Painted tree trunks and picnic benches at Chicano Park.
As I mentioned in my last blog post, I took a whole lot of photos during my walk through Chicano Park. Here are some images from the east side of the public park, right next to Interstate 5. A few picnic benches and unusual features can be found in this area.
Some of these photographs might cause a strong reaction. As I’ve mentioned before, this blog aims to be nonpolitical. I just aim my old camera at interesting things around San Diego…and you decide what to make of it all!
Primitive frame made of bent branches.Flower sculpture and cacti beside freeway.Colored stones ring a painted cactus in Chicano Park.Sculpture stands among the surrounding murals.Small mural near pedestrian walkway that crosses freeway.An eyeful of bright colors everywhere you turn!A monument to the sacrifices of Hispanic veterans.
This polished memorial stands apart from the murals, by a small patch of green grass.
A nearby mural depicts a moment in history.Controversial mural on the east side of Chicano Park.Looking west at freeway ramp rising toward Coronado Bridge.Chicano Park sign and Mexican flags beside Interstate 5.
Artists paint image of Mexico on pillar in Chicano Park.
Chicano Park is located in Barrio Logan, a mostly Mexican American and immigrant community just south of downtown San Diego. The eight acre park features almost a hundred murals painted on concrete pillars that support the intersection of the Coronado Bay Bridge and Interstate 5. This colorful park, quickly glimpsed by motorists speeding down the freeway, contains the largest collection of outdoor murals in the United States. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unique history with the Chicano civil rights movement.
I recently took a leisurely walk through the park and captured hundreds of photographs. I’ve got so many pics, I’ve grouped them depending upon their location in the park. This blog post includes photos of murals I enjoyed while walking under the freeway ramps that connect the Coronado Bay Bridge to southbound I-5.
You’ll see a strange mixture of images in these murals: ancient Aztecs, indigenous peoples, workers, revolutionaries, school children, pop culture icons, scientists, politicians…and almost anything else you might imagine. The diverse and often weird combinations seem to include one overarching theme: Mexican American empowerment.
The first photograph shows what I saw as I entered the park, walking up National Avenue from the south. These artists were painting a pillar with an image of Mexico.
Colorful folk depicted in art on a freeway pillar.View of painted murals under ramps to southbound I-5.Chicano Power represented in art.Figures in diverse costumes beneath a concrete jungle.Elongated Aztec figure adds character to Chicano Park.Hispanic culture comes alive on one side of a freeway pillar.Latina with flag and raised fist in field of flowers.Vivid colors on concrete pillars supporting a San Diego freeway.Weird faces and arms high above in the shadows.Primitive and abstract forms are plentiful in Chicano Park.Folk throughout history like leaves on a tree of life.One of dozens of painted murals in San Diego’s Chicano Park.La Tierra Mia is Spanish for My Land.More art that shows people close to the land.Wild-haired figure holds up freeway with huge hands!A painted mosaic of symbols in Chicano Park.Chicano art includes children and revolutionary with gun.Painted pillar supports ramp from Coronado Bridge to I-5 freeway.The largest collection of outdoor murals in the country.Latino pride, identity and empowerment made public in art.Mixture of images includes people demanding justice.Native people frolic on a peaceful blue river.
I’ve got a ton more pics, so stayed tuned in the days ahead!
I recently walked around Barrio Logan to take photos of street art, including the famous murals in Chicano Park. During my fun adventure I passed this building.
I looked at Google Maps and believe this is or was the location of Kippy’s, a fashion design business that has a store in Coronado.
Corner of cool Barrio Logan Kippy’s building.Faces depicted on Kippy’s building in Barrio Logan.Cool Kippy’s mural in Barrio Logan depicts Mariachis.
The heart’s persistent eye stares out at the city.
An electrical transformer box on the sidewalk near Sixth and Robinson in Hillcrest has been painted with surreal images. Here are several colorful pics!
Surreal image transforms a Hillcrest sidewalk.Peace symbol, planet Earth, paintbrush and stars on side of Hillcrest transformer.
Check out these two photos of utility boxes I spotted while walking to work today in Mission Valley. They sit side-by-side a bit north of the San Diego River on a corner of Camino del Este.
The first box is painted in an amusing fashion with all sorts of dog breeds. Looks like the artist was definitely a lover of canines!
This second box is super colorful. I’ve observed that flowers are often central elements in street art. Perhaps people crave a bit of natural beauty in the concrete jungle.
Check out this cool photo! I captured some more dazzling street art in downtown San Diego, just west of the trolley tracks on Park Boulevard. I like the glassy shine of the eyes and the abundance of color. These fantastic characters seem to have emerged from a little girl’s dream. The right portion was painted by muralist Gloria Muriel, the Bunny Kitty character on the left is by Dave Persue.
A look at the cool mural looking north.Mural is on the wall of the hART Lounge.
A boring old utility box in Hillcrest was transformed by an inspired artist into a colorful canvas. This fun example of urban art depicts a meditating monkey sitting by the surf, with white clouds and a volcano in the background. He’s being served a beverage by a crab!
I promised even more photos of the amazing chalk art creations at Little Italy’s 2013 Festa event. Many of these pics show artists at work, applying vibrant color to the drab asphalt of a downtown San Diego street. Enjoy these images!
Andy Warhol might’ve painted mopeds in this fashion!
Expressive faces. This was one of my favorites!
I also love these exotic masks and faces!
What could be more Italian than Pinocchio?
Even though it’s a bit creepy, I like this one. It really appeals to the imagination!
Among the talented artists were many young people. Impressive!
It seems the Minions had a sneaky, dastardly scheme. It was to tilt the Leaning Tower of Pisa!
Here are more photos of the Italian chalk art, properly called Gesso Italiano, at today’s 2013 Festa event in Little Italy. I’ve got so many great pics, it’s hard to choose which ones to show. Oh, well. I hope you like these! (Make sure you check out my previous post.)
Three blocks of a city street in San Diego’s Little Italy became the canvas for chalk creations! Lots of classical images, as one might expect from a celebration of Italy . . .
I bet Walt Disney himself would’ve been delighted by this colorful chalk art Jiminy Cricket!
This humorous piece seems to be named Dogue Italia. That’s one elegantly dressed dog!
More beautiful artistry . . .
A striking portrait. You’d think this was an exquisite painting hung in a museum!
I have even more photos coming . . . so check back soon!
Wow! I just finished a leisurely walk through Little Italy’s great 2013 Festa event, and by far the most amazing part of it was the chalk art competition! I learned that Italian chalk art is called Gesso Italiano. There were 62 colorful entries, taking up three full city blocks! I got so many great photos I’m going to break it all into several blog posts. Here comes the first batch!
All the artwork was fantastic!
It was fascinating to watch the many artists at work. I wish I had such talent!
Lots of people converged on San Diego’s unique Italian Festival!
Recreating a masterpiece with chalk.
I love this cool pic. One of the amazing chalk creations depicted another act of creation: that of God! The Sistine Chapel’s ceiling seemed to be transported to the asphalt street. Bystanders were invited to lie down and become part of Michelangelo’s divine masterpiece!
Cool San Diego Sights! 