All sorts of public art can be enjoyed at trolley stations around San Diego. In my opinion, the most wonderful example is found at the 62nd Street/Encanto station.
Those who take the Orange Line trolley ride pass by a wildly imaginative, dreamlike vision. A 400 foot mural on the long wall of the south platform takes its inspiration from nearby Chollas Creak. The mural is titled Liquid Harmony.
In 2010 local artists Maxx Moses, Miguel Godoy and Todd Stands were commissioned by the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation to paint the mural. What resulted was completely amazing!
Last weekend I walked along the south platform of the 62nd Street/Encanto trolley station and took photos of the mural. Amid swirls of color I found many birds, insects and plants, and the flowing, ever-present, life-giving water.
I also saw the hands and heart of those who make this neighborhood in San Diego their home.
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A mural painted in San Diego by I AM EELCO for the 2016 PangeaSeed Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.
In 2016 a variety of murals were painted around San Diego for the PangeaSeed Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project. They all concern protecting marine wildlife and caring for the ocean environment. I’ve photographed quite a few of these impressive murals during my walks about town.
Check out this very cool one that was painted by Netherlands artist Eelco van den Berg, who signs his work I AM EELCO. His playful, abstract mural, which depicts people interacting with colorful sea life, can be found on a parking lot wall directly west of Wal-Mart, near 21st and Commercial Street.
It’s on the opposite side of the same building that is painted with another large Sea Walls mural. You can see that one 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!
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 Greyeyes, who designed the fun artwork.UPDATE! Here’s Andrew, the mural’s designer! (I met him and took this photo during a Love City Heights event almost a year later.)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!
In October many artists came together in Pacific Beach to paint a beautiful new mural on the long north wall of the PB Water Store. The large mural depicts life under the ocean’s surface.
Images include a jellyfish, a mysterious underwater siren, a seahorse beside delicate coral, a grumpy-looking turtle, many hammerhead sharks, several colorful fish, an oyster with pearl, and a couple of crabs. According to names I observed on the wall, the artists involved in this amazing project included Beth Emmerich, Gloria Muriel, Diana DeAugustine, Erin Yoshi, Kara “KJ” Ashley and Justin Pelletier.
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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!
Whenever I drive off the San Diego–Coronado Bridge into Barrio Logan, I notice two enormous eyes painted on a building below the curving bridge offramp.
During a recent walk, I directed my feet through Chicano Park to the place on Logan Avenue where I’ve seen those eyes. It turns out some very cool art adorns the front of Alchemy Motorcycles, including the face of legendary musician Prince. I believe the two bright sections on the left were painted recently.
The first four photographs you see, however, are of the Chicano Park Herb Garden and its mural, which are located immediately to the left of Alchemy. The very colorful mural is painted on the Coronado Bay Bridge’s ramp to south Interstate 5. A sign among the native plants describes: a collective community herbal garden for healing, restoring, learning, praying, meditating and grounding.
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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!
Cool comic book superheroes, villains and other characters are spray painted on a long wall in Logan Heights!
Check out this awesome spray paint street art on a wall south of the intersection of 31st Street and Commercial Street in Logan Heights! It’s loaded with comic book superheroes, villains and other cool characters!
The mural is a work currently in progress. Today I was fortunate to meet the primary artist, who goes by the name Fizix. I learned that most of the characters in the large, colorful mural are his artwork. I also learned that additional work on this very cool mural is by the artist ABSO.
Does the name Fizix ring a bell? Perhaps you’ve seen his work here and here. Because I photograph so much street art all around San Diego, it’s possible his work appears elsewhere on Cool San Diego Sights and I simply don’t realize it.
Fizix is actually Alex Julian, a talented artist in San Diego who can be found @alexfizix. His blog, which features some really good graphic novel art and his bio, can be enjoyed here.
His expertise is illustration, book covers, digital art, murals, horror caricatures and comic book coloring. His artwork has a distinctive style that I really like.
Check out the following photos!
Judge Dredd street art by Fizix.Fizix at work on a commissioned mural featuring superheroes, supervillains and a few other characters.A neighbor in Logan Heights loves old school Jazz, so Fizix included this cool musician in the large mural.Another neighbor in Logan Heights has a dog that resembles this cool spray paint artwork by Fizix!This very awesome sunset portion of the mural is by the artist ABSO. It looks like the sort of street art one might find in Ocean Beach.Carnage street art by Fizix.Rose of Black Dog and Rebel Rose street art by Fizix.Spawn street art by Fizix.The Maxx street art by Fizix.Hela street art by Fizix.Ghost Rider street art by Fizix.Iron Man street art by Fizix.Wonder Woman street art by Fizix.Miles Morales version of Spiderman street art by Fizix.Hellboy street art by Fizix.Rocket Raccoon street art by the artist ABSO.Cool characters from pop culture can be enjoyed by anyone who drives down Commercial Street in San Diego!
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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!
A colorful canvas in the window of James Watts’ studio on Seventh Avenue. I don’t recall seeing this artwork before.
This morning I walked south down Seventh Avenue, from the top of Cortez Hill to Petco Park.
I was happy to spot some new (and old) cool sights along this stretch of downtown San Diego. So I took photographs!
Some street art recently painted on a sidewalk utility box. I Love Downtown San Diego.Complex reflection in the windows of the building at 701 B Street, which has undergone some upgrades, including this west entrance.Looking north up Seventh Avenue through downtown San Diego’s Financial District.Crane swings a load above the Bosa Tower construction site, with the old Hotel Churchill sign in the background.Advertisements peeling from another construction site fence.A huge mural is now being painted on the rear of the Moxy San Diego Gaslamp Downtown! This cool new mural appears to depict part of the Gaslamp Quarter.Morning reflections on the shiny Sempra Energy building, with the historic old 1887 Clermont Hotel in the foreground.A new shirt with a West Coast State of Mind, in a window of the Padres Team Store, which is located in the Western Metal Supply Building.Palm trees reflected in the glassy, very modern Omni San Diego Hotel.
UPDATE!
I took a photo of the Moxy mural days later when it was finished…
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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!
The Quartyard in East Village has moved to this new location at the corner of Market Street and 13th Street.
During my walk around East Village yesterday I swung by the Quartyard, a cool container park where neighbors can gather to eat, drink, talk and enjoy live events.
About half a year ago the unique container park moved a couple blocks east from its old location, to the corner of Market Street and 13th Street. While the new space is a bit smaller, it’s a friendly, cozy nook just perfect for neighborhood gatherings.
A bit of colorful artwork can be seen inside Quartyard. I learned more art is planned for some of the surrounding containers.
In addition to Burgers and Bites by the small live event stage, Quartyard features picnic tables and this outdoor bar.Colorfully painted utility boxes just outside Quartyard.This small fenced area in one corner of the container park Quartyard is perfect for dog lovers who live in the neighborhood.A beautiful mural by local artist Gloria Muriel just inside the entrance to Quartyard in East Village.A quick snack or drink can be purchased at the Seahorse Coffee shack out on the sidewalk.Look at the super friendly people you’ll meet!
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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!
The final words of the famous poem Invictus, painted near the entrance to Invictus Fitness. I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.
I enjoyed an aimless walk around East Village on Saturday. My camera found a variety of cool sights! Some old and some new!
As you can see, there are all sorts of new high-rises under construction in this dynamic part of downtown San Diego.
I walked past the Quartyard at its new corner on Market Street. It’s a couple blocks east of where it used to be. I’ll be posting those fun photos shortly!
Colorful banners along the side of Urban Discovery Academy in East Village.Abstract cat on a sidewalk chalkboard.A cool new mural by Michael Brooks Chandler on the side of a building at 13th Street and J Street.The 23-story K1 San Diego luxury apartment building is currently under construction just east of the downtown Central Library.Mission Brewery has been located in the old Wonder Bread Building for years now.This unusual, humorous mural has been on the north wall of the building at 1400 L Street for many years, too. I know nothing about it!The recently completed Pinnacle on the Park rises above the south entrance to Fault Line Park.New residential buildings rise beyond reflections in one of the silvery spheres at Fault Line Park.A blonde peers out from a shop window in East Village!
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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!
A small sign with an ostrich welcomes those walking up Park Boulevard in University Heights.
Last weekend I walked along Park Boulevard in University Heights. I headed north from El Cajon Boulevard to Adams Avenue, then back south on the opposite sidewalk. I saw all sorts of fun art during my journey!
Why so many ostriches? University Heights has adopted the ostrich as a unique and memorable symbol. Back in 1903 this neighborhood was the home of Harvey Bentley’s ostrich farm, where visitors could ride the large birds!
Artistic mural painted on south wall of Park Blvd Artworks.Wall painted by New Zealand artist Cinzah for the PangeaSeed Foundation informs passersby that each year 100,000,000 sharks are killed for their fins.Electrical box floral street art near the Diversionary Theatre.People walk up Park Boulevard’s sidewalk toward the University Heights landmark sign.Some small colorful tiles in a stucco wall.Transformer box painted with an image of The Pavilion at Mission Cliff Gardens.Streetlamp banner with ostrich proclaims University Heights – Founded in 1888.Faded flowery street art on a utility box.A small, peaceful sculpture in front of Buddha’s Light Bookstore.Spiritual image above front entrance of San Diego Buddhist Association’s Hsi Fang Temple.Part of the cool mural painted on a store wall at the corner of Park Boulevard and Monroe Avenue.
I photographed the above mural four years ago. See more images of this street art here!
Some beautiful but faded street art.Silly faces!Love Your H2O, a mural painted by local artist Gloria Muriel for the Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.
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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!
Cool San Diego Sights! 