More fantastic street murals have been popping up in City Heights!
Artists have been painting all sorts of new murals along University Avenue, primarily between I-805 and I-15. Most have been created for #theavenuemuralproject. According to Carlos Quezada of Love City Heights, brand new murals have been debuting almost every month!
On Sunday I was shown a bunch that were recently completed. Each new mural uniquely enriches this proud, culturally diverse community. Artists, volunteers and neighbors have been coming together one wall at a time to make a positive difference for all.
And the future is bright! The stretch of University Avenue between I-805 and I-15 is a growing “drive-through” art gallery with truly unlimited potential. Muralists of local, national and even international renown are showing an interest in City Heights.
To see some of these new murals, check out my previous two blog posts.
The following photographs show even more!
A cool new mural on University Avenue in City Heights, created by Beth Emmerich, with the assistance of several other great street artists.
This abstract mural is titled UnPerfect, by Walker Matthews, Carlos Quezada and Edwin Lohr.LOVE CITY HEIGHTSLeft end of a long mural on University Avenue near 50th Street. It faces a new park-like community gathering place. Created by @illumihaadi and local youth, with support from City Heights CDC and City Heights Business Association. The neighborhood is home to many Somalis.
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Mimi Gonzalez Martinez (to the right) poses by her new mural in City Heights with her artistic mentor Brise Birdsong.
Today I met San Diego’s newest muralist!
Mimi Gonzalez Martinez has painted a colorful mural for #theavenuemuralproject on University Avenue in City Heights. Please check out her new Instagram page!
Guided by Carlos Quezada of Love City Heights, I was able to meet Mimi and enjoy her artwork during a tour of several new street murals along University Avenue. Love City Heights is a group of community leaders working to enliven this culturally diverse San Diego neighborhood.
Mimi’s first mural was created with a little help from her mentor Brise Birdsong, a prolific local artist and muralist whose often humorous street art I stumble upon from time to time during my walks around San Diego.
Mimi told me a little about the mural, and the symbolism that it contains. Her family is very important to her, and being of Mayan descent, she incorporated the Mayan logogram that represents a companion spirit. You can see it in the following photograph at the center of the lower tea cup. The next cup up contains elements representing Korea, a place that is special to her. The third cup up contains colors from both the Mexican and American flags.
Other designs in the mural like the flowers and butterfly? Painted just for fun!
A very cool new work of art brightens City Heights!
The colorful mural contains diverse symbols that hold special meaning for the artist.Mimi Gonzalez Martinez poses by her new City Heights mural with her family!
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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!
After enjoying the big Mariachi Festival in Chula Vista on Sunday, I headed south to Imperial Beach just to relax and gaze at the ocean from the pier.
As I walked down Seacoast Drive near Palm Avenue, I spied a cool mural that didn’t exist the last time I passed this way.
On the north wall of Pizzeria Luigi a splash of colorful abstract art and a bold face have appeared. I searched the mural right and left, but couldn’t figure out who the artist is. Perhaps I didn’t look closely enough. The complex spray paint art resembles the work of Maxx Moses. If someone knows more, please leave a comment.
There is another new mural on the front of the restaurant that depicts an eagle and pizza, and a third faded mural on the south side that I have observed on past walks. That one depicts surf breaking and the words from Genesis: In the beginning God Created the heavens and the earth. I wish I could recall who occupied the building before Pizzeria Luigi opened.
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Alice gazes out at Adams Avenue from a fence behind White Rabbit Day Spa.
This morning I took a long walk down Adams Avenue in Normal Heights. I was pleased to discover all sorts of new murals and street art since the last time my camera passed this way, about a year and a half ago.
Check out all these photos of the cool artwork!
A beautiful new face has replaced a similar mural between Adams Avenue Tattoo and the El Zarape restaurant.The #SPACECLONES have invaded Normal Heights!An abstract bear mural by @SKYEWALKER_ART appears to contain lots of nature symbolism.A rainbow and fierce pink unicorn painted on a utility box. BE THE MAGICYOU ARE POWER FULL by Janine Wareham.MEOWER TO THE PEOPLE.THISSSS IS AWESOMEA colorful mural on the side of Konrad+King always attracts my attention when I’m driving down Adams Avenue.A very cool face in Normal Heights.Be uniquely you! #CreatesWithPaintsThe fingers painted on this electrical box transform into palm trees and telephone poles!Beautiful flowers and birds.Looks like a crown of prickly pears atop this female face. @ASHLEYLGNARAn ice cream cone cat drips on a silly dog! @MAW_CZMore cool street art along Adams Avenue in Normal Heights.A cuddly cat.
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
During my long walk through Hillcrest today I spotted three cool murals by prolific local street artist Fizix!
The first mural is on the parking lot wall of Hillcrest Athletic Club and depicts various colorful, very fit people!
The second mural is on the west entrance of Cigar Cave. The black and white image has a noir feel to it, as if the pictured setting is a seedy bar in the 20s or 30s.
The third mural is in the narrow alley next to East Coast Pizza. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their diabolical enemies all seem to have one thing in common: a love for pizza!
Fizix is actually Alex Julian, a San Diego artist whose murals can be seen all over the city. Many of his spray painted images have a sort of bold comic book style. You might remember his huge mural in Logan Heights that depicts lots of superheroes and other comic book characters.
You can see that awesome superhero mural and learn a bit more about Alex Julian here!
BE FEARLESS IN PURSUIT OF WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
A guy inline skates down the Pacific Beach boardwalk. Live Life SLOW.
Here come some fun photos! I took them during a short walk along Grand Avenue in Pacific Beach.
These various works of art, including the funny sign and mosaic sculpture, can be found between Mission Boulevard and Fanuel Street.
Enjoy!
A cool surf monkey in front of a Pacific Beach bike shop.Interwoven geometric design on an electrical box.A painted PB sunset.One of three mosaic sculptures on the Grand Avenue median by Kim Emerson, which together are Oceanlife, Sun and Waves. (The two others are east of Fanuel Street.)Closer photo of the beautiful mosaic sculpture titled Waves, created by artist Kim Emerson in 2002.A couple of electrical boxes at Grand and Fanuel feature lots of fun images.A funny green seahorse and pink clam.Sea creatures hang out near a sunken treasure chest.Colorful street art on two sides of one box.A purple octopus at the bottom of the sea near a wrecked tall ship.A grinning crab! Love the life! P.B.
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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!
The very cool “San Diego” mural at 20th Street and Imperial Avenue painted by Dyse One.
Check out this cool mural painted on the south side of the Universal Radiator building at 20th Street and Imperial Avenue. Local artist and clothing designer Dyse One spray painted an immense “San Diego” in an elegant graffiti style!
The west side of the same building was painted by Dyse One and Haslr, and contains elements that represent America’s Finest City. I see images of the Coronado Bridge, a trolley, and the Padres’ mascot, the Swinging Friar!
Very cool!
A cool mural on the west side of the same building pays tribute to America’s Finest City. By street artists Dyse One and Haslr.
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Metal artwork at the 25th and Commercial trolley station honors labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez.
While riding the Orange Line of the San Diego Trolley, I noticed several works of cool art in and around the 25th and Commercial station. So I jumped off, walked around and took photos!
The metalwork that honors Cesar Chavez can be found at the westbound platform. The 25th and Commercial trolley station is dedicated to the civil rights leader.
You might recall that both platforms of the split station also feature amazing tile mosaic benches. I posted those photos here.
We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community. –Cesar E. ChavezA sign at the trolley station points to various locations of interest, including Villa Montezuma and Chicano Park.A metal Don Quixote stands guard at a nearby muffler shop.Colorful artwork on the back of the San Diego Police Department Central Division parking garage.Mesoamerican iconography becomes street art on a corner utility box.A fun heart in a mural on a nearby wall.A cool car painted on a fence along Commercial Street in Logan 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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
A mural painted in San Diego by I AM EELCO for the 2016 PangeaSeed Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project.
In 2016 a variety of murals were painted around San Diego for the PangeaSeed Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans project. They all concern protecting marine wildlife and caring for the ocean environment. I’ve photographed quite a few of these impressive murals during my walks about town.
Check out this very cool one that was painted by Netherlands artist Eelco van den Berg, who signs his work I AM EELCO. His playful, abstract mural, which depicts people interacting with colorful sea life, can be found on a parking lot wall directly west of Wal-Mart, near 21st and Commercial Street.
It’s on the opposite side of the same building that is painted with another large Sea Walls mural. You can see that one by clicking here!
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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!
You can easily explore Cool San Diego Sights by using the search box on my blog’s sidebar. Or click a tag! There are thousands upon thousands of photos for you to enjoy!
Cool mechanical shark on parking lot wall behind Undisputed Fitness Center in East Village.
It’s going to be a rainy day in San Diego . . . with even more heavy rain coming later in the week.
Instead of walking about in the cold, I plan to stay warm and dry under a roof!
Meanwhile, for your viewing pleasure, I’ve assembled the following links. They will take you to photos of awesome street art that I’ve spotted over the years! Unfortunately, some of these works, including truly amazing murals, have been damaged, defaced or no longer exist. Time marches on…
Cool San Diego Sights is now over five years old, so these links represent just a fraction of all the street art I’ve photographed. But I think you might like these!
This blog now features tens of thousands of photos around San Diego! Are you curious? There’s lots of cool stuff to check out!
Here’s the Cool San Diego Sights main page, where you can read the most current blog posts. If you’re using a phone or small mobile device, click those three parallel lines up at the top–that opens up my website’s sidebar, where you’ll see the most popular posts, a search box, and more!
To enjoy future posts, you can also “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 