Belly Warmer, 1973, sterling silver, leather, wood. Arline M. Fisch.
While the Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park undergoes it’s monumental renovation and expansion (read about that here), select pieces from their permanent collection are on display at the San Diego Central Library’s Art Gallery.
The title of this exhibition is Crafting Opportunity: Mid-Century Work from the Collection of Mingei International Museum. Head up to the Central Library’s 9th floor gallery and you’ll discover unique and experimental pieces by noted artists and craftsmen, many of whom are from the San Diego region. You’ll see beautiful ceramics, fashion, metalwork, furniture and a surprising variety of other objects. Some of these pieces, representing the post World War II designer-craftsman movement, are on public display for the very first time!
I walked to East Village early this afternoon to see for myself!
Make sure you check this exhibition out before it ends on July 28, 2019.
A look at the current exhibition in the San Diego Central Library’s art gallery. Crafting Opportunity: Mid-Century Work from the Collection of Mingei International Museum.Vase, c. 1959, glazed stoneware. Harrison McIntosh.Owl, c. 1960, glazed stoneware. Marg Loring.Untitled, c. 1965, mosaic and enameling. Ellamarie Woolley.Plate, 1979, stoneware, porcelain. Peter Voulkos, who was drawn to the Zen notion of looseness of form and unpredictability.Bowl, 1954, glazed earthenware. Laura Andreson.The Superior Masculine Mind, date unknown, glazed stoneware. Beatrice Wood, whose work often contains a playful feminist angle.Weed Pots, c. 1965, glazed stoneware. Wayne Chapman.“Happiness” Yardage, 1967, machine-woven, hand-screen printed linen and wool. Jack Lenor Larsen, whose signature pattern remained in production for decades.LCW (Lounge Chair Wood), c. 1946, molded plywood. Charles and Ray Eames, who famously revolutionized industrial design by introducing molded plywood.Untitled, 1969, enamel on steel. Kay Whitcomb.House of Cards, c. 1960, printed paper. Charles and Ray Eames.Helmet, 1970-71, silver, leather, rosewood, moonstones, rabbit fur. Marcia Lewis.
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Jeryn Young, Pop Art Portraits, 2019. Tempera paint on paper. Grade 11, Mission Bay High School.
Something new and very cool has recently opened in Seaport Village.
In partnership with the San Diego Unified School District, Seaport Village is now home to the Student Art Gallery!
I visited the gallery today and was blown away by some truly amazing student artwork. The pieces are selected by classroom teachers all around San Diego. Artists attend grades from Kindergarten through High School.
I learned the exhibition will rotate every few weeks, continuously introducing new artwork produced by San Diego’s talented youth. I also learned the gallery will move to a different, larger location inside Seaport Village in a couple of weeks.
If you want to check it out for yourself, visit the Seaport Village website here.
Please enjoy photos representing some of the art currently on display…
The Student Art Gallery at Seaport Village was created in partnership with the San Diego Unified School District’s Visual and Performing Arts Department.Trinity Covarrubias-Burns, Bees and Bloom, 2019. Construction paper, marker and tempera on paper. Kindergarten, Vista Grande Elementary School.Valeria Romero Padilla, Mas Que Una Voz, 2019. Graphite pencil on paper. Grade 9, Crawford High School.Amalia Martinez-Oviedo, Anime, 2019. Colored crayon and marker on paper. Grade 4, Toler Elementary School.Isaac Benitez, Tree Frog, 2019. Tempera on paper. Grade 10, Lincoln High School.Jessie Hsu, Abstract Face in Glitter, 2019. Pastel and glitter glue on paper. Grade 2, E. B. Scripps Elementary School.Jaime Barrozo, The Steeple, 2019. Black ink Pointillism on paper. Grade 8, Correia Middle School.Leigh Archibald, Orange, 2019. Multiple mediums on paper. Grade 12, La Jolla High School.Jade Someda, The Fruits in Four, 2019. Wax crayon and watercolor on paper. Grade 9, Mission Bay High School.Daniel Perez, Blind Contour Self-Portrait, 2019. Black marker on paper. Grade 5, Edison Elementary School.Lillian Robinson, Silence of the Lilies, 2019. Colored pencil on textured paper. Grade 11, Mission Bay High School.Tiernan Nauton, Cezanne Apples, 2019. Tempera on paper. Grade 3, Kumeyaay Elementary School.Kelsey Amann, Censored, 2019. Graphite pencil on paper. Grade 11, Mission Bay High School.Riley Fritzenkotter, Love Thyself, 2019. Oil pastel and black marker on paper. Grade 4, Alcott Elementary School.
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San Diego’s drive-through art gallery in City Heights continues to grow and grow!
Another great mural is taking form on the wall of University Pawn Broker, at the intersection of University Avenue and Cherokee Avenue. I spotted the artwork this morning as I passed through the neighborhood.
I learned this colorful image of a charging bull is by San Diego artist Hugo Fernando Fierro. While the mural isn’t quite finished, you can’t deny it’s going to be awesome!
San Diego’s unique outdoor drive-through art gallery can be enjoyed along University Avenue between I-805 and I-15.
Many recent works of art have added spice and soul to City Heights, with more murals certain to appear in the future!
UPDATE!
I got a photo of the mural after it was completed.
Yes, it turned out awesome!
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Another cool new exhibition has recently opened at the San Diego History Center!
I’m Not Like You: Notes from the San Diego Underground features photographs, print media, art and ephemera that concerned skateboarding during the late 1970s through early 1990s, before the internet became central to many young people.
While the emphasis of this exhibition is on skateboarding, the colorful displays also depict the popularity of other underground subcultures, and explore topics like graffiti, breakdancing, punk and hip-hop music. The handmade posters and flyers on the gallery’s walls that were once used to promote concerts and underground parties have largely become a thing of the past. They’ve been replaced by social media in our Digital Age.
These photos represent just a fraction of the bold artwork you’ll see. Head over to the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park before October 27, 2019 when this exhibition, too, becomes history.
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This truth becomes abundantly clear when you visit the SDSU Downtown Gallery. Their current exhibition, In Transit, features the photography of five artists who document the plight of refugees.
According to the description: “Focusing on the tentative, limbo-like experience of living between different cultures, these five artists explore narratives of immigrants who traverse the no-man’s land existing between home and hope.”
The five artists are: George Awde, Gohar Dashti, Daniel Castro Garcia, Tanya Habjouqa, and Stefanie Zofia Schulz.
This emotionally powerful exhibition runs through July 14, 2019. One should see it.
These photographs help us to more deeply understand Humanity.
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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!
Nick McPherson (a.k.a. Nicholas Danger) paints a cool mural on a North Park wall during the 23rd Annual San Diego County Credit Union Festival of Arts.
Today I headed over to the 23rd Annual San Diego County Credit Union Festival of Arts in North Park. (Say that ten times fast!) My favorite part of this huge, super popular street festival is its emphasis on local artists and their amazing creativity.
Friendly artists were at work all over the place!
In the Live Art Block, a series of large canvases were being colorfully painted, including the wall of one building!
The Live Art Block at the North Park festival was presented by VISUAL.VISUAL helps connect local artists to public art projects. They also feature a gallery in North Park and sell art supplies.A number of local artists were creating new art to the delight of those walking about the festival.
At this very popular festival in North Park, people steer their feet past yummy food, assorted vendors, and a happy crowd of art-loving neighbors.A live music performance at the San Diego County Credit Union Festival of Arts.The Gallery in the Street featured lots of artwork for sale, plus artists working live on amazing pieces.
Creativity thrives in North Park!
UPDATE!
I took a photo of Nick McPherson’s completed Nomad Donuts mural years later…
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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!
My walking adventure today took me through Balboa Park and North Park.
I paused for a bit to watch the joyful intertribal dancing at the 31st Annual Balboa Park Pow Wow.
The Balboa Park Pow Wow, which is held on Mother’s Day weekend, is organized by the San Diego American Indian Health Center. The traditional event features Kumeyaay Bird Singers, Gourd Dancing, and a variety of Native American drum groups.
Many diverse peoples, colors and dances came together in a celebration of life!
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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!
This afternoon I strolled through Old Town and captured photos of the big 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo celebration. I began in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, headed south along San Diego Avenue, then turned to make my way back to the State Park.
According to a Park Ranger, Cinco de Mayo is by far the most popular event in Old Town San Diego. I saw many families strolling about enjoying the colorful sights, Mexican food and cultural entertainment.
There was a folklorico competition and lucha libre demonstrations (which I missed), giant puppets, Aztec dancers, kids’ crafts, mariachi music, and authentic Mexican food at every turn. There were many people in traditional Mexican dress and others in period costume from the early days of San Diego. I enjoyed checking out a bunch of sweet lowrider cars and a row of shiny, customized kids’ bikes that were definitely super cool. I paused to visit the donkeys near Seeley Stable, guys hammering red hot iron in the blacksmith shop, a silly street performer with a plunger on his head, and a gentleman in La Casa de Estudillo who was playing frontier games of chance against all comers. As I walked about I even spotted some chalk art.
There was so much to see, I didn’t know where to turn next!
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As I walked through Little Italy this morning, local artists were busy setting up their booths for the big annual Mission Federal ArtWalk!
Finished canvases were carefully positioned for the public to admire and hopefully purchase. Artists stepped back to observe the effect of their arrangement. Asphalt streets were gradually transformed into bright corridors of imagination. Creativity swirled once again from hundreds of practiced hands.
The streets of Little Italy were being painted with dreams . . .
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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!
Many cool sights await visitors who come aboard Peruvian Navy training ship BAP Unión.
This morning I stepped aboard an amazing ship. The enormous Peruvian tall ship BAP Unión visited San Diego for the weekend!
The BAP Unión is a beautiful sailing vessel that is used to train cadets in the Peruvian Navy. The 378 foot, four-masted barque also operates as a floating goodwill ambassador, uniquely representing the nation of Peru.
San Diego is the first stop of BAP Unión’s first ever tour of the West Coast!
Please read the photo captions for more interesting information. Click the signs and they will enlarge for easy reading.
Four-masted barque BAP Unión docked at Broadway Pier in San Diego, during its 2019 tour of the West Coast.People explore the impressive tall ship during its visit to San Diego’s Embarcadero.Sign explains the BAP Unión’s figurehead, which represents emperor Túpac Inca Yupanqui, who led a fleet of rafts on a voyage of exploration across the Pacific Ocean.The bronze figurehead was sculpted by Peruvian artist Pilar Martínez.A gangway welcomes curious visitors during a sunny San Diego weekend.Bienvenidos a bordo al B.A.P. “Unión”On the main deck of BAP Unión, near the aft mainmast and its many working ropes.The ship’s shining bell.Tilting my head upward to gaze at the tall ship’s masts, yards and rigging.I’ve turned about to face the ship’s stern. I see plaques, the ship’s wheel and the bridge.Sign explains Peru’s coat of arms, a national symbol used by the country’s armed forces.Plaque commemorates the launching of BAP Unión on December 22, 2014. The ship was commissioned on January 27, 2016. At the time of her commissioning, she was the largest sailing ship in Latin America.Artistic metalwork can be found all over the perfectly maintained tall ship, including these medallion-like designs.Shining plaques in the wooden deck at the foot of some steps.Climbing up the steps that lead to an area near the ship’s bridge.Engraved at the edge of each step is BUQUE ESCUELA UNION.Looking back down at the wooden deck around the aft mainmast.A visitor aboard the BAP Unión checks out the impressive ship’s wheel.The words BUQUE ESCUELA A VELA UNION.A sign provides a description of the ship’s wheel.Looking forward across the amazing ship. Many downtown San Diego buildings rise in the background.Mounted above the ship’s bridge is Peru’s coat of arms.Walking past the bridge toward the stern of BAP Unión.Visitors pose for a photo at a second wheel at the rear of the large tall ship.Looking straight up into the San Diego sky at the billowing flag of Peru.Starting forward, about to pass the ship’s bridge.Sign explains the bridge, where modern navigation and steering controls are located, and where naval cadets train. The ship’s watch is constant under the command of an officer.About to descend steps, as I continue forward along the port side of the ship.A crew member on deck tends to some ropes.Another look upward before heading into an internal part of the ship.Inside a spacious cabin, visitors enjoy looking at many cultural displays that concern Peru, including exquisite crafts and textiles.A fantastic work of art represents Peruvian culture.A colorful Peruvian folk art figurine.An officer’s cap with books and more artwork on a shelf.As the self-guided tour proceeded, I took a photo through a window into the ship’s kitchen. This is where Peruvian dishes are prepared for the crew and foreign guests.Sign describes the kitchen of BAP Unión.I see some food being prepared!Back outside in sunlight on a more forward part of the main deck. Souvenirs from Peru could be purchased by visitors.Another flight of steps leads toward the ship’s bow.I couldn’t stop looking up.Visitors learn a bit about the tall ship’s operation, including how an anchor is lowered.An anchor chain, winch and other equipment operated by naval cadets near BAP Unión’s bow.Looking back across the upper deck of the picturesque Peruvian tall ship.One last sets of steps to descend before the self-guided tour ends.The incredible Peruvian tall ship BAP Unión visits San Diego.
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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 photos for you to enjoy!
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