Tag: public art

Horse racing mural at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

In my previous blog post, I shared photos of a colorful fair mural at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. It decorates one side of the long tunnel under the horse racing track. The tunnel connects the Grandstand with the infield.

Now I’ll share photographs of the mural that decorates the tunnel’s opposite side. Also painted by artist Tom Fagan, it depicts the history of horse racing at the racetrack!

The Del Mar Racetrack was added to the fairgrounds in 1936 by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Founding member Bing Crosby led the effort. You know, he who famously sings “Where the turf meets the surf down at old Del Mar. Take a plane, take a train, take a car. There is a smile on every face and a winner in each race…”

Back in the day, Hollywood movie stars and celebrities would flock to the races, including frequent visitor and avid horseplayer Jimmy Durante. The mural shows some of that.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Colorful fair mural at Del Mar Fairgrounds!

A long tunnel at the Del Mar Fairgrounds allows visitors to walk under the race track, from the Grandstand to the infield. Those attending the San Diego County Fair often use it to walk from the Fun Zone to Family Funville.

Two very different murals cover the tunnel walls, one on either side. The first depicts fair activity through the years. The second, which I’ll cover in my next blog post, depicts horse racing at the fairground. According to various signatures, both long murals were painted by artist Tom Fagan over the course of several years.

The painted side you’ll see in this blog post show activities at the fair during its rich history. There are carnival rides, farm animals, garden shows, entertainment, food and fun!

After beginning in 1880, the fair moved to the Del Mar Fairgrounds in 1936 where it has been known at various times as the San Diego County Fair, the Southern California Exposition, and the Del Mar Fair.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Statue of Don Diego at Del Mar Fairgrounds.

If you go to the San Diego County Fair this summer and enter through the main O’Brien Gate, you might notice this statue to one side of the Will Call window. It’s a bronze representation of Don Diego, legendary host and goodwill ambassador of the old Del Mar Fair.

The sculpture, created by artist Maher Morcos, was unveiled at the Del Mar Fairgrounds back in 1985. It is dedicated to Spanish actor Tom Hernandez. For 37 years he portrayed smiling Don Diego, a character based on historical late 1800s Del Mar landowner Don Diego Alvarado. Tom used to greet fair-goers with a friendly “¡Bienvenidos Amigos!”

Tom Hernandez was greatly missed when he passed away in 1984. Over the years his character Don Diego had become a true San Diego icon.

The statue is 16 feet high and weighs 1,500 pounds. At its base is a plaque, which I will transcribe here…

DON DIEGO

GOODWILL AMBASSADOR OF THE DEL MAR FAIR 1947-1984

TOM HERNANDEZ SERVED AS THE OFFICIAL HOST OF THE DEL MAR FAIR, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION, FOR 37 YEARS. HE PORTRAYED DON DIEGO, THE MAGICAL FIGURE WHO APPEARED EACH YEAR TO ESCORT THE FAIREST OF THE FAIR AND PRESIDE OVER THE DEL MAR FAIR.

DEDICATED BY THE 22ND DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION JUNE 20, 1985

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

A new City Workshops mural in City Heights!

I discovered this cool mural during my most recent walk in City Heights. I took photographs and wondered about it.

A little research shows the mural was painted several months ago at City Workshops, a shared woodshop at 3615 University Avenue.

According to their Instagram page, City Workshops offers dedicated individual bench areas and shared big machines like wood saws, routers, sanders, planers and laser cutters. They are now accepting long-term tenants.

Notice the many artist signatures in one of my photos.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Longfellow quote graces Fletcher Cove Park.

A beautiful poetic quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow graces an ocean overlook at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach.

Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves

that break upon the idle seashore of the mind

Bold, colorful mural at Hustle Tattoo.

Tattoo parlors often attract attention with bold, colorful murals. That’s certainly the case with Hustle Tattoo in City Heights, at 4503 University Avenue.

Skulls, flowers, a butterfly and a parrot have been painted on the exterior of the shop by @hannasmurals.

Remember my recent blog post about a football player scoring at a City Heights bus stop? I found that a few steps away down the sidewalk! A lot of “hustle” on this city block!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Children together with nature in Golden Hill!

This happy mural was painted in 2017 at the Golden Hill Recreation Center. It depicts children together with nature.

Members of the community and volunteers with I Love a Clean San Diego came together on Coastal Cleanup Day to paint the colorful art. It decorates a retaining wall behind the center near the playground. You can see a photograph of the event and people working on the mural here.

Despite a little vandalism, the mural remains bright and beautiful almost ten years later. Flowers, butterflies, a hummingbird, coyote and rabbit populate a world where children jump and play.

A few photos for you to enjoy…

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Fish made of light on Imperial Beach Pier!

I realize schools of fish swim under the Imperial Beach Pier, but how do fish survive swimming on top of the pier? Because they’re made of sunlight!

This cool public art can be found during an easy walk down the pier. A sheltered area permits light to pass through cut out shapes, projecting images of fish and bubbles onto the wooden pier.

Those fish made of light better be careful, however. There’s a huge shark swimming above them!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Two sculptures at La Jolla’s Wisteria Cottage.

Perhaps you’ve seen these two sculptures standing in front of the La Jolla Historical Society‘s Wisteria Cottage. They were installed back in February as part of the cottage’s current Space Maker exhibition.

If you notice these sculptures seem unusually geometric, it’s understandable. Space Maker celebrates the intersection of art and design. When I first saw the two sculptures, they appeared like forms that arise from some complex mathematical equation.

This first sculpture is titled Blue Ocotillo. Made of steel, it was created by artist Christopher Puzio in 2026. Christopher Puzio describes his art as blurring the lines between sculpture, craft and design.

Blue Ocotillo reminds me of a matrix or a crystal lattice. It now stands on the lawn in front of the Wisteria Cottage courtesy of the Quint Gallery.

(In 2017 I photographed similar sculptures by Christopher Puzio outside the San Diego Central Library’s 9th Floor art gallery. See those photos here.)

The second sculpture is titled marine layer and was created by Miki Iwasaki in 2026 using Corten steel.

Miki Iwasaki lives in San Diego. With architectural experience in places like New York and Los Angeles, he has created his own art pieces and furniture designs. He often explores new materials and methods.

The Space Maker exhibition ends in about a week (running through June 7, 2026), and when it does these two fascinating sculptures will be removed. So admire them in this beautiful outdoor setting while you can!

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)

Creating a World Cup goal in San Diego!

An artistic soccer goal that celebrates the upcoming World Cup was being set up today in San Diego’s Balboa Park!

Noted Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero and some helpers were creating the outdoor installation in the Plaza de Panama, in front of the San Diego Museum of Art. They got started at nine this morning. What you see is their progress by early afternoon.

This unique public art is being created in partnership with the General Consulate of Mexico in San Diego.

The colorful goal is half the size of a regulation goal. Its woven nets contains colorful Aztec and soccer motifs made of metal, as you can see in one of my photos.

Betsabeé (smiling in my final photo) told me that the goal and the space in front of it can be used as a sort of public performance stage.

Many similar goals are being created around the United States, where World Cup teams will be based or where games will take place. There’s also an artistic goal in Tijuana, Mexico that faces this one in San Diego, forming a “vast field of play” that includes both international border cities!

UPDATE!

A couple days later, I noticed this sign. It shows how these goals have been erected in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The art connects soccer with migration, native cultures and the diverse fans who enjoy the popular international sport.

…

To follow my blog, find the “Follow” box in this website’s sidebar. Or bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

(If you’re viewing this on a phone, open my website’s sidebar by tapping those three parallel lines at the top of the page.)