Tag: sculpture

Silhouettes of homeless people speak on a sidewalk.

Motionless figures confront pedestrians on a downtown San Diego sidewalk. Three life-size transparent “silhouettes” stand beside UC San Diego Park & Market. For those who pause and wish to understand, the figures will freely speak, telling true stories of people in our city who are homeless.

What Does Home Mean to You is the name of this public art installation. It’s just one temporary installation of many along the Bay to Park Paseo. The Bay to Park Paseo is a unique walking experience that leads from San Diego Bay to Balboa Park. Learn all about it by clicking here.

Earlier this year I participated in the inaugural walk up the Bay to Park Paseo. One of these three silhouettes was on display. Last weekend, when I walked up Park Boulevard again, all three were arranged on the sidewalk.

The UC San Diego Design Lab created this thought-provoking installation. An explanation of the public art includes: Visitors will see life-size silhouettes of people who will share their perspectives on housing at the push of a button. Throughout the installation, passersby can use their mobile devices to scan QR codes to dive deeper into other housing experiences from the greater San Diego community or share their own stories through voice or text.

I noticed words by the feet of these silhouettes. The stories are real, but names have been changed.

I took photos for you to see…

“Like my dad said, ‘It’s not over till it’s over.’ That’s his motto. I gotta live by that, no matter what.” A foster youth shares his family story, hopes and dreams with maturity and grit…

“Don’t wait for things to come to you. Chase it.” A single mother of three was unhoused, despite having a steady job…

“I…turned toward survival mode–a mode that most of society isn’t aware of in themselves, but, you know, I think is in all of us.” During his darkest days, he found resurrection through his community, who gave him a hand when he was at his worst…

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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.

Old Globe engages San Diego with Henry 6 Project.

Walk into The Old Globe theatre complex in Balboa Park and you’ll observe the sculpture of a golden crown. You’ll also pass rows of festive banners and signs. Their colorful graphics tell the story of The Old Globe’s special Henry 6 Project.

The Henry 6 Project has engaged the people of San Diego with groundbreaking community outreach. Not only can the public enjoy a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s several Henry VI plays, but as one of the graphics explains: The Globe’s radically inclusive vision opened every step of the creative process to the citizens of San Diego, weaving them into the fabric of the production not only with performance opportunities, but also through innovative, direct collaborations on nearly all elements of the production design.

Last week I photographed some of these signs and banners. Read the photo captions to learn a little more about the Henry 6 Project. Better yet, head over to beautiful Balboa Park and see all of this for yourself!

The world premiere of Henry 6 at The Old Globe is a two-part adaptation of Henry VI, titled One: Flowers and France and Two: Riot and Reckoning.

To read about this unique production on The Old Globe’s website, click here!

Director Barry Edelstein’s adaptation, Henry 6, is made by, with, and for the community of San Diego.

The Old Globe’s Reflecting Shakespeare program works with individuals who are incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, or justice-involved, and provides a vehicle for healthy interaction, reflection, creativity, and personal growth…

Community workshops explore scenic design. Other workshops and activities concern sound, lighting and costume design and music. Nearly 200 individuals were filmed for crowd scenes projected in the production of Henry 6.

38 plays over 89 years. With this summer’s production of Henry 6, The Old Globe completes the Shakespeare canon…and (has) joined a small and select list of American companies to have achieved this feat…

The Globe For All Shakespeare tour was designed for on-the-road performances to be enjoyed by audiences throughout San Diego County and in Tijuana. Performed free of charge in non-theatrical venues…these productions give audiences an intimate and compelling professional theatrical experience.

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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.

White-tailed Kite sculpture in Normal Heights!

It’s easy to miss this very beautiful sculpture by a sidewalk in Normal Heights. The figure of a White-tailed Kite in flight stands in front of Art FORM–Found Objects Recycled Materials at 3316 Adams Avenue.

According to a nearby plaque, the mosaic sculpture was created by Endangered Concepts in collaboration with Art FORM with the helping hands of Normal Heights Elementary 1st Grade classes of 2017-18.

It also explains: The White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucarus) is a raptor found in western North America and parts of Central and South America. By the 1930s it was nearbly driven to extinction, but with the help of wildlife conservation efforts its population has increased… This mosaic sculpture is a tribute to conservation efforts, reminding us that together we can beat the odds.

Enjoy these photos…

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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.

Public art inside the Del Mar Plaza.

Great works of art greet shoppers and diners inside Del Mar Plaza. Wander about and you’re bound to stumble upon surprising artwork, in the form of a sculpture, mosaic or mural!

These pieces are part of the Public Art Collection at Del Mar Plaza. I discovered them in no particular order…

I found this mural in a quiet hidden area. I saw no information concerning it.

Level Head by artist Tony Cragg, 2006, Bronze. Tony Cragg is a British sculptor. His works are held in many leading museums.

A beautiful swirling mosaic extends on the ground from Level Head through a nearby passageway.

Beautiful mosaic looks like water.

LEVER II by artist Anthony Gormley, 2012, Cast Iron. Anthony Gormley is a British sculptor. This is an example of his “digital-cubism” where the human form is rendered in many different postures.

It does appear like a lever!

OPUS #1 by artist Maidy Morhous, 2019, Bronze. I’ve photographed other pieces by local artist Maidy Morhous around Del Mar.

OPUS #1 from a different angle.

A beautiful tree mural grows in Del Mar Plaza. By artist Kelsey Montague.

Jackass and Elephant by artist Barry Flanagan, 1995, Bronze. The renowned Welsh sculpture enjoyed creating humorous, anthropomorphic figures.

Jackass rides an elephant through Del Mar Plaza!

In every direction, Del Mar Plaza is full of fun, unexpected artwork!

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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.

More art on South Cedros in Solana Beach!

South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach is a place where creativity thrives. Walk down the sidewalk through the Cedros Avenue Design District and your eyes will discover surprising art wherever they turn.

I walked this way three years ago and found a bunch of cool stuff. See it here. I also stepped into the fun Art Alley on Cedros. See that here.

Yesterday I took a similar walk and found new sights that I hadn’t previously seen! In addition to a very colorful tile mosaic bench south of the Belly Up Tavern, I photographed the following…

The planet I live on is the planet you live on.

You turn graves into gardens – You turn bones into armies – You turn seas into highways – You’re the only one who can

Out of the Blue

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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.

Bum . . . San Diego town dog, celebrity and drunk!

You possibly know about Bum, San Diego’s “town dog” during the late 19th century. He was the free-spirited dog who belonged to no one, but was loved by practically everyone.

An excellent History Talks presentation concerning Bum can be viewed here on YouTube. The video was produced by the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House, where a sculpture of Bum can be enjoyed in the museum’s pocket park.

Bum was a stowaway on a ship from San Francisco, and when he arrived in San Diego he took ownership of the city, roaming about and doing whatever he pleased. He befriended a Chinese fisherman, a news reporter, newsboys, shop owners, restaurant owners (and their handouts), and practically everyone he met, particularly children.

Bum would lead parades. He led horse-drawn fire engines to fires. He jumped on the ferry to Coronado. He hopped onto a train at Santa Fe Depot and took a trip to Los Angeles, where he was greeted like a celebrity because a telegraph by his reporter friend told of his coming. When Benjamin Harrison visited San Diego in 1891, the United States President rode a special carriage in a grand procession. And Bum was provided with his own carriage, too!

Less known is that Bum travelled to El Cajon, where he was introduced to alcohol at a political event. And he became a drunk who’d often languish in the middle of the street. Those at San Diego’s downtown Army barracks thought it great fun to give him a drink. I didn’t know this about Bum until I viewed the YouTube presentation.

This great history presentation includes many old newspaper cartoons, photographs and stories concerning loveable but sometimes feisty Bum, San Diego’s famous Town Dog. To watch it, click here!

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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.

A legacy of beauty by James Hubbell.

Beloved artist James Hubbell has passed away. When I heard the very sad news today, I immediately thought of all the beautiful art he has left as a legacy around San Diego.

If you live in or near San Diego, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his public artwork. His sculptures and mosaics can be found from El Cajon to La Mesa to Del Mar to Oceanside to Mission Valley to Coronado to Shelter Island. His Hubbell Studios/Ilan-Lael Foundation compound in Santa Ysabel (which I’ve not visited, but have seen in photos) is an inspired, absolutely unique architectural marvel.

James Hubbell designed and created so many beautifully organic forms–often with the help of his wife, son, artists in residence or volunteers–that I’ll often encounter his work during a walk. To me, each work possesses a spiritual quality.

This world we live in has been greatly enriched because of James Hubbell’s genius and vision.

Here are some photos I’ve taken over the years…

Pearl of the Pacific on Shelter Island.

Pearl of the Pacific.

Pacific Spirit on Shelter Island.

Pacific Portal on Shelter Island.

Pegasus at Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon.

San Gabriel Arcángel sculpture at Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

Opus in front of Oceanside Museum of Art.

Marker on walkway at SDSU Mission Valley. Coffeeberry (Frangula californica).

Sea Passage in Coronado.

Mosaic on restroom at Briercrest Park in La Mesa.

Fountain at Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library in La Mesa.

A River of Time at the Del Mar Library.

Art displayed at exhibition James Hubbell: Architecture of Jubilation, now on view at the Central Library Art Gallery.

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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.

Flower sculptures at A Reason To Survive!

Colorful flower sculptures greet visitors to A Reason To Survive (ARTS) in National City. They’ve sprouted near the front entrance.

I happened to notice these very creative flowers last weekend. I don’t recall seeing them before–but it had been a long time since I walked this way.

A Reason To Survive is a nationally known program for youth that encourages self-confidence, growth and leadership through art. Their Mission Statement is: ARTS lifts young people in the South County region of San Diego to become confident, compassionate, and courageous community builders through the transformative power of creativity.

Over the years I’ve photographed several community projects undertaken by young people participating in ARTS. They’ve greatly beautified National City.

Do you know more about these flower sculptures? If so, please leave a comment!

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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)!

Art created from destructive Cedar Fire.

Some unusual art was recently moved onto the second floor of San Diego’s Central Library. Cedar Fire was created by local artist Timothy Murdoch in 2019.

The work is composed of collected burnt wood and house paint. Many communities throughout San Diego were affected by the historic, incredibly destructive Cedar Fire in 2003. The fire destroyed 2,820 buildings including 2,232 homes.

I still remember how all of San Diego County was disrupted as people coped with the fast moving, Santa Ana wind driven fire. I had to drive up Interstate 15 under a dark orange sky during the fire, and it seemed I was the only one on the freeway. It’s hard for me to believe that was over twenty years ago. Seems like yesterday.

Does this sculpture look familiar? Cedar Fire, part of the City of San Diego Art Collection, was previously displayed in the lobby of San Diego’s City Administration Building.

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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 new JOURNEYworm, after winter storms.

The original black fabric JOURNEYworm has been replaced. The sinuous art installation, which is visible along Park Boulevard near San Diego High School, is now made of orange plastic safety fencing!

I posted photos of the first, more fragile JOURNEYworm in early February. Unfortunately, a series of very windy winter storms decimated the thing. So now I see it has been replaced with material that is more durable.

What on earth is the JOURNEYworm? It’s part of a new Bay to Park Paseo walking experience, which will stretch from San Diego Bay to Balboa Park!

I provided a description of the project when I posted those original photographs. To revisit those photos, click here.

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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)!