for its monumental transformation!

What will this amazing change look like when completed?

Click here and here to enjoy a preview, and learn more!

UPDATE!

A week later, I noticed the following changes. First, a descriptive sign appeared on the construction fence…

Municipal Gym Façade Restoration sign includes historical photo.

Second, markings have been made above the building’s marquee, in the space where the large bronze mural will be mounted…

ANOTHER UPDATE!

And a few days later…

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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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Sunday at Balboa Park 90th Anniversary Celebration!

A big festival continued today in San Diego’s Balboa Park. All weekend, the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages celebrated their 90th Anniversary!

Plenty of cultural entertainment could be experienced by park visitors at both the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the International Cottages.

I took photographs on Saturday–the event’s first day. See those photos by clicking here and here.

Today, Sunday, I returned to Balboa Park to enjoy more of the anniversary celebration!

Here comes a selection of photos…

I watched a traditional dance performance at the International Cottages, presented by the House of Peru…

A bit later, I watched these radiant dancers presented by the House of Philippines…

I ventured into the House of Denmark, hoping to find another Danish hot dog like the one I devoured yesterday. I found a scrumptious dream cake (drømmekage in Danish) instead! I love coconut!

Inside the Hall of Nations, the House of Czech and Slovak Republics had an interesting display.

Their cottage, damaged badly by a falling eucalyptus tree months ago, is being repaired by the City of San Diego. Looking good!

Members of the House of China offered to write visitor names in Chinese!

I headed over the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 2 pm for the Sunday entertainment, which would include the Spreckels Organ.

Umbrellas could be rented at the Spreckels Organ Society membership table. It was a very warm day in San Diego’s early September sunshine!

Super cool (and talented) San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez smiled for a photo!

A very special concert begins with the National Anthem. San Diego celebrates the 90th anniversary of the International Cottages in Balboa Park!

I hear drums and bagpipes behind us…

Here comes the House of Scotland Pipe Band! They file between the benches to the organ pavilion stage…

Scottish music marches by and steps onto the stage…

Booming drums, bagpipes and the mighty Spreckels Organ–world’s largest outdoor instrument. What an incredible combination!

If this doesn’t get your blood moving, nothing will!

After several rousing performances, the band files off the stage…

Next comes the House of Germany Choir. Several songs include the favorite Edelweiss.

Then I enjoyed beautiful selections sung by the Damekor Scandinavian Choir. The musical group includes members of House of Pacific Relations nation Houses representing Scandinavia.

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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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A big 90th Anniversary Celebration in Balboa Park!

A big, wonderful event is taking place this weekend in Balboa Park. It’s the HPR 90th Anniversary Celebration. The International Cottages are celebrating nine decades of promoting mutual understanding among the people of the world, and working for peace.

The many members of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages are offering cultural entertainment all weekend long, including tomorrow–Sunday. I enjoyed much of the festivities today–Saturday–and took these photos.

The event began with the Parade of Flags. I already shared photos of the parade here.

Following the colorful procession, our attention was directed to the stage of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

After everyone stood for the beautifully sung National Anthem, the Red Warrior Singers sang, and the presidents of the member nations of the House of Pacific Relations stood for well-deserved recognition.

The House of Pacific Relations added four new nation members this year! Their mission is to foster understanding, tolerance and goodwill among all people. Diverse people have come together in San Diego for the greater good of humanity.

Human diversity could be experienced in the cultural entertainment, which then commenced.

First up, the House of Vietnam…

Next up, the House of Poland…

I then wandered over to the International Cottages lawn, where I found many happy people enjoying food, the open cottages, and various exhibits…

I confess I ate a Danish hotdog. Super yummy!

Yokohama, one of San Diego’s Sister Cities, was represented at one table.

I learned the San Diego International Film Festival is coming up, October 15-19.

The San Diego Beamers were up on stage providing live music…

The House of Chamorros had a display concerning slinging, which is an ancient and ongoing tradition of the Chamorro people. A friendly guy was demonstrating how to use a sling on the grass behind their cottage…

I then wandered back to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. More dance, and beautiful, inspirational singing, by the House of Ukraine…

I left for home early, as the Saturday programming would continue on at the cottages until 5 pm.

Sunday’s programming will also feature cultural entertainment, food and fun. If you go, check out the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the International Cottages between 11 am and 5 pm. You’ll love it!

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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!

Parade of Flags celebrates 90 years in Balboa Park!

Balboa Park’s International Cottages are celebrating their 90th anniversary this weekend! They were established in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition.

The festivities kicked off today with the House of Pacific Relations International Cottage Parade of Flags!

Members of all the different Houses paraded through Balboa Park, to finally assemble at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Many participants wore traditional dress, representative of their nation.

Shame on me. I didn’t realize the parade was today. I was fortunate to catch the tail end of the colorful parade, as some of the nations filed proudly into the organ pavilion.

If you’re curious, that’s the House of Scotland Pipe Band with their drums and bagpipes under the huge United States flag. They were joined by young members of the Helix High School Highlanders band!

After the parade, there would be the National Anthem, speeches and cultural entertainment on the organ pavilion stage, then on the lawn at the International Cottages. (I’ll share those photos in my next blog post.)

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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!