A special exhibition by Karisma, a local collective of Korean women artists, has opened at San Diego’s downtown Central Library. Echoes of Time features beautiful artwork that invites quiet introspection.
The artists have created spiritual and philosophical paintings that make the viewer pause and reflect about life, and the nature of this world we share.
Many of the images are warm, tender, filled with light, even dreamlike. I personally prefer works like these over those deliberately soaked with darkness and cynicism.
I like to view the world (and living) with a sense of wonder.
What do you see?
Come visit the exhibition on the first floor of the San Diego Central Library before it vanishes on January 1, 2027!
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The Art Gallery at San Diego’s downtown Central Library is presently the home of an exhibition titled Becoming Heirlooms.
I visited today.
The exhibit makes one wonder: What counts as a family heirloom? Is it an object of material value, or is it something prompting memories that from generation to generation remain meaningful?
I’m sure you know the answer.
These unique “heirlooms” created by artists transmit various themes in life we might collectively understand. They speak to the wider community. The objects transcend authorship and utility to become sites of empathy, reflection, and recognition.
I took photos of several pieces on display. All are thought-provoking.
Featured artists are Diana Benavidez, Matt Hebert, Michael Hernandez, Soyeon Kim, Christine Lee, Anna Mayer, Kaiya Rainbolt, Phil Rowland, India Thompson, and Georgina Treviño.
Becoming Heirlooms can be found on the Central Library’s 9th floor Art Gallery through November 7, 2026.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust, an exhibit previously shown at the Chula Vista and La Jolla libraries, recently moved into a space on the second floor of San Diego’s downtown Central Library. I visited it yesterday.
The exhibit seeks to teach about the horrors of the Holocaust, how its survivors have persevered, and how we must not forget or allow such unspeakable evil to happen ever again.
RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust has the goal of establishing a permanent museum in San Diego, possibly at Liberty Station. I support this goal whole-heartedly. Visit their website by clicking here.
I noticed during my visit to the Central Library that one display case, near the center of the exhibit, contains emotionally powerful works of ceramic sculpture. I took photos and learned about them.
The artist, Maria Jutasi Coleman, is a San Diegan who survived the Holocaust. For decades she kept painful memories of the genocide she witnessed private. She finally came to a time in her life when she could allow the silenced memories to surface through her art.
That’s her in the next photo.
RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust tells the stories of many Holocaust survivors who’ve lived in San Diego.
Here are some of the ceramic sculptures created by Maria. She states that they are made of dust of the earth, as my beloveds, along with six million other Jews, have since become.
When people, young and old, look at what has emerged from my unconscious, I hope a flag of warning arises that says, “Don’t let this happen again anywhere.”
Sandy Scheller, caretaker of the exhibit, showed me one haunting sculpture with streaks of red in its base. She explained the color comes from a crushed brick taken from Auschwitz.
I urge anyone with a beating heart to visit the exhibit and spread the word about it. Perhaps consider sharing this post, which is much more important than most.
Thank you.
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Look at all these great works of art! They were created by neighbors at Father Joe’s Villages.
Father Joe’s Health and Wellness Program includes activities that foster creativity, well-being, and personal growth. That includes making art!
The latest Painting the Town exhibition, now on view at the San Diego Central Library, celebrates this art.
Father Joe’s Villages helps those in San Diego experiencing homelessness. They provide emergency and transitional housing for adults and families with children, provide showers, laundry facilities, a public lunch line, a health center, employment and education services, and more.
Look at this beautiful art and see hope.
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A small exhibit can be viewed in a glass display case in the I CAN! CENTER at San Diego’s downtown Central Library. It concerns the incredible life of Helen Keller.
Photographs and artifacts beautifully document how Hellen Keller overcame huge personal challenges to become the source of inspiration for countless people across the world today.
The I CAN! CENTER provides assistive technology, adaptive equipment, and accessible services for people with disabilities.
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There’s a mystery at the San Diego Central Library, up on the 9th floor in the Marilyn & Gene Marx Special Collections Center!
Look at this huge old paper cutter sitting near one corner of the room! Talk about heavy duty! I happened to stumble upon this unique antique device during a visit to the San Diego Library.
A note atop the antique states:
With the help of Anita Engles, Executive Director of the American Bookbinders Museum, we have deduced that this unmarked, vintage paper cutter is either an Advance Pony Lever Cutter or a Challenge Lever Cutter with a Finger Gauge. As for the year it was manufactured, that remains a mystery.
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I noticed this poster at the San Diego Central Library today. It announces a very special event coming up on the evening of August 18, 2026. Painting the Town: A Night of Art and Community will take place on the Central Library’s main floor exhibit space.
According to the event website, the evening will be the special opening night celebrating artwork created through the Wellness Program at Father Joe’s Villages, which empowers clients experiencing homelessness through creativity and self-expression. Enjoy inspiring artwork accompanied by live music from the San Diego Symphony.
I encourage you to check out the above link!
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Awesome examples from a collection of comics fanzines are now on display on the 2nd floor of San Diego’s Central Library, just in time for Comic-Con 2026!
This look back at comics history is courtesy of Larry Thomas, who’s been collecting for many years. You’ll see issues of Rocket’s Blast Comicollector, The Comic Reader, Outlooks, Star-Studded Fanzine, Vacation in Duckburg, The Golden Age, and various others.
Check it out!
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
