Tag: painting

Three utility boxes on Bankers Hill.

Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.
Happiness is the art of making a bouquet of those flowers within reach.

Here are three colorful utility boxes along Laurel Street on Bankers Hill. I really like the message on the first one.

Exotic face on a utility box on Bankers Hill.
Exotic face on a utility box on Bankers Hill.
Koi and pond flowers adorn a colorful utility box.
Koi and pond flowers adorn a colorful utility box.

Joy and creativity thrive in Spanish Village.

Main entrance to Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Main entrance to Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.

One of the most popular attractions in San Diego’s Balboa Park is Spanish Village. Here are a few pics of the colorful courtyard and the quaint studios of local artists that surround it…

Studio 29 in Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Studio 29 in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
Peering at artwork in a studio window.
Peering at artwork in a studio window.
Lots of art can be bought from local San Diego artists.
Lots of art can be bought from local San Diego artists.
Live demonstrations by artists can be enjoyed by the public.
Live demonstrations by artists can be enjoyed by the public.
Artist at work outside one studio in Balboa Park's Spanish Village.
Artist at work outside one studio in Balboa Park’s Spanish Village.
Sculpture of dancers in central courtyard.
Sculpture of dancers in central courtyard.
Dogs from one artist's point of view.
Dogs from one artist’s point of view.
Couple explores folksy studios of Spanish Village.
Couple explores folksy studios of Spanish Village.
Art Glass Guild's room of shining color.
Art Glass Guild’s room of shining color.
People converge to see glassblowing in progress.
People converge to see glassblowing in progress.
Workshop inside San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building.
Workshop inside San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building.

The San Diego Mineral and Gem Society has a building in Spanish Village which showcases amazing rock and mineral collections. The lapidary workshop can only be glimpsed when one inside door is open.

Joyful works of art can be found everywhere.
Joyful works of art can be found everywhere.
Funny face greets those exiting toward San Diego Zoo.
Funny face greets those exiting toward San Diego Zoo.

My favorite sailor my grandpa.

My favorite sailor my grandpa.
My favorite sailor my grandpa.

Hundreds of colorful tiles encircle a large playground at Liberty Station.  Each tile was carefully painted by a child.  This one contains a special message.

Fantastic murals on India Street in Little Italy.

Vivid mural adds zest to an ordinary building on India Street.
Vivid mural adds zest to an ordinary building on India Street.

One great thing about Little Italy, a lively neighborhood in downtown San Diego, is the abundance of public art.  Should you ever walk down India Street past the many coffee shops, restaurants and art galleries, you’ll almost certainly find yourself lingering in front of a colorful mural.  They seem to be everywhere.

I recently strolled down India Street and took these photos:

Two people gaze from painted mural window in Little Italy.
Two people gaze from painted mural window in Little Italy.
Public mural in Little Italy is alive with warmth.
Public mural in Little Italy is alive with warmth.
Mural seems to reveal one man’s mysterious, inner life.
Mural seems to reveal one man’s mysterious, inner life.
Mural high on side of building depicts Venetian gondoliers.
Mural high on side of building depicts Venetian gondoliers.
Artwork inside passage to stylish courtyard near La Pensione Hotel.
Artwork inside passage to stylish courtyard near La Pensione Hotel.
La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy has an interesting semi-outdoor area with lots of murals.
La Pensione Hotel in Little Italy has a semi-outdoor area with lots of murals.
Fragment of the Sistine Chapel on a building wall.
Fragment of the Sistine Chapel on a building wall.

The colorful outdoor murals of Chicano Park.

01 Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.
Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.

Chicano Park is located in Barrio Logan, a mostly Mexican American and immigrant community just south of downtown San Diego.  The eight acre park features almost a hundred murals painted on concrete pillars that support the intersection of the Coronado Bay Bridge and Interstate 5.  This colorful park, quickly glimpsed by motorists speeding down the freeway, contains the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States.  It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique history with the Chicano civil rights movement.

I recently took a leisurely walk through the park and captured hundreds of photographs.  I’ve got so many pics, I’ve grouped them depending upon their location in the park. This blog post includes photos of murals I enjoyed while walking under the freeway ramps that connect the Coronado Bay Bridge to southbound I-5.

You’ll see a strange mixture of images in these murals: ancient Aztecs, indigenous peoples, workers, revolutionaries, school children, pop culture icons, scientists, politicians…and almost anything else you might imagine.  The diverse and often weird combinations seem to include one overarching theme: Mexican American empowerment.

The first photograph shows what I saw as I entered the park, walking up National Avenue from the south.  These artists were painting a pillar with an image of Mexico.

02 Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.
Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.
03 View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.
View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.
04 Chicano Power represented in art.
Chicano Power represented in art.
05 Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.
Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.
06 Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.
Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.
07 Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.
Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.
08 Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.
Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.
09 Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.
Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.
10 Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.
Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.
12 Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.
Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.
14 Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.
Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.
15 One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego's Chicano Park.
One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.
16 La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.
La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.
17 More art that shows people close to the land.
More art that shows people close to the land.
18 Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!
Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!
19 A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.
A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.
20 Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.
Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.
22 Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.
Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.
23 Chicano Park has the largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.
The largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.
24 Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.
Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.
21 Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.
Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.
13 Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.
Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.

I’ve got a ton more pics, so stayed tuned in the days ahead!

Cool mural on Kippy’s building in Barrio Logan.

Huge mural on Barrio Logan Kippy's building.
Huge mural on Barrio Logan Kippy’s building.

I recently walked around Barrio Logan to take photos of street art, including the famous murals in Chicano Park.  During my fun adventure I passed this building.

I looked at Google Maps and believe this is or was the location of Kippy’s, a fashion design business that has a store in Coronado.

Corner of cool Barrio Logan Kippy's building.
Corner of cool Barrio Logan Kippy’s building.
Faces depicted on Kippy's building in Barrio Logan.
Faces depicted on Kippy’s building in Barrio Logan.
Cool Kippy's mural in Barrio Logan depicts Mariachis.
Cool Kippy’s mural in Barrio Logan depicts Mariachis.

Super colorful street art in San Diego.

super cool street art in san diego

Check out this cool photo! I captured some more dazzling street art in downtown San Diego, just west of the trolley tracks on Park Boulevard. I like the glassy shine of the eyes and the abundance of color. These fantastic characters seem to have emerged from a little girl’s dream. The right portion was painted by muralist Gloria Muriel, the Bunny Kitty character on the left is by Dave Persue.

A look at the cool mural looking north.
A look at the cool mural looking north.
Mural is on the wall of the hART Lounge.
Mural is on the wall of the hART Lounge.

Mermaid embraces dolphin on the sidewalk!

mermaid embraces dolphin on coronado island

Check out this very cool art on an electrical transformer! I discovered it near a bus stop, directly across Orange Avenue from Coronado island’s famous Hotel Del Coronado. Other utility boxes on the sidewalk closeby were painted in similar fashion. In addition to dolphins and a sexy mermaid, I saw some colorful coral and a sea turtle!

Yellow fish swims through an underwater scene.
Yellow fish swims through an underwater scene.
Turtle head peeks around Coronado utility box.
Turtle head peeks around Coronado utility box.

Cool street art in downtown San Diego.

cool street art in downtown san diego

This colorful street art dazzles the eye on a downtown parking lot wall. It contains elements from many different cultures. You can find the cool art on the west side of Ninth Avenue just south of C Street.

I took a closer, more complete pic about half a year later. The bold black graffiti has obliterated part of the old artwork.

Street mural has been altered months later with graffiti.
Street mural has been altered months later with graffiti.

Three more pics! The fence around the parking lot was open one morning, so I could walk up close to the mural!

Close look at very cool mural on 9th Avenue.
Close look at very cool mural on 9th Avenue.
Beautiful spray painted face behind some fencing.
Beautiful spray painted face behind some fencing.
A great face on a striking example of street art in San Diego.
A great face in a striking example of street art in San Diego.

Boring object transformed by inspiration.

transformer transformed into cacti

During my walk through Old Town I spotted this electrical transformer in a patch of cacti. It was artfully painted to fit right in!

I love how a little imagination can change a dull, boring object into an inspired piece that fits into greater beauty. Very cool!

Utility box in Old Town painted with cacti.
Ugly transformer in Old Town transformed into cacti.