Faces peer from a wall near the San Diego River. The very long mural, titled River Life, contains images of wildlife one might find here–or have found here before urban development.
I love this mural in Mission Valley. I remember driving through the intersection at Qualcomm Way and Camino de la Reina years ago, and seeing a whole bunch of people painting wild river animals along the ugly low wall. A little research today tells me that memory was from late 2009.
“River Life” was completed by almost 200 volunteers over four days. The design came from artist Lori Escalera. It’s one of of six murals (so far) that the San Diego River Park Foundation has helped to create. I’ve featured others on my blog. Here are some links if you want to check out more of the beautiful San Diego River murals…
The left end of a long, colorful mural in Mission Valley. Birds of the air and water are featured here. The art was designed by Lori Escalera in 2009.A heron, hummingbird and frog. Down by the beautiful River Trail, just north of where we stand, many different birds can be spotted on the quiet surface of the San Diego River, and in thick reeds and overhanging tree branches.A butterfly, a fox (peeking from behind a transformer box on Camino de la Reina) and a raccoon.Some sort of lizard–perhaps a Gila monster–is half hidden by leaves, while a rattlesnake coils nearby!A jackrabbit and wild coyote.A skunk and perhaps kitten bobcats.I recognize a squirrel, but I’m not sure about the other animal whose eyes seem to be glowing in the dark.I believe that’s a Red-winged Blackbird and a moth.Looks to me like a toad and a beetle. If you can accurately identify these creatures, feel free to leave a quick comment!That looks to me like a turtle–or a tortoise! It’s obvious this blogger still has a whole lot to learn!
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Unique holographic artwork painted on glass as seen through a downtown San Diego window. Reflections of life on the street are also visible in this photo.
Look what I discovered! These super cool, revolutionary paintings are on display in downtown San Diego. You’ll find them arranged behind the windows of the now closed Gaslamp 15 movie theater, just beneath the old marquee.
When I read the signs near these vibrant paintings, my curiosity was piqued. An inventive gentleman named Liguori has used proprietary holographic paints to create two-dimensional images that seem three-dimensional. The visual appearance changes depending upon the angle from which the artwork is observed!
According to the written description, this method of painting is so unique that it constitutes a completely new art form! My photos through the glass windows don’t really demonstrate the appearance of three dimensions. But my photos do include interesting reflections from the city street! Melded with the colorful art are buildings, people, a bus, cars, and just regular ordinary stuff a person walking down the sidewalk might observe. In a sense, this adds another unusual dimension! Please read the two signs that I photographed. Especially if you are keenly interested in physics and philosophy, and unbounded human creativity.
Do you have questions? Would you like to learn more? Perhaps you’d like to purchase one of these completely revolutionary pieces, which belong to an art movement yet to be named! That’s what the sign says! And all proceeds go to charity! To contact Liguori, use the email that is at the bottom of the signs.
Very cool!
Very cool works of art are on display in downtown San Diego. You can see them in the windows of the now vacant Gaslamp 15 movie theater, beneath the old marquee.Liguori is a successful businessman in his seventies. He took up painting late in life. He developed a totally new art medium. All the proceeds of his work will go to various charities!More examples of Liguori’s dazzling, thought-provoking pieces. Apparently the application of his special holographic paint on glass is an entirely new, revolutionary art form.Bold color stimulates the human mind and imagination. Like the universe (or perhaps multiverse), what is seen depends on the observer’s momentary point of view.Liguori’s work provides a physical manifestation of objective reality. When viewing this holographic art, countless three dimensional images are possible. It depends upon the angle of observation.Abstract art melds with cars, buildings, and bits of everyday experience in one wonderful window.More fantastic artwork. I was unable to take photographs without reflections in the windows. But it makes these images that more interesting!A dim somebody strides through a splash of vibrant color.The cosmos is incomprehensibly enormous and complex. Different wavelengths, angles, points in space and time…different states of mind and a blink of the eye. Objective reality is observed only in tiny slices.
UPDATE!
I’ve decided to walk past these holographic paintings again, and attempt to take some better photos without the street reflections. I’ll post them shortly…
Okay, I somehow got two close-up photos through the windows that are pretty amazing. Here they are…
01 Close-up photo of holographic painting by Liguori.02 Close-up photo of holographic painting by Liguori.
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Do you like to read short pieces of thought-provoking fiction? You might enjoy checking out Short Stories by Richard.
Diners sit at tables on the waterfront. An Italian fish market, colorful buildings and clouds.
I really like this mural. You’ll find it near the corner of Grape Street and Kettner Boulevard in Little Italy. It was painted by San Diego artist Stephanie Clair. Her art is modern, romantic and overflowing with the simple pleasures of life. Please enjoy a few colorful photos!
Little Italy mural painted by artist Stephanie Clair shows the life of a fishing town. Perhaps it resembles San Diego’s past.Fishermen in their boats working the sea. The water is blue and green.Lovers drink wine as they sit by the water, gazing out at the sunset.A streetcar among buildings that seem to pulse with life.
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Cool mural in San Diego’s hip South Park community features Latino and Native American cultural influences.
Here are four cool street murals that I spotted during my meandering walk yesterday. You can find them on Fern Street in San Diego’s South Park neighborhood. All four of these are north of Date Street. I’m sure there are others to the south that I missed.
Urban art on side of the Fern St. Laundromat. Litter and graffiti partially obscure a painted depiction of a vintage San Diego Fire Department vehicle, complete with fireman and dalmatian.Local graffiti artists Persue, Reyes and Steel created this cool street art on Fern Street in South Park.Sepia tone mural on Fern Street in South Park features man riding an old-fashioned penny-farthing and nostalgic images from San Diego’s past.
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A U.S. military veteran creates art while watching folklorico dancing at a popular festival in San Diego’s South Bay.
Today I met Anthony A. LoBue for the second time. With a great big smile, he was manning his Arts For Veterans tent at the International Mariachi Festival and Competition in National City. (I chatted briefly with him once before at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, during a special concert raising funds for Operation Rebound.)
“Tony the Vet” helps other veterans heal through creative art. He’s the founder of Support Our Veterans Association and the Arts for Veterans Project. The latter organization’s purpose is to: Engage, Educate, Employ and Empower Veterans in the Creative Arts. He provides art classes for military veterans at the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park, Veterans Village, and other places where healing, hope, wholeness and art education are welcome.
He believes the healing power of art dramatically changes lives. It’s an enormous benefit for those returning from war with psychological trauma. Art provides connection, joy, self-empowerment. Art literally saves lives.
Tony has a huge positive vision. He wants to expand his Arts for Veterans program so that it might benefit as many people as possible.
Would you please visit his website and see it you can help in some way?
Art heals. Art provides joy, connection, hope. Art helps to give life meaning and purpose.
Brian Meyer was painting at the Arts For Veterans tent. I spoke to him. He’s a veteran of Desert Storm. He’s a super guy and deeply thoughtful. And his watercolors are amazing. That’s a glimpse of a work-in-progress above. He frequently paints the live musicians at Panama 66 next to the San Diego Museum of Art. Please check out his website!
Hand-drawn art cards with hearts and flags thank service members for their sacrifice.People at the International Mariachi Festival and Competition in National City were making special greeting cards for patients at the VA Hospital.Gifted watercolor painter Brian Meyer, and Anthony A. LoBue of Arts For Veterans.
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Exotic elephant on wall of the Crest Cafe in Hillcrest, created by San Diego artist Cody Griffith in 2012.
Here are two of my favorite street murals in San Diego. The colorful elephant appears on the outside west wall of the Crest Cafe in Hillcrest. It was painted by local artist Cody Griffith in 2012. The monstrous Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur with a funny fuzzy rider can be seen in North Park, at the corner of University Avenue and Ray Street. This cool urban artwork was created by Mark Paul Deren, who also goes by the name Madsteez.
It’s a street art battle of monstrous proportions!
Funny urban art in North Park. A cool T. rex and rider rise high above a concrete mixer truck. Created by artist Mark Paul Deren, also known as Madsteez.Another fun example of creativity in the diverse and wonderful city of San Diego.
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Illuminating the Sea: The Marine Paintings of James E. Buttersworth, 1817-1894. This very special exhibit can be seen at the Maritime Museum of San Diego!
Do you love breathtaking works of fine art? Are you fascinated by 19th century history? Do you like to feast your eyes on beautiful tall ships, sailing yachts and ocean scenery? There’s a special exhibit in San Diego that you positively must see!
I was surprised to discover that the Maritime Museum of San Diego, located downtown on the Embarcadero, is featuring a fantastic exhibit of marine art masterpieces by the famous painter James Edward Buttersworth. Buttersworth is considered to be one of the most important painters of the nineteenth century. His portraits of tall ships, racing yachts, steamships and other vessels from that era are beautiful works of genius, resplendent with light, energy and grace. About 600 of his classic paintings exist today, and the Maritime Museum has 24 amazing examples on display!
The exhibition is titled “Illuminating the Sea: The Marine Paintings of James E. Buttersworth, 1817-1894.” The collected paintings, on loan from Mystic Seaport until May 31, 2016, are so dynamic, detailed and glowing with beauty, they’ll make a permanent impression in your mind. His images of sky and sea are realistic and alive. Colors are rich and subtle; stormy waters seem to spray off a painted canvas; white sails shine. Several paintings depict yachts racing together, engaged in historic competitions that include the America’s Cup, an event that became important in San Diego’s more recent past.
Another interesting aspect of the exhibition is the inclusion of a modern Buttersworth forgery by Ken Perenyi. Visitors to the museum can become a detective, and do their best to uncover the cleverly made fake!
Go enjoy this exhibit of rare, fantastic paintings, then prepare to spend a good hour or two exploring the many historic ships owned by the Maritime Museum of San Diego. You’ll find yourself within a magical world. A world that gently floats upon shining water, alive with history, adventure, beauty and wonder!
Among the classic maritime paintings of world-famous artist James E. Butterworth is a forgery. Visitors to the museum are challenged to spot it!Truly stunning works of art on display inside the steam ferryboat Berkeley, hub of the Maritime Museum of San Diego.Illuminating the Sea, James E. Butterworth, oil on canvas. Magic, schooner of New York Yacht Club, winner of the America’s Cup in 1870. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons.In addition to this world-class art, the Maritime Museum of San Diego contains a vast collection of nautical objects. It is a must-see destination for those interested in our city’s rich history.
Here are a couple bonus photographs! I took them this morning during a short walk before heading to work!
Museum volunteers gather around a ship’s yard. It would soon be lifted by crane onto the nearly-completed Spanish galleon replica San Salvador.Tall ships San Salvador and Californian docked behind the Berkeley. Just a few of the fascinating ships you can visit at the Maritime Museum of San Diego.
Let’s be friends. Two cool faces on a utility box in North Park.
I’ve got so many fun pics from a walk around North Park that I need to break them up into separate blog posts. Here’s a collection of cool street art faces! I took these photos as I strolled along University Avenue and 30th Street.
Hey dude, don’t trip! More fun artwork on two other sides of the box.A happy sun shines on a sidewalk in San Diego’s hip North Park neighborhood.Two faces rise from one neck in this unusual utility box street art.Cool people wait in line. This graphic can be found outside Lucha Libre, a popular gourmet taco shop.More colorful urban art featuring several unique characters.Abstract faces look at each other.It’s hot! A warm welcome on a sign at North Park’s Cardamom Cafe and Bakery.Lurking in a North Park alley–it’s a graffiti SpongeBob SquarePants! He seems to be blowing a jellyfish bubble!
Finn, heroic character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, holds a lightsaber. Cool spray paint art by William J. Dorsett.
Check out these super cool Star Wars images! They were created by a talented guy named William J. Dorsett. He’s a great spray paint artist and busker who is frequently seen on San Diego’s Embarcadero, in front of Anthony’s Fish Grotto.
William also happens to be a really nice guy. I’ve seen him working his magic for years during my walks. Not only does he create very unique spray paint artwork, but he also fashions amazing small works of sculpture using corn husks.
And, as you can plainly see, he’s a huge fan of Star Wars!
William loves to demonstrate his unbounded creativity, and did so recently at a local school for excited students. Check out his website to learn more!
William J. Dorsett is a talented busker who often displays his cool artwork on San Diego’s Embarcadero. In this photo he’s handing a corn husk rose to a passerby!Small, colorful spray paint images include a Darth Vader helmet, an Imperial Stormtrooper, R2-D2 and Yoda.It’s Chewbacca with his Bowcaster blaster under a distant galaxy’s stars and a colorful planet.More cosmic, bold spray paint artwork depicts popular Star Wars characters.C-3PO and Han Solo in classic Star Wars poses! Awesome!
Super cool mural in North Park at the intersection of 30th Street and Gunn Street.
This morning, before the threatened rain could begin, I took a long walk through San Diego’s very cool North Park neighborhood. I took lots of pics! I’ll be sharing many of them in the days ahead.
I’ve often admired this super colorful mural while driving down 30th Street. As the years have passed, I’ve also noted that the images have changed. After a little searching on Google, I see this mural is part of the “North Park Mural Project” and I identified a few of the artists. Check out the captions!
Right panel of awesome North Park mural contains the word Esperanza, which is Spanish for Hope.Another section of this cool public artwork depicts a large red rose, among buildings and interesting patterns. Created by Kreashun.Spray paint art by San Diego artist Maxx Moses. A character composed of many diverse elements, beneath the words Place Labels on Us From Childbirth.A beautiful figure seems to pray in a wreath of roses.A childlike blue face and long, colorful wavy hair, created by Gloria “GLOW” Muriel.This street art is on the same building. It reads Reality is Wrong. Dreams Are For Real. Hooligan Arts.Cool street art at 30th and Gunn, part of the North Park Mural Project.
Cool San Diego Sights! 