Welcome to Grand Avenue. Escondido, California. The Beautiful Hidden Valley. Mural by Zane Kingcade, 2023.
The Esco Alley Art project has brought dozens of murals to the alley south of Grand Avenue in downtown Escondido. Now they’re expanding to the alley just north of Grand. See their first mural, which debuted a few weeks ago, here.
During my recent Escondido walk, I noticed two other murals previously painted in this same alley. They’re located just east of Kalmia Street.
Both are painted by prolific local muralist Zane Kingcade, who operates the art and clothing store Street Life at 254 East Grand Avenue. He has painted many cool murals all over Escondido!
Take a look at these two!
Golden State, Golden Era! Graffiti style mural by Zane Kingcade, 2022.
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Day of the Dead begins today, the 1st of November. This is the perfect time to share these photographs!
A new restaurant named Kalaveras is coming to 340 Third Avenue in Chula Vista. The building it will occupy has been painted with super colorful skulls, or calaveras!
I happened to notice this bold new artwork while walking to the community Day of the Dead event in Chula Vista last weekend.
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Sebastian Stehr (@indian_t2b), a graffiti artist from Frankfurt Germany, finished painting a beautiful mural in Escondido about a week ago. His inspirational 15′ by 15′ mural titled What Is Love debuted last Wednesday.
Sebastian is working to complete 100 murals for his project Philosophical Graffiti, What is Love. His murals feature paintings of indigenous children accompanied by poetry. The mural in Escondido is his 86th so far. When all 100 are completed, Sebastian plans to publish a book concerning the project.
I missed the mural’s official debut, unfortunately, but I headed up to Escondido today to see it for myself.
I’ve learned that this mural, located in the alley behind Royal Traveler (125 North Kalmia), is the beginning of Esco Alley Art‘s extension to this same alley on the north side of Grand Avenue.
Several blocks of another alley to the south of Grand Avenue are already filled with amazing artwork!
Children imitate so they learn…then we better do righteous and good…
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Native wildlife found in Tecolote Canyon Natural Open Space Park is illustrated by dozens of beautiful art tiles at the Nature Center.
The handmade ceramic tiles decorate outdoor walls at the Nature Center. They were created by students from University City High School. (Years ago, students from the same school painted wildlife murals that decorate a fence at the south end of Tecolote Canyon’s main hiking trail.)
Take a look at this wonderful sculptural artwork. I photographed some of the tiles–there are birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, butterflies, flowers…
Many tiles are mounted individually to the walls. Others are combined to produce murals demonstrating the different habitats of Tecolote Canyon.
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
An extraordinary sculpture by renowned artist James Hubbell can be enjoyed near the center of downtown El Cajon. His interpretation of mythical flying horse Pegasus stands in the succulent and cactus garden at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum!
I took a tour of the museum today, viewing the fine art of internationally recognized painter of western scenes Olaf Wieghorst, who lived for a time in El Cajon.
As we strolled through the museum’s lush garden, I was surprised to see this wonderful sculpture by James Hubbell, another beloved artist. Hubbell’s studio is located in the nearby mountains.
If you love outstanding art (or the Old West or amazing gardens) you must pay a visit to the free Olaf Wieghorst Museum. I’ll be blogging much more about this surprising museum in the next few days!
The sculpture Pegasus near the rustic home of Old West artist Olaf Wieghorst. His house can toured at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum.Pegasus, by James Hubbell, was a gift of the East County Chapter of the Fine Arts Society of San Diego.An abstract bronze Pegasus flies gracefully in downtown El Cajon.
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
If you’ve driven down Encinitas Boulevard under Interstate 5 you’ve seen this wonderful, very colorful public art. Four long mosaic strips depicting local plants and animals have added life to the freeway undercrossing for about a year now.
In 2021 the City of Encinitas chose this design by Minneapolis-based artists Amy Baur and Brian Boldon.
The three foot tall strips feature glazed ceramic surfaces that shine in the sunlight and resemble stained glass. Here’s an article concerning the installation. The artist has stated: “Imagery from Encinitas’ environment — birds, plants, water, coastal and mountain flora and fauna — are layered with geometric shapes reflecting concrete patterns above and below the artwork.”
During my last walk in Encinitas, I took photographs of the beautiful artwork. What birds and plants do you recognize?
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
There’s more than a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean at the Moonlight Beach Overlook in Encinitas. There are a few bits of art, too!
Two trashcans are decorated with colorful tiles painted by youth.
The parklike Moonlight Beach Overlook isn’t large, but it’s a great place to relax, gaze down at the beach below, or perhaps enjoy a picnic on the grass.
The following overlook sign can be spotted just south of the main Moonlight Beach parking lot.
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
An extraordinary mural depicting life in (and above) the ocean can be found on Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. Titled The Pacific Playground, the mural, composed of stained glass, stands next to the Moonlight Beach Marine Safety Center tower where lifeguards are stationed.
The 7 1/2 foot-by-15-foot mural was made possible by the Surfing Madonna Oceans Project and installed in 2018. The original design was conceived by artist Peggy Sue Zepeda; the mural was built by Don Myers and Manny Corona with the help of hundreds of volunteers from the community. Here’s an article about The Pacific Playground, published shortly after its installation.
The stained glass shines brightly in the Southern California sunshine. The words SAVE THE OCEAN crown colorful images of sea life. This inspired public art makes Moonlight Beach even more special.
I thought you might enjoy a few photographs…
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
A live art installation that visitors could view during the past few days in Balboa Park has been completed!
The artwork, brought to life by the San Diego Museum of Art and renowned Iranian-born artist Mohammad Barrangi (@mohammad.barrangi), decorates a section of wall outside the museum’s courtyard, near the entrance to Panama 66. As I understand it, this work will remain on display through October.
I took these photos early this evening. You can compare them to photos I took the past two days as the art was being created by clicking here. You’ll also see a smiling photograph of the artist!
During the live installation, Mohammad demonstrated the reverse print transfer process while creating a diptych inspired by Iranian history and visual traditions. You can see a short video of him working on this artwork here.
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Are those holograms? No! The archway just inside the San Ysidro Library’s front door features a cool 3D effect produced by its two lenticular print columns.
This amazing public art, titled Pasaje, debuted in 2019 when the new branch library opened. The artists are brothers Jamex de la Torre and Einar de la Torre.
The San Diego Civic Art Collection website explains: The interior artwork, Pasaje, consists of an archway which serves as both a literal and symbolic entrance to the library. The columns of the archway are wrapped with colorful, illuminated lenticular prints drawing on themes related to San Ysidro, architecture, and the library as a source of knowledge. These densely layered and highly dynamic lenticular images produce the illusion of depth and change when viewed from different angles. Sitting atop the columns is a cantera stone lintel inspired by both Spanish colonial and Mesoamerican architectural motifs.
The San Ysidro Library website further explains: The arch columns feature back-lit lenticular transparencies that exhibit two images in flip format, one showing historical pictures of San Ysidro and the other showing a plethora of images that symbolize curious illustrations in the exploration of books.
Your own eyes have to experience this fantastic optical art!
I found it hard to take good, focused photographs, because the seemingly layered images fade in and out with every slight movement the camera makes. (If you’ve ridden the main elevator at the San Diego Central Library, you’ve probably marveled at similar lenticular artwork by the same artists!)
Hopefully these photos entice you to visit the library in person!
…
Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!
I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!
Cool San Diego Sights! 