Tag: museums

More cool public art at the Bonita Museum!

The Bonita Museum has had some huge changes in the past year. A bunch of cool public art has appeared outside the museum, including the striking blue building exterior! I enjoyed seeing it all a few days ago.

I’ve already posted photographs of two works of public art by the museum’s parking lot: the WR This Cats Smart horse sculpture that debuted in 2021, and the Inner Strength sculpture, which debuted earlier this year.

The Inner Strength sculpture was created by Chula Vista artist Michael Leaf. He is also responsible for the new blue museum exterior composed of differently cut aluminum panels, whose appearance is transformed as the day’s light changes. This unique building “skin” was created with special paint that changes hues. It’s appropriately titled Chameleon IT.

Some photographs on a fairly sunny day…

Michael Leaf has also contributed these two unusual seats, which he designed and built. They seem to be erupting vertically with energy. They’re titled Communication Chairs…

And he created this happy sculpture: Lead with Your heART!

Here’s a detailed article concerning the recent addition of public art.

Will more cool pieces be added to the Bonita Museum’s outdoor sculpture garden?

I hope so!

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Inner Strength sculpture rises in Bonita!

I absolutely love this public art sculpture!

Inner Strength rises near the center of the parking lot in front of the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center and Bonita-Sunnyside Library. You can’t possibly miss it!

The striking steel sculpture debuted earlier this year. It was created by South Bay artist Michael Leaf. The public art is part of a new sculpture garden located outside the museum.

(I’ll be posting photos of two other pieces by Leaf in the sculpture garden coming up!)

A plaque at the base of Inner Strength reads:

May “Inner Strength” serve as a reminder that true strength goes beyond physical strength; it is our ability to overcome challenges and rise above adversity.

Please let this statue inspire you to recognize the resilience that lies within each of us. May it stand as a beacon of hope and a symbol of unity for our community; encouraging us all to embrace our inner strengths and support one another on our journeys.

With Love and Light, Michael, Stephanie and Canon Leaf

At the center of Inner Strength is a heart.

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Casa Familiar art collection exhibited in San Ysidro!

Casa Familiar has been serving residents of South San Diego County since 1968. Over those many years, the organization has amassed a collection of art that represents the life and culture of the South Bay border community. Through the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art, Casa Familiar promotes and encourages appreciation for the vibrant artistic community it serves.

Casa Familiar operates a gallery and cultural gathering space called The FRONT in San Ysidro. Today–and for about another week–The FRONT is home to an exhibition of pieces from Casa Familiar’s art collection. The exhibition is titled MOMENTOUS.

The exhibit contains four distinct sections: transborder culture, the poetics of living, the original people of this land, and art created for Casa Familiar’s annual ABRAZO Award.

I stopped by today to enjoy this important exhibition. The artwork is not only quite good, but it stems from each local artist’s personal experience, and is emotionally stirring. The image of a heart enters much of the art.

I was amazed and happy to learn some of the fine pieces were created by individuals that Casa Familiar has assisted!

Abrazo Award 2015, by David Flores, watercolor on Arches paper.
Bodies, by Andrea Echeverri, high temperature glaze ceramic.
Untitled, 2004, by Paulino Marquez, oil painting.
Mi Abuelita, mi nietecita, 2015, by Arturo Rodriguez Torija, photo print.
Triptych, 2014, by Jamex and Einar De La Torre, photo transfer on metal.
Hotel Nelson, 2024, by Paola “Panca” Villaseñor, acrylic on wood.

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Women of the Armed Forces exhibition at Bonita Museum.

An excellent exhibition opened in July at the Bonita Museum. Strength of Service: Women of the Armed Forces celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America by highlighting voices of local women who’ve served their country.

As the exhibition webpage explains, visitors can enjoy a unique look at local Military Women, history, personal stories, and inspiring artistic tributes.

A variety of military uniforms worn by local heroes stand at the center of the museum gallery. They bring home the fact that real people actually wore those uniforms and sacrificed to protect freedoms that we enjoy.

The walls surrounding the uniforms feature military honors, articles, personal memories, emotionally moving works of art, historical flags, and posted thank you notes penned by grateful visitors.

Two of the gallery walls contain a long, detailed timeline, covering the Revolutionary War to the present. Words, illustrations and photographs recall many ways women have served our nation over the course of its history.

If you’re in the neighborhood, I recommend a visit to the free Bonita Museum before this exhibition wraps up on August 29, 2026.

(I hadn’t visited the museum in a very long time and was excited to find new public art outside. I’ll be blogging about that shortly!)

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Yosemite Fall chalk art at the Timken Museum!

Look what I happened upon this afternoon while walking through Balboa Park!

Some incredible chalk art has been created in the Plaza de Panama, right in front of the Timken Museum of Art!

The chalk art was created by @sidewalk_chalk_dad. It’s a colorful recreation of Albert Bierstadt’s 1864 oil painting Cho-looke, the Yosemite Fall, which is displayed among other masterpieces inside the free museum.

How amazing is this?

The museum is closed today–a Tuesday–so I couldn’t ask about the chalk art. I suppose it was created over the weekend.

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More early signs Comic-Con is nearing!

As I walk around downtown San Diego, I’ve observed more and more signs that Comic-Con is nearing. Less than two weeks to go!

Here’s new stuff I found today…

Chainsaw Man on a board in front of Kettner and G smoke shop.

25 years of Final Fantasy X will be celebrated with music at the San Diego Symphony’s outdoor Rady Shell on July 17, a week before Comic-Con.

The following day at the Rady Shell, audiences can enjoy How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert!

The 4th floor IDEA Lab cosplay repair station at San Diego’s Central Library should be super busy during Comic-Con.

Finally, I saw that the New Children’s Museum opened their pre-Comic-Con SpongeBob themed activities! Here’s what you’ll see upon entering the museum.

During the con, the museum will host a fun Nickelodeon offsite!

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

America 250 at the San Diego History Center!

The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park is where visitors can now experience a very special exhibition. The incredibly rich and diverse history of our city is recalled on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.

America at 250: San Diego 1776 – 2026 features a wide range of historical artifacts, from San Diego’s earliest days to the present.

Even as a long-time resident, it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that San Diego was once part of Spain, half a world away. California’s first Spanish mission was established here in 1769, seven years before the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.

For thousands of years, before the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, the San Diego region was home to the native Kumeyaay people. It was a wild, mostly unmapped place distant from “civilization” and relatively unknown to the rest of the world. How times have changed!

Here are a few of the artifacts on display. My captions include some of the information presented for each object…

George Marston’s armario, dated from the 17th century. The antique wardrobe, from Burgos, Spain features a santos statue and is reminiscent of Spain’s religious life. George Marston, often called San Diego’s First Citizen, was a founder of Balboa Park.
El Jupiter, a Spanish Presidio cannon. Cast in Manila in 1783. After the Mexican-American War, where it was reportedly used, it was placed in Old Town as a monument. The cannon would be accidently blown up by people celebrating a wedding.
Chief Iodine’s jacket. A Native American born on a New York Iroquois Reservation, he explored much of the West with John C. Fremont and enlisted in the Mexican-American War as an army scout. He participated in the capture of San Diego.
The Machado Quilt, circa 1850. One of the oldest known quilts in San Diego history. It was created by Doña Juana de Dios Machado Alipas Wrightington.
Old Town survey map, 1854. Shows what is now Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. Many of the buildings on this survey are now gone.
Washington hand printing press, circa 1880s. The San Diego Union used the Washington press, printing its first edition with it in 1868.
Concord 12-passenger stagecoach. This stagecoach, numbered 158, began to be used for passenger travel in 1886 between San Diego City to Julian, El Cajon, Lakeside, and the Stonewall Mines.
Guest register for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The huge book was created in 1911.
Model T touring car, circa 1921. This car was owned by prominent San Diegan philanthropist and athlete Florence Chambers Newkirk, who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Mission Beach changing room, 1925. It was first built for the Mission Beach Plunge in Belmont Park.
Civil Service helmet, circa 1940s. Used by an Air Raid Warden belonging to the Civil Defense Force during World War II.
Model of tuna clipper Triunfo, circa 1940. Created by Joao G. Rebelo, a crew member.
Model of San Diego Stadium, 1960s. This model was built by Gary Allen as an initial rendering for the public.
Republican National Convention doll, 1996. A novelty doll with the interchangeable heads of Bill Clinton and Bob Dole. San Diego was host to the national convention.

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Comic-Con’s original 1970 program at San Diego History Center!

Check it out Comic-Con fans!

The America 250 exhibition at the San Diego History Center includes this cool display. It’s labeled San Diego Comic-Con Program (1970), Issue #1: Comic-Con Origins.

Under glass is what is described as an itinerary and artwork from comic artists supporting the inaugural San Diego Comic Convention, organized by Shel Dorf... The pages are all from the San Diego History Center’s Shel Dorf Collection.

Sheldon “Shel” Dorf was a founder of San Diego Comic-Con. That first con was called San Diego Golden State Comic-Con, and was held in downtown’s historic U. S. Grant Hotel in 1970. To learn more about the history of Comic-Con, click here.

Over half a century later, Comic-Con 2026 is a little over a week away! As a long-time downtown San Diego resident, I’ll be walking around the event again, photographing offsite activations, cosplay, and whatever catches my fancy.

Stay tuned!

The following two pages are from San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon, the one day event in March 21, 1970 that preceded the three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con held later that same year, on August 1–3, 1970.

Both events were at the U. S. Grant.

Admission $2 for all day! Old science fiction pulps! Original silent film Lost World! Flash Gordon serial! In person Forrest J. Ackerman!

And here’s from the later, three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con:

Jack Kirby! Dealers tables! Displays of original art and fan art! Appearing in person A. E. van Vogt and Earl Kemp! Chalk talk by Bob Stevens! $3.50 for 3 days!

Jack Kirby art on wrap-around cover of what is essentially the first Comic-Con souvenir book.

A few hundred copies of the program book from the 1970 San Diego Golden State Comic-Con were printed, and only a few dozen of them are believed to still exist.

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Two artists explore memory at the Athenaeum.

Within the Context of Time: May-ling Martinez and Coralys Carter is an exhibition of art now showing in La Jolla at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.

As its webpage explains, the exhibition explores memory, time, and family history through two distinct yet deeply resonant artistic practices . . . While Martinez uses symmetry and balance to shape her assemblages and drawings, Carter plays purposefully with off-kilter constructions and hand-spun details . . .

The variety of pieces seem like memories that vaguely return in dreams and daydreams. Hair, baskets, racquets, tools, shells, fabric, a projector screen and other common everyday objects are often combined, just as memories can suddenly surface and strangely intertwine.

Evocative, mysterious, beautiful, and often melancholy, these two artists create frameworks from which one can begin to ponder the edges of the human experience: the vastness of time and memory alongside the mundanity of daily life.

I can’t describe the exhibition with words better than that.

This is visual art, meant to be absorbed not through words but with searching eyes. When you enter the Athenaeum, turn left at the front desk and walk into the Joseph Clayes III Gallery, then add the experience to your own memories.

Within the Context of Time: May-ling Martinez and Coralys Carter continues through July 25, 2026.

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Design and art meet in La Jolla exhibition.

The potential of human creativity is celebrated in a fantastic exhibition in La Jolla.

Art that was created by practical designers is now being showcased inside the Wisteria Cottage, which operates as the museum of the La Jolla Historical Society. The exhibition is titled Space Maker.

Very technical designers–such as architects–often enhance their work with artistic practices. Space Maker explores this fusion. It includes the work of many local visionaries, including the likes of Robert Irwin, Eugene Ray and Sim Bruce Richards.

You’ll be surprised by the range of work in the exhibition: from visual art that is puzzle-like or oddly geometric, to futuristic blueprints, to stained glass that appears 3-dimensional, to textile artwork featuring complex patterns . . .

It’s hard to describe everything you’ll encounter–it’s so very diverse. But that’s the genius of creativity, right?

Two sculptures standing outside of the Wisteria Cottage are also part of the exhibition. I posted photos of them earlier today.

I recommend a visit. But you have one more week. Space Maker inside the Wisteria Cottage continues through June 7, 2026.

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