A new exhibition is on display in the windows of The Courthouse Gallery in downtown San Diego. It’s titled Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
I was walking down Broadway past the Edward J. Schwartz United States Courthouse when I spied the beautiful artwork this morning.
You can learn more about the exhibition and the talented local artists by clicking here!
These photos represent a fraction of the current exhibition.
When you go for a walk, there’s no telling what you might discover!
Last weekend, while walking around the new Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center in Chula Vista, I stumbled upon these three very beautiful murals. They’re located near the water park at the southwest corner of the resort, next to the roundabout at the end of H Street. They decorate a small plaza.
The artist of all three murals is Lauren Elyse S. According to information beside each mural, she’s a San Diego interdisciplinary artist who loves the medium of paint and how brushstrokes communicate mood and energy. You can see her love for nature in the images she created!
I’ve noticed the Gaylord Resort has also placed informative signs about our natural environment in various spots near outdoor walkways. Very cool!
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Huge, super colorful murals are being painted in downtown San Diego. Once completed, there will be four murals, one on each side of The Torrey’s new high-rise. The Torrey is located at 1200 Front Street, where the north part of the old downtown courthouse used to stand.
This morning during my walk I noticed two artists working on the east side mural. I’d stumbled upon Australian husband-and-wife visual artists who go by the name DABSMYLA. They’re out of Los Angeles. Here’s their website. That’s them in the above photograph!
Two murals are finished, they’re now working on the third, and I was told a fourth will be painted on the south side of the building, once the old courthouse bridge over B Street is demolished.
Super cool!
These first photos show the mural they’re working on presently, on the building’s east side. All of their artwork is full of bold imagery from nature, including San Diego’s beautiful coast.
On the north side…
And on the west side (where there’s some new, interesting stump art on the sidewalk which I’ll blog about)…
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This weekend you have one last chance to experience a very special exhibition of art in Balboa Park. Members of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild are exhibiting work that celebrates the history and culture of Logan Heights and other neighborhoods along Imperial Avenue east of downtown San Diego.
One Day in the Life on Imperial is the title of the exhibition, now on display in Gallery 21 of Balboa Park’s Village Arts Center (still known widely as Spanish Village).
Last month, at the TULAROSA gallery, I visited the first version of this exhibition. It has greatly expanded and moved since then, and many more diverse artworks are now collected together for visitors to enjoy!
The art you’ll encounter shows what life is like along historic Imperial Avenue. Families and shopkeepers, happiness and struggles–every aspect of a community is the subject matter of local artists who walked the street, absorbing all they experienced. Many of the resulting pieces are energetic and colorful.
One Day in the Live on Imperial continues through Monday, April 20th, 2026. If you’re heading to Balboa Park this weekend, you ought to swing by!
A few examples…
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In downtown San Diego, numerous scrolls of wisdom are waiting to be unrolled. If you step into the studio of artist James Watts (@jewattso), you can easily attain that wisdom!
James was at work in his studio this morning, and I said hello. He showed me one of the projects he’s now working on. There on one table were a bunch of new scrolls!
Last year I posted a blog about his ambitious scroll project. I explained his handmade scrolls are painted on fabric and utilize wood sticks he’s found, cut to size and sanded smooth. He loves philosophy, religion and literature, and bits of inspired thought make their way into his work.
Yes, indeed, it is what it is!
And more!
He accompanies the wise sayings with still life paintings. Such as an egg and swiss cheese. Interpret as you may!
I don’t know whether you had a chance to see James Watts’ exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art four years ago. If you didn’t, click here and check it out!
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This mural beautifies a wall outside Best Little Hair House at 332 E. 2nd Avenue in Escondido. I noticed it during my most recent walk in Escondido. Enjoy a couple photos!
According to this article, the title of the art is Bellas Rosas. It was created by Charlie Mejia, teacher at Valley High School and member of the Escondido Mural Committee. The City of Escondido has been supporting the creation of public art as a catalyst for economic growth.
This mural replaced another one decorating the same wall. You can see photographs taken in 2023 of that old, faded mural by clicking here.
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Near the corner of La Cima Drive and Ingraham Street, it’s always a Good Day!
This mural is located in the Crown Point neighborhood of Pacific Beach, a couple blocks from Mission Bay. That explains the bicycle, palm trees, surfboards, shore bird and sailboat graphic.
The mural was designed by Channin Fulton (@channinfulton) and painted by various artists on the side of PB Express Market & Liquor. Here’s the webpage concerning the mural, which was commissioned by the Crown Point Neighborhood Association.
Enjoy a few photos.
This sunny San Diego art definitely makes a Good Day!
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I recently read that a huge new mural was being painted outside the Escondido Public Library during its major renovation. So I had to swing by to see what I might see!
The 100 foot mural is by artist Tim Topalov of Flow&Form, a San Diego-based studio. The Escondido community voted to select the design.
I found this Instagram story showing the mural being painted!
I took these photos today from behind a construction fence, but you can see how amazing this public art will be when it’s finally in full view.
You can find the mural on the east side of the library building, at the corner of East 2nd Avenue and Kalmia Street.
The mural tells a mythological story. It begins:
In the beginning, the earth was covered with water. Two brothers lived under the water and wondered what lay above. They climbed a high mountain, and the younger brother reached the top first. From there he saw the earth being formed by insects coming up from inside the mountain, each carrying a small bit of rock, building the land as ants built their hills…
It is the Kumeyaay creation story. Read more about it here.
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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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Almost a year ago, I posted a blog about the restoration of Balboa Park’s beautiful carousel animals. I walked by today and found carousel caretaker William “Bill” Brown and a smiling volunteer hard at work!
The carved wooden War Horse, Camel and Goat are at various stages of restoration, as you can see. Compare today’s photographs with those I took in June 2025 by clicking here.
First up, here’s the War Horse. The Balboa Park Carousel was originally built in 1910 by Herschell-Spillman, and, fortunately, there is a factory description that still exists. Bill intends to keep the restored version fairly true to that historical appearance.
Here’s an image of how a Herschell-Spillman War Horse appeared in the early 20th century…
Here’s how the restoration appears so far, with a lot of detailed painting still to go…
Here’s a sketch Bill made of the Camel as it may look when finally restored.
Unfortunately, no record exists of how this carousel animal originally appeared over a century ago. The leaves atop the camel’s humps would obviously be green.
The painting of the Camel is getting underway…
The Goat isn’t quite as far along.
As you can see, a lot of sanding is required when restoring these carved wooden carousel animals, they’re so very detailed. Lots of nooks and crannies.
But when the restoration is complete, the animals are amazing! Look how the Persian Cat turned out!
The Balboa Park Carousel is one of San Diego’s great treasures. Thanks to all who are keeping it alive, vibrant, and the source of joy for many!
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Cool San Diego Sights! 