Cool mural in dynamic new Barrio Logan development.
Mercado del Barrio is a relatively new retail development on Cesar Chavez Parkway just south of downtown San Diego. It was designed to help revitalize Barrio Logan. You can find it situated near the base of the Coronado Bay Bridge, right next to Chicano Park. A number of very colorful murals add life to the new buildings. Some of the art can be seen when driving over the bridge.
Walking around the area I took a few cool pics that you might enjoy!
Artwork on a new building close to Chicano Park.A very colorful face at Mercado del Barrio, painted by renowned muralist Mario Torero.Looking up beneath the Coronado Bay Bridge.Construction fence street art along Cesar Chavez Parkway.Street art on transformer claims commercial area is part of Chicano Park.Colorful art above a store’s glass door.Beautiful mosaic artwork by artist Betsy K. Schulz near door of Estrella del Mercado Apartments.Eye-catching artwork adds color to a new shopping center.Light and shadow add complexity to a fun abstract image.These dancers are visible when driving over the Coronado Bay Bridge.Mercado del Barrio building seen in distance behind bold artwork in famous Chicano Park.
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Several large and dangerous wild animals have escaped the San Diego Zoo and are running loose in nearby Hillcrest!
Huh? You don’t believe me? I’ve got some photographic proof!
Okay, okay, I’m kidding. These super cool metal sculptures stand in front of a residence on First Avenue. They appear to be made of rusted steel, but I’m not sure. I spotted them during my walk to work this morning, so I whipped out my trusty old camera!
Animal sculptures in front of a residence in Hillcrest.Handsome metal horse looks out toward street.Funny gorilla poses in front of someone’s window.
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SILO in Makers Quarter is a cool venue in East Village.
People entering downtown San Diego from Highway 94 might glimpse on their left what appears to be a large dirt lot full of odd items and graffiti. At first glance, I figured it was just a junky, neglected old vacant lot. Upon closer inspection, however, I realized the place was something completely unexpected, and pretty cool!
A large black silo rises near the center of the lot, hence the name of this interesting events venue: SILO in Makers Quarter. Beer festivals, bazaars, film festivals…these and other events are staged here in this neglected portion of East Village. According to the Makers Quarter website: SILO in Makers Quarter will be the launch pad to encourage the early adopters in San Diego to embrace the neighborhood and bring about positive change. SILO in Makers Quarter is being established as a year round event venue to bring collaborative community and creative culture to East Village.
I took these photos through a surrounding fence. Very cool!
A black silo rises behind a smile!Painted on a building wall: You are important.Fun events are held in this unusual urban space.Large eye peers from behind chain link fence.Lots of fantastic street art at SILO in East Village.Another example of colorful street art.Makers Quarter’s goal is to attract energy to part of the city.Bold graphics seen from the nearby sidewalk.Photo taken through fence of twisted sculptures.Bales of hay, funky images create a party atmosphere.SILO in Makers Quarter on 15th Street in East Village.
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Part of Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art’s mural on F Street.
On F Street, one block west of SMARTS farm (see my last blog post), San Diegans can enjoy a huge public mural. Created by the Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art (MOOPA), the photo ArtWall covers the upper portion of the old Jerome’s Warehouse between 14th and 15th Street.
The mural features the work of three photographers. Matt Black’s photos feature a village in the Mixteca, an impoverished area in Mexico. Susan Madden Lankford’s photos show the streets of San Diego and contain many diverse portraits. A simple photo of a cone flower in the center of the mural, linking north and south, is the work of Polly Lankford Smith.
Face peers over treetops from large MOOPA ArtWall.Segment of gigantic mural in downtown San Diego.Walking along the rails on the upper wall of an old warehouse.Amazing photography records a face in time.Another example of art in downtown’s vibrant East Village.Old Jerome’s warehouse on F Street features the huge mural.Public art in San Diego’s East Village includes farm workers.Photo of child in a mask is part of MOOPA mural.Playing a tuba on F Street between 14th and 15th.Museum of Outdoor Photographic Art’s ArtWall is a very cool sight.East side of old Jerome’s warehouse across from SMART farms.
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Mural of a rugged face seems tattered on modern building.Unique image of human face on a building in downtown San Diego.
Here are a few pics of interesting (and sometimes mysterious) faces found in downtown San Diego.
Face of Andre the Giant high on a building near America Plaza. By artist Shepard Fairey.Wide-eyed graffiti face on a downtown taco stand.Painting of female face by an artist near Seaport Village.Bearded face painted on a downtown San Diego building.Grinning monkey head on billboard in San Diego.
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South end of long Urban Corps mural on Jefferson Street.
San Diego’s Urban Corp is a nonprofit dedicated to providing a high school education and green job training to young adults. Whenever I ride the trolley to work, I usually see a number of youth in green uniforms disembarking at the Old Town station. They’re heading off to begin another day developing new skills, while working to improve San Diego’s environment.
A long, colorful mural was recently painted along Jefferson Street, right across from the Urban Corps. You can find this public art near Rosecrans at Interstate 5.
Here are some pics I took as I walked north!
Mural depicts youth bettering San Diego’s environment.Urban Corps provides valuable employment training.Eliminating graffiti is one important activity.Youth have a second chance to earn a high school diploma.Urban Corps mural shows conservation efforts.Education is the key to moving forward to success.Young people have an opportunity to earn a paycheck.Segment of Urban Corps mural near Rosecrans and Jefferson.Optimism and opportunity on a long, colorful mural.
Ancient Egypt and its symbols inspire much of the vibrant mural.
Folks heading up Park Boulevard beside Balboa Park often turn their heads as they pass the amazing, enormous mural painted on the side of the WorldBeat Cultural Center.
The WorldBeat Cultural Center, based in a former water tower, is a multi-cultural arts organization that promotes and preserves the African and indigenous cultures of the world through music, art, dance, education and technology. The center is also used as a venue for concerts and other special events.
Last Saturday I walked around the structure and took some pics of the huge, colorful mural. It completely spans the outside wall of the cylindrical building.
Front entrance of the WorldBeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park.The WorldBeat Cultural Center is based in an old water tower.A variety of bold faces gaze in every direction from the mural.Fantastic images catch the eye of people passing on Park Boulevard.Egyptian figures painted on the north side of the WorldBeat Cultural Center.The back door looks like a magical entrance to another realm.Exotic falcon with spread wings.Diverse cultures from around the world are celebrated.Image in mural similar to the Mask of Tutankhamun.
UPDATE!
After posting these photographs, I did some research and learned a little more about this amazing mural that celebrates Egyptian, African, and Indigenous cultures.
Nearly all of the artwork was created by Mike Watson, otherwise known as AIR MIKE. He was the original artist at World Beat’s first location on Hancock Street, before moving to the repurposed water tower in Balboa Park under the leadership of Makeda Cheatom.
I also learned the King Tut artwork was contributed by muralist Mario Torero and a group of students.
Here are more pics I took with a different, better camera in early 2021…
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Here’s one last group of cool pics from Chicano Park. These photographs begin near the center of the park, then we move west under the Coronado Bay Bridge.
The junkyards referred to in the above photo used to be numerous in this area.
Mural makes political statement about immigration.Zapata quote in a high nook.Chicano Park mural shows immigrants working in fields.Elaborate Aztec figure painted on concrete pillar.Various colorful images on a wall in Barrio Logan.Broom leans up against mural of students in school.Virgin Mary and shrine at foot of Chicano Park mural.Murals under lanes leading to Coronado Bay Bridge.Central dance pavilion in Chicano Park.Ceiling of dance pavilion shows natives from Tenochtitlán.Female figure on beautiful ceiling of dance pavilion.A series of murals on pillars supporting traffic lanes.Bronze statue of the Mexican revolutionary soldier Emilio Zapata.Spanish poem in Chicano Park about dancing and life.A variety of creative and amusing images.Aztec warrior and shield stand guard in San Diego.People walking through Chicano Park.All The Way To The Bay refers to 1980 Chicano Park campaign.Diverse people on a very detailed mural.Faces tell many stories in Chicano Park.Cool green masked figure.Brilliantly painted park structure near playground.Wide view under Coronado Bay Bridge reveals murals and sculptures.Environmental message on Barrio Logan mural.Mural protests toxic waste from nearby shipyards.Historical figures come alive in Chicano Park.Artwork provides a strong warning.Dynamic shapes, figures and bright colors.Bold face shows strength.Second beautiful female face.Third female face is an excellent piece of art.Fourth female face on Chicano Park pillar.More amazing artwork in the famous San Diego park.Aztec warriors come alive in Chicano Park.Abstract plant-like painting appears symbolic.Mattress of homeless person leans up against painted utility box.More colorful artwork.I Bend Like Desert Flowers Do.Please do not throw litter in the fountain.Fantastic metal sculpture in tiled fountain.Kid plays behind neglected art under Coronado Bay Bridge.Painted bases of pillars supporting the bridge.Two vibrant abstract faces.Many who are homeless camp out in Chicano Park.A world of murals can be found in Chicano Park.
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Elegant street art found on Highway 163 underpass wall.
I was surprised to discover this polished bit of street art in a place where few venture in Mission Valley: in the darkness under Highway 163, along Camino de la Reina, among graffiti and windblown litter. Joggers and the homeless pass through here, but not very often. Who was the artist? Why did they paint a stylish image in this location? It’s a mystery!
UPDATE!!!
This morning, February 5th, exactly one day after the first photo was taken, I walked to work again and the street art and graffiti were painted over! I don’t know if this is pure coincidence, or the result of my blog yesterday…
