Painted tree trunks and picnic benches at Chicano Park.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, I took a whole lot of photos during my walk through Chicano Park. Here are some images from the east side of the public park, right next to Interstate 5. A few picnic benches and unusual features can be found in this area.
Some of these photographs might cause a strong reaction. As I’ve mentioned before, this blog aims to be nonpolitical. I just aim my old camera at interesting things around San Diego…and you decide what to make of it all!
Primitive frame made of bent branches.Flower sculpture and cacti beside freeway.Colored stones ring a painted cactus in Chicano Park.Sculpture stands among the surrounding murals.Small mural near pedestrian walkway that crosses freeway.An eyeful of bright colors everywhere you turn!A monument to the sacrifices of Hispanic veterans.
This polished memorial stands apart from the murals, by a small patch of green grass.
A nearby mural depicts a moment in history.Controversial mural on the east side of Chicano Park.Looking west at freeway ramp rising toward Coronado Bridge.Chicano Park sign and Mexican flags beside Interstate 5.
Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.
Chicano Park is located in Barrio Logan, a mostly Mexican American and immigrant community just south of downtown San Diego. The eight acre park features almost a hundred murals painted on concrete pillars that support the intersection of the Coronado Bay Bridge and Interstate 5. This colorful park, quickly glimpsed by motorists speeding down the freeway, contains the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique history with the Chicano civil rights movement.
I recently took a leisurely walk through the park and captured hundreds of photographs. I’ve got so many pics, I’ve grouped them depending upon their location in the park. This blog post includes photos of murals I enjoyed while walking under the freeway ramps that connect the Coronado Bay Bridge to southbound I-5.
You’ll see a strange mixture of images in these murals: ancient Aztecs, indigenous peoples, workers, revolutionaries, school children, pop culture icons, scientists, politicians…and almost anything else you might imagine. The diverse and often weird combinations seem to include one overarching theme: Mexican American empowerment.
The first photograph shows what I saw as I entered the park, walking up National Avenue from the south. These artists were painting a pillar with an image of Mexico.
Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.Chicano Power represented in art.Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.More art that shows people close to the land.Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.The largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.
I’ve got a ton more pics, so stayed tuned in the days ahead!
Just one of many colorful eateries along San Diego Avenue.
These pics offer a sample of the sort of Mexican-themed eateries one encounters in the commercial part of Old Town, which runs several blocks south of the State Park along San Diego Avenue. Lots of seating outdoors, an eyeful of festive colors and a cool, laid-back Southern California atmosphere.
Eating great Mexican food outdoors in San Diego’s Old Town.Fountain and splash of color in courtyard of an Old Town restaurant.Keep Calm and Drink Tequila.Old Town pedestrians can buy hot buttery tortillas.Ladies prepare fresh tortillas for people passing on the sidewalk.Bienvenidos a Old Town! Where great food and a festive atmosphere mingle with San Diego’s rich, colorful history.
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One of downtown San Diego’s historic buildings, which is now abandoned and used to be home of the California Theatre, features a large, eye-catching Caliente ad on its west exterior wall. The faded yellow sign dates from the 1960’s. Take a look!
The Agua Caliente Racetrack, not far from San Diego in Tijuana, Mexico, today features greyhound racing. It opened in 1929 as a horse racing venue where big Hollywood celebrities were often sighted. Its popularity was largely due to prohibition and the fact that both drinking and gambling were illegal in many nearby American states.
Large Caliente racetrack sign on old abandoned building.
Cool San Diego Sights! 