Amazing artist at 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy. Smiling, she shows me the source material for her Balboa Park themed chalk art!
Brace yourself! Here come dozens of super cool photos! Check out the amazing chalk art created today for 2015 Festa in San Diego’s Little Italy! The special theme this year is the centennial of Balboa Park!
Gesso Italiano chalk art is a tradition at Little Italy’s Festa, and every year I’m blown away by all the colorful creations. Most of the images this year are inspired by beautiful Balboa Park, or paintings or artifacts contained in its museums. I arrived to take photos about an hour before the event opened, and many artists were still hard at work. I spoke to one who said their masterpiece took about seven hours to complete. Now that’s dedication to art!
I’ve inserted the team name at the beginning of each caption. Enjoy!
Cecelia Ramos Linayao. Face of child riding Balboa Park’s hundred-year-old carousel, which debuted in 1915 for the Panama California Exposition.Lesley Perdomo. Madonna and child, a popular theme of Gesso Italiano artwork.Robert Guzman. I believe this might be a hippo at the world famous San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park!Tonie Garza. The iconic El Cid Campeador statue in the Plaza de Panama. Chalk art celebrating Balboa Park’s centennial in 2015.Team Parada. A beautiful face with elaborately styled hair.I didn’t get the team name, but this exquisite white chalk portrait was one of my favorite pieces at this year’s Festa in Little Italy!Before the Festa event opens, chalk artists work to finish their creations. The art covers two blocks of Beech Street in downtown San Diego.Squadra Terun. A vividly colorful flower. Perhaps this depicts a scene from Balboa Park’s reflecting pool.A bit of random chalk art on the street. I spotted this near the official Festa competition entries.Ciao! A chalk image of lilies and koi in the reflecting pool, and the Botanical Building in Balboa Park.I didn’t get the team name. The artist was working from what appeared to be a poster or advertisement with the word Ventimiglia, which is a city in Northern Italy.Lisa Bernal Brethour. Delicate white blooms formed of chalk.Brianna Cunha. This stylish Gesso Italiano art appears to possibly show bubbles, a glass of beer and wheat.Bijan Masoumpanah. This chalk art seems to depict a classic sculpture of a bearded head.Valerie Michelle. A super colorful parrot and tropical fish!Weenie Kingdom. One of the carved wooden horses from the historic Balboa Park Carousel.Salgado. Perhaps one can see this big cat at the San Diego Zoo!Killer Queens. Dinosaur skull represents what one is likely to see at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park.Cobian. Figure in flowing red dress reclining on a couch.Team Arcala. Chalk interpretation of the historic Cabrillo Bridge and California Building. The artist had looked for hundred-year-old photos of the bridge under construction, but without success.Meg. A big smile and a boldly colored work of chalk art taking form on a San Diego street during 2015 Festa!Team Pinoy. California Tower and the words Balboa Park Centennial Celebration 2015.Team Chalkolate. Another chalk representation of the famous El Cid equestrian sculpture near the center of Balboa Park.Campo Elementary. These gifted students won first place last year! What will this chalk creation be?John Vaughn. Chalk version of ornate plaster designs above the west arched entrance to Balboa Park.Two blocks in Little Italy were full of rampant creativity this morning.Michael Zamora. Fantastic chalk face based on an Italian painting in the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.Art Within Reach. I thought at first this might be a dog in the lily pond. Then I thought it might be Moby Dick. It’s actually a polar bear at the zoo! No ears yet!Team Pierre. Vintage images take form as a skilled Gesso Italiano artist takes on the cool theme of Balboa Park’s centennial.Kira Lewis-Martinez. More cool chalk art with a nostalgic feel. The Panama California Exposition marked Balboa Park’s debut in 1915.Lydia Puentes Phillips. Very color koi swimming in the Balboa Park reflecting pool. Great chalk art that captures one of my favorite places!Raney and Talbott. These artists are basing their image on one of the elegant passageways along El Prado–specifically the one next to the Timken Museum.Coronado High School. A completed portion of what should eventually be a stunning work of art.Liberty Charter High School. A fun chalk art giraffe and zebra!Canyon Crest Academy. By far the most popular inspiration for this year’s Balboa Park centennial theme is the reflecting pool with its color-splashed koi and lilies.Lidia F. Vasquez. Wow! This elaborate mask is super inventive! It’s formed out of elements from Balboa Park’s unique architecture!Torrey Hills Elementary School. Gesso Italiano artwork is a tradition at the Festa celebration in Little Italy. I look forward to it every year!San Diego High School. A girl with a camera in the Botanical Building! I love it!Faithful Ambassadors Bible Baptist Academy. Cherry blossoms courtesy of the Japanese Friendship Garden! Is this awesome, or what?Washington Elementary STEAM Magnet, based right here in Little Italy! Lots of little colorful scenes along the border.Team Noni. A very colorful tiger comes alive on the street! More amazing zoo animal art!Julyen Ecoffey. Mother and child spending a sunlit day in San Diego’s wonderful Balboa Park.Cathedral Catholic High School. Lady with umbrella faces the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Another great image.Sycamore Ridge Elementary. Not only are there lily pads and flowers in the reflecting pool, but there’s a Venetian gondola! And an Italian flag over the Botanical Building!Dos Mustachios. One of the two fountains near either end of the Botanical Building. The actual fountains were recently restored by the Friends of Balboa Park.Torrey Pines High School, National Art Honor Society. I could feast my eyes on this glowing chalk artwork all day long!Elisabeth Eckert. Abstract image of Moreton Bay fig tree roots, probably either near the Palm Canyon stairs or Natural History Museum.Mel Clarkston Art. It’s a green people mover! I see colored tiles from Spanish Village, flags from the International Cottages, and a butterfly from the Zoro Garden!Mount Miguel High School. Everyone loves the reflecting pool. The calm natural beauty is inspiring.San Pasqual High School. Classic images from Balboa Park rendered using simple, colored chalk. Fantastic!The creativity couldn’t be contained! It flowed right out of the specified boundary and onto the nearby asphalt!Steve Alan and Friends. Simple but captivating.Aaron Hernandez. This is crazy! Looks like Planet of the Apes! I’m guessing these are hip simians who hang out at the San Diego Zoo…Team Arancio. A portion of this chalk art resembles that cool mural painted earlier this year in Spanish Village for the Balboa Park centennial.Chalk Riot. Wow! I love this! The nice artist said she incorporated elements from throughout Balboa Park, including the facade of the Museum of Man.Godfrey’s. And finally a stooping giraffe. The San Diego Zoo is a favorite place in amazing Balboa Park.Soon thousands will crowd the street to enjoy this great chalk art. I swung by early and got photos of works in progress!
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Photographer and model next to One Pointed Attention, 2014, by artist Kelsey Brookes, on a wall in La Jolla.
Here are some photos of cool art seen while walking about the streets of La Jolla. More specifically, the Village of La Jolla–the central business and cultural district which is the heart of this wonderful community.
La Jolla is an affluent part of San Diego, so there seem to be art galleries wherever one roams. But there are also many eye-catching street murals and works of urban art.
This collection of photos is far from comprehensive. These are just photos taken during several semi-random walks around The Village (including today). That’s the way this blog usually operates!
Classic religious imagery floats above entrance to Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church in La Jolla.A funny walrus and frightened fish along the roof of a shop on Pearl Street.Trashcan street art depicts Native American, whose headdress contains feathers spelling place names.Urban art on a La Jolla trashcan shows a boldly colorful Southwestern scene, with mountains and cacti.A female face painted on a La Jolla garbage container.Another similar face, composed of different hues.This eye-boggling street mural on Fay Avenue is Sexy Cash, 2015, by Mark Bradford.Most street numbers on city buildings are plain and boring. Not 910 Prospect Street!Unusual human sculpture sits near the sidewalk outside La Jolla’s Madison Gallery.Another strange figure squats nearby.This cool horse outside a Madison Gallery window was created with large pieces of junk and old machine parts.A close-up photo of the imaginative horse sculpture.On Prospect Street, a long narrow mysterious mural and a single underwater eye. Whale, 2014, Nina Katchadourian.Some interesting metal artwork above a store entrance depicts a sailboat and palm trees.It’s Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham! This fun art is outside the Legends Gallery in La Jolla, the town where popular children’s book author Theodor Geisel lived.A canvas out on public display in front of the Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in the central business area sometimes called Village of La Jolla.Someone walking down Herschel Avenue said she hated this giant mural! It’s Blah, Blah, Blah, 2015, by Mel Bochner. Perhaps it gave her the blahs.I personally like this mural of a darkly glowing tall ship. It’s titled “at Sea” and was created in 2012 by Ann Hamilton.A cool fish dangles in front of the Herringbone Restaurant.Large, unusual metal sculptures in front of the Tasende Gallery in La Jolla.Hummingbird artwork on a bench near a sidewalk, and a rose.Hammering Man by Jonathan Borofsky at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego’s location in La Jolla. I believe years ago this motorized sculpture stood near America Plaza downtown.I don’t know what this egg-like object is. If you do, please leave a comment… UPDATE! According to local author Corey Lynn Fayman, the artist is Andy Goldsworthy. I’ve learned this piece is titled West Coast Cairn. Goldsworthy has two other stone eggs in the United States, in Des Moines, Iowa, and Purchase, New York.
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The Loading Dock is a large public mural painted by Linda Churchill of Muralizing. It’s located on the west side of the Ace Hardware building in Hillcrest.
Check out this public art! You can find it a few steps south of University Avenue on 10th Avenue, in Hillcrest. The large mural enlivens the Ace Hardware store building and is a cool sight for those passing by. It was painted by local artist Linda Churchill, whose work can be seen around San Diego. According to one article I found on the internet, “The Loading Dock” received an Orchid Award from the San Diego Architectural Foundation.
The Loading Dock, dedicated 1998 to the Community of Hillcrest by Joe Jeter, Bruce Reeves, Hillcrest Ace Hardware. Building our community one home at a time. Linda Churchill, muralist.The cool, nostalgic trompe l’oeil painting depicts an old-fashioned hardware store loading dock, complete with realistic Ace Stores delivery truck.This image of yesteryear appears to include some modern hardware store products, including shiny new garbage cans and a nice big barbecue grill.Two helpful Ace Hardware employees seem to have emerged from the past to welcome neighbors and shoppers who walk down the sidewalk in art-filled Hillcrest.
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Artist creates live street art during 2015 CityFest in Hillcrest.
This afternoon I walked with my camera through CityFest. The annual street festival attracts an enthusiastic crowd of about 150,000 people to Hillcrest, a community directly north of downtown San Diego. Hillcrest might be considered one of San Diego’s bohemian neighborhoods, where free-spirited artists mingle with happy-go-lucky youth and a sizable LGBT population. Everybody I saw was just out enjoying a good time.
CityFest is a very popular summer festival held in Hillcrest along Fifth Avenue, south of University.Main stage at CityFest features live music from noon until almost midnight.Lots of artwork was being created while the public watched.Another big canvas brought to life by urban artists.Cans of paint in many colors.Funky art could be spotted all around CityFest, as well as the usual street festival stuff, including lots of food.I don’t know the name of this tall guy with the rainbow wings and multiple carnival mask faces. Lots of people were posing for photographs.The most crowded tent seemed to belong to the Rad Hatter, where young and old could craft unique paper hats for free.Many local artists had their work on display and for sale at CityFest in Hillcrest.Colorful pop art seems to be a favorite at this annual street festival.I see Batman and Marilyn Monroe, among other boldly painted faces.
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Mermaids are an element in street art painted on outside wall of The Merrow.
Check out these photos of two building walls in Hillcrest. Both border a short driveway and tiny parking lot on University Avenue, next to The Merrow, a bar that features great live music, and Tabletop Commons, a cool eatery where diners can also play a huge assortment of games.
After looking at the names on one mural, and doing some searching on the internet, I believe these were spray painted–at least in part–by the prolific street artist Fizix. If someone knows more, leave a comment!
Ship hull threatened by mines and a monstrous underwater plant with huge teeth!Graffiti lady dances on wall bordering tiny parking lot, across from Tabletop Commons in Hillcrest.Piano, face and mad swirls of color. Super cool street art in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood.Another delicious bite of a visual feast. Lots of urban art can be found in this uptown community.Fantastic faces on wall next to The Merrow and Tabletop Commons.Spray paint mural contains Egyptian symbols and motifs. A dazzling display of human creativity.Pink abstract cat awaits at edge of Hillcrest alley.
Cool skateboard bench by the 36th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival on Newport Avenue.
Late this morning I spent a little time at one of the coolest summer events in Southern California!
The 36th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival was being held along Newport Avenue, drawing a huge crowd from all around San Diego. Many consider OB their favorite beach community. Once you see these photos, you might understand why!
A masked street performer shakes hands with a kid on a scooter. The Ocean Beach Municipal Pier stretches in the background.San Diegans and Obetians check out a street vendor selling colorful t-shirts.Fun, unusual art all over the place. Lots to see at this legendary summer street festival in a laid-back, funky Southern California beach community.Creative people had cool stuff on display and for sale in the Artists’ Alley.Kids were invited to express themselves with pottery, painting and chalk art.Young artists use their imaginations as they work behind a utility box decorated with parrots in Ocean Beach.Public art mural on one wall depicts the annual Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off.Just a typical scene from this awesome street festival.Someone checks out large works of colorful art in OB.One booth had all sorts of awesome, unique decorative surfboards!And, of course, food was everywhere!Ocean Beach is the scene of many different happy lifestyles and diverse, life-affirming interests.It wasn’t even lunchtime and some folks were ready to chow down.If these cookies don’t make you drool, nothing will!All sorts of cool surf shops line Newport Avenue, where the festival was held.Rock and Roll San Diego was teaching kids how to play drums, electric guitar and more!A young man is training to be a rock superstar!Street musicians in OB next to a storefront on a summer day.Young and old were practicing maintaining balance on a board that simulates surfing.Yeah, another photo of food getting ready…Ocean Beach is jam-packed with amazing urban art, almost anywhere you walk!People were just getting started with the community mural project!Anyone could participate in painting a small square in this large mural!Another street mural on a wall above a station where people could park their bikes.Surfboards on top, cool decals plastered around. Let’s walk past the Hodadmobile and check out something amazing…Burgers are famous at Hodad’s, and so is the skateboarding demonstration beside their restaurant.Skater catches huge air as he performs trick from a ramp, wowing everybody watching!Lots of skilled skateboarders were taking turns on this small half-pipe.Oh, man–lots of very cool action!Legendary Hodad’s had a burger-eating competition!Some guys walking along near porta-potties by the beer garden.Guy chills with a Starbucks by funky sculptures on Newport Avenue near the beach. He’s listening to a really great concert.The local band Markland performs on the Main Stage at the 2015 Ocean Beach Street Fair.Justin Markland peers at me over drums while Randy Jones entertains the Ocean Beach crowd with irrepressible vocal and physical energy.Just a pic to provide some flavor of what I saw this morning.Surfers come up across the beach while a guy relaxes on the sea wall.People walk behind the Main Stage along the beach, toward the Ocean Beach lifeguard station. An overcast day with a few sprinkles, but it didn’t matter!People buy tickets to sample special concoctions at the famous chili contest!This tent featured one of the chili cook-off contestant teams.Stirring and scooping from one big pot of hot chili!Unfortunately, this poor dog can’t participate without a ticket. And it seems like he knows it.Perhaps this chili was the winner. Looks tasty, if you don’t mind that it’s served from a toilet!
Large blue female face looks out from SILO wall at passing traffic on F Street.
SILO in Makers Quarter keeps evolving. New murals are painted over old, and once-blank walls fill up with life. This unique event venue in East Village was pretty cool when I photographed it over a year ago, but now it’s simply awesome. (I did observe, sadly, the funny Bart Club art I documented here has vanished.)
A hummingbird seems attracted to a jogger coming down the 15th Street sidewalk.A bather, a turtle, a frog and KAABOO, an upcoming major music festival to be held in Del Mar up the coast.Graffiti faces are all squished up on the wall between SILO in Makers Quarter and F Street in East Village.Various street art designs where a branch of the Bart Club used to reside.Napping white female outline and some geometric crystals.A wall just inside SILO is jammed with cool urban art.This hip event venue has benches, tables and other items scattered about a wide open space.Endless Bummer, big cat, third eye in purple face, fantastic creature, and a ton of other awesome stuff.Super colorful artwork jammed onto this low wall almost appears like panels in a comic book or graphic novel.Want to book an event? Here’s the info!Two more faces which materialized since I last walked past SILO.Latino lovers and a guy who looks like an elf.A totally fun, funky place in San Diego’s happening East Village!
Fintan Magee, famous Australian street artist, painted the “Hunger” mural in San Diego’s East Village.
Some cool, thought-provoking street art was painted on the west wall of the old Jerome’s warehouse about half a year ago. It’s part of the Sea Walls Project, a collaboration with PangeaSeed to provide a view of the tuna industry (which used to be very important in San Diego decades ago). Titled “Hunger”, the huge street mural is by world-famous street artist Fintan Magee, who is often described as Australia’s Banksy!
As you might recall, the south side of this old East Village building contains the MOOPA ArtWall.
A tuna fisherman’s hand and his bound, bloody catch emerge from a pile of fish.An uprooted tree is weirdly suspended behind a real tree growing from a San Diego sidewalk.Fisherman in yellow slicker seems to release a seagull from a tangle of fishing line.
People walk down a Hillcrest sidewalk past chalk street art dreams.
Human dreams are wildly varied and ever-changing. I saw proof of this in Hillcrest. Dozens of desires have been documented at a street corner on University Avenue, written in chalk on what appears to be a very large chalkboard. People passing by have paused for a moment to write what they would like to accomplish before they die.
This dynamic neighborhood, just north of downtown San Diego, is youthful and worldly. Those who’ve chosen to contribute to this participative street art have listed many dreams. Some are crude, some are desperate, some are erased. Some are possible, some are impossible. Some are profound. The absurd and the serious mingle together. Some dreams are mere whims, other dreams are ambitious. Some are selfish, some are unselfish.
Before I die I want to… Hunt mud ducks. Feel I am worthy.Save the world. Make love. Visit Paris. Meet my biological parents.Publish a book. Drink one more drink.Find hidden treasure. Find Waldo.People walk toward Alibi as they review reasons for living.
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Bart Simpson takes many strange forms on one sidewalk in North Park. He’s elongated at times, or has multiple eyes.
Here’s another branch of San Diego’s strange and whimsical Bart Club! This example of Bart Simpson street art decorates a single utility box, located in North Park at the intersection of 30th and Adams Avenue.
More zany, bizarre Bart Club street art can be found in downtown San Diego’s East village at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and G Street, and at SILO.
This side of the Bart Club utility box has the funny television cartoon character’s face in need of a shave!A two-headed Bart Simpson makes for some very cool and unique San Diego street art.Here’s some more Bart art. He’s looking like a spotted, floppy-eared dog!
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