Kumeyaay traditional Bird Songs are performed during the San Diego 250 Civic Commemoration Ceremony.
This evening a very special event was held in San Diego.
A crowd gathered near the top of Presidio Hill, in the parking lot just below the Serra Museum, to take part in the San Diego 250 Civic Commemoration Ceremony.
The historic event was staged in the same spot overlooking San Diego Bay where the first Spanish mission and presidio were built in 1769. It is where San Diego began 250 years ago.
The first part of the San Diego 250 Civic Commemoration Ceremony featured cultural entertainment representing our remarkably diverse city. Several colorful dances were followed by speeches by politicians, dignitaries and diplomats, plus several leaders of the Native American Kumeyaay people–those who have lived in this region many thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. The audience experienced a Kumeyaay blessing and traditional Bird Songs. With sincere words past injustices and the suffering of the Kumeyaay were acknowledged, and optimism was expressed that our city’s future will be inclusive and bright.
For as long as I can remember, three flagpoles have stood at this place where the Spanish built their first outpost in California. Three banners have flown representing the history of San Diego: the flags of Spain, Mexico and the United States.
A fourth flagpole was recently installed. Today, at the close of the ceremony, a flag incorporating the different tribes of the Kumeyaay Nation was blessed with white sage smoke–to purify minds and hearts-and raised proudly, acknowledging and honoring San Diego’s first people.
I took some photographs of this important historical event.
Early arrivals for San Diego’s big 250th Anniversary event claim a seat and await some cultural entertainment.A variety of tents could be visited for food, drink and information about San Diego and its history.Kumeyaay tools and crafts are on display at one table.Map shows the different Kumeyaay villages of our region. The village of Cosoy was located near the base of Presidio Hill, where Old Town is located today.Prior to the ceremony, I walked a bit through Presidio Park. I took a photograph of VIPs arriving by Old Town Trolley at the Serra Museum.Performers lounge on grass behind the stage before the program begins.Someone takes a seat in the VIP section as Lion Dancers begin the multicultural entertainment.
The ballet folklorico dancing that followed was enthusiastic, joyous and loudly applauded.
Dancers representing San Diego’s Portuguese community take the stage.
A dance followed that represented San Diego’s Vietnamese community.
The VIPs take their seats as speeches are about to commence.There are four flagpoles, but only three flags are flying.Mayor Faulconer addresses the crowd, urging unity and a positive future for all who live in San Diego.A leader of the Kumeyaay Nation addresses those assembled.Kumeyaay women sway in front of the stage as the men perform traditional Bird Songs.
A presentation is made to the San Diego History Center, which operates the Junipero Serra Museum and helped to arrange this special ceremony.Before the event concludes, everyone’s attention is directed to the four flagpoles.The Kumeyaay color guard stands ready.The flag of the Kumeyaay Nation is unfolded and blessed.It is raised.The Kumeyaay color guard poses with pride for a photograph.The flag of the Kumeyaay Nation now flies on historic Presidio Hill, in a place of honor.
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I recently took these photos of street art on Logan Avenue, just east of Chicano Park!
All this cool artwork can be found along the northeast side of Logan Avenue, between Don Diego VFW Post 7420 at Evans Street and the basileIE art space. Fences, planters and buildings have been painted with military servicemembers, Aztec faces, and diverse figures representing the Barrio Logan community. This might be the most colorful short stretch of sidewalk in all of San Diego!
Immediately to the northwest on Logan Avenue there are even more great murals, at the Chicano Park Herb Garden and Alchemy Motorcycles. See those by clicking 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!
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!
During my walk around the Chula Vista Library early this afternoon I stumbled upon The Turning Wheel Project. A very colorful bus was parked behind the library, and a group of youth was learning about the culture and history of Chicano Park, Logan Heights and other nearby communities!
The Turning Wheel Project, I learned, is a partnership between the Chicano Park Steering Committee, the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, and the University of San Diego. The bus serves as a mobile classroom where students can learn about the unique culture and history of their own community. Curious minds learn about the power of art, science and engineering, and contemplate the past, present and future.
I stepped into the bus and saw many interesting photographs depicting activism and the historic struggle to create Chicano Park. Representations of Chicano Park’s world-famous murals were also on display. As I poked my nose about, professors from USD were speaking to some students.
If you’d like to learn more about The Turning Wheel Project: El Pueblo En Movimiento – A Community In Movement, check out their website 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!
More fantastic street murals have been popping up in City Heights!
Artists have been painting all sorts of new murals along University Avenue, primarily between I-805 and I-15. Most have been created for #theavenuemuralproject. According to Carlos Quezada of Love City Heights, brand new murals have been debuting almost every month!
On Sunday I was shown a bunch that were recently completed. Each new mural uniquely enriches this proud, culturally diverse community. Artists, volunteers and neighbors have been coming together one wall at a time to make a positive difference for all.
And the future is bright! The stretch of University Avenue between I-805 and I-15 is a growing “drive-through” art gallery with truly unlimited potential. Muralists of local, national and even international renown are showing an interest in City Heights.
Victor Ochoa, one of the world’s most famous muralists, a pioneer of San Diego’s Chicano art movement, will be creating an amazing new masterpiece on University Avenue later this year!
To see some of these new murals, check out my previous two blog posts.
The following photographs show even more!
A cool new mural on University Avenue in City Heights, created by Beth Emmerich, with the assistance of several other great street artists.
This abstract mural is titled UnPerfect, by Walker Matthews, Carlos Quezada and Edwin Lohr.LOVE CITY HEIGHTSLeft end of a long mural on University Avenue near 50th Street. It faces a new park-like community gathering place. Created by @illumihaadi and local youth, with support from City Heights CDC and City Heights Business Association. The neighborhood is home to many Somalis.
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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!
On the steps of the San Diego Museum of Art, a colorful celebration of Asian arts enlivens Balboa Park.
Every so often the San Diego Museum of Art hosts a fantastic, free outdoor event in Balboa Park. This evening I experienced On the Steps at SDMA: A Celebration of Asian Arts!
There were joyful performances of music and dance, and at several booths in front of the museum’s entrance a variety of arts from diverse Asian cultures were demonstrated.
This is what I saw!
I arrived just in time to catch an amazing, super energetic drumming performance by Naruwan Taiko of San Diego.The San Diego Bonsai Club was demonstrating an ancient Asian art form.Like a small forest of tall, beautiful trees.Ikebana flower arrangements added even more beauty to the event. The demonstration was hosted by Sharon Bristow at the Japanese booth.These amazing Korean ceramics were all created by Yonsoo Chung, representing the House of Korea in Balboa Park.Korean artist Kim, Eun Jin shows youth how to make jewel-like teapots from colorful strips of paper!These tiny teapots are made with recycled paper by the Artreepaper community with the help of Kim, Eun Jin.I was shown by an artist from SDSU’s Confucius Institute how the name Richard appears as a Chinese ink painting!Even more cool art was being produced by lots of creative people at this table.Kids representing the Confucius Institute perform kung fu fan moves in front of the Timken Museum of Art.These performers from the San Diego Korean Pungmul Institute were hanging out in the Plaza de Panama as they awaited their turn in the spotlight!
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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!
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It’s a day for reflection and hope.
This morning I walked past San Diego’s downtown Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse. I paused by several window displays to take photographs of colorful youth art.
The artwork was chosen from many entries to the San Diego County Bar Association’s 2018 Law Week Poster and Video Contest. The theme was: What does Equality and Justice for All mean to students?
Taking sharp photos through the windows was a challenge. I had to increase the contrast for each of these images.
Enjoy a few bits of wisdom from young hearts and minds:
Equal and Free!Respect . . . Fairness . . . Education . . .All should mean Everyone.Equality and Justice for All.Equality and Justice.Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
The right half of one wall at University Avenue and Laverne Place has been painted by artist Matthew Perdoni.
On Sunday I enjoyed another walk through San Diego’s expanding “drive-through” art gallery in City Heights. And I spotted more murals!
The first time I checked out the murals of #theavenuemuralproject was four months ago. I was given a tour by members of Love City Heights, and learned about their ambitious plan to create an outdoor, drive-through art gallery along University Avenue from I-805 to I-15. To see those first murals and learn much more, you can read my original blog post here.
These murals provide proof that good people can make a huge positive difference in their community. Many wonderful artists, students and neighbors are coming together to make this amazing vision a reality!
The left half of the wall was painted by San Diego muralist Gloria Muriel.Students from an Experimental Processes in Art class at SDSU painted a mural on the wall of 7-Eleven. The design was inspired by the nonprofit United Women of East Africa Support Team.Left half of the colorful mural. which depicts female members of the East African community in San Diego.The right half of the mural. Joyful art created by students at San Diego State University adds life to City Heights.Fun artwork on the wall of Fruteria Disfrutalas at University Avenue and Cherokee Street.More fun artwork on another side of Fruteria Disfrutalas.All these happy images were created by Isaias Crow and his 14 year old apprentice Andrew, who designed the fun artwork.Silly, creative public art produces smiles in City Heights!A beautiful graphic on the wall of Sunset Kava in City Heights, by artist Zuzana Vass.On the same Sunset Kava wall a very cool abstract design was recently painted by artist Mary Jhun.
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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!
