Tag: liberty station

Sunset mural: sea, land, plants and stained glass!

This mural at Liberty Station in Point Loma is suggestive of many things. Variously shaped and colored cells combine into what appears to me like an organism seen through a microscope, or perhaps a color-coded map, or perhaps a sunset or stained glass seen through an odd lens. What does it look like to you?

The public art is titled Vitral Sunset: A Marine Perspective Across The Border. It was created last year with acrylic paints by Tijuana artist Mischka Ippólita (@mischkaippolita). You can find it at Barracks 19.

A nearby plaque describes the art:

The visual references that inspired this mural are seascapes, landscapes, local plants, and microscopic life.

Components of the mural are a combination of ships at sea aerial views and cross-sections of native plants from California and Baja California. A significant factor that unifies all the elements in the piece references the North Chapel, an aesthetic emulating the stained-glass windows.

Yes, the mural does evoke all of those things. Very cool!

A couple weeks ago I took these photos…

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Pigs, duck and hamburger at old Navy base!

At old Naval Training Center San Diego, you might not expect to see pigs, a duck and a hamburger placed on a fountain. Well, that’s what you’ll find at Liberty Station in Point Loma!

The old Navy base is now home to many artist studios and tons of public art. I found this rather unusual public art while walking around the other day!

The fountain is titled Fuente Fantasma. It was created last year by Ensenada artist Beliz Iristay.

According to a nearby sign, the fantastic fountain showcases the complex layering of the region that is Tijuana and San Diego with the juxtaposition of the traditional border craft industry in rich layering along with an architectural element, the fountain, a fitting symbol for San Diego’s Spanish heritage.

Well, that may be, but I simply like the fun, whimsical quality of the thing!

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A rooster, a palm tree, and an Art Garden.

I’m not sure when The Judy McDonald Art Garden officially debuted. When I visited Liberty Station in Point Loma last week, I noted the outdoor space (outside Dick Laub NTC Command Center, between Building 200 and Building 201) had a name that I previously hadn’t seen. I also noticed two relatively new works of art in the garden!

I know nothing about the colorful rooster mosaic sculpture. If you know more about it, please leave a comment.

The next photo is of Judy’s Palm/Only Connect, a mural painted by San Diego artist Perry Vásquez back in April.

The palm tree in this public art represents the spirit of inclusiveness, optimism and the ability to bend without breaking. For a good description and explanation, plus photographs of the mural being painted, click here.

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Tattoos become a mural at Liberty Station!

When I visited Liberty Station about a week ago, I checked out this newly painted mural. It’s located in the arched breezeway that connects The Lot movie theater with the Dorothea Laub Dance Place.

The colorful mural is composed of bold designs that one might select at a tattoo parlor!

Estación Libertad is the mural’s title and Mexican American artist Enrique “Chikle” Lugo is the creator. The art was commissioned by Liberty Station. It’s the latest work of public art you can enjoy at the former home of Naval Training Center San Diego.

Dragon, butterflies, hummingbird, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a Navy anchor, skull, cacti, eagle, dolphin, a zebra-like Tijuana zonkey, a baseball and soccer ball… Many of the images are associated with San Diego or the unique culture of our border region.

I see a flying saucer, too!

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Inspired art exhibit at Liberty Station!

Artist: Weston Riffle.

You might enjoy the artwork now on display in the Dick Laub Command Center Gallery at Liberty Station. The current exhibition is titled Inspired.

Works by seven Liberty Station based artists hang in the lobby of the NTC Dick Laub Command Center. If you are interested in a particular piece, all are for sale. Swing by the studios of more than 40 artists in the nearby barracks buildings, and you can find even more!

It seems every time I walk in Point Loma through Liberty Station, I discover new art! More blog posts from my most recent visit are upcoming!

The Inspired exhibition is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, through October 3, 2026.

Some of what you’ll see:

Artist: Chakib Bouhdary.
Artist: Katerina Husar-Lazarova.
Artist: Colleen Veltz.
Artist: Lauren LeVieux.

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Art benches inside Liberty Station’s Dance Place!

Artist: Alicia Hourican, Shanna Little.

Many years ago I shared photos of art benches scattered about Liberty Station. See those by clicking here.

Today I happened to walk through the Dorothea Laub Dance Place building at Liberty Station. What did I discover? Seven more artistically painted benches!

I actually found eight, but there was one that I had photographed previously (it must have been subsequently moved into the Dance Place.) I won’t include it in this blog post.

These seven colorfully painted benches include artist names. So read the captions.

Artist: Morse High School.
Artist: Jennifer Peterson.
Artist: Viviana Lombrozo.
Artist: Alfred Ventura.
Artist: Blair Thornley.
Artist: Elizabeth Andrews Zaikowski.

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Star Wars exhibit coming to Liberty Station!

I discovered something cool today while walking through Liberty Station in Point Loma. Pisano Artistry, located in a building adjacent to the Dick Laub NTC Command Center, will soon have a Star Wars exhibit!

I learned the fun news while peeking through the window of artist Joe Pisano’s gallery.

You’ve seen Joe Pisano’s unique and patriotic drywall screw art on Cool San Diego Sights previously. Here and here and here.

I haven’t spoken to him about it, but it definitely appears that he’s a Star Wars fan.

Can’t wait to see it!

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Mingei celebrates San Diego Craft Collective.

The Mingei International Museum in Balboa Park has a great exhibit outside its east entrance that celebrates the San Diego Craft Collective. Beautiful objects crafted by members of the collective are proudly displayed!

A collaboration between the Mingei and the San Diego Craft Collective makes perfect sense. The museum collects, conserves and exhibits folk art, craft, and design. The family-friendly San Diego Craft Collective, located in Liberty Station, teaches it members traditional craft, including woodworking, ceramics, textiles, fiber arts, glass art and more. They are dedicated to sustainability, utilizing natural and recycled materials. The collective even teaches organic gardening!

A couple years ago I visited the San Diego Craft Collective. I was amazed by the extent of their facility and the diversity of work by its members. If you want to read that past blog post and see those photographs, click here.

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A close look at Liberty Station’s Gate One.

Perhaps you’ve driven through Gate One while arriving at or departing from Liberty Station. It’s the old Navy base entrance at the northeast end of Liberty Station, where Lytton Street and Barnett Avenue meet.

You might have noticed plaques on the two old guard buildings.

Curiosity getting the best of me, the last time I was in the neighborhood I walked around both historical buildings for a closer look.

Gate One was the main entrance to Naval Training Center San Diego, and the grassy area with an anchor behind it is Sellers Plaza. As this webpage explains: Named for the base’s first commander, Sellers Plaza serves as the Naval Training Center’s front door.

You can see Gate One in the center of this postcard:

Image courtesy Libery Station.

Here are photographs I recently took in front of Gate One…

Identical plaques are mounted to the front of both buildings near the arch. The steel arch was added in 1932.

I’m now standing by Building 20. There across the road is Building 21.

The plaques summarize the history of the San Diego Naval Training Station, which opened in 1923 and was finally decommissioned in 1997. Over 1.75 million sailor recruits would receive training here.

Now I’ve walked behind Building 20…

A plaque by the door to Building 20 identifies it as Gatehouse #1, constructed 1923.

Dodging a car or two, I’m now behind Building 21…

The rear of both buildings feature these beautiful tile fountains.

A plaque by the door of Building 21 identifies it as the Pass/Decal Office, constructed 1922.

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A butterfly in the Garden of Transformation!

Liberty Station in Point Loma boasts many great works of public art. The Garden of Transformation, with its colorful, luminous butterfly, is one of my favorites! You can find it in the North Promenade near the Stone Brewing patio.

Sunlight shines through the monarch butterfly’s translucent wings producing a rainbow-like effect. It’s magical.

Garden of Transformation was dedicated almost exactly a year ago, in October 2024. The steel and dichroic laminated acrylic sculpture was created by San Diego artist Kaori Fukuyama. (Perhaps you’ve seen her Wave of Change on the front of the Target store in North Park.)

The small garden where this stunning butterfly lives is an official Monarch Waystation. The space contains milkweeds and other nectar plants. According to a sign near the art, between early spring and fall you might observe adult butterflies, young caterpillars, chrysalis, and other pollinators here.

A native seed library stands nearby.

The artist, in her statement, envisions “this installation as a welcoming space where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to observe monarch butterflies and learn about the conservation of this important species…”

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