Tag: culture

Dance, art, music and life in sunny Balboa Park.

House of Panama dancers practice Saturday morning in Balboa Park.
House of Panama dancers practice on a Saturday morning in Balboa Park.

I spend a lot of time in Balboa Park. It’s close to where I live, just north of downtown San Diego. It’s full of things to do and see. And it’s simply a wonderful place that makes me feel optimistic and alive.

My pleasant walk today took me once again into the park. As if by magic, I discovered dance, a play, music, bright works of art and a surprising someone I used to know years ago.

Members of Jane Austen Society in San Diego prepare to perform a play.
Members of Jane Austen Society in San Diego prepare to perform a play.
Scandalous play Lovers' Vows was referenced in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park.
Scandalous play Lovers’ Vows was referenced in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.
Moonlight Serenade Orchestra practices at Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Moonlight Serenade Orchestra practices at Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Jazzy group rehearses Night and Day, Sweet Georgia Brown, and more!
Jazzy group rehearses Night and Day, Sweet Georgia Brown, and more!

That big happy dog is a frequent visitor to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. He’s the friend of Dr. Carol Williams, the civic organist! The musicians today were getting ready for Monday’s finale of the International Summer Organ Festival.

Kids, hula hoops and sunshine on El Prado in San Diego's Balboa Park.
Kids, hula hoops and sunshine on El Prado in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

I believe that’s the same hula-hooper who wore the Merry Solstice shirt in my December Nights blog post.

Flowers near the reflecting pool in front of the Botanical Building.
Flowers near the reflecting pool in front of the Botanical Building.
Bright greens and clear water attract my wandering camera lens.
Bright greens and clear water attract my wandering camera lens.
A daring pirate dangles beside the San Diego Natural History Museum.
A daring pirate dangles beside the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Falun Gong artwork emphasizes persecution in China.
Falun Gong artwork emphasizes overcoming persecution in China.
A homeless Chinese girl and sunflowers.
A homeless Chinese girl and sunflowers.

A friendly lady advocating for Falun Gong and protesting their persecution in China told me she believes in collective consciousness, and that the power of good thoughts around the world will eventually bring about positive change.

Glassblowers in Spanish Village remove red hot molten glass from furnace.
Glassblowers in Spanish Village remove red hot molten glass from furnace.
Photographer Dallas displays his fine work near the International Cottages.
Photographer Dallas displays his fine work near the International Cottages.

Dallas used to show his excellent photographs along the Embarcadero, just north of Seaport Village. I’d stop and chat from time to time and he’d tell me all about his interesting life experiences. One day he disappeared.

Today, many years later, I saw him again! He was among other artists showing his professional work on a patch of grass. It was great to see him again! His photography is truly top notch and depicts places he’s visited all around the world. Please check out his website!

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Philippine Cultural Arts Festival in Balboa Park.

Folk dancers prepare to go on stage at today's cultural exhibition.
Folk dancers prepare to go on stage at today’s cultural exhibition.

I went for a typical weekend walk today. I just headed up to Balboa Park to see what I would see.

And I saw a lot!

My most interesting and enjoyable experience came as I strolled through the 30th Philippine Cultural Arts Festival put on by the Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center. The big event was taking place on some grass at the south end of Balboa Park, near Park Boulevard.

Lots of folks were enjoying authentic Filipino food, browsing through many booths, and watching a variety of unique demonstrations and entertainment. Workshops were even available to the public, teaching anyone interested to speak Tagalog, play the Bandurria, Angklung and Kulintang, practice self-defense in the style of Arnis or Eskrima, and dance Tinikling, which is the very colorful national dance of the Philippines.

Here are some pics!

Scott Lost showcases his 2nd Shift comic books and other artwork!
Scott Lost showcases his 2nd Shift comic books and other artwork!

Local artist Scott Lost was showing and selling his work. He has self-published a cool independent comic book series called 2nd Shift. Check it out!

Funny t-shirts celebrate Filipino life at special event in Balboa Park.
Funny t-shirts celebrate Filipino life at special event in Balboa Park.
Guys with swords teach Philippine martial arts!
Guys with swords teach Philippine martial arts!

I wouldn’t mess with these dudes!

Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center.
Samahan Filipino American Performing Arts and Education Center.
San Diegans from many different communities enjoyed the festival.
San Diegans from many different communities enjoyed the festival.
Folk dances from the Philippines were part of the cultural exhibition.
Folk dances from the Philippines were part of the cultural exhibition.
The audience enjoyed some colorful and joyful entertainment!
The audience enjoyed some colorful and joyful sights!

The festival is also going on Sunday (tomorrow) from 11-5. You’ll find it by the corner of Park Boulevard and Presidents Way. If you’re in San Diego, check it out!

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Mural of Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park.

Front entrance of Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park.
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.
Starting around the old water tower, checking out the artwork.
Centro Cultural de la Raza seen from Park Boulevard.
Centro Cultural de la Raza seen from Park Boulevard.
Snake-entwined female in front of moon.
Snake-entwined female in front of glowing moon.
Diverse images from Latino culture in the large mural.
Diverse images from Latino culture in the richly detailed mural.
Geronimo crowned by a radiant sun.
A kneeling Geronimo crowned by a radiant sun.
Hispanic music, education and optimism are portrayed.
Hispanic music, education and optimism are portrayed.
Colorful mural contains many animals from the Americas.
Colorful mural contains many animals from the Americas.
A ram and corn are among the many images.
A ram and corn are among the many images.
Circling around toward back of the water tower.
Circling around toward back of the water tower.
Mesoamerican pyramid in a richly painted scene.
Mesoamerican pyramid in a beautifully painted scene.
Stylized face watches from Centro Cultural de la Raza.
Stylized ancient face watches from Centro Cultural de la Raza.
Latino family stands proudly in the San Diego mural.
Latino family stands proudly in the San Diego mural.
Eyes seem to rise out of the ground.
Eyes seem to rise out of the ground.
Nearby utility box made into a work of art.
Nearby utility box made into a work of art.
This crazy face made me laugh.
This crazy face made me laugh.
This appears to be an Aztec warrior.
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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Unexpected treasures of music in Balboa Park.

R. Jelani Eddington rehearses on the Spreckels Organ.
R. Jelani Eddington rehearses on the Spreckels Organ.

Take an amble through San Diego’s amazing Balboa Park and you never know what interesting or beautiful thing you might randomly stumble upon. Early this afternoon I was extremely fortunate!

It isn’t uncommon to hear the music of amateur street musicians throughout the gigantic urban park. Performers of all ages can be found in every nook and cranny playing a harp, a guitar, a violin, drums–you name it–hoping for a tip from generous visitors. Professional musicians, however, play in concerts that are scheduled, publicized, and attended by large, expectant audiences. Usually.

My first lucky discovery was stumbling upon famed theatre organist R. Jelani Eddington in a lengthy rehearsal for Monday night’s International Organ Festival at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Apart from a wedding party taking photographs by the pavilion’s elegant colonnade, and a few passing tourists, I seemed to have the amazing performance all to myself. Wow! The Spreckels Organ was producing pure magic, as the king of instruments was handled with world-class skill. What a privilege to listen!

R. Jelani Eddington was 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year.
R. Jelani Eddington was 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year.
The lawn of Balboa Park's International Cottages is empty.
The lawn of Balboa Park’s International Cottages is empty.

My second sensational discovery took place at the more modest International Cottages stage not far away. A duet was playing excellent, moving music to an all but nonexistent audience. It seems the performance was very poorly publicized, or not at all.

Reflections: Jerry and Angie, is the name of the very talented group that was being featured by the House of the United States of America. They were playing folk songs and classic American tunes with banjo and simple, heart-stirring vocals. I’m a sucker for this type of music, and I loved listening to She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain, Country Roads, God Bless America and more. I got a kick at how they treated me and the half a dozen others on the lawn like a regular audience, asking us to sing along and providing interesting comments on many songs. I’ve never heard a banjo so well played.

Reflections is Jerry on banjo and Angie with vocals.
Reflections is Jerry on banjo and Angie with vocals.

Balboa Park contains endless magical surprises!

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Joy of Urban Living mural in East Village.

Joy of Urban Living mural by Rafael Lopez.
Joy of Urban Living mural by Rafael Lopez.

Another mural representing the artwork of Rafael Lopez can be spotted on a parking lot wall in East Village. Appropriately called Joy of Urban Living, this mural is also part of the Urban Art Trail project in San Diego. An unknown prankster seems to have added the funny image you see in the third photograph.

Mural by East Village parking lot adds life to neighborhood.
Mural by East Village parking lot adds life to neighborhood.
Frankenstein monster head with tentacles added to mural.
Frankenstein monster head with tentacles added to mural.

Here’s a better photograph that I snapped at a later time…

An unobstructed photo of the Joy of Urban Living mural by Rafael Lopez.
An unobstructed photo of the Joy of Urban Living mural by Rafael Lopez.

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The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

The Strength of Women mural by Rafael Lopez.
The Strength of the Women mural by Rafael Lopez.

Should you ever ride the San Diego Trolley up Park Boulevard between the Market Street and City College stations, you might notice this large, colorful mural on a building wall. It’s called The Strength of the Women and is based on the work of noted local artist Rafael Lopez.

This mural is part of the Urban Art Trail, a project in San Diego whose mission is to beautify areas that have been unfortunately neglected and subject to urban decay. Along this section of Park Boulevard you’ll find many homeless people.

Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
Beautiful mural on Park Boulevard in San Diego.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
A closer look at mural shows past patches of graffiti.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.
Public art painted in 2000 by the women of CalWORKs.

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House of Scotland Pipe Band in Balboa Park.

House of Scotland Pipe Band performs at Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
House of Scotland Pipe Band performs at Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

Today’s free Sunday organ concert at Balboa Park’s Spreckels Organ Pavilion featured the amazing House of Scotland Pipe Band! The House of Scotland makes its home in the International Cottages just steps away from the pavilion.

I’ve always loved bagpipe music. It’s even better, if that’s possible, when accompanied by Dr. Carol Williams, San Diego’s famous Civic Organist, on the majestic Spreckels Organ. The large-lunged instruments combine their resonance, and with the addition of a booming drum, the melodies that are produced really stir the blood. I wish the concert had gone on all afternoon!

Songs included Highland Cathedral, Flower of Scotland, Blue Bells, Amazing Grace, Scotland the Brave, and The Ballad of Glencoe.

Raising and twirling the baton in time with great bagpipe music.
Raising and twirling the baton in time with great bagpipe music.
Dr. Carol Williams accompanies bagpipes with Spreckels Organ.
Dr. Carol Williams accompanies bagpipes on the Spreckels Organ.
The big booming drum of the House of Scotland!
The big booming drum of the House of Scotland!
Balboa Park visitors mingle with musicians after the stirring concert.
Balboa Park visitors mingle with musicians after the stirring concert.

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Folks enjoy House of Austria lawn program.

Dancers from House of Austria in Balboa Park.
Dancers from House of Austria in Balboa Park.

I got a few pics of another Sunday afternoon lawn program at Balboa Park’s International Cottages. This weekend it was Austria’s turn!

Dancing, singing and food were abundant for the entertainment of anyone interested in Austrian culture.  Many in the crowd wore traditional folk costumes.  There was a beauty queen and opera performances and it all concluded with many participants singing the popular favorite Edelweiss.

Austrian beauty queen smiles for my camera!
Austrian beauty queen smiles for my camera!
Folks watch lawn program of House of Austria.
Folks watch lawn program of House of Austria.
Food tent has sausage and other tasty Austrian food.
Food tent has sausage and other tasty Austrian food.
Everyone applauds a fantastic operatic duet.
Everyone applauds a fantastic operatic duet.

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Sign language Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

Bronze hand signs the letter D.
Bronze hand signs the letter D.

Take a walk or ride a bike down the Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade in downtown San Diego and you’ll encounter several sculptures inspired by America’s great civil rights leader. Here are a few photos of DREAM – A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a dramatic work created by Roberto Salas in 2001. Five bronze hands spell out the word DREAM in sign language. This public art can be found very close to The New Children’s Museum.

Along the beautiful promenade, which follows Harbor Drive from near Seaport Village down to the Gaslamp Quarter, many MLK quotes are enshrined in the walkway. The last photo shows one very famous quote, just a few steps from this powerful tribute.

Bronze hand signs the letter R.
Bronze hand signs the letter R.
Bronze hand signs the letter E.
Bronze hand signs the letter E.
Bronze hand signs the letter A.
Bronze hand signs the letter A.
Bronze hand signs the letter M.
Bronze hand signs the letter M.
DREAM - A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by artist Roberto Salas. A word that reaches deep into our humanity and creativity.
DREAM – A tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by artist Roberto Salas. A word that reaches deep into our humanity and creativity.
People approach DREAM on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.
People approach DREAM on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.
A very famous and wise quote by Martin Luther King Jr.
A very famous and wise quote by Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

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A few cool sights around Mercado del Barrio.

Cool mural in new Barrio Logan development.
Cool mural in dynamic new Barrio Logan development.

Mercado del Barrio is a relatively new retail development on Cesar Chavez Parkway just south of downtown San Diego. It was designed to help revitalize Barrio Logan. You can find it situated near the base of the Coronado Bay Bridge, right next to Chicano Park. A number of very colorful murals add life to the new buildings. Some of the art can be seen when driving over the bridge.

Walking around the area I took a few cool pics that you might enjoy!

Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.
Face on bold mural at Mercado del Barrio.
A very colorful face at Mercado del Barrio, painted by renowned muralist Mario Torero.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.
Colorful art above a store's glass door.
Colorful art above a store’s glass door.
Beautiful artwork near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Beautiful mosaic artwork by artist Betsy K. Schulz near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind a mural in Chicano Park.
Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind bold artwork in famous Chicano Park.

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