Tag: creativity

Writing on a rainy day.

smiley-face-widened

It’s raining today. And I’m off from work. So I’ve been sitting at my computer wrestling with words.

I believe I’ve now finished another short story.  At least, it seems complete.  This story concerns youth, magic, innocence, dreams, the passage of years and what might happen in life. If you’d like to read it, click the following link: Final Real Magic is the title of the story.

The Journey, fun interactive artwork at the Old Globe!

Something cool has sprung up at the center of Balboa Park's theater complex.
Something cool has sprung up at the center of Balboa Park’s theater complex.

Look what I spied today during my walk through Balboa Park! Some people were milling around an interesting work of interactive art in front of the Old Globe, and I had to check it out. Turns out I had stumbled upon The Journey, some fun outdoor artwork created by Dan Reeves. The Journey is inspired by the Old Globe Theatre’s production of Steve Martin’s play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

I learned this is a section of a larger torus that will appear at the next Burning Man. The Journey is a mortise and tenon structure made of wood, which produces a unique lighting and audio experience best seen at night. Illuminated with colorful LED lights, people can pose for photographs!

Better check it out soon. The Journey will be on display at the Old Globe until this Sunday, January 19!

The Journey is a small section of a larger torus that will be a brilliant, spectacular work of art at Burning Man.
The Journey is a small section of a larger torus that will be a brilliant, spectacular work of art at Burning Man.
The Journey is on view at the Old Globe Theatre's Copley Plaza through this Sunday, February 19. A cool experience inspired by the Steve Martin play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
The Journey is on view at the Old Globe Theatre’s Copley Plaza through this Sunday, February 19. A cool experience inspired by the Steve Martin play Picasso at the Lapin Agile.
Pose in this uniquely colorful work of art after dark and you can have a spectacular photo taken!
Pose in this uniquely colorful work of art after dark and you can have a spectacular photo taken!

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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 Twitter!

Art, creativity and wisdom downtown.

Painting of female face in window of a small shop in East Village containing odd bits of art and miscellaneous used items.
Painting of female face in window of a small shop in East Village containing odd bits of art and used items.

Enjoy these miscellaneous photos of interesting things I’ve spotted while walking around downtown. Examples of artistry and creativity can be seen almost everywhere. Even a bit of wisdom. One simply has to look.

A fancy bird cage dangles beside Pappalecco, a cool Little Italy cafe.
A decorative bird cage dangles above the sidewalk beside Pappalecco, a popular Little Italy cafe.
Wine bottles converted into interesting human characters in the window of Michael J Wolf Fine Arts in the Gaslamp.
Wine bottles converted into human musicians in the window of Michael J Wolf Fine Arts in the Gaslamp.
Beautiful relief panel at entrance to the Embarcadero’s now closed Anthony’s Fish Grotto. An underwater scene.
Beautiful relief panel at entrance to the Embarcadero’s now closed Anthony’s Fish Grotto. An underwater scene.
Navy pinup artwork on a tattoo parlor's entrance sign in the Gaslamp.
Navy pinup artwork on a tattoo parlor’s entrance sign in the Gaslamp.
Wisdom on a corner of a downtown building. Give love. Get love.
Wisdom on a corner of a downtown building. Give love. Get love.
This artistic metal gate definitely caught my eye as I walked around San Diego!
This artistic metal gate definitely caught my eye as I walked around San Diego!
The mosaic tilework of an eatery's outdoor table in East Village.
The mosaic tilework of an eatery’s outdoor table in East Village.
Colorful tiles beneath ivy above a garage door.
Colorful tiles beneath foliage above a garage door.
Depiction of a city on the wall of Sixth Avenue Bistro.
Depiction of a city on the wall of Sixth Avenue Bistro.
Fancy artwork on column inside interior courtyard of La Pensione Hotel.
Fancy artwork painted on a column.  Photo taken in the lobby courtyard of La Pensione Hotel.
Interesting twisty iron gate and shadows.
Interesting twisted iron gate and shadows on the wall behind it.
Fascinating lamppost along Broadway near Harbor Drive.
Unusual bent lamppost along Broadway near Harbor Drive.
Cool painting of male face found leaning up against a dumpster enclosure on Cortez Hill.
Cool painting of male face found leaning up against a dumpster enclosure on Cortez Hill.

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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 Twitter!

Fun, artistic birdhouses restored at Tweet Street!

The Birds and The Bees. Birdhouse by artist Joel Sotelo.
The Birds and The Bees, a birdhouse by artist Joel Sotelo.

Looks what I noticed today. Most of the fun, artistic birdhouses that were installed for Tweet Street in 2008 have been restored! With new coats of paint and a little work, they once again appear like new!

You might remember my blog post a couple years ago concerning these fun birdhouses. At the time, weather had gotten the better of them. Well, check them out now!

If you want to see these very creative works of public art in person, Tweet Street is another name for the linear Cortez Hill Park, located on Date Street roughly between Seventh and Ninth Avenue.

Public art restoration in progress. The City of San Diego develops, exhibits, conserves and restores the Civic Art Collection to provide meaningful aesthetic and cultural experiences for San Diego's residents and visitors.
Public art restoration in progress. The City of San Diego develops, exhibits, conserves and restores the Civic Art Collection to provide meaningful aesthetic and cultural experiences for San Diego’s residents and visitors.
Tweet Street sign on Date Street in San Diego's Cortez Hill neighborhood. Many artistic birdhouses line the narrow urban park.
Tweet Street sign on Date Street in San Diego’s Cortez Hill neighborhood. Many artistic birdhouses line the narrow urban park.
Boat House. Birdhouse by artist Kirk Crow.
Boat House, a birdhouse by artist Kirk Crow.
Anil'u. Birdhouse by artist Lilia Peji.
Anil’u, a birdhouse by artist Lilia Peji.
Coexistence. Birdhouse by artist Bob Gromofsky.
Coexistence, a birdhouse by artist Bob Gromofsky.
Cunae. Birdhouse by artist Miguel Salmeron.
Cunae, a birdhouse by artist Miguel Salmeron.
Mas Vale Pajaro en Mano. Birdhouse by artist Joel Sotelo.
Mas Vale Pajaro en Mano, a birdhouse by artist Joel Sotelo.
Bewick's Bunker. Birdhouse by artists Rafael Lopez and Daniel Renner.
Bewick’s Bunker, a birdhouse by artists Rafael Lopez and Daniel Renner.
Air Traffic Control. Birdhouse by artist Amy Ennis Achaibou.
Air Traffic Control, a birdhouse by artist Amy Ennis Achaibou.
Birdinsky, a birdhouse by artist Amy Levine.
Birdinsky, a birdhouse by artist Amy Levine.

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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 Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to share and enjoy!

Photos of fun street art along Fourth Avenue!

A funny spotted creature of some kind decorates an electrical box on Fourth Avenue near the Quince Street Bridge.
A funny spotted creature of some kind decorates an electrical box on Fourth Avenue near the Quince Street Bridge.

I got off work early and wanted to enjoy the remaining daylight.  So I took the 120 bus to Hillcrest and walked down Fourth Avenue from University Avenue to Elm Street.

I found some fun street art on electrical boxes in both Hillcrest and Bankers Hill!

Spray painted face lit by sunshine early one morning, near Fourth Avenue and Robinson Avenue in Hillcrest.
A spray painted face lit by sunshine early one morning in Hillcrest, near Fourth Avenue and Robinson Avenue.

Okay, you caught me!  The above photo was taken one morning a couple months ago. It was sitting in my computer.  All the others are from late this afternoon.

A guitar and stars decorate a utility box.
A guitar and stars decorate a utility box.
Colorful art shows a street scene! Copies, bread, coffee and outdoor diners come together near Fourth Avenue and Laurel Street.
Colorful art shows a street scene! Copies, bread, coffee and outdoor diners come together under a blue sky near Fourth Avenue and Laurel Street.
Ice cream, barber, eyes, dentist. A happy stick figure walks down an imaginary Bankers Hill sidewalk.
Ice cream, barber, eyes, dentist. A happy stick figure walks down an imaginary Bankers Hill sidewalk.
A contented face on a utility box near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Laurel Street.
A contented face on a utility box near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Laurel Street.
Lots of stars and some hearts.
Lots of stars and some hearts.
According to some writing on this transformer, these are space plants and moon flowers!
According to some writing on this transformer, these are space plants and moon flowers!

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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 Twitter!

Cool street art discoveries in National City!

Some happy street art in National City. A high five, pink rabbit and heart.
Some happy street art in National City. A high five, pink rabbit and heart.

I found even more cool street art while walking around National City! Check out these photos! Colorful utility boxes and transformers seemed to pop up wherever I turned!

Transinfinite Gems. Love Your Soul. Blessings and Love.
Transinfinite Gems. Love Your Soul. Blessings and Love.
A creatively painted utility box near a National City street corner.
A creatively painted utility box near a National City street corner. Is that a can of soda?
Someone just let loose with many strokes of color on this transformer box!
Someone just let loose with many strokes of color on this transformer box!
This cool street art definitely attracts the attention of people walking down the sidewalk!
This cool street art definitely attracts the attention of people walking down the sidewalk!
An abstract human figure that drips ink into a river. This fantastic image appears to be full of symbolism.
An abstract human figure that drips ink into a river. This fantastic image appears to be full of symbolism.
More cool designs on a series of electrical boxes. National City, in San Diego's South Bay, has lots of great street art.
More cool designs on a series of electrical boxes. National City, in San Diego’s South Bay, has lots of great street art!
A contrast of real leaves and painted leaves.
A contrast of real leaves and painted leaves.
Barren trees in a purple-blue sky.
Barren trees in a purple-blue sky.
Another side of the same box.
Another side of the same box.
Branches from sky and ground, like grasping, skeletal fingers.
Branches from sky and ground, like grasping, skeletal fingers.

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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 Twitter!

The arches of National City’s Morgan Square Plaza.

These arches in National City’s Morgan Square Plaza delight the eye with their colorful tiles and designs
These arches in National City’s Morgan Square Plaza delight the eye with their colorful tiles and designs.

Check out this cool public art in San Diego’s South Bay! These colorfully tiled arches can be found in Morgan Square Plaza right next to the National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. As you can see in one photo, the plaza isn’t far from Heritage Square and historic Brick Row, which I recently covered on this blog.

It appears these mosaic arches debuted along with the plaza itself in October 2007. I searched the small pocket park for a plaque, and later for information on the internet, but can find almost nothing about this unique public art. I did see that the bust of former National City mayor Kile Morgan was created by the talented San Diego sculptor Richard Becker. According to Becker’s website, he created the POW Monument at the US National Cemetery, busts for The Emmys in Hollywood, and a bronze sculpture of Homer Simpson for Fox Studios.

Cool art in the public square next to the National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
Cool art in the public square next to the National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
Visible beyond the brick arch is one end of Brick Row, one of several historic buildings in Heritage Square.
Visible beyond the brick arch is one end of Brick Row, one of several historic buildings in Heritage Square.
Across Morgan Square Plaza is a monument to a former National City mayor.
Across Morgan Square Plaza is a monument to a former National City mayor.
The bust of Honorable Kile Morgan, mayor of National City 1966-1986. He established the Mile of Cars and Plaza Bonita. Sculpture created by San Diego artist Richard Becker.
The bust of Honorable Kile Morgan, mayor of National City from 1966 to 1986. He established the Mile of Cars and Plaza Bonita. Sculpture created by San Diego artist Richard Becker.
Another photo through the arches. The Southwestern College Higher Education Center stands across National City Boulevard.
Another photo through the arches. The Southwestern College Higher Education Center stands across National City Boulevard.
The beautiful patterns on this wall-like artwork are composed of many brightly colored tiles.
The beautiful patterns on this wall-like artwork are composed of many brightly colored tiles.
The National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is located near the public art arches.
The National City Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is located near the public art arches.
Fun photo of one arch within another.
Fun photo of one arch within another.
Cool public artwork in National City at Morgan Square Plaza!
Cool public artwork in National City at Morgan Square Plaza!

UPDATE!

During a walk in 2019 I discovered a plaque describing this Streetscape Project, titled Portals in Time. The different arches are called Brick Row, Hispanic Portal, Filipino Water Wall, Kumeyaay Water Wall, Agriculture and Ship Building, and The Bay.

Click the following two photos and they will enlarge for easier reading:

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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 Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to share and enjoy!

Cosmic imagery in a cool mural evokes wonder!

A wide-eyed human face on a wall in North Park, surrounded by cosmic imagery.
A wide-eyed face on a building wall in North Park, surrounded by cosmic imagery.

Here’s even more North Park street art! Check out these photos!

This spray painted mural was signed by the artists DEXR, ARMOR, EYEMAX and SADE. Full of cosmic imagery, the panoply of swirling forms and symbols evokes wonder. The universe it seems to depict is vast and mysterious. All I know for sure is that the artwork is really cool!

You can find this colorful street art on El Cajon Boulevard, just east of 30th Street.

I first spied this cool street art from the intersection at 30th Street and El Cajon Boulevard.
I first spied this street art from the intersection at 30th Street and El Cajon Boulevard.
The mural on the Supercuts building contains many complex, colorful elements. Like a magnet it drew me in.
The mural on the Supercuts building contains many complex, colorful elements. Like a magnet it drew me in.
Two fused female faces, or one seen in two glances. I get the impression that time, space and information are being affected by that shining object on the left.
Two fused female faces, or one seen in two glances. I get the impression that time, space and information are being affected by that shining object on the left.
Whether that's a black hole, the origin of the universe, a star, or something else--the theme seems to be the mystery of Creation. And I see a dragon at the fractured boundary, a symbol of Chaos.
Whether that’s a black hole, the origin of the universe, a star, or something else–the theme seems to be the mystery of Creation. And I see a dragon at the fractured boundary, a symbol of Chaos.
A face seems to gaze from another place behind a transparent window at the unspeakably vast and wonderful cosmos.
A face seems to gaze from another place behind a transparent window at the unspeakably vast and wonderful cosmos.

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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 Twitter!

You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of fun photos for you to enjoy!

A cool Star Wars character created by local artist!

Vernell Jones III, also known as Machinecore, creates a very cool, completely new Star Wars character in Balboa Park.
Vernell Jones III, also known as Machinecore, creates a very cool, completely new Star Wars character in Balboa Park.

I was walking through Balboa Park’s lively Plaza de Balboa, not far from the Bea Evenson Fountain, when my eyes suddenly fell upon a truly fantastic work of art.

I learned from the artist, Vernell Jones III, also known as Machinecore, that the unusual Star Wars character he’d created was some sort of futuristic Stormtrooper. My first thought was that the helmet kind of resembled General Grievous. My second thought was that this great artwork should be on the cover of a graphic novel. It’s that good.

Check it out! Then check out Vernell’s Facebook page!

Check out this Star Wars-inspired artwork. Looks pretty amazing to me!
Check out this Star Wars-inspired artwork. Looks pretty amazing to me!
More colorful, fantastic works of art by Vernell Jones III.
More colorful, fantastic works of art by Vernell Jones III.

To see even more Star Wars art on my blog, click here!

To see lots of cosplay photos on my blog, click here!

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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 Twitter!

Creativity, expression, and one wonderful park.

Young lady is about to get a surprise during a fun magic show in Balboa Park.
A young lady is about to get a surprise during a fun magic show in Balboa Park.

I observed many emotions today.  These emotions were expressed in the eyes and faces of people I encountered during a walk through wonderful Balboa Park.

Balboa Park is like a small slice of some ideal world: so many people coming together, sharing dreams and happy visions. A walk through the park is like all the good things in human life stirred into one potent elixir, with smiles, freedom, friendship, rampant creativity on every side, and much sunlight. And, of course, memories of special moments and of past loved ones–and, sometimes, sadness.

Kenny Shelton juggles in between magic acts. Today he tossed dizzy feelings of joy toward hundreds of people on El Prado.
Kenny Shelton juggles in between magic acts. Today he tossed dizzy feelings of joy toward hundreds of people on El Prado.

Kenny seems like a great guy. He’s definitely funny and a crowd-pleaser! Need some entertainment in San Diego?  Find him here!

The San Diego Harmony Ringers conjure bright, cheerful music in Balboa Park.
The San Diego Harmony Ringers conjure bright, cheerful music in Balboa Park.
Intense sadness near the Museum of Man, as people remember the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea, which happened 1000 days ago. The victims' families are still searching for answers.
Intense sadness near the Museum of Man, as people remember the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea, which happened 1000 days ago. The victims’ families are still searching for answers.
A belly dancer and musicians draw a large crowd near the Botanical Building. The audience is spellbound.
A belly dancer and musicians draw a large crowd near the Botanical Building. The audience is spellbound.
A group prays under a beautiful tree. Human hope, pain, love . . . among the dropping leaves.
A group prays under a beautiful tree. Human hope, pain, love . . . among the dropping leaves.
Creating a labyrinth in Balboa Park's Zoro Garden. This gentleman created a similar labyrinth which I photographed near the Botanical Building some time ago. If he mentioned his name, I apologize for forgetting and not writing it down.
Creating a labyrinth in Balboa Park’s Zoro Garden. This gentleman created a similar labyrinth which I photographed near the Botanical Building some time ago.
I'm shown a notebook. A Native American basket on the left depicts a radiating labyrinth. Labyrinths are one very ancient human expression, filled with spiritual meaning.
I’m shown a notebook. A Native American basket on the left depicts a radiating labyrinth. Labyrinths are a very ancient human expression, filled with spiritual meaning.

To learn more about his fascinating labyrinths, please visit this Facebook page.

A canvas on El Prado asks random passersby to Paint On Me.
A canvas on El Prado asks random passersby to Paint On Me.
Dogs and people mingle, happy and free at Balboa Park's Nate's Point Dog Park.
Dogs and people mingle freely.  Sheer happiness at Balboa Park’s busy Nate’s Point Dog Park.
This musician was so joyful, he lit up many lives in this wonderful park.
This musician was so positive and so alive, he lit up countless hearts in wonderful Balboa Park.  Joy conquers.

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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 Twitter!

Do you love Balboa Park? Follow my special blog which I call Beautiful Balboa Park!