Why is there a sea lion now at the center of the Spanish Village patio in Balboa Park?
I encountered the sea lion today during an afternoon walk!
If you’re curious about the appearance of this life-size sculpture, you can read a previous blog post that explains its creation and its purpose by clicking here!
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This exceptional bronze sculpture is titled Contemplation.
The public art stands in a park-like space in front of the Georgina Cole Library in Carlsbad. It’s not far from this bench.
The artist is T.J. Dixon, creator of so many similarly beautiful sculptures in and around San Diego.
Contemplation was dedicated in 2001 as part of the Art in Public Places Program supported by the Carlsbad Arts Commission.
I took these photographs during my visit to the library a couple days ago.
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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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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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Is that a sea lion on a rock in the middle of Balboa Park’s Spanish Village?
No, it’s a life-size sea lion sculpture among other works of art at the San Diego Sculptors Guild! It’s the first of many more sea lion sculptures to come!
Sergey Gornushkin, President of the San Diego Sculptors Guild, is the creator. He’s part of a project that includes the San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club and the Seal Society of San Diego. The goal: raise awareness concerning the protection of sea lions on our coast.
What is the plan? Sergey explained that his Whale of a Tale sculpture presently in the middle of the Spanish Village Art Center patio will soon be replaced by this sea lion. Then, eventually, a mold will be made of this sculpture, and 10 to 20 additional sea lions will be cast.
Those additional sea lions will be artistically painted by school children and artists from around the region, then placed in and around La Jolla, where there’s a great deal of concern about human encroachment on the sea lion population.
When I took photos today I learned this sea lion sculpture isn’t quite finished. But take a look. It’s already incredible!
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Who in and around San Diego hasn’t heard of the artist James Hubbell? Between his architecturally fantastic Ilan-Lael residence and studios in Santa Ysabel, to his many works of public art around the city (many of which I’ve photographed), the beloved artist has earned a special place in the heart of San Diegans.
Did you know James had a brother named Bert who was also an artist?
An exhibition now showing at the Oceanside Museum of Art features the work of both immensely talented artists. It’s titled Brothers in Arts: James Hubbell and Bert Hubbell.
During my recent visit to the museum, I noticed the art of these brothers is similar in certain ways. The construction of pieces is very organic, elemental. The works seem to have been extracted from or designed by the living Earth itself. While James lived and worked in Southern California, for over fifty years Bert lived in Kokubunji, Japan near sacred Mt. Fuji.
Their art’s earthy quality seems natural and familiar–perhaps that’s why it feels so spiritual.
According to the exhibition webpage, Bert…was profoundly shaped by Japanese culture, Shinto, Animism, and Native American art. Self-described as a “primitive artist,” he worked across mediums but most prolifically in ceramic sculpture. His fantastical creatures—reminiscent of yōkai—externalize inner fears and anxieties as a means of transformation and healing… Bert, who never sold his art, left behind an estimated 28,000 individual ceramic figures as well as paintings, drawings and found object assemblages.
The exhibition, which continues through September 6, 2026, provides an interesting contrast between the work of the two brothers. In places their pieces are placed side by side. In one gallery room a wall contains the work of James, and the opposite wall contains pieces created by Bert.
One gets the impression Bert could have reached the level of renown achieved by his brother. It seems, however, that he created art just for the personal joy and satisfaction of creating art.
Like any art, you need to experience it in person. A few photographs to entice you into visiting the Oceanside Museum of Art:
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This might be the most fun interactive art exhibition you’ll experience all year! It’s showing for one more week at the Oceanside Museum of Art, and it’s titled Aaron Kramer: Sense of Wonder.
Do you love crazy, clever, fun-loving inventions? Upstairs at the museum you’ll find loads of them! Playful artist Aaron Kramer likes to tinker and make mechanical wonders using found objects.
Visitors to the Oceanside Museum of Art can turn cranks and press buttons that activate wacky kinetic creations. Wires, old springs, bottles and tin cans, cardboard, odd pieces of wood, broken things–magically become spinning whirligigs, dipping hummingbirds, dancing figures . . . even contraptions that trace images on paper!
I’ve always loved these sort of whimsical creations. Remember that scene near the beginning of the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang–that crazy, elaborate Rube Goldberg-style contraption that automatically made breakfast? These small works of art are just as fun!
If you’re young at heart, you’ll be pressing every button and turning every crank! Through August 23, 2026, that is, when this super cool exhibition wraps up.
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I absolutely love this public art sculpture!
Inner Strength rises near the center of the parking lot in front of the Bonita Museum & Cultural Center and Bonita-Sunnyside Library. You can’t possibly miss it!
The striking steel sculpture debuted earlier this year. It was created by South Bay artist Michael Leaf. The public art is part of a new sculpture garden located outside the museum.
(I’ll be posting photos of two other pieces by Leaf in the sculpture garden coming up!)
A plaque at the base of Inner Strength reads:
May “Inner Strength” serve as a reminder that true strength goes beyond physical strength; it is our ability to overcome challenges and rise above adversity.
Please let this statue inspire you to recognize the resilience that lies within each of us. May it stand as a beacon of hope and a symbol of unity for our community; encouraging us all to embrace our inner strengths and support one another on our journeys.
With Love and Light, Michael, Stephanie and Canon Leaf
At the center of Inner Strength is a heart.
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About a month ago, I discovered a very beautiful garden in front of the Solana Beach Post Office. It was obvious that people have carefully tended the green space that includes paths for strolling and public art.
Those people, I’ve learned, are the volunteer SeaWeeders of the Solana Beach Garden Club. Their mission is to promote the sustainable beautification of the City of Solana Beach through social interaction, garden education, and home and civic enrichment.
Here’s a webpage that describes the Solana Beach Post Office garden rejuvenation project. (Other community projects by the SeaWeeders, too!)
The colorful sculpture you see in my photos is by artist Christi Beniston. It was originally created for the El Paseo Invitational Sculpture Exhibit “Topiaries” in Palm Desert. For a while it had been located on North Cedros Avenue.
You can join the SeaWeeders to help keep Solana Beach green and beautiful! Learn more about this opportunity here.
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Galactus has arrived in San Diego for Comic-Con 2026, and the giant devourer of planets appears to be hungry!
The cosmic menace came striding through the city past Petco Park, bewildering curious bystanders. Was he here to sate his enormous appetite?
No!
Galactus had traveled from deep space to Earth to delight Comic-Con’s many Marvel fans!
Check out this big human-driven puppet! I tried to get the creator’s name, without success.
If you know more about this cool puppet, please leave a comment!
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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!