The Art Gallery at San Diego’s downtown Central Library is presently the home of an exhibition titled Becoming Heirlooms.
I visited today.
The exhibit makes one wonder: What counts as a family heirloom? Is it an object of material value, or is it something prompting memories that from generation to generation remain meaningful?
I’m sure you know the answer.
These unique “heirlooms” created by artists transmit various themes in life we might collectively understand. They speak to the wider community. The objects transcend authorship and utility to become sites of empathy, reflection, and recognition.
I took photos of several pieces on display. All are thought-provoking.
Featured artists are Diana Benavidez, Matt Hebert, Michael Hernandez, Soyeon Kim, Christine Lee, Anna Mayer, Kaiya Rainbolt, Phil Rowland, India Thompson, and Georgina Treviño.
Becoming Heirlooms can be found on the Central Library’s 9th floor Art Gallery through November 7, 2026.
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Tlaxcala, the smallest state in Mexico, located in east-central Mexico, is known in part for its agriculture. So it’s no surprise that much of Tlaxcala’s traditional art and crafts originate as seeds.
Visitors to Balboa Park’s International Cottages can see this in a newly installed exhibit. The House of Mexico’s cottage is now filled with beautiful objects that promote Tlaxcala!
I stopped by today and was wowed by the art and crafts on display!
Should you step into the cottage when it’s open on weekends, you’ll see small mosaic murals made of different colored seeds. You’ll see necklaces made of dried corn. You’ll see beautiful crafts made of plant fibers.
Here’s a fun fact! Did you know that Tlaxcala’s name comes from the native Nahuatl word tlaxcalli, which means tortillas? At least 12 heirloom varieties of corn are grown in Tlaxcala.
The Mexican state is also famous for its traditional wool and cotton weaving.
What else did I learn? There’s a Tlaxcala Firefly Sanctuary. During peak Summer, millions of endemic fireflies turn the mountain woods into a glowing fairytale-like nighttime spectacle!
In forever amazing Balboa Park, there’s always something new and interesting to learn!
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The mission of the San Diego METRO Modern Quilt Guild is to help build and foster community based on the common interest of modern quilting.
What is modern quilting? It is a contemporary approach to quilt-making that favors minimalism, bold colors, and improvisational design over strict symmetry. Heavily inspired by modern art and architecture, it often features expansive negative space, high-contrast palettes, and “modern traditionalism”—the reinterpretation of classic quilt blocks.
The exhibit in Mission Valley features hangable works of art, blankets, handbags and wearable clothing. Check out some photos…
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The most exceptional part of the San Diego County Fair is arguably the Design in Wood exhibition. Exquisitely crafted wood art, furniture, boats, musical instruments and more are exhibited in what has been described as the premiere woodworking show in the United States.
The San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association produces this annual show at the fair in Del Mar. Every time I go the fair I make sure to check it out. Most of the pieces that are displayed will absolutely, positively blow your mind!
Don’t believe me? I submit for your consideration a few photographs!
You might notice a few photos of woodworkers demonstrating their craft at the show. Several local woodworking organizations participate, right there in front of curious fair visitors, making tops, model ships, toys and other objects. Some carve by hand. Others shape pieces of spinning wood using a lathe, or use woodworking scroll saws.
Going to the San Diego County Fair this year? Don’t miss the Design in Wood exhibition!
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The Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park has a great exhibit outside its east entrance that celebrates the San Diego Craft Collective. Beautiful objects crafted by members of the collective are proudly displayed!
A collaboration between the Mingei and the San Diego Craft Collective makes perfect sense. The museum collects, conserves and exhibits folk art, craft, and design. The family-friendly San Diego Craft Collective, located in Liberty Station, teaches it members traditional craft, including woodworking, ceramics, textiles, fiber arts, glass art and more. They are dedicated to sustainability, utilizing natural and recycled materials. The collective even teaches organic gardening!
A couple years ago I visited the San Diego Craft Collective. I was amazed by the extent of their facility and the diversity of work by its members. If you want to read that past blog post and see those photographs, click here.
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The House of Czech and Slovak Republics, a long-time member of Balboa Park’s International Cottages, hosted their annual cultural lawn program today!
I happened by while walking around.
Shortly after 2 o’clock, everyone on the lawn enjoyed an excellent performance by the acclaimed Czech group Mladá muzika Šardice. I see from the event flyer that after the youth brass orchestra was finished, more music and dance would follow!
Sausages with a roll and pickle were being prepared inside one large tent. Almost forgot the pastries! A nearby fundraising table offered crafts for sale, including traditional corn husk dolls (slaměné panenky or panenky z kukuřičného šustí).
The Czech and Slovak Republics cottage was open too, with numerous beautiful displays to be seen, including costumes, dolls, ceramics and art.
The cottage is almost fully recovered from its unfortunate collision with a falling eucalyptus tree. Looks great!
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Several human mummies from Mexico have arrived in San Diego’s Balboa Park!
Okay–they’re replica mummies to be exact. Visitors to the House of Mexico cottage can now view them as well as other artifacts from Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico.
The House of Mexico opened this exhibit a day or two ago. Every three months they celebrate one of Mexico’s many states with a new exhibition.
Not only is Guanajuato famous for its mummies, but the mountainous region is known for mining, its unique culture, and colorful architecture that includes many tunnels. Displays in the cottage include photographs, historical information and crafts from this Mexican tourist destination.
Today I enjoyed a free sample of ice cream unique to Guanajuato! I received a beautiful bilingual magazine titled Roads of Guanajuato, too!
Between the mummies and the ice cream, and all the colorful sights inside the House of Mexico cottage, your family will be sure to enjoy a visit!
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A cool event is being held today and tomorrow at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Hot Glass, Cold Beer: A Fundraiser for the Arts features lots of amazing glass art created by local artists! Beer, too!
By sheer coincidence I ran into the event today while walking to the nearby museum. It’s very similar to the glassblowing event I experienced last year in the same Cal Club Courtyard.
If you want to check out an amazing variety of glass art and colorful glassware, head over tomorrow, April 4, 2026, between noon and 5 pm. The event is free. The glassblowing demonstration is led by renowned glass artist James Stone of Stone & Glass.
Sit down, watch, and enjoy a beer. Here’s the event website listing some of the participating artists and organizations.
James Stone and participating artists will generously donate hand-blown glass cups, which will be given away with a complimentary drink ticket in exchange for a $25 donation.
My next photo shows some of the hand-crafted fused glass created by Parris Toyzan (@parrisorginals). Here’s the website.
Parris was nice enough to describe how he carefully makes these amazing creations with a kiln and colored glass!
By purchasing a beautiful glass on one table you support kids learning glassblowing at schools in Escondido and North San Diego County!
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Next time you enter the Balboa Park Visitors Center, move to the left side of the front counter and look up. You’ll see an amazing quilt on the wall!
The quilt, titled THE BOTANICAL GARDENS OF BALBOA PARK, depicts the Botanical Building and Lily Pond. It’s so detailed and exquisite that it won a prestigious national award. It took First Place in the Group Quilts category at the American Quilter’s Society 32nd National QuiltWeek competition in 2016! Here’s the AQS website with all the winners.
Who created this fantastic work of art? The eight members of San Diego quilting group Bobbin Buddies! The quilt was made to celebrate Balboa Park’s centennial.
The award-winning quilt would go on to be included in the Brigham City Museum’s 46th International Quilt Invitational Exhibit in 2018.
This webpage describes how the beautiful quilt was created, and how it was purchased by the Balboa Park Conservancy and has been on display in its Visitors Center. (Today the Visitors Center is operated by Forever Balboa Park.)
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