Tag: point loma

Pigs, duck and hamburger at old Navy base!

At old Naval Training Center San Diego, you might not expect to see pigs, a duck and a hamburger placed on a fountain. Well, that’s what you’ll find at Liberty Station in Point Loma!

The old Navy base is now home to many artist studios and tons of public art. I found this rather unusual public art while walking around the other day!

The fountain is titled Fuente Fantasma. It was created last year by Ensenada artist Beliz Iristay.

According to a nearby sign, the fantastic fountain showcases the complex layering of the region that is Tijuana and San Diego with the juxtaposition of the traditional border craft industry in rich layering along with an architectural element, the fountain, a fitting symbol for San Diego’s Spanish heritage.

Well, that may be, but I simply like the fun, whimsical quality of the thing!

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A rooster, a palm tree, and an Art Garden.

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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Tattoos become a mural at Liberty Station!

When I visited Liberty Station about a week ago, I checked out this newly painted mural. It’s located in the arched breezeway that connects The Lot movie theater with the Dorothea Laub Dance Place.

The colorful mural is composed of bold designs that one might select at a tattoo parlor!

Estación Libertad is the mural’s title and Mexican American artist Enrique “Chikle” Lugo is the creator. The art was commissioned by Liberty Station. It’s the latest work of public art you can enjoy at the former home of Naval Training Center San Diego.

Dragon, butterflies, hummingbird, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, a Navy anchor, skull, cacti, eagle, dolphin, a zebra-like Tijuana zonkey, a baseball and soccer ball… Many of the images are associated with San Diego or the unique culture of our border region.

I see a flying saucer, too!

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Inspired art exhibit at Liberty Station!

Artist: Weston Riffle.

You might enjoy the artwork now on display in the Dick Laub Command Center Gallery at Liberty Station. The current exhibition is titled Inspired.

Works by seven Liberty Station based artists hang in the lobby of the NTC Dick Laub Command Center. If you are interested in a particular piece, all are for sale. Swing by the studios of more than 40 artists in the nearby barracks buildings, and you can find even more!

It seems every time I walk in Point Loma through Liberty Station, I discover new art! More blog posts from my most recent visit are upcoming!

The Inspired exhibition is open Monday through Saturday, 10 am – 4 pm, through October 3, 2026.

Some of what you’ll see:

Artist: Chakib Bouhdary.
Artist: Katerina Husar-Lazarova.
Artist: Colleen Veltz.
Artist: Lauren LeVieux.

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Ground Truth exhibit at Cabrillo National Monument.

Every so often a new exhibit will be installed in the Visitor Center at Cabrillo National Monument. The latest is titled Ground Truth: Stories of Hope in Conservation.

A series of photographs demonstrates how National Park Service personnel, scientists and volunteers work to understand and conserve the complex natural environment at the tip of Point Loma.

Ground Truth is defined as the direct observation that supports a theory, confirms a recovery, and validates the hard work of restoration.

One sign in the exhibit continues to explain: From the recovery of a species to the restoration of a fragmented habitat, these photographs move beyond abstract headline to show the tangible reality of a world fighting back and those fearless leading the fight.

Photos show the measuring and mapping of life in tide pools, the removal of invasive plant species in the park, the intensive surveying of biodiversity, the monitoring of fog which provides moisture for coastal plant life, and more.

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Art benches inside Liberty Station’s Dance Place!

Artist: Alicia Hourican, Shanna Little.

Many years ago I shared photos of art benches scattered about Liberty Station. See those by clicking here.

Today I happened to walk through the Dorothea Laub Dance Place building at Liberty Station. What did I discover? Seven more artistically painted benches!

I actually found eight, but there was one that I had photographed previously (it must have been subsequently moved into the Dance Place.) I won’t include it in this blog post.

These seven colorfully painted benches include artist names. So read the captions.

Artist: Morse High School.
Artist: Jennifer Peterson.
Artist: Viviana Lombrozo.
Artist: Alfred Ventura.
Artist: Blair Thornley.
Artist: Elizabeth Andrews Zaikowski.

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Star Wars exhibit coming to Liberty Station!

I discovered something cool today while walking through Liberty Station in Point Loma. Pisano Artistry, located in a building adjacent to the Dick Laub NTC Command Center, will soon have a Star Wars exhibit!

I learned the fun news while peeking through the window of artist Joe Pisano’s gallery.

You’ve seen Joe Pisano’s unique and patriotic drywall screw art on Cool San Diego Sights previously. Here and here and here.

I haven’t spoken to him about it, but it definitely appears that he’s a Star Wars fan.

Can’t wait to see it!

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Time capsule at Cabrillo National Monument.

A time capsule was created during the Cabrillo National Monument centennial in Point Loma. It’s buried beneath a plaque in a brick planter near the entrance to the Visitor Center.

The plaque reads:

Beneath this sign lies a time capsule preserved in commemoration and celebration of the Cabrillo National Monument centennial, October 14, 1913-2013.

The contents inside this capsule are a collection of our first 100 years as San Diego’s only National Park unit. Its contents shall remain sealed for the next 100 years, not to be opened before October 14, 2113.

A message from the 2013 centennial employees: All that stand here before this plaque reading the words like so many who came before you; you are the future stewards of the National Park Service and we hope you continue to honor the tradition of protecting and preserving our most precious national treasures during this 2nd century of stewardship in our National Parks.

If you’d like to view an online “time capsule” of sorts, you can see photographs I took during the Cabrillo National Park centennial celebration back in 2013.

To see those photos click here!

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Padres mural behind Point Loma bar!

Check out this super cool Padres mural painted last year behind Harbor Town Pub in Point Loma!

The artist is Jack Stricker (@jackstrickerart). The artwork depicts Padres baseball heroes Trevor Hoffman, Tony Gwynn and Ken Caminiti holding baseballs, bat and glove while dressed in long brown robes like friars!

I noticed this mural while walking near a bus stop waiting for my ride to Cabrillo National Monument.

I spoke to a friendly guy opening the bar, and he said Harbor Town Pub is the place you want to be watching Padres games. He also said it would be really cool if Trevor Hoffman came down to see the mural himself!

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Whale Watch Festival at Cabrillo National Monument!

Whale Watch Festival 2026 will be held tomorrow at Cabrillo National Monument, Saturday, January 10th, 9 am to 4 pm.

Visitors to the National Park will have panoramic views of passing whales from the high Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook. During the day there will be exhibitors, speakers and activities, and people with good eyes pointing out distant spouts and flukes.

It’s now the peak of the winter migration of gray whales from Alaska to Baja California. I’ve heard reports of many sightings off our coast.

I’ll be busy elsewhere tomorrow, so I headed to Cabrillo National Monument today to see what I might see.

I noticed the tall ship America out on the wide Pacific Ocean. Assuming it was on a whale watching excursion, I watched the water in its vicinity for a while. I think I glimpsed a spout. An expert at my elbow would’ve helped me with sightings!

It was a beautiful sunny day and the weather should be the same for the festival. If you go, have fun!

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