Tag: street art

Art can remind us that Life is Beautiful.

Flowers have been painted on one side of a utility box on Bankers Hill.
Flowers have been painted on a utility box on Bankers Hill.

Life is essentially beautiful. Art can remind us of this truth.

Art that affirms life’s essential beauty can be simple or complex. It isn’t small, or cynical. It generously finds wonder with every brush stroke.

Art can remind us all that this world contains wonders beyond count.
This world, and our lives, contain wonders beyond count.
A simple phrase. Life is Beautiful.
A simple phrase carefully written: Life is Beautiful.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Three cool street art faces in East Village!

Female face spray painted on electrical box in East Village at F Street and Tenth Avenue.
Female face spray painted on electrical box in East Village at F Street and Tenth Avenue.

Check out three cool street art faces I spotted while walking around downtown San Diego! They’re painted on electrical boxes at the intersection of F Street and Tenth Avenue in East Village.

I recognize two of the faces!

Funny Star Wars street art in San Diego. Jar Jar Binks says Meesa Lova Comic Con.
Funny Star Wars street art in San Diego. Jar Jar Binks says Meesa Lova Comic Con.
Cool street art in East Village shows a colorful Jimi Hendrix.
Cool street art in East Village shows a colorful Jimi Hendrix.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

More art discovered while walking downtown!

Girl jumps rope. Street art on a utility box in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.
Girl jumps rope. Street art on a utility box in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.

Here’s another batch of colorful photos! These capture works of art that I’ve discovered while walking around downtown San Diego.

Enjoy!

A lion's head decorates the Star of India's cathead.
A lion’s head decorates the Star of India’s cathead.
Painted flowers inside a downtown window.
Painted flowers inside a downtown window.
Old sculptural figures surround a planter at San Diego High School, near Park Boulevard. They depict academic and athletic endeavors.
Old sculptural figures surround a planter at San Diego High School, near Park Boulevard. They depict academic and athletic endeavors.
This winged doughnut was painted about a week ago at the Donut Bar.
This winged doughnut was painted about a week ago at the Donut Bar.
Artwork on outside wall of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum Extension.
Artwork on outside wall of the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum Extension.
A space invader made of tile near a Horton Plaza escalator!
A space invader made of tile near a Horton Plaza escalator!
Beautiful sculpted relief panel above door of 700 1st Avenue building.
Beautiful sculpted relief panel above door of the 700 1st Avenue building.
Art that I spied on a parked car in downtown San Diego.
Art that I spied on a parked car in downtown San Diego.
Artwork near west entrance of San Diego's cool House of Blues.
Artwork near west entrance of San Diego’s cool House of Blues.
Colorful shoes like flowers on the ceiling at the west entrance of House of Blues San Diego.
Colorful shoes like flowers on the ceiling, at the west entrance of House of Blues San Diego.
Plein air painter Paul Strahm creates a beautiful work of art near the USS Midway Museum.
Plein air painter Paul Strahm creates a beautiful work of art near the USS Midway Museum.
Street art in the Gaslamp shows child making a secret painting.
Street art in the Gaslamp shows child making a secret painting.

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Glimpses of art along a few blocks in North Park.

Someone's artistic bicycle has a potted plant in its basket.
Someone’s artistic bicycle has a potted plant in its basket.

I captured these quick photos during a walk in North Park, along Adams Avenue between 30th Street and the I-805 bridge. Bits of art add flavor to life in the city.

Someone rests on a painted transformer box on Adams Avenue near 30th Street.
Someone rests on a painted transformer box on Adams Avenue near 30th Street.
A monkey on a utility box, crowned by a rummage sale notice.
A monkey on a utility box, crowned by a rummage sale notice.
A dog sees a yummy doughnut!
A dog sees a yummy doughnut!
A cool lady seems to stand on the sidewalk.
A cool lady seems to stand on the sidewalk.
Looking down from the Adams Avenue bridge over Interstate 805.
Looking down from the Adams Avenue bridge over Interstate 805.
Abstract mural incorporates nearby utility boxes.
Abstract mural incorporates nearby utility boxes.
An awesome Jimi Hendrix street mural near dumpster and motorcycle.
An awesome Jimi Hendrix street mural near dumpster and motorcycle.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Street art along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.

Normal Heights is home to lots of great street art and other cool sights!
Normal Heights is home to lots of creative street art and other cool sights!

Here come lots of photos of street art in Normal Heights. I captured these while walking east along the south side of Adams Avenue, from I-805 to 35th Street. Then I crossed the street and walked back west to the bridge that spans the freeway.

(Please note–I haven’t included some artwork along Adams Avenue that I’ve already blogged. Check the related links at the bottom of this post, or use the search box.)

Here we go!

A smiling face painted on a transformer box along Adams Avenue.
A smiling face painted on a transformer box along Adams Avenue.
Big lips.
Big lips.
A big eyeball.
A big eyeball.
An animated red fire extinguisher chases and douses a flame on the wall of All County Fire.
An animated red fire extinguisher chases and douses a flame on the wall of All County Fire.
A classic car and tire tracks painted on a utility box on the sidewalk in front of Tire Depot.
A classic car and tire tracks painted on a utility box on the sidewalk in front of Tire Depot.
A tropical island scene.
A tropical island scene.
A cool cat.
A cool cat.
A skull above palm trees and flowers.
A skull in sunglasses above palm trees and flowers.
I think I'm quite ready for another adventure. Bilbo Baggins. (A favorite book!)
I think I’m quite ready for another adventure. Bilbo Baggins. (A favorite book!)
Stenciled mandalas line the sidewalk near Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga.
Stenciled mandalas line the sidewalk not far from Pilgrimage of the Heart Yoga.
A mosaic of different tiles outline the front of some stores along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.
A mosaic composed of many different tiles graces the front of some shops along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.
Marquee of old Adams Avenue Theater, which is now home to Discount Fabrics.
Marquee of old Adams Avenue Theater, which is now home to Discount Fabrics.
Fabric art in windows of the old theater, where movie posters were once displayed.
Fabric art in windows of the old theater, where movie posters were once displayed.
Colorful terrazzo design at entrance to old theater.
Colorful terrazzo design at entrance to old theater.
Two faces watch people walking down the sidewalk.
Two faces watch people walking down the sidewalk.
Colorful designs attract attention.
Colorful designs attract attention.
A series of fun utility boxes.
A series of fun utility boxes.
A snow-capped mountain peak on the side of a newspaper box.
A snow-capped mountain peak on the side of a newspaper box.
Real wrenches have been affixed to this utility box near an auto repair shop!
Real wrenches have been affixed to this utility box near an auto repair shop!
On the other side is this nostalgic graphic showing some car culture history in Normal Heights.
On the other side is this nostalgic graphic showing some car culture history in Normal Heights.
Colorful plant life painted in the city.
Colorful plant life painted in the city.
One wall has a mural with a couple of surprises flying behind a bush--parrots!
One wall has a mural with a couple of surprises flying behind a bush: parrots!
And behind another bush is this human form, sitting among small flowers!
And behind another bush is this human form, sitting among small flowers!
These smiling flowers want you to have fun at the Adams Avenue Recreation Center!
These smiling flowers want you to have fun at the Adams Avenue Recreation Center!
Now I've crossed Adams Avenue at 35th and am heading back west on the north side. Check out the cool mural near the rooftop of Humphrey Appliance.
Now I’ve crossed Adams Avenue at 35th and am heading back west on the north side. Check out the cool mural near the rooftop of Humphrey Appliance.
This box has some really good artistry.
This box has some really good artistry.
A mysterious face on another side.
A mysterious face on another side.
Butterflies are flitting about the wall of Mariposa Ice Cream.
Butterflies are flitting about the wall of Mariposa Ice Cream.
Two fantastic female faces, by talented muralists Gloria Muriel and Amanda Lynn. You've seen the distinctive work of each artist elsewhere on this blog!
Two fantastic female faces, by talented muralists Gloria Muriel and Amanda Lynn. You’ve seen the distinctive work of each artist elsewhere on this blog!
A beautiful face in a tropical setting.
A beautiful face in a tropical setting.
A bright design has emerged from human imagination.
A bright design has emerged from human imagination.
I love this box! Check out the face that seems to peer from behind bricks.
I love this box! Check out the face that seems to peer from behind bricks.
Eyes peer from one corner of the top.
Eyes peer from one corner of the top.
Another side.
Another side.
Many colorful stick figures around the planet Earth.
Many colorful stick figures around the planet Earth.
Painted scene of a painted scene in Normal Heights.
Painted scene of a painted scene in Normal Heights.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

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Two murals and one sculpture in Normal Heights.

Dearly Beloved, a purple mural in Normal Heights that remembers Prince.
Dearly Beloved, a purple mural in Normal Heights that remembers Prince and his music.

This afternoon I walked along a good stretch of Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. There were cool sights on almost every block.

A small parking area between El Zarape Restaurant and Dink’s Barbershop has been enlivened with three works of street art that I really like. I’m not sure if the female depicted in the second mural represents someone in particular. The face looks familiar. If you recognize her, please leave a comment!

A small parking area between buildings on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights contains three works of art.
A small parking area between buildings on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights contains three works of art.
This rusty metal sculpture leans like a lazy old fellow against the white fence.
This rusty metal sculpture leans like a lazy old fellow against a white fence.
A beautiful female face and a blown feather. If you know who this mural represents, leave a comment!
A beautiful female face and a blown feather.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Two cool murals in an Ocean Beach alley.

Spiritual revelation is suggested by many eyes and mandalas in an Ocean Beach mural. This cool street art can be experienced in a little-visited alley. The whole can be glimpsed from any place where you stand.
Spiritual revelation is suggested by many eyes and mandalas in an Ocean Beach mural. This cool street art can be experienced in a quiet alley. The whole of this world can be glimpsed from any place where you stand.

Each life has an infinity of roads not taken. Robert Frost touched upon regret with his famous poem. But, you know, every road that is taken contains an abundance of life, if we choose to see.

Yesterday, during the Ocean Beach Street Fair, I ventured, by chance, through a seldom-visited alley. And discovered two amazing murals.

And then I moved on. Chances are I won’t go that way again.

Hope, flying saucers and flaming green hair, part of a second mural on two walls in the same alley.
Hope, flying saucers and flaming green hair, part of a second cool mural in the same alley.
Guys load empty kegs during the Ocean Beach Street Fair.
Guys load empty kegs during the Ocean Beach Street Fair. Day-to-day work, surrounded by wonder.
Swirling, blooming beauty painted in a nook. A mermaid is perched above flowers.
Swirling, blooming beauty painted in a nook. A mermaid is perched above flowers.
I see a lot of names. I assume these are the beautiful mural's creators. I might never meet them, but their art has touched me.
I see a lot of names. I assume these are the beautiful mural’s creators. I might never meet them, but their art has touched me.
This alley that is seldom taken contains untrod flowers, and life, and no regrets.
The human world contains many alleys. This one contains a glimpse of untrod flowers, and surprising life. We turn a corner right or left, and continue the journey.

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

To read a few thoughtful stories I’ve written, click Short Stories by Richard.