Tag: balboa park

A Whale of a Tale appears in Balboa Park!

In the middle of Balboa Park’s colorful Spanish Village Art Center, a whale is flukes up, ready for a dive! The whale’s surprising presence has a story behind it. A whale of a tale!

A Whale of a Tale is the title of the sculpture, which was created by Sergey Gornushkin, member of the San Diego Sculptor’s Guild. I was told the sculpture was placed in Spanish Village Art Center about a month ago.

The artist has provided an explanation for his creation in a sign at the sculpture’s base. It describes Sergey Gornushkin’s trip to Guerrero Negro in Baja California, where he and his son encountered over 30 gray whales. The friendly giants came right up to their boat, looking artist and son directly in the eye.

A very real and magical tale!

A Whale of a Tale seemed strangely familiar when I spotted it today. Turns out I shared photographs of this sculpture when I first saw it a year ago displayed in downtown Vista. Click here to see that.

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San Diego readies for America 250!

Walking around San Diego the past week or so, I’ve seen signs that the city is getting ready for the big America 250 celebration. The 250th anniversary of the United States is coming up on Saturday, July 4th–Independence Day!

I’ve been taking photos of things that concern America’s birthday. Here’s what I’ve found so far, including event information you might find useful…

In Old Town:

In Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, an Old-Fashioned 4th of July will include a flag raising ceremony, live music, art, lawn games, a watermelon eating contest, a quilt raffle, and loads of free family fun. The patriotic event starts at 11 am and continues to 3 pm.

In the Marriott Marina:

At the Coronado Ferry Landing:

At the San Diego County Fair:

In Coronado at the VFW:

At a hotel and restaurant in East Village:

I forget where:

In Balboa Park:

In Balboa Park, the House of USA will present America’s 250th 4th of July Celebration! There will be food, dancing, music and patriotic fervor! It all takes places at the International Cottages from 11 am to 4 pm.

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Free summer concerts in Balboa Park!

San Diego band 8 Track Highway filled Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion with classic 70s and 80s rock ‘n roll music this evening, and the concert was free! Do you know about the concert series Twilight in the Park?

During the summer, Tuesday through Thursday, a wide variety of musical performers entertain all comers for free up on the stage of the historic Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Concerts last one hour, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm.

It’s the 45th anniversary of Twilight in the Park. Can you believe it? They’re providing 28 concerts this year–right through the end of August.

Offerings include everything from Jazz to Blues to Zydeco to Classic Country to Musicals to Oldies to Funk, to songs by the Beatles, the Pretenders, Santana and much more! You can see the upcoming schedule (and perhaps help them out with a donation) by clicking here.

This year Twilight in the Park is partnering with Save Starlight, the organization working to revitalize the Starlight Bowl amphitheater in Balboa Park. Their mission is to repurpose San Diego’s abandoned historic Starlight Bowl, restoring and modernizing the facility under community collaboration into an inclusive and innovative interaction of arts, culture, and education for all.

With the help of the San Diego community, Save Starlight has been making progress toward their goal.

I’ve supported the organization over the years. I have great memories of the Starlight Bowl from my youth.

One way you can help revive the Starlight Bowl is by becoming a Legacy Donor. Among other perks, you’ll get a personalized star on the Walk of Fame and a commemorative plaque on the Donor Wall! And you’ll help bring one of San Diego’s most iconic outdoor venues back to life!

To learn more about Save Starlight and many different opportunities, visit their website here!

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Centennial Time Capsule buried in Balboa Park!

San Diego’s amazing cultural hub, Balboa Park, is the ideal location for a time capsule. Years ago I photographed one such time capsule in the House of Hospitality’s courtyard. Find that photo here.

Another time capsule was placed in Balboa Park in 2015. Why 2015? That was Balboa Park’s centennial!

This particular 24-inch stainless steel time capsule was buried near the Old Globe, in the Craig Noel Garden. (The shady garden under the California Tower has comfortable benches for relaxation–a place I often visit.)

You might ask: When people open the Centennial Time Capsule in 2115, what will they find? This article explains. Artifacts include a letter from President Obama, cultural artifacts, and documents from eleven Balboa Park institutions.

Will Balboa Park be much different almost a century from now? Changes large and small are certainly coming. Hopefully the park remains just as magical and beautiful.

A plaque tops the buried capsule. It reads:

This Centennial Time Capsule is presented to the citizens of San Diego, to be unearthed during the 2115 Bicentennial of our beloved Balboa Park. Contents include artifacts depicting our lives, times and culture. May it see light at a time of peace, joy and celebration.

Patrons of the Prado is committed to raising funds to benefit eleven arts and science institutions on the Prado in Balboa Park, and for programs that provide educational access for San Diego school children to the world-class treasures of Balboa Park, inspiring cultural fluency for future generations.

Patrons of the Prado

November 16, 2015

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Cool, historical Sarao jeepney in San Diego!

This was the coolest thing I saw all day! An old Sarao jeepney, displayed at the International Cottages in Balboa Park during the House of the Philippines lawn program!

Take a look at these photos!

The super fun jeepneys are slowly disappearing in the Philippines. This particular one was built in 1964 and awaits restoration. Incidentally, you can help with its restoration. Check out its dedicated website here.

Jeepneys started as abandoned World War II jeeps that were converted into mini-buses. The unique vehicles feature all sorts of bright, colorful decoration, and can be considered objects of folk art. Sarao Motors created jeepneys with metal horses standing atop the hood!

This jeepney has a complex history, including being part of a museum exhibit. A sign that was posted nearby details a campaign to restore this beauty, in anticipation of it being used in parades and festivals, or as a tourist attraction, or as an open air shuttle or party bus rental.

Enlarge my photograph of the sign to find an email address.

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Flag Day colors in Balboa Park.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day.

I enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon in Balboa Park. Could I find anything related to Flag Day as I wandered about the park?

This year there seemed to be no special activities for the day, but I did observe the red, white and blue in various forms…

I knew there would be colorful red, white and blue inside the House of USA at the International Cottages! There was a friendly greeting, too!

I learned they’ll be having a lawn program for the Fourth of July.

Now resuming my walk into the Palisades area of Balboa Park…

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Local artists reimagine San Diego Museum of Art.

I absolutely love this exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art!

Local artists have reimagined the Spanish Colonial Revival façade of the museum, an iconic landmark in the heart of Balboa Park.

The exhibition in Gallery 6 is titled Local Visions: Reimagining the Façade. What a perfect way to help celebrate the SDMA Centennial! The art is on view through July 26, 2026.

The participating artists are Stefanie Bales, John Chang, Hilary Dufour, Annie Holley, Wagner Humphreys, Mary Jhun, Lori Mitchell, Tim Novara, Brandon Palma, and Susan Stone.

Perhaps you recognize some of these names. I personally recall photographing street art created by two of the artists. To see art that Hilary Dufour painted in Pacific Beach, click here. To see the distinctive art of Mary Jhun all around San Diego, click here.

Here are a few examples of the San Diego Museum of Art’s reimagined façade…

Sunday in Balboa Park, by artist Annie Holley.
SDMA 100, by artist Brandon Palma.
Golden Hour at The San Diego Museum of Art, by artist Stefanie Bales.
The Spaces Between, by artist Hilary Dufour.
Genius Loci: The Spirit of a Place, by artist Mary Jhun.
Colors: Reimagining the Façade with Color, by artist Susan Stone.

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Youth Summit 2026 in Balboa Park!

A cool opportunity for youth in San Diego to meet others, share, learn and create is coming up on June 3, 2026!

Youth Summit 2026 will be taking place in Balboa Park. The free event is hosted by the City of San Diego Office of Child and Youth Success, in partnership with the San Diego Public Library, Youth Will, Reality Changers, The LGBTQ+ Community Center, and Our Time to Act.

There will be speakers (including San Diego Poet Laureate), art presenters, breakout sessions, workshops, fun games, and hands-on activities. Youth will learn how to access useful resources, too.

I saw the above announcement in Balboa Park today and thought I’d share it. Do you know any young people who might like to participate?

For all the information, check out this webpage.

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Creating a World Cup goal in San Diego!

An artistic soccer goal that celebrates the upcoming World Cup was being set up today in San Diego’s Balboa Park!

Noted Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero and some helpers were creating the outdoor installation in the Plaza de Panama, in front of the San Diego Museum of Art. They got started at nine this morning. What you see is their progress by early afternoon.

This unique public art is being created in partnership with the General Consulate of Mexico in San Diego.

The colorful goal is half the size of a regulation goal. Its woven nets contains colorful Aztec and soccer motifs made of metal, as you can see in one of my photos.

Betsabeé (smiling in my final photo) told me that the goal and the space in front of it can be used as a sort of public performance stage.

Many similar goals are being created around the United States, where World Cup teams will be based or where games will take place. There’s also an artistic goal in Tijuana, Mexico that faces this one in San Diego, forming a “vast field of play” that includes both international border cities!

UPDATE!

A couple days later, I noticed this sign. It shows how these goals have been erected in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The art connects soccer with migration, native cultures and the diverse fans who enjoy the popular international sport.

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Lavvu is demonstrated by House of Norway!

That’s not a tipi. It’s a lavvu! It’s the portable dwelling used by the nomadic indigenous Sámi people when following herds of reindeer in the Arctic north!

Why was it set up in Balboa Park today? It was a part of the House of Norway’s cultural lawn program at the International Cottages.

As a nearby sign explained, a lavvu is similar to a Native American tipi but less vertical and more stable for the high winds of Sápmi (formerly known as Lapland), a region mostly north of the Arctic Circle. The foundation of a lavvu is built into permafrost for warmth and stability.

The House of Norway had numerous interesting displays and activities for their lawn program this year. I had never heard of a lavvu, so it particularly intrigued me!

The flag of Sápmi was being draped on the lavvu when I took my final photograph.

The elements of the flag are symbolic. This article explains the historical meaning of its design and colors.

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