Tag: strange

Vital Parts discovered under dark freeway bridge.

A human heart is juxtaposed with San Diego's old Presidio in some very unique ceramic artwork.
A human heart hovers above the Serra Museum atop nearby Presidio Hill in this extremely unique ceramic artwork.

There’s some fascinating public art in Mission Valley that few people see. It’s located in the deep shadows beneath Interstate 8 where the freeway passes over Hotel Circle. Eyes are adjusting to darkness as motorists, turning a corner, quickly pass five ceramic panels high on drab concrete pillars. The one sidewalk is located on the opposite side of the street. To really appreciate the artwork, you have to cross traffic dangerously and stand in a narrow band of dirt right up close.

Today I walked to work past the darkly obscured art and decided to finally get a closer look.

Vital Parts, installed in 1999, was created by local San Diego artist Joanne Hayakawa. The pieces seem to be stratified, crumbling and sculpted by time and memory. They seem to blend with the dirt beneath the bare bridge.

The very dark Interstate 8 underpass at Hotel Circle features seldom appreciated public art.
The very dark Interstate 8 underpass at Hotel Circle features seldom appreciated public art.
Vital Parts, by artist Joanne Hayakawa, was installed on five pillars of a Mission Valley freeway bridge in 1999.
Vital Parts, by artist Joanne Hayakawa, was installed on five pillars of a Mission Valley freeway bridge in 1999.
Mysterious fossil-like hand hovers above San Diego River and what I believe are Native American structures.
Mysterious fossil-like hand hovers above nearby San Diego River and what I believe are Native American structures.
Human brain, made golden by underpass light, crowns image of Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the ever-present river.
Human brain, made golden by underpass light, crowns image of old Mission San Diego and the ever-present blue river.
Spine rises over what I believe is Qualcomm Stadium. This earthy art is unusual and evocative.
Spine rises over what I believe is modern Qualcomm Stadium. This earthy art is very unusual and evocative.
Chin and silent mouth seem like a clay mask from the past over the eternally flowing river.
Chin and silent mouth seem like a timeless clay mask beside the eternally flowing river.

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People doing odd stuff in downtown San Diego.

Two adults in historical costumes at Seaport Village. I don't know why!
Two adults in historical costumes at Seaport Village. I don’t know why!

Here are pics of folks simply living life in downtown San Diego. Strangers working, playing, or doing random odd stuff make fascinating subjects. I’ll glance at a photograph downloaded to my computer, and I’ll wonder for a brief moment about the story unfolding in front of me. Is the story happy? Sad? A complicated mixture? Then a curious thought strikes: someone might have taken a secret photograph of me, and they could be wondering the same thing!

Child, dogs and unheard words on the Embarcadero.
Reluctant child, dressed dogs, and unheard words on the Embarcadero.
People staring downward and street musician near USS Midway.
People staring downward, and a street musician near USS Midway.
Man cleans sidewalk in early morning at downtown NBC building.
Man cleans sidewalk in early morning at downtown NBC building.
A huge iguana, I believe, taking a curious ride on someone's shoulders!
A huge iguana takes a curious ride on someone’s shoulders!
Tour group on Segways stops in Petco's Park at the Park to gaze at empty field.
Tour group on Segways stops in Petco’s Park at the Park to gaze at empty field.
I believe those are choir members outside Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy.
I believe those are choir members outside Our Lady of the Rosary in Little Italy.
Adults seem preoccupied as balloon twister guy creates colorful fun for kids!
Adults seem preoccupied as balloon twister guy creates colorful fun for kids!
Couple takes a selfie on a beautiful day as sailboats glide past USS Ronald Reagan.
Couple takes a selfie on a beautiful day as sailboats glide past USS Ronald Reagan.
Man doing a few public push-ups on grass in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Man doing a few public push-ups on grass in Embarcadero Marina Park North.
Amish tourists taking an odd stroll through a strange, big city!
Amish tourists taking an odd stroll through a very strange, big city!

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Crazy donut-shaped boat features a barbeque!

This crazy boat shaped like a donut features a huge central barbeque!
This crazy boat shaped like a donut features a large central barbeque!

I walked about Coronado yesterday and got material for a few blog posts.  First, check out this crazy watercraft!  I saw it while walking along Glorietta Bay and thought–what the heck is that?!?!  It’s a floating barbeque! I’ve seen pictures of jacuzzi boats, but never something inventive resembling this!  I wonder what the Coast Guard thinks of the thing.  To me, it looks like fun!

The Barbeque Donut can be found at Seaforth boat rental dock in Coronado.
The Barbeque Donut can be found at Seaforth boat rental dock in Coronado.

Perhaps you saw my post a little over a year ago about the very cool “Imagine Tent City” public artwork on Coronado. It stands just south of where I took the above pics. Well, I got many more really great photographs and have added them to that old post. You might enjoy checking it out!

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Iconic downtown sculpture changes color again!

Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture in front of Wells Fargo building in downtown San Diego.
Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture in front of Wells Fargo building in downtown San Diego.

Perhaps you recall my blog post from early in the summer, where I was astonished at how the Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture in front of downtown’s Wells Fargo building had suddenly turned white! Well, yesterday I saw it has changed colors once again!

I’m guessing a number of people found the weird, mottled white color unattractive.  (Personally, I thought it was ghastly.)  Today, the human figures appear bronze again, but much darker than before, without the heavily tarnished surface. In my opinion, this is a big improvement.  What do you think?

Before the figures were painted white:

Bronze nudes of Sergio Benvenuti’s Fountain of Two Oceans.
Bronze nudes of Sergio Benvenuti’s Fountain of Two Oceans.

Painted white, possibly to resemble marble:

Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture suddenly becomes white!
Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture suddenly becomes white!

Now much darker, matching the fountain’s base:

The reclining human figures today have a very dark bronze appearance!
The reclining human figures today have a dark, new bronze appearance!

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Funny double takes around San Diego!

Two street lamps got themselves in a twist.
Two street lamps got themselves in a twist.

Here are some funny cool photos for you to enjoy! These were taken at various times in and around downtown San Diego. Once in while I have to blink and do a double take!

Sticker turns dog into an uncurbable beast.
Sticker turns dog into an uncurbable beast.
Buster stuck his hand in wet concrete.
Buster stuck his hand in wet concrete.
Someone has to water all these watering cans.
Someone has to water all these watering cans.
The Deli Llama is wearing his elegant best.
The Deli Llama is wearing his elegant best.
This bicycle can be ridden above the sidewalk.
This bicycle can be ridden high above the sidewalk.
This outdoor glass elevator is a bit flat.
This outdoor glass elevator is a bit flat.
This GoCar won't go.
This GoCar won’t go.
Stylish patch for an old broken window.
Stylish patch for an old broken window.

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Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture turns white!

Bronze nudes of Sergio Benvenuti's Fountain of Two Oceans.
Bronze nudes of Sergio Benvenuti’s Fountain of Two Oceans.

This blog post is long overdue. The interesting pics you see here have been sitting idle on my computer’s hard drive, accidentally forgotten.

I was astonished several months ago to see that the Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture in front of downtown’s Wells Fargo building had completely changed. For the last 30 years, the two bronze figures reclining in the fountain’s basin have looked exactly like…bronze. Then–poof–one day I noticed they’d turned white!

I’m not sure if that’s white paint, or what exactly. It seems the intent was to make the figures stand out more, and appear like marble. To my eye, however, the white coating makes them garish, black-eyed, and almost ghostly. At a distance they look bland and formless.

According to an internet search, The Fountain of Two Oceans was placed in downtown San Diego in 1984. The art, now a familiar San Diego landmark, was created by Sergio Benvenuti, a sculptor from Florence, Italy.

Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture is now white.
Fountain of Two Oceans sculpture is now white.
White coating makes bronze sculpture seem ghostly.
White coating makes bronze sculpture seem ghostly.

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To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.

A few odd reflections on Beech Street.

Cubism in real life: A mosaic of fractured reflections.
Cubism in real life: A mosaic of fractured reflections.

Downtown on Beech Street there’s a glass building with zigzagged sides.  The varied reflections of nearby buildings make for a very cool sight!

Crazy reflections on a building in downtown San Diego.
Crazy reflections on a building in downtown San Diego.
Reflections on a building in downtown San Diego.
Reflections on a building in downtown San Diego.

Weirdly artistic photos of San Diego River.

San Diego River mottled with algae, behind grey branches.
San Diego River mottled with algae, behind grey branches.

Usually I keep my old camera on Auto mode then just aim and shoot.  I take a million pics and hope a few come out okay.

This morning, during my walk to work through Mission Valley, I was fortunate to capture some weirdly artistic photographs.  I paused a few times on the south side of the San Diego River as the sun rose.  The slanting light illuminated patches of red algae, bright green reeds and tangles of dry branches.

San Diego River looks like an Impressionist painting.
San Diego River looks like an Impressionist painting.
Red algae and bright green reeds in San Diego River.
Red algae and bright green reeds in San Diego River.
Morning light on San Diego River and swirls of color.
Morning light on San Diego River and swirls of color.

UFO spotted above Rotary clock at Liberty Station.

UFO spotted above Rotary clock at Liberty Station.
UFO spotted above Rotary clock at Liberty Station.

I was going through some of the photos I took while walking along the boat channel at Liberty Station.  This elegant clock donated by the Rotary Club has always struck me as odd–it stands for no reason on what is essentially a nature path among palm trees.

But something else seemed a bit weird in this pic.  There seemed to be a small dot directly above the clock.  I magnified the image and discovered a UFO!  Looks to me like a distant flying saucer!

I thought the strange dot might be an aircraft taking off from nearby Lindbergh Field, but it’s way too small and doesn’t look like any airplane.  What is it???

It looks like a flying saucer to me!
It looks like a flying saucer to me!

The bizarre Tractor Room bar in Hillcrest.

bizarre tractor room bar in hillcrest

I’ve never been in this bar, but I took a cool pic of the wonderfully bizarre exterior while walking to work this morning. The Tractor Room on Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest actually features a tractor! It’s a very strange sight in the middle of a city. It definitely makes you look twice!