Tag: inspiration

A big city painted with small brushstrokes.

Young man with skateboard paints for donations on a San Diego sidewalk.
Young man with skateboard paints for donations on a San Diego sidewalk.

Once in a while my walks around San Diego take me past artists painting scenes from the big city. The artists might be working outside alone in a scenic or interesting place; or I might stumble upon a small crowd of art students working on many easels in a row. I love to pause and look over a shoulder for a few moments. I’m awed by human creativity.

Here are just a few pics that you might enjoy…

An artist in Balboa Park's Spanish Village works on a canvas in the colorful courtyard.
Artist in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village works on a canvas in the colorful courtyard.
A painted guitarist seems to emerge from sunny San Diego dappled brightness.
A painted guitarist seems to emerge from the sunny San Diego dappled brightness.
An artist works next to Tuna Harbor as many people stroll past.
An artist works next to Tuna Harbor as many people stroll past.
Painter on the Embarcadero inspired by Tuna Harbor boats and reflections.
Painter on the Embarcadero inspired by picturesque boats and reflections.
Small painted boat seems to float in the nearby rippled water.
Small painted boat seems to float in the nearby rippled water.

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Wasted grocery food turns to art in Balboa Park.

A little diving in San Diego grocery store dumpsters yielded lots of good food.
A little diving in San Diego grocery store dumpsters yielded lots of good food.

A unique event took place today. It was extremely unusual, fun and enlightening.

Rob Greenfield is an activist working to persuade grocery stores to donate expired foods to local food banks and hunger relief charities like Feeding America. His effort is called Donate Don’t Dump. To raise awareness, he has created unusual, colorful works of art in various cities, using perfectly good food he’s found while dumpster diving.

As part of my walk today, I took a few pics of Rob and his friends creating a fantastic bit of artwork on the grass in San Diego’s Balboa Park.

He told me that some grocery chains are better than others at donating their expired foods. He explained food retailers have nothing to fear from lawsuits should someone sicken from food poisoning, because of the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act.  $165 billion dollars of food is wasted each year, enough to fill two Rose Bowl stadiums every single day, according to Rob!

Once the art had been admired, bystanders were invited to eat! The food was great!

Wasted food includes vegetables, baked goods and expired packaged items.
Wasted food includes vegetables, baked goods and expired packaged items.
Rob Greenfield checks salvaged food to be assembled into activist art in Balboa Park.
Rob Greenfield checks salvaged food to be assembled into activist art in Balboa Park.
Rob Greenfield explains his goals on a bench, with Casa del Prado arches in the background.
Rob Greenfield explains his goals on a bench, with Casa del Prado arches in the background.
Laying out the food articles into an elaborate, very colorful design has begun!
Laying out the food articles into an elaborate, very colorful design has begun!
A crowd watches near the Botanical Building as the food creation nears completion.
A crowd watches near the Botanical Building as the artistic food creation nears completion.
Rob Greenfield explains that more needs to be done to save perfectly good food.
Rob Greenfield explains that more needs to be done to save perfectly good food.

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Kids’ NewsDay benefits Rady Children’s Hospital!

Selling special edition Union-Tribune newspapers during Kids' NewsDay!
Selling very special edition Union-Tribune newspapers during Kids’ NewsDay!

Smiling volunteers could be seen throughout San Diego this morning selling special edition newspapers! Today was the 25th anniversary of Kids’ NewsDay, a much-anticipated yearly event whose purpose is to benefit Rady Children’s Hospital.

Over the years, thousands of children and families have been helped by the money raised by generous people who purchase this inspiring edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Since the first Kids’ NewsDay in 1990, about 30,000 volunteers have sold over a million papers, raising nearly 3 million dollars! That’s amazing! The featured section of the newspaper is filled with stories of kids overcoming extremely difficult situations, many with rare or life-threatening diseases. The stories are filled with optimism, and the most inspiring stories are written by children themselves!

If you would like to make a donation to Rady Children’s Hospital, please click this link!

Kid's NewsDay helps raise funds for Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.
Kid’s NewsDay helps raise funds for Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

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Scuba divers help clean up San Diego waterfront!

Volunteers help clean up San Diego Bay near the Star of India.
Volunteers help clean up our San Diego Bay near the Star of India.

The annual San Diego Bay Downtown Cleanup was held this morning! Local scuba divers cleaned up underwater garbage at the edge of our beautiful waterfront, while other volunteers assisted gathering trash above water.

I walked along the Embarcadero from the San Diego Maritime Museum down to Tuna Harbor and took a bunch of cool photographs. Hopefully these pics provide a little inspiration! Let’s make the world more clean and beautiful!

This guy was assisting divers removing trash along the Embarcadero.
This guy was assisting divers removing trash along the Embarcadero.
Power Scuba and Control Group teamed up for downtown waterfront cleanup event.
Power Scuba and Control Group teamed up for downtown waterfront cleanup event.
Looking out at diving boat from inside Anthony's Fishette.
Looking out at dive boat from inside Anthony’s Fishette.
Many San Diegans assisted in various ways, or just watched with curiosity.
Many San Diegans assisted in various ways, or just watched with curiosity.
Bags of garbage were gathered throughout the morning to be hauled away later.
Bags of garbage were gathered throughout the morning to be hauled away later.
A participant checks out what's going on in the water below.
A participant checks out what’s going on in the water below.
The boardwalk near the USS Midway was full of activity.
The boardwalk near the USS Midway was full of activity.
New trash compacting and recycling cans along the Embarcadero are solar powered.
New trash compacting and recycling cans along the Embarcadero are solar powered.
Old and young were helping out making our fine city even better.
Old and young were helping out the environment, making our fine city even better.
Scuba divers checked in here before beginning their underwater mission.
Scuba divers checked in here before beginning their underwater mission.
Piles of garbage found in the bay include construction cones and a shopping cart.
Piles of garbage found in the bay include construction cones and a shopping cart.
Bags of trash are collected as the morning progresses.
Bags of trash are collected as the morning progresses.
Pool skimming nets were handy for removing floating litter and debris.
Pool skimming nets were handy for removing floating litter and debris.
Port of San Diego's boat Tsunami II is used to help clean the bay.
Port of San Diego’s boat Tsunami II is used to help clean the bay.
Scuba diver gets hosed off on Tuna Harbor dock after gathering trash.
Scuba diver gets hosed off on Tuna Harbor dock after gathering trash.

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Glimpsing a secret, bright inner essence.

Solitary figure in morning sun on Torrey Pines State Beach.
Solitary figure in morning sun on Torrey Pines State Beach.

Here are several lucky photographs that turned out to be emotionally stirring or inspiring. In places light shines out from the images, as if we’re privileged to momentarily glimpse a secret, bright inner essence.

Tall palms reach toward a glowing cloud on San Diego's Embarcadero.
Tall palms reach toward a glowing cloud on San Diego’s Embarcadero.
A morning look from Balboa Park toward my Cortez Hill neighborhood.
Bright morning color frames my Cortez Hill neighborhood.
Brilliant sunrise illuminates the horizon east of San Diego.
Brilliant, fiery sunrise illuminates the horizon east of San Diego.
Helping hand is offered at the Toussaint Teen Center.
Touching sculpture offers a helping hand at the Toussaint Teen Center.
Children walk around Balboa Park fountain as evening descends.
Children walk around beautiful Balboa Park fountain as evening descends.
Morning sun and reflection in downtown San Diego.
Morning sun and reflection in downtown San Diego.

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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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Three utility boxes on Bankers Hill.

Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.
Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.

Here are three colorful utility boxes along Laurel Street on Bankers Hill. I really like the message on the first one.

Exotic face on a utility box on Bankers Hill.
Exotic face on a utility box on Bankers Hill.
Koi and pond flowers adorn a colorful utility box.
Koi and pond flowers adorn a colorful utility box.

Cancer Survivors Park: Hope, beauty, healing.

Today with modern medicine there's a pretty good chance of beating cancer.
Today with modern medicine there’s a pretty good chance of beating cancer.

Cancer Survivors Park is located at Spanish Landing, across Harbor Drive from San Diego International Airport. It’s an inspiring place of hope, beauty and healing.

At the center of the park is an arrangement of bronze sculptures by renowned artist Victor Salmones, representing people from all walks of life dealing with cancer. The journey can be complicated and difficult. A walkway that meanders through the park features plaques containing useful, positive messages.

If you also feel inspired, please feel free to share.

Some people have been cured from every type of cancer.
Some people have been cured from every type of cancer.
People from all walks of life can get cancer.
People from all walks of life can get cancer.
Cancer is the most curable of all chronic diseases.
Cancer is the most curable of all chronic diseases.
Bronze forms represent people beginning to undergo medical treatment.
Bronze forms represent people beginning to undergo medical treatment.
Realize that cancer is a life threatening disease but some beat it. Make up your mind you will be one of those who do.
Realize that cancer is a life threatening disease but some beat it. Make up your mind you will be one of those who do.
People like you and I start the difficult journey to have their cancer eliminated.
People like you and I start the difficult journey to have their cancer eliminated.
Make a commitment to do everything in your power to help yourself fight the disease.
Make a commitment to do everything in your power to help yourself fight the disease.
Beginning cancer treatment can be a bit scary and confusing.
Beginning cancer treatment can be a bit scary and confusing.
Find a qualified doctor in whom you have confidence who believes he can successfully treat you.
Find a qualified doctor in whom you have confidence who believes he can successfully treat you.
Young lady begins cancer treatment, feeling uncertain.
Young lady begins cancer treatment, feeling uncertain.
Treat your cancer promptly, properly and thoroughly and have a positive mental attitude.
Treat your cancer promptly, properly and thoroughly and have a positive mental attitude.
Happy family emerges from cancer treatment with a brand new life.
Happy family emerges from cancer treatment with a brand new life.
Get state of the art treatment. Know all your options. Knowledge heals.
Get state of the art treatment. Know all your options. Knowledge heals.
Bicyclist rides through San Diego's Cancer Survivors Park.
Bicyclist rides through San Diego’s Cancer Survivors Park.
Cancer Survivors Park is located at Spanish Landing, near Lindbergh Field.
Cancer Survivors Park is located at Spanish Landing, near Lindbergh Field.

Boring object transformed by inspiration.

transformer transformed into cacti

During my walk through Old Town I spotted this electrical transformer in a patch of cacti. It was artfully painted to fit right in!

I love how a little imagination can change a dull, boring object into an inspired piece that fits into greater beauty. Very cool!

Utility box in Old Town painted with cacti.
Ugly transformer in Old Town transformed into cacti.