Another perfect sunny day in Encinitas. The beautiful views from Swami’s Park overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Swami’s Surf Beach brought out my camera.
It was the middle of the day mid-week in late summer. I didn’t see too many surfers out at the world-famous point break.
Look at the gorgeous blue and green colors of the water!
No, I didn’t walk down to the beach this time.
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Those are the words that welcome lovers to the wedding arbor at the San Diego County Administration Center’s Waterfront Park.
A plaque beside the wedding arbor states:
The ceremonial wedding arbor is provided for civil wedding ceremonies performed at the County Administration Center and was dedicated on Valentine’s Day 2001.
The Latin phrase in the arbor translates to “Love Conquers All.”
Gregory J. Smith
Commissioner of Civil Marriages
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I’m not sure when The Judy McDonald Art Garden officially debuted. When I visited Liberty Station in Point Loma last week, I noted the outdoor space (outside Dick Laub NTC Command Center, between Building 200 and Building 201) had a name that I previously hadn’t seen. I also noticed two relatively new works of art in the garden!
I know nothing about the colorful rooster mosaic sculpture. If you know more about it, please leave a comment.
The next photo is of Judy’s Palm/Only Connect, a mural painted by San Diego artist Perry Vásquez back in April.
The palm tree in this public art represents the spirit of inclusiveness, optimism and the ability to bend without breaking. For a good description and explanation, plus photographs of the mural being painted, click here.
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Paul Strahm, accomplished local plein air painter, was doing his thing in Pacific Beach today. I ran into him by the boardwalk south of Crystal Pier. He was smiling as usual.
I learned that one of his beach paintings is now on display at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park–part of their Changing Terrain exhibition. He has another piece, too, now on display at the Oceanside Museum of Art.
On my way home I swung by the San Diego History Center to check out his painting exhibited there. Here it is…
Mission Beach, 2024, Paul Strahm. Oil on canvas.
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Those walking over the railroad tracks in Solana Beach at Dahlia Drive, between Highway 101 and Cedros Avenue, will bask in sunshine. A famous line that begins a Walt Whitman poem is inscribed in the pedestrian bridge.
Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling…
Five years ago I posted photos of public art in the heart of Del Mar Village, all part of a City of Del Mar Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit. Today, during a walk down Camino Del Mar, I noticed those older sculptures are gone–but I happened upon two newer ones! Here they are!
The first is optically fascinating. Its geometry seems to change depending on the angle of view. It’s titled Cloud 7, and was created by Peter Mitten. I walked a little around it taking several photographs…
The second sculpture I discovered is titled Planar Head. It’s by artist Ron Tatro. This one is fun to walk around, too. Check it out!
More information concerning the 2025-2027 Temporary Outdoor Sculpture Program can be found at this Del Mar Foundation webpage. It includes a downloadable art map, just in case you want to walk about and make your own cool discoveries!
On that webpage you’ll also learn these sculptures are for sale.
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Many improvements are currently being made to the Escondido Creek Trail!
An effort is being made to make the trail more inviting to pedestrians, bicyclists, and lovers of the outdoors.
New landscaping is coming, as evidenced by many flags in bare dirt. There are new shade structures and seating, and winding side paths. There is new paving, signage, bridge-spanning art, an exercise area, and even attractive brickwork that is being installed at one intersection!
Here’s a City of Escondido webpage that describes what I saw. It explains: This project aims to encourage safe and healthy lifestyles through an improved sense of security, enhanced street crossings, fitness and play amenities, native and CA-friendly landscaping, and further opportunities for walking and jogging in addition to improvements to the bike path. The goal is to revitalize the Creek Trail Corridor through enhanced activities and partnerships with local businesses, artists, schools, and other organizations.
My photographs were taken along a relatively short section of the Escondido Creek Trail, between Juniper Street and Fig Street…
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A tall metal sculpture stands behind the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. It’s called the Sound Tree.
When I learned about the existence of this sculpture several days ago, I resolved to see it myself. I walked to Balboa Park yesterday and was able to take these photos. A fence and closed gate behind the WorldBeat Cultural Center kept me at a distance.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is usually open on weekends, so that would be the time to grab the sculpture’s hammer and ring those long tubes, which dangle in the air like sonic fruit!
Sound Tree was created by artist and neurobiologist Victor Hugo Minces. He works as a research scientist at UC San Diego. According to the sculpture’s webpage, the dangling metal pipes produce low soothing vibrations that you can hear and feel. The pipes are tuned to interact acoustically, creating harmonies and rich sonic interference patterns.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center is a treasure trove of multi-cultural art, on display both inside and outside. Go check it out!
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I love this public art at Town Center Community Park East in Santee. It covers the four sides of a structure next to the playground.
San Diego River Wildlife is written large among images of birds and animals one might encounter nearby along the San Diego River.
On one side there’s a Cooper’s Hawk, Mallard Ducks, Great Egrets, Brown-headed Cowbird and California Gnatcatcher. On another side there’s a San Diego Gopher Snake, Two-striped Garter Snake and a third snake whose label has sadly become unreadable. A third side shows a Pacific Tree Frog, Western Pond Turtle and Western Fence Lizard. Finally, the side facing the playground shows a Red-Tailed Hawk, American Coots, Great Blue Herons, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and California Towhee.
I don’t know the origin of this beautiful but now weathered, sun-faded public art. If you know anything about it, or the artist(s), please leave a comment!
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A hot day for mid-March. I stayed near the beach–in Oceanside. As I walked out onto the Oceanside Pier, look what I saw! Someone was digging a huge skull and crossbones into the sand!
Turns out the friendly, creative guy was David. He was working on his pirate Jolly Roger flag design in the sunshine, while people strolling along the beach would stop, look and chat.
He’s been making artwork in the sand like this for several months, he told me. He’s created perhaps a dozen such works at the beach.
He told me there’s another guy who makes cool designs using a garden rake. That sounds awesome, too. Perhaps I’ll stumble upon that one day.
Here’s what I saw around noon as I walked out on the pier:
After I ate lunch, I returned to the pier and saw this:
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