Tag: museums

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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Two sculptures at La Jolla’s Wisteria Cottage.

Perhaps you’ve seen these two sculptures standing in front of the La Jolla Historical Society‘s Wisteria Cottage. They were installed back in February as part of the cottage’s current Space Maker exhibition.

If you notice these sculptures seem unusually geometric, it’s understandable. Space Maker celebrates the intersection of art and design. When I first saw the two sculptures, they appeared like forms that arise from some complex mathematical equation.

This first sculpture is titled Blue Ocotillo. Made of steel, it was created by artist Christopher Puzio in 2026. Christopher Puzio describes his art as blurring the lines between sculpture, craft and design.

Blue Ocotillo reminds me of a matrix or a crystal lattice. It now stands on the lawn in front of the Wisteria Cottage courtesy of the Quint Gallery.

(In 2017 I photographed similar sculptures by Christopher Puzio outside the San Diego Central Library’s 9th Floor art gallery. See those photos here.)

The second sculpture is titled marine layer and was created by Miki Iwasaki in 2026 using Corten steel.

Miki Iwasaki lives in San Diego. With architectural experience in places like New York and Los Angeles, he has created his own art pieces and furniture designs. He often explores new materials and methods.

The Space Maker exhibition ends in about a week (running through June 7, 2026), and when it does these two fascinating sculptures will be removed. So admire them in this beautiful outdoor setting while you can!

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A visit to Navy SEAL Museum San Diego.

Navy SEAL Museum San Diego opened late last year, but I visited it for the first time a couple weeks ago. What was it like?

The museum at 1001 Kettner Boulevard occupies a very small section of downtown’s America Plaza, right next to the trolley station. It serves as the West Coast wing of the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum in Florida.

Even though the museum space is somewhat limited (there are plans to move to a location closer to San Diego’s waterfront with much more square footage), I was truly impressed by the depth and extent of its displays–particularly those on the second floor.

One begins on the first floor walking past biographical tributes to notable Navy SEALs, a room showing fascinating videos, and a digital Memorial Wall. There is also a display concerning the work of the SEALs with NASA, helping to recover space capsules and astronauts that returned to Earth.

Once you step out of the elevator on the second floor, the displays become really impressive. Words, photographs and artifacts show how the Navy SEALs operated in different eras, from their origin during World War II scoping out invasion beaches, to Korea, Vietnam and the War on Terror. Visitors can see how the SEALs operate on and under the water (two submersibles hang from the ceiling), the sort of equipment they’ve used over the years, how they’ve rescued hostages, and how they took out Osama bin Laden.

There’s so much to read about and experience, one could spend a good hour slowly moving through the museum, absorbing every detail. You can purchase a virtual reality experience, too, that allows you to carry out a short mission!

When visitors return downstairs, there’s a very extensive gift shop. And, of course, there’s the frogman statue to check out just outside the entrance, next to the America Plaza trolley station. (I took photographs of the statue being erected last year. See those here.)

If the history of the United States Navy SEALs or military matters interest you, this is an absolutely must see. The curtain is pulled back a bit on the secretive elite maritime force, whose premier training ground and primary home base is across San Diego Bay in Coronado!

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Fashion Redux 2026: Cocktail Hour in San Diego!

Fashion Redux 2026: Cocktail Hour opened last month at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. I enjoyed a look at the exhibition today.

Once again, students from the Mesa College Fashion Program have produced inspired creations for this annual event.

As one display explains: This exhibition explores the rise of the “Modern Woman” through the lens of cocktail dresses, featuring contemporary designs by San Diego Mesa College students inspired by examples from the San Diego History Center’s historic textile collection that span the periods 1890 to 1970.

Women’s fashion has changed greatly over the decades, driven by societal “norms” of the day. History that was studied by the student designers included social movements leading to both Prohibition, its repeal, and women’s suffrage.

The cocktail dress emerged in the 1920s, as women embraced more public and social roles, moving away from restrictive floor-length dresses, into a short, semi-formal garment for early evening events…

A number of displays, including historical photographs and garments, demonstrate this fascinating evolution of fashion.

At the center of the exhibition, however, are the reimagined cocktail dresses. It’s very impressive how college students designed the four unique dresses you see in the next photograph!

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Preparing for America at 250: San Diego 1776 – 2026!

The 250th Anniversary of the United States is coming up. There will be big celebrations in San Diego and around the nation on July 4, 2026.

The San Diego History Center in Balboa Park will be taking part this summer, too, with a special America at 250: San Diego 1776 – 2026 exhibition. A large gallery space will be filled with fascinating displays, recalling San Diego’s rich and diverse history.

I stepped into the museum today and noticed they’re starting to get the exhibition ready. So far I noticed an El Cajon & Lakeside stagecoach, a mining ore car, an antique printing press, a vintage automobile, a model of Horton Plaza, and even a classic Jack in the Box drive-thru intercom clown head!

I can’t wait to see what else appears! Stay tuned!

UPDATE!

About a week later, more has appeared…

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Kumeyaay exhibit at the Gaslamp Museum.

A great exhibition opened earlier this month at the Gaslamp Museum in the historic Davis-Horton House. San Diego’s First People is the name of the exhibition. It’s presented by the Sycuan Cultural Resource Center and Museum.

Artifacts and a series of displays detail the history, life and culture of the Kumeyaay people, who inhabited the San Diego and surrounding region thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans.

Visitors also learn how the resilient Kumeyaay people thrive today, while maintaining their cultural identity through oral traditions, songs and ceremonies.

This special exhibition continues through May 30, 2026. Click here for more information!

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 remodel of the Fleet Science Center!

Look at this! The Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park has a new entrance!

A remodel of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center building has altered the visitor experience. The main entrance and lobby are now near the old IMAX theater lobby. The museum’s original entrance has been repurposed, turning it into new gallery space.

In addition, the Fleet Science Center’s café will soon be enlarged. Once the café reopens, there will still be outdoor dining, plus a dedicated spot where visitors can purchase always super popular soft serve ice cream.

I ventured inside the remodeled museum yesterday…

The spacious new lobby and front desk…

Looking to my left, there are displays and images on a temporary partition. Somewhere beyond it will be the enlarged café. (Not sure about a gift shop. Forgot to ask.)

After moving through much of the museum, I peeked into the original lobby, which is currently roped off. It will become new gallery space.

The new main entrance to the Fleet Science Center is where that blue canopy is. What do you think?

UPDATE!

I got a photo of the new café shortly before it opened…

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Free attractions this weekend in Campo!

By driving east of San Diego to Campo this weekend, you can enjoy free admission to four cool attractions!

Admission will be free at the Campo Railroad Museum, the Motor Transport Museum, the Gaskill Brothers Stone Store, and the Camp Lockett Equestrian and Event Facility!

This weekend, May 2-3, 2026, Campo Days promises unforgettable family-friendly experiences. Pile the kids in the car and have an adventure!

The incredible Campo Railroad Museum, operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association, itself is worth the trip. You can explore many old train cars parked on tracks at the museum, and even ride a vintage train should you purchase a ticket! Learn more about the Campo Railroad Museum at their website here.

I learned about Campo Days when I swung by the La Mesa Depot Museum today. This small free museum is also operated by the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association.

Station master Timothy showed me some of the work being done to restore No. 3, the 1923 steam locomotive which you might have seen while driving through downtown La Mesa. I blogged about its history and restoration about a year ago here.

Timothy loves to talk about trains and his personal experience as an engineer. The always free La Mesa Depot Museum also has a cool HO-scale train layout kids love.

If you can’t make it to Campo Days this weekend, head to La Mesa on a Tuesday or Thursday from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, when the La Mesa Depot Museum is open. Admit it–you love trains, too!

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