2014 Imperial Beach Sun and Sea sandcastle greets visitors.
I had to take one more trip to Imperial Beach this summer because of another big, fun event by the pier. Today was the 2014 Sun and Sea Festival! The event replaces the U.S. Open Sandcastle Competition which came to an end back in 2011.
Master sandcastle builders who have won many international awards converged to demonstrate their craft and compete for top honors just north of the Imperial Beach pier. When I arrived, the creations were roughly half done. So I got a bunch of interesting photos of the artists in action!
Featured sand sculpture built by Kirk Rademaker of Sand Masters.
This centerpiece sandcastle stood near the foot of the pier, adjacent to busy vendor tents, and a variety of other fun activities.
Crowd watches master sand sculptors creating fantastic works of art.
Looking north from the pier toward the field of action.
Teams north of Imperial Beach pier work on detailed creations.Plastic fork with two tines removed is used to create stonework detail.Patience, planning and creativity on a Southern California beach!Sand creations are sprinkled with water to prevent disintegration.Tall structure looks like an exaggerated Eiffel Tower.Sand head props up photos used to model rat from Ratatouille.One unique sand sculpture was all about dogs.A beach dog has its day at Camp Run a Mutt.A castle with tall spires in the Imperial Beach competition.The 2014 Sun and Sea Festival attracted many onlookers.Brushes are often used to smooth and contour the sand.Water and sand are mixed to form raw building material.Close look at some detailed work getting started.Artist works on a tire of a Transformers sand sculpture.
Unfortunately, the Transformers sculpture wasn’t too far along, so I couldn’t get more interesting pics.
I think this is an octopus.Huge, complex sand sculpture with many team members working.Now and Then is the theme of this sculpture.Long straight edge turns a broad swath of level sand into a boardwalk.I like how quaint this sandcastle appears!The Sand Squirrels was one team competing at the festival.Rocket’s engine of the funny Futurama sand sculpture.Robot appears to be doing some sun bathing!Super cool locomotive sand sculpture near the IB pier.I liked this huge underground sand train most of all!Everybody is watching the pros build their sand creations!Kids on the pier’s other side build castles, too!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Front entrance of Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park.
Like the nearby WorldBeat Center, the Centro Cultural de la Raza is housed in a colorful old water tower in Balboa Park. Its huge mural draws the attention of those heading up Park Boulevard, just north of downtown San Diego.
Centro Cultural de la Raza is a cultural center with an emphasis on Chicano, Mexican, Indigenous and Latino art. It hosts many exhibits and artistic performances throughout the year. Ballet Folklorico dancing is one of the educational classes that are available.
I walked around the building and took a bunch of photos of the huge public mural!
Starting around the old water tower, checking out the artwork.Centro Cultural de la Raza seen from Park Boulevard.Snake-entwined female in front of glowing moon.Diverse images from Latino culture in the richly detailed mural.A kneeling Geronimo crowned by a radiant sun.Hispanic music, education and optimism are portrayed.Colorful mural contains many animals from the Americas.A ram and corn are among the many images.Circling around toward back of the water tower.Mesoamerican pyramid in a beautifully painted scene.Stylized ancient face watches from Centro Cultural de la Raza.Latino family stands proudly in the San Diego mural.Eyes seem to rise out of the ground.Nearby utility box made into a work of art.This crazy face made me laugh.This appears to be an Aztec warrior.
UPDATE!
When I posted these photos, I really didn’t know much about the mural. After doing some online research, I’ve learned the 240 by 18 feet mural was painted by nine artists, each responsible for a section. The mural painting project was headed by Antonia Perez. The Geronimo artwork was the work of Victor Ochoa, one of the co-founders of El Centro Cultural de la Raza in 1970.
Here are additional photos I took in early 2021, with a better camera under brighter light conditions…
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Mural in Old Town alley depicts explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
I was wandering aimlessly around Old Town some time ago, just poking my nose here and there, when I discovered a whole bunch of beautiful murals! I found them in an interesting alley off San Diego Avenue, just south of the State Historic Park. The alley, a narrow walkway containing a variety of touristy wares, is called Avila Court. It’s tucked between the Old Town Surf Co. and Covered Wagon stores.
After looking at the artwork closely and talking to a lady working in the area, I learned most of the murals were painted by students from Grossmont College out in East County. Further research on the internet showed that there were originally ten murals, created in 2008, decorating over 85 feet of stucco wall. It’s apparent some of the murals were redone or altered in 2011.
Most of the murals depict people or places that are important in San Diego’s history. Those of you who follow my blog will probably recognize many!
Image of Charles Lindbergh and Spirit of St. Louis.
Lindbergh’s famous airplane that crossed the Atlantic, the Spirit of St. Louis, was custom-built in San Diego by Ryan Airline Company.
Native American with flower at night painted in rich colors.Hotel del Coronado, buildings and beach scene.Day of the Dead skeleton in front of the Whaley House.Tuna fishermen and whale fluke off Coronado.Navy ship, huge surf and Mission San Diego.Mural shows an American tall ship in San Diego Bay.
I’m not sure who the whiskered military person is. If anyone out there knows, please tell us!
A combination of various old historic buildings.Point Loma lighthouse shines over Pacific Ocean.Tuna cannery worker and a Little Italy fisherman.Star of India tied to dock at Embarcadero.This part of one mural contains a gray whale.Sepia tone World War II era figures stand by old car.Seals, flowers and carrying cattle hides from a beach.Many murals were painted by Grossmont College students.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Photographer near Seaport Village shows me some great stuff.
Yesterday I took a leisurely walk past Seaport Village. I said hello to a gentleman in the nearby Embarcadero Marina Park North who was displaying some stunning framed photographs, hoping for a donation. I’d never seen him there before.
I’m glad I paused to chat. Ralph Guest is one cool dude. (And a much better photographer than me!) In semi-retirement, he’s just begun to show and sell his photographs. He spends a lot of time out east of San Diego in the desert, especially in and around Slab City, which he described for me. He’s taken many amazing photos of the place, and of the people, who are called Slabbers. The folks out in the desert are a laid-back, independent, unique bunch. He described a place out there named East Jesus, where trash is converted into art and power is supplied entirely by solar power. According to Wikipedia, “The inhabitants of East Jesus…provide a refuge for artists, musicians, survivalists, writers, scientists, and laymen. They are dedicated to providing a working model of an improbable improvised community…” Sounds to me like a rather interesting place! Ralph has photos and videos that can be checked out via links on his website.
It’s great to meet new people!
Ralph Guest is a super cool and interesting guy!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Large cow stands in front of Coronado ice cream shop.
Mosey along Orange Avenue on the island of Coronado and you’ll be confronted by extraordinary things. You’ll probably run into a large cow. Or Elvis standing on the sidewalk, or a scaly, fantastic dragon. Or colorful ribbons of music. Or beautifully painted canvases by local artists in a public park.
Here are random pics of fun art that I’ve spotted…
Moo Time Creamery features an Elvis on the sidewalk.Coronado hot dog pours ketchup on itself!Checking out creative artwork for sale in Coronado’s Spreckels Park.Playful tile mural on a Spreckels Park restroom.Ribbon of music shown moving both old and young.Tile mosaic on park restroom shows lively musicians.Big dragon stands in front of the Coronado Public Library. Imagine Dragon, by artist Kent Kraber, 2008. This fun sculpture was originally part of an Urban Trees exhibition along San Diego’s Embarcadero.Head of fantastic dragon sculpture faces Orange Avenue.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Here are some funny cool photos for you to enjoy! These were taken at various times in and around downtown San Diego. Once in while I have to blink and do a double take!
Sticker turns dog into an uncurbable beast.Buster stuck his hand in wet concrete.Someone has to water all these watering cans.The Deli Llama is wearing his elegant best.This bicycle can be ridden high above the sidewalk.This outdoor glass elevator is a bit flat.This GoCar won’t go.Stylish patch for an old broken window.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
New pocket park in East Village in downtown San Diego.
Today a very cool new public park opened. It’s called Pocket Park. You’ll find it near the corner of 13th Avenue and J Street in East Village, which is a booming neighborhood in the east part of downtown San Diego. Tucked between buildings on either side, the clever little park will make a great gathering place for the neighborhood.
Large letters on the ground and stacked pallets form a gigantic word find. The puzzle contains words like PADRES and PETCO, which are associated with East Village. The Downtown San Diego Partnership helped to make this new park a reality.
Looks like a great place to relax and read a book!
People enjoy new cozy, creative urban park.Letters on the ground and pallets form a big word find puzzle.Finding words about local places requires a bit of looking.Folks enjoy opening day of the new pocket park.Sign describes this lively and engaging space.East Village has a cool new gathering place.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Coming Together sculpture near convention center and Petco Park.
A very prominent example of public art in San Diego is the large sculpture that stands at the southeast end of the convention center, just across Harbor Drive from Petco Park. The colorful ceramic and mirror mosaic face, called Coming Together, was created by internationally famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle. Two more of her whimsical artistic works can be seen in front of the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park.
Niki has explained that Coming Together represents the essential duality in human beings. The two sides of the composite face have several notable differences. One side is black and white, the other has a range of bright colors. One side is jagged and angular, the other is smooth and curved. One half of the face has long hair, the other half doesn’t.
The striking image that is created, she has explained, is a Western interpretation of yin and yang. The duality includes joy and darkness, and the masculine and the feminine.
Created in 2001, Coming Together has definitely become a well known landmark in downtown San Diego!
Public art created by Niki de Saint Phalle.Closer look at light shining from mosaic sculpture.Ceramic and mirror artwork reflects nearby Hilton.Coming Together sculpture stands along Harbor Drive.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Yikes! Horrible monsters are on the loose in downtown San Diego, just outside the Pokez eatery! Stay clear! You’ve been warned!
Creature with four eyeballs and crooked teeth.Cool purple monsters often have green drool.Looks scarier than that Alien creature.Crazy street art on a downtown utility box.Pink monster with messed up green eyes.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Pacific Portal on Shelter Island by James T. Hubbell.
Should you ever drive to Shelter Island, you’ll probably see a large, very unusual gazebo between the central traffic circle and San Diego Bay. It’s just one part of the large collection of public art lining the narrow island.
The Pacific Portal is a sculptural gazebo made of sprayed, reinforced concrete. It was erected eight years ago, replacing an old, more traditional Rotary Club pavilion. Nearby you’ll also find a small trellis structure and an interesting sculpture made of wrought iron.
The artist, James T. Hubbell, also designed the Pearl of the Pacific, the colorful public artwork featured in Pacific Rim Park at the southern end of Shelter Island.
Fanciful gazebo by the water is made of concrete.Mosaic adds color to the curved interior of Pacific Portal.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 