History is being made today in Balboa Park at the Municipal Gymnasium! A large cold cast bronze panel (in two halves) is being installed above the building’s entrance.
The ornamental panel reproduces a long lost temporary panel that was created for the building in 1935 when it served as the Palace of Electricity and Varied Industries for the California Pacific International Exposition.
You can learn more about this historic project undertaken by the Balboa Park Committee of 100 and see an old photo of the original panel by visiting this past blog post and this past blog post.
Here’s the first half of the panel going up by crane!
UPDATE!
Later in the day, the second half of the panel arrived! I learned together the two halves weigh about 2 and a half tons!
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Have you seen this beautiful sculpture at Oceanside Harbor? It’s titled Cetacean Celebration or “All Life Comes From the Sea.” It was created by artist Max Turner.
I was pleasantly surprised to encounter the public art while walking near the Oceanside SEA Center sportfishing dock at the southeast corner of the harbor.
The bronze sculpture depicts a pair of whales in the ocean. Around the base of the sculpture are a variety of sea-themed objects, like a small anchor, ship’s wheel and starfish!
I took these photographs for everyone to enjoy…
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Perhaps you’ve seen this bench on the Oceanside Pier and wondered, like me, who Jerry Stapp is.
A beautiful bronze plaque with an image of Stapp’s face adorns the bench. On the bench are inscribed the words: IT’S A WONDERFUL WORLD. RELAX AND ENJOY.
I found this article about the life of Jerry Stapp. For many years he was a community champion. Among other endeavors, he was a big supporter of the Oceanside Boys and Girls Club.
What a beautiful place on the Oceanside Pier, overlooking the beach and the wide, blue Pacific Ocean. What a fine tribute to somebody who made a positive difference in people’s lives.
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If you go to the San Diego County Fair this summer and enter through the main O’Brien Gate, you might notice this statue to one side of the Will Call window. It’s a bronze representation of Don Diego, legendary host and goodwill ambassador of the old Del Mar Fair.
The sculpture, created by artist Maher Morcos, was unveiled at the Del Mar Fairgrounds back in 1985. It is dedicated to Spanish actor Tom Hernandez. For 37 years he portrayed smiling Don Diego, a character based on historical late 1800s Del Mar landowner Don Diego Alvarado. Tom used to greet fair-goers with a friendly “¡Bienvenidos Amigos!”
Tom Hernandez was greatly missed when he passed away in 1984. Over the years his character Don Diego had become a true San Diego icon.
The statue is 16 feet high and weighs 1,500 pounds. At its base is a plaque, which I will transcribe here…
DON DIEGO
GOODWILL AMBASSADOR OF THE DEL MAR FAIR 1947-1984
TOM HERNANDEZ SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL HOST OF THE DEL MAR FAIR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION, FOR 37 YEARS. HE PORTRAYED DON DIEGO, THE MAGICAL FIGURE WHO APPEARED EACH YEAR TO ESCORT THE FAIREST OF THE FAIR AND PRESIDE OVER THE DEL MAR FAIR.
DEDICATED BY THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION JUNE 20, 1985
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Do you readers know anything about this sculpture of children at play at the Grossmont Center shopping mall? I discovered it a few weeks ago during a walk in La Mesa and have endeavored to learn more. Nothing so far.
The bronze sculpture, in front of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, shows one child helping another to climb a wall. I found no plaque. Someone on Pinterest claims it has been there for many years and that other similar sculptures are located in the family-friendly shopping complex. If I return to Grossmont Center, I’ll have to look around some more.
Can you shed any light on this fun public art? Please leave a comment!
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People walking around Memorial Park in Chula Vista could easily miss this wonderful public art. It’s located on the other side of a fence at the north end of the park. The bronze sculpture depicting a loving mother and two children stands in front of the One Park Apartments.
Jugando is the name of the sculpture. That’s Spanish for the word “playing.” Jugando was created in 1986 by artist Miriam Newman. The graceful figures are very plain, almost featureless. Diverse people who regard these figures might personally relate.
The Smithsonian Institution Art Inventories Catalog describes the work: A woman stands holding a nude baby above her head with both hands. A young girl embraces the woman from the front. Both the woman and the young girl are wearing long, pleated skirts. All three figures are faceless.
I took these photos a couple weeks ago…
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A great exhibition of art in downtown San Diego is scheduled to close this weekend. A UNIVERSAL MEXICAN: The Surreal World of José Sacal, on view at UCSD Park & Market, continues through October 25, 2025.
I’m glad I experienced José Sacal‘s bronze sculptures today, before they vanish. You can see from my photos how the artist has interpreted famous people and images from photographs and paintings.
As this UCSD Park & Market webpage explains, the exhibit invites audiences to experience emotionally charged, politically resonant sculptures that reimagine cultural and historical figures—from Einstein and Gandhi to Frida Kahlo and Don Quixote—through Sacal’s distinctive abstract lens. Known for his expressive bronze and ceramic works, Sacal challenged traditional forms to explore themes of identity, justice, and the human condition.
If you want to view these sculptures in person, do it soon. Head upstairs to the second floor of UCSD Park & Market.
The sculptures are arranged along the windows of the art gallery. Reflection and shadow from incoming sunlight gives these unique pieces additional character.
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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.
A plaque in downtown San Diego relates a bit of our city’s early history. It’s titled A San Diego Milestone.
You can find the bronze plaque in Horton Square, an outdoor area north of the old Horton Plaza shopping mall. (Not to be confused with larger Horton Plaza Park.)
The plaque states:
San Diego bay is a natural harbor. First sighted in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the bay was originally named San Miguel. Next visited in 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino renamed the bay after a canonized priest, San Diego, from Alcala, Spain. Seldom visited for the next 150 years, Father Junipero Sera came overland from Mexico and founded the first of the California missions in San Diego (Old Town) in 1769. The mission grew and officially became an American town in 1846.
The bay was too shallow for ships to come close in, so passengers were taken to shore by rowboat to the water’s edge and then carried to dry land on the backs of sailors or Indians. Then they were taken by wagon to town…a few miles north to Old Town. In 1867, Alonzo E. Horton first came to San Diego and was immediately convinced that “the town should be down by the wharf.”
This plaque is one of several in Horton Square. Two bronze statues stand among them.
Apparently, according to one corner of the plaque, all together these make up the Horton Walk.
Twelve years ago, back when Cool San Diego Sight was brand new, I photographed the other statues and plaques. See those by clicking here.
The old statue of Ernest Hahn has since been moved–I don’t know where. If you know, please leave a comment!
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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.
