Art Glows in Buena Vista Underpass

"A dark and intimidating underpass on Buena Vista Avenue in Lemon Grove has been transformed with a large-scale mural. The project is one of the latest results of the San Diego Museum of Art's provocative Open Spaces program, which seeks to place public art in underserved neighborhoods. Funded by a $530,000 grant from the James Irvine Foundation, Open Spaces kicked off in Lincoln Park in 2013 and has since traveled to Logan Heights, Lemon Grove and National City." SDCityBeat.

One of Lauren's flowers is to the immediate left of the two people on the sidewalk. The mural is on both sides of the underpass with a combined length of over 200 feet. 

Lauren sat in on some of the first meetings with the City of Lemon Grove to discuss the mural and the possibility that she might be able to participate as one of the artists. After 6 to 9 months of silence, the call came in, "Lauren, your panels are ready to be picked up." I remember that day all too well. She thought the artists for the mural had long since been selected and she was passed over. After the shock had worn off we jumped in the car and headed for Bread & Salt Bakery and Art Gallery in San Diego to pick up her panels. Lauren, and I, were so excited we couldn't get there fast enough.

Lauren is a fantastic artist. She has painted and displayed her art all over the world but I don't believe she has ever painted anything larger than a 4 foot or 5 foot canvas. This, well, it is daunting. The 4 foot by 4 foot panels when assembled created a flower 16 feet wide by up to 20 feet high. It truly is amazing.

The afternoon of the day that we picked up the panels our condo, and I do mean the entire condo, was transformed into an artist's studio. Looking at the picture on the right reminds me of just how profoundly our living space had been transformed. Canvas panels were taped up on several walls and paint was everywhere. It was an experience I was honored to be a part of and I'm so proud of Lauren for her fearlessness in taking on such a monumental and overwhelming project. 

Miguel Angel Godoy created the original mock up of the mural and a small cadre of artists transferred the outlines of the flowers onto a canvas-like material which, once the painting on the panels was completed, the panels were installed on the walls of the underpass. Miguel's inspiration and determination was formidable.

I am only mentioning a few of the names of the all the people involved in this project. Irma Esquivias worked with the San Diego Museum of Art, about a dozen artists painted the flowers and even Miguel's father was on site for a substantial period helping out wherever help was needed.

Do you find this story inspiring? Do you wish that you could be a part of something like this? You can. Projects like this are planned and executed all over the country every day. And who knows, maybe  the planning for another mural will be in the works, one that you can be a part of, when you RetireInSanDiego. 

"ART" in Imperial Beach

ART. Many of us like to think we are artists; those of us that attempt to be artists are rarely commercially successful; and almost all of us that actually get our hands dirty doing it reap rewards that stick with us the rest of our lives. Our refrigerators are covered with the art of our children and grandchildren. Our scrapbooks are filled with these treasured gifts that inspire us, make us smile and bring back to mind irreplaceable memories in our hearts and minds that we would not trade for all the gold in Fort Knox. The spontaneous joy, laughter and tears we enjoy just knowing how profoundly we have touched other peoples lives, I find, difficult to describe. ART.

Looking West

To be among the few that actually get to share art publicly, for the world to see and enjoy, is something of a bucket list item for me. I have made my attempts over the years to be an artist but nothing has really stuck. When I stumbled on this "ART" monument in Imperial Beach California, just south of San Diego, it intrigued me. An art monument celebrating "ART." Cleaver, mesmerizing, quiet and loud. I would love to know how many people walk past this monument without ever realizing it exists. I'm sure that many people look at these squiggly poles and wonder what they are all about. They are about you; they are about ART.  Enjoy!

Looking NorthEast

Looking North

Looking Southwest