Tag: murals

The dramatic faces of Ion Theatre’s street mural.

Dramatic faces compose Ion Theatre's complex outdoor mural. The photos are taken from past productions.
Dramatic faces compose Ion Theatre’s complex outdoor mural. The photos are taken from past productions.

I walked past the Ion Theatre in Hillcrest early this afternoon. I’d planned to take some pics of their cool new street mural, which I’d seen several times while heading up Sixth Avenue.

Not only did I get photos of the mural, but I caught some folks setting up for the Ion Theatre Company’s big outdoor I’ll Take Manhattan gala!

The eye-popping black-and-white photomosaic, I was told, is composed of images from Ion’s 72 productions over their 10 years of history. Ion Theatre has become an important cultural presence in San Diego. According to their mission statement, they are dedicated to “forging bold, vital, diverse new work…powerful, provocative new plays from emerging playwrights… (and reimagining) classics using the lens of theatrical innovation…”

Support local artists and check out their website!

A visual mosaic of human stories dazzles the viewer.
This mosaic containing many human stories dazzles the eye.
Ion's parking lot becomes the unique setting for a fundraising gala.
Ion’s parking lot becomes the unique setting for a fundraising event.
I'm told this image is from Ion Theatre's latest play, Kin.
I’m told this image is from Ion Theatre’s most recent play, Kin.
Jumbled emotions seen from the street become more potent when approached.
Jumbled emotions seen from the street become more potent when approached.
Countless expressions on faces that are turned in all directions.
Countless expressions on faces that are turned in all directions.
This is a one very engaging piece of urban art!
This is an extremely engaging piece of urban art!
Ion Theatre and its mural are located in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood.
Ion Theatre and its mural are located in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood.
A timeworn face on a city wall that, too, will soon become weathered.
A timeworn face on an ordinary city wall that, too, will soon become weathered.
Setting up for a special gala in the small parking lot.
Setting up for a special gala in the small parking lot.
The Ion Theatre Company provides a cool sight for my camera!
The Ion Theatre Company provides a cool sight for my camera!

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.

It’s always sunny in Hillcrest!

I believe in rollerblading! More fun utility box art in a San Diego neighborhood.
I believe in rollerblading. More fun utility box art in a San Diego neighborhood.

At the corner of Fifth and Spruce is a convenience store. Stop here on a sunny day and you can do more than grab a bag of chips. You can enjoy two colorful examples of street art!

It's always sunny in Hillcrest! (Follow the arrow. This is in Bankers Hill.)
It’s always sunny in Hillcrest!

To be exact, this is Bankers Hill. Hillcrest begins at Upas Street, a couple blocks to the north. I suppose that’s why someone drew an arrow.

Harsh angular shadow eclipses pastoral mural painted on a parking lot wall.
Dark shadow can’t harm this joyful street mural painted on a parking lot wall.
Magical fairy, flowers and tree behind dumpster. A touch of charming creativity in the city.
Magical fairy, flowers and tree behind dumpster. A touch of charming creativity in the city.

UPDATE!

Years later, I noticed the tooth fairy had magically appeared! (I believe the building with the mural is home to a dentist.)

IMG_8742z

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Creative kids paint San Diego River Estuary mural.

Kids were painting a public mural along the San Diego River Estuary this morning!
Youth helps paint a public mural along the San Diego River Estuary.

This morning, after I checked out the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, I headed out to the San Diego River Estuary and enjoyed a long, leisurely walk. I’d read that kids would be painting a cool mural next to the river, directly south of SeaWorld and east of the Sports Arena Boulevard/West Mission Bay Drive bridge.

When I arrived, the mural was nearly completed. The project was hosted by The San Diego River Park Foundation. Young artists also had an opportunity to do a little birdwatching!

Bicyclists heading down Old Sea World Drive spy a line of colorful artwork.
Bicyclists heading down Old Sea World Drive spy a line of colorful artwork.
The San Diego River Park Foundation is working to save our beautiful river.
The San Diego River Park Foundation is working to preserve the life-filled estuary.
Lots of paint cans contain the colors of wildlife and river scenery.
Lots of paint cans contain the colors of wildlife and river scenery.
San Diego River Park Foundation banner is positioned by murals painted by kids.
San Diego River Park Foundation banner is positioned near mural painted by kids.
Most of the painting was done when I walked by in the late morning.
Most of the painting was completed when I walked by in the late morning.
Adults were putting some finishing touches on cool public art.
Adults were putting some finishing touches on the cool public art.
A project of River Kids Discovery Days on March 14, 2015.
A project of River Kids Discovery Days on March 14, 2015.
Two great egrets in San Diego River Estuary not far from the mural project!
Two great egrets in San Diego River Estuary not far from the mural project!
San Diego Park Rangers were also painting a mural. This panel depicts a snowy egret.
San Diego Park Rangers were also painting. This panel depicts a snowy egret.
Mural artists sign their names on sign beside the San Diego River Trail.
Mural artists put their names on sign beside the San Diego River Trail.
Lots of kids turned out to add life and color to a fence bordering nature's beauty.
Lots of kids turned out to add life and color to a fence bordering nature’s beauty.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Four murals under Interstate 5 near Old Town.

Public art in San Diego honors those who serve in uniform, defending Peace, Liberty, Justice, America , Freedom.
Public art in San Diego honors those who serve in uniform, defending Peace, Liberty, Justice, America , Freedom.

Four large painted murals can be seen under Interstate 5 where the freeway passes over Rosecrans Street, just west of Old Town. The title of my blog post is a bit deceptive, because I only managed to get decent pics of three murals. The fourth, which depicts the Coronado Bay Bridge, was half in sunlight, half in darkness, and is the least interesting (in my opinion) of the four anyway.

Mural includes two colorful scenes from historic Old Town, just a short walk away.
Mural includes two colorful scenes from historic Old Town, just a short walk away.
Four large works of art can be glimpsed by motorists as they drive under the busy overpass.
Four works of art glimpsed by motorists as they drive under the busy overpass.
Pedestrians file past artwork that shows nearby San Diego River and wildlife.
Pedestrians file past artwork that shows nearby San Diego River and wildlife.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.

Bold, colorful street art in Sherman Heights.

Sun shines on dynamic mural at Golden Hill Market and Liquor in Sherman Heights.
Sun shines on dynamic mural at Golden Hill Market and Liquor in Sherman Heights.

Here are two boldly painted murals in Sherman Heights, a neighborhood just east of downtown San Diego. I photographed the first mural at 21st Street and Market Street several few days ago. I took my first picture of the second mural last May as I watched the local All-American Soap Box Derby on hilly 25th Street. Since then, the painted boards seem to have been removed from the market wall, and shifted a bit to the left behind a tree. You can see shadows in the two more recent photos.

According to my research, both of these distinctive works of street art were created under the direction of local artist Mario Torero. His passionate artwork, often depicting political themes and civil rights activists, can also be seen at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park, and elsewhere around San Diego.

Sherman Heights residents painted this wall in 1980, with help from local artist Mario Torero.
Young residents of Sherman Heights painted this wall in 1980, with help from local artist Mario Torero.
Aztec imagery is a colorful part of the artwork.
Aztec imagery is a colorful part of the artwork.
The 35 year old mural remains vivid, having been restored several times due to graffiti.
The 35 year old mural is vivid, having been restored several times due to graffiti.
Words above people read Barrio Sherman Mural Unidos.
Words above people read Barrio Sherman Mural Unidos.
Lively images cover pipes, meter box and a door.
Lively images cover pipes, meter box and a door.
Latino-themed mural shows respect for education.
Latino-themed mural shows respect for education.
K St. Market on 25th Street with mural designed by local artist Mario Torero.
K St. Market on 25th Street with mural designed by local artist Mario Torero.
Face enveloped by color shows confident character.
Face enveloped by color shows confident character.
The Barrio is a Garden was painted on wood in 2010 in Sherman Heights.
The Barrio is a Garden was painted on wood in 2010 in Sherman Heights.
Brightly painted street bench on 25th Avenue in Sherman Heights.
Brightly painted street bench on 25th Avenue in Sherman Heights.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Fading public art glows by neglected river trail.

San Diego Bay scene graces a fading mural in Mission Valley.
San Diego Bay scene graces a slowly fading mural in Mission Valley.

When you ride the San Diego Trolley’s Green Line between the Old Town and Linda Vista stations, an interesting mural can be glimpsed for a moment where the tracks span the San Diego River. The public art is best viewed when walking along the San Diego River Trail, between the rail and Pacific Highway bridges. The path down by the river is fairly popular with bicycles; it is also trash-filled and tagged with graffiti. I don’t know anything about this artwork. Faded a little bit by time and the elements, the images still impart a happy glow along the seemingly neglected river trail.

UPDATE!

Turns out this mural is called “On The River Trail” and was completed in 2008. The artist who designed it is Lori Escalera. The public art comes from the San Diego River Park Foundation.

Public art along the San Diego River Trail near Pacific Highway. The Coaster train can be seen passing across one of the rail bridges.
Public art along the San Diego River Trail near Pacific Highway. The Coaster train can be seen passing across one of the rail bridges.
Weathered by outdoor elements, the artwork still glows like an impressionist painting.
Weathered by outdoor elements, artwork still glows like an impressionist painting.
Dreamy yellow sunflower painted on an old wall seen by those who walk along river.
Dreamy yellow sunflower painted on old wall seen by those who walk along river.
A hummingbird hovers above brightly sunlit vegetation.
A hummingbird hovers above brightly sunlit vegetation.
Happy painted bicyclist greets those who travel down San Diego River Trail.
Happy painted bicyclist greets those who travel down San Diego River Trail.
Art shows painter inspired by the river's natural beauty.
Art shows painter inspired by the river’s natural beauty.
This artwork was lovingly planted for future enjoyment.
This artwork was lovingly planted for future enjoyment.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

San Diego River animals gather under city bridge.

Cars zoom west down Friars Road, beneath the Morena Boulevard bridge.
Cars zoom west down Friars Road, beneath the Morena Boulevard bridge.

Should you ever drive west down Friars Road approaching Mission Bay, you might see a collection of native animals gathered under the Morena Boulevard bridge. They seem to like the place, because they never leave!

The west end of Mission Valley contains an open space preserve, where some wild animals live in the midst of a big city. The wildlife mural, designed in 2007 by lead artist Julia C. R. Gray, was a public art project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.

This mural is a project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.
This mural is a project of the San Diego River Park Foundation.
A bobcat lurks under the busy city bridge!
A bobcat lurks under the busy city bridge!
So does a skunk! I didn't smell this critter, however.
So does a skunk! I didn’t smell this critter, however.
Fish in dry water, painted on a mural near the San Diego River.
Fish in dry water, painted on a public art mural near the San Diego River.
Horned toad and raccoon, samples of wildlife that live in the Mission Valley preserve.
Horned toad and raccoon, samples of wildlife that live in Mission Valley preserve.
Frog in a painted mural, created by artist Julia C. R. Gray in 2007.
Frog in a painted mural, created by artist Julia C. R. Gray in 2007.
A rabbit that's still enough to be captured by my camera!
A rabbit that’s still enough to be captured by my camera!
It's very rare to see a fox in the developed parts of San Diego.
It’s very rare to see a fox in the developed parts of San Diego.
Second mural painted on south side of Friars Road also shows a river scene.
Second mural painted on south side of Friars Road also shows a river scene.
Beyond lies actual open space. Lush vegetation provides shelter for wildlife near river.
Beyond lies open space. Lush vegetation provides shelter for wildlife near river.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Early morning sights in downtown San Diego.

Scooter with fringed canopy zooms past as I swing my camera to capture a sudden morning photo.
Scooter with fringed canopy zooms past as I swing my camera to capture a sudden morning photo.

Here are a few interesting photos from another meandering walk downtown. I took these yesterday morning as I headed down from Cortez Hill to catch the trolley at the Santa Fe Depot.  I know, there are closer trolley stations, but I was itching to venture outside into the world and got an early start…

Wednesday is trash pick up day in front of the House of Blues in downtown San Diego.
Wednesday is trash pick up day in front of the House of Blues in downtown San Diego.
Cool mural on a downtown building's upper patio which, according to a security guard, is inaccessible to the general public.
Cool mural on a downtown building’s upper patio which, according to a security guard, is inaccessible to the general public.

From a distance that mural looks really awesome. The security guard said perhaps he’d let me onto the patio if I were swing by in the middle of a work day. According to some research on the internet, it was painted fairly recently by Maxx Moses, the same artist who created that super fantastic Ancestors street mural in Barrio Logan.

Mysterious elevated box on the sidewalk is colorfully painted with leaves.
Mysterious elevated box on the sidewalk is colorfully painted with leaves.
Vertically moving words on Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego don't seem to make sense.
Vertically moving words on Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego don’t seem to make sense.
Seward Johnson's 'That A Way' sculpture at entrance of The Sofia Hotel.
Seward Johnson’s ‘That A Way’ sculpture at entrance of The Sofia Hotel.

Yep, that’s the same Seward Johnson who created the huge Unconditional Surrender sculpture by the USS Midway Museum. He’s best known for making life-size pieces like this one, which stands by a doorway on Broadway.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Western characters in mural at Old Town Saloon.

Several whiskered Western characters pose in a mural on Harney Street in Old Town.
Several whiskered Western characters pose in a mural on Harney Street in Old Town.

There’s a fairly new street mural in Old Town that I really like.  Every time I see it, my imagination travels back in time. Back to the first half of the 19th century.

San Diego for many decades was a tiny town seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Whether it belonged to Spain, or Mexico, or the United States, Old Town San Diego was a place of dusty roads and modest, sun-baked adobe houses, horses and wagons, rugged settlers and ranchers. Characters from that era seem to live again in this mural.

Artist Frank Mando painted this artwork in 2013. I couldn’t capture the entire piece in one shot. Enlivening a building at the corner of San Diego Avenue and Harney Street, the mural is divided in two by a door of the Old Town Saloon. Standing inside that door, as you’ll see, there seems to be a well-known movie star!

Freight wagon hauls a load of barrels in fun art that recalls early San Diego history.
Freight wagon hauls a load of barrels in fun art that recalls early San Diego history.
John Wayne seems to be coming through a door of the Old Town Saloon.
John Wayne seems to be coming through a door of the Old Town Saloon.
Elegant lady and girl from long ago stroll past Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe.
Elegant lady and girl from long ago stroll past Ye Old Curiosity Shoppe.
Old Town mural on building wall was painted in 2013 by artist Frank Mando.
Old Town mural on building wall was painted in 2013 by artist Frank Mando.
Kids standing along sidewalk seem to have materialized from San Diego's past.
Kids standing along sidewalk seem to have materialized from San Diego’s past.
People walk past cool street mural near side entrance to Old Town Saloon.
People walk past nostalgic street mural near side entrance to Old Town Saloon.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Mind-blowing Ancestors mural near Chicano Park.

Mind-blowing street art uses a whole spectrum of finely painted colors.
Mind-blowing street art uses a whole spectrum of finely painted colors.

Wow! Check out this mind-blowing street mural, which caught my eye just across Dewey Street from Chicano Park. Titled Ancestors, it was spray-painted on a Barrio Logan building in 2013 by artists Maxx Moses and Isaias Crow.

A little online research reveals that Ancestors replaced another damaged mural on the same wall, which was titled Synergy. Maxx Moses likes to use spontaneity in his creative productions, and calls his unique art movement Concrete Alchemy. Isaias Crow’s artwork, which I believe is on the right side of the mural, is similarly awesome!

This dazzling urban art is directly across the street from world-famous Chicano Park.
This dazzling urban art is directly across the street from world-famous Chicano Park.
Such amazing detail. You could just stand and lose yourself in this artwork.
Such amazing detail. You could just stand and lose yourself in this cool artwork.
Close look at one portion of the Ancestors mural in Barrio Logan.
Closer look at one portion of the Ancestors mural in Barrio Logan.
Ancestors street mural celebrates the lives of those who built community.
Ancestors street mural celebrates the lives of those who built community.
Small tree on the wall is enfolded by softly curved rich colors.
Small tree on the wall is enfolded by softly curved rich colors.
The intricate image is alive with astounding vibrancy.
The intricate image is alive with astounding vibrancy.
This astonishing face is composed of many slivers of beaming light.
This astonishing face is composed of many slivers of beaming light.

…

To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.