People arrive at the 2014 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo in San Diego.
Here comes one more cool blog post concerning the 2014 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Expo!
If you haven’t yet, please check out the SUPER AWESOME previous photos of the solo Sand Master competition at this event!
Now I’m going to cover the rest of what I saw. In addition to the incredible top international individual sand sculptors, a number of great teams also competed for fame and prizes. They started on their unique artwork today, so their creations seem in these early morning pics to have barely begun. I also enjoyed looking at many art exhibits, and a few sand sculptures dedicated to event sponsors.
The fun event on the B Street Pier was sponsored in part by Chevrolet.Teams create fantastic sand sculptures out toward the end of the pier.Many displays of art dotted the exhibition, as well as food trucks and a stage.The teams began their sculpting on Saturday, the day of my visit.This funny dude sifting sand said he hadn’t found gold yet!Teams from far and wide get started on their wonderful creations.Some of the artwork you could enjoy was really sensational!I saw the Sandcastle Man at the Imperial Beach event, too!Now that’s about as advanced as I am–a pail and shovel!These sand heaps will be two demons cast into heaven by Buddha.MakerPlace was there demonstrating their creative local facility.What a beautiful Labor Day weekend by the bay on the Embarcadero!A close look at an artist sculpting with great care.Gazing back toward downtown, adjacent to the cruise ship terminal.The live entertainment hadn’t started yet early this morning.Another sponsor, Foster Farms, had their own very cool sand sculpture!
Tomorrow I’m checking out the equally awesome Festival of Sail, so stay tuned!
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Ten world-class master sand sculptors compete by creating amazing masterpieces!
This morning I headed over to the 2014 US Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition right as it opened, hoping to avoid the worst of the Labor Day weekend crowds. My timing was perfect, as the world-class competitors were all hard at work on their solo sand sculpture entries! I’m told they began on Friday; it appeared their truly breathtaking masterpieces were nearing completion.
For your enjoyment, I present many photographs of these super talented international Sand Masters at work!
Kirk Rademaker is a Sand Master who has won 10 major international awards.Kirk Rademaker works on his shoe sand sculpture on San Diego’s B Street Pier.The master sand artists all work very carefully as big festival begins.Early Saturday morning, and the big Labor Day weekend crowd isn’t here yet.Joris Kivits from The Netherlands has won many awards in different countries.Joris Kivits works on an elegant, simply incredible work of art.2014 US Sand Sculpting Challenge is in San Diego by the cruise ship terminal.A close photo of some very fine work by a sand sculpting master.Helena Bangert, from The Netherlands, also does snow and ice sculpting!Helena Bangert steps back to look at her fantastic artwork on the Embarcadero.A lot of patience and steady-handed work is required to create each masterpiece.The skyline of downtown San Diego can be seen in the background.Chris Guinto has starred in three TV shows on the Travel and Discovery Channels!
Check out my last blog post, which features Chris from days earlier!
Chris Guinto concentrates as he carefully smooths an edge on his sculpture.Chris is married to a master sand sculptor who’s in the Guinness Book of World Records.An exotic, unusual creation seems to depict an ancient warrior.JOOheng Tan from Singapore is often called Vincent Sand Gogh!JOOheng Tan has won many top prizes around the world!What appears to be a simple piece is actually beyond astonishing…Look at the inside of the sculpture. Wow!Sue McGrew is a star on the rise and has won several important competitions.Where is Sue McGrew… She’s inside this strange sand box!The art is inside this hollow, angular sand sculpture!I guess you gotta peek through the slots to see the finished marvel!John Gowdy is a Jersey boy now living in Italy. He won Sand Wars on the Travel Channel.John Gowdy’s piece is both amazing and dramatic.Some people in a row boat are being upset by a hungry shark!The vibe of this sand sculpture is crazy good.Melineige Beauregard of Canada believes sand sculpting is a spiritual experience.This stylishly rendered human head radiates with warmth.Visible are the Broadway Pier and a few visitors to the US Sand Sculpting Challenge.Melineige’s work of art has a second figure hidden within the hair!Sandis Kondrats hails from Latvia! He won the Grand Prize at last year’s competition!Sandis Kondrats takes a break to check his smartphone.Very organic human heads are fused together in this fantastic creation.The world masters’ sand sculptures are lined up alongside San Diego Bay.Michela Ciappini from Italy is a frequent trophy winner here in San Diego.One side of Michela’s sculpture is very sparse, modern and geometric.But something is growing between those straight sand buildings.A huge sand rose and human form emerge on the other side!
My next blog post will feature additional cool pics of the entire event…
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World Masters Class sand sculptures prepped on San Diego’s B Street Pier.
Early this morning, before going to work, I headed down to the Embarcadero to check out preparations for two big events that are coming this Labor Day weekend. One of those events is the 2014 U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge, which will be held on the pier by the cruise ship terminal!
I noticed those sculptures that I took pictures of on Sunday are now completed. I also observed that the mounds of loose sand that the World Masters will sculpt this weekend have been enclosed in very mysterious-looking wooden frames.
As I took pics down the pier, a gentleman came striding along with some tools. I asked if he was a sculptor. He said yes. His name was Chris.
One competitor arrives at his future work of art by cruise ship terminal.
I spoke for a bit and learned he’d been creating sand sculptures since he was a kid on the beach, and that one could make a full-time living in such work. These unique works of art are popular at corporate events, public events, weddings and special occasions.
Chris said that some of the best sand artists would be competing from around the world, from places like the Netherlands, Singapore and Italy. He affirmed that this competition was one of the best in the world. I asked him about his own sculpture, and he said it’s a secret!
I didn’t know it at the time, but I learned with a little research that I had spoken with Chris Guinto, of Key West, Florida, a world class sand sculptor who has starred in several acclaimed television shows! His work has been a central feature of ‘Sand Masters’, ‘Sand Wars’ and ‘Sand Blasters’ on the Travel and Discovery Channels! All I can say is he was super friendly and very cool!
It’s Chris Guinto, star of several shows on the Travel and Discovery Channels!While Chris gets to work, I walk to see finished sculptures created last Sunday.In my blog post from Sunday, you could see the eagle head being formed!The sand truck looks unfinished and rather odd to me.The San Diego skyline sculpture promotes new MTS Rapid bus route.Chris has a tripod up, and now I say good luck and head for the trolley.
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Six dogs on a colorful mural on F Street in downtown’s East Village.
Here are some photos of outdoor art that I’ve discovered just wandering about the streets of downtown San Diego’s East Village. Enjoy!
Exotic faces, car and flowers along sidewalk in San Diego.Utility box dedicated to Tweet Street park.
The park itself is located up on Cortez Hill, just steps from where I live!
Summer swallowed us whole, written randomly on a step.More fun street art in East Village.Cool smile, horn, coffee and heart.Bold graphics on wall of Lucky’s tattoo parlor.Jumbled, eye-catching mural on a fence on F Street.
This fence borders SILO, which contains a ton of awesome street art, which I documented in this blog post.
More artwork along F Street on the fence that borders SILO.More cool street art on F Street in downtown San Diego’s East Village.
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Sand sculpture is prepared in front of San Diego’s Cruise Ship Terminal.
This coming Labor Day weekend, two major events will take place on San Diego’s Embarcadero. The 2014 Festival of Sail will feature about 20 beautiful tall ships from ports far and wide. The second event, the U.S. Sand Sculpting Challenge and 3D Art Exposition, will feature a world-class competition between many of the world’s greatest sand sculpting masters.
I noticed today during my walk that preparations have begun for the unique art competition. Several sculptures are already being created to herald the event and welcome the weekend crowds. Big piles of sand also wait along the pier for the competitors to realize their creative visions.
2014 US Sand Sculpting Challenge to be held downtown Labor Day weekend.Man shovels spilled sand on pier into one of many big piles.This artist is making a representation of San Diego’s skyline!Each mound will become a unique sand masterpiece.These guys are working on a life-sized sand truck!Carefully adding Chevrolet logo to back of the detailed sculpture.A few minutes later, an eagle is taking form on this heap of sand!
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SAN DIEGO writ large on fence around Horton Plaza Park’s construction site.
I recently noticed some new murals along Broadway in downtown San Diego, between 3rd and 4th Avenue. They decorate the fence that surrounds the Horton Plaza Park construction site, and replace a number of large historical photographs which I featured in this earlier blog post.
I took these pics at close range from the sidewalk, not wanting to step out into traffic. So I missed a few parts of the creative, colorful artwork.
Part of one new mural along Broadway in downtown San Diego.A colorful underwater scene can be glimpsed by passing motorists.Various surfboards. One contains an ode to baseball’s World Series.These murals replaced photographs which showed downtown history.A fun depiction of San Diego Bay and a red trolley.These three happy dogs are sharing a surfboard!Another interpretation of the San Diego skyline.California girl in cool sunglasses watches a sunset.A sexy green-haired mermaid and Mission San Diego!Downtown has been encroached by breakers and rocky hills!Man walks past construction fence surrounding Horton Plaza Park.
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Public art on 11th Avenue in San Diego’s East Village.
Just some cool pics of colorful urban art on a building wall in downtown San Diego’s East Village.
Neighbors painted many colorful tiles for this artistic creation.The artwork was conceived and applied to a building wall in 1999.Diverse faces, names and scenes are assembled in a larger design.Hundreds of hand-painted tiles compose the colorful street mosaic.The Power of Collective Thought from the Urban Art Trail project.
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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!
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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…
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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.
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Cool San Diego Sights! 