Summer's Artistic Endeavors

After blogging about the Stuart Collection’s jaw-dropping 18 works of sculpture art at UCSD, and later on the genius of artist and author Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel,  we thought a post just about Art would be the natural next step.  San Diego county has over 200 art galleries and museums, and that doesn’t include artists sprinkled all over the city selling their original pieces (check out This Link for a full list of galleries, art spaces and museums).  This is the perfect weekend to get out and explore all the artistry this town has to offer.

There are 28 galleries and museums in the tiny enclave of La Jolla.  That’s a lot of art for a quaint sea-side village.  Our favorite is the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, or MCASD.  The MCASD has two outposts in the city: La Jolla, and one located downtown. Both are fascinating, but we are partial to the La Jolla location.  The museums have an impressive collection of modern art, photography, sculpture, and installation art from today’s greatest visionaries.  Both locations are closed on Wednesdays and are free on the third Thursday of every month from 5 to 7p.m.  General admission is $10, $5 for seniors and students over 26,  military and their family as well as students under 25 are free with ID.  A perk to admission is that it is valid for 7 days and can be used at both locations.

Part of MCASD La Jolla’s permanent collection is artist Robert Irwin’s “1° 2° 3° 4°,” an austere box of a room with three white walls and glass windows, giving the viewer a true life postcard  view of the sea and palm trees.  The natural beauty of La Jolla, seems to be art enough for this piece, until you closely inspect the windowed walls and see that perfect squares have been cut in the middle of the glass in three places, exposing one to the elements outside.  Irwin is known for manipulating light, space, and perception, and all three come together in this beautiful room.

Balboa Park has 8 museums in a concentrated area, but if you only have time for one and you have art on the mind, then the San Diego Museum of Art is the clear winner.  The edifice took two years to finish, including the sculpture relief that makes up the ornate doorway, which took its inspiration from antique buildings and churches in Spain.  Inside, majestic interiors continue Spanish influence, with tiered stairways and an indoor fountain.  

Their art collection ranges from classic pieces by El Greco and Fransisco de Goya to the masters who started the Modern Art movement like Henri Matisse.  The museum also features works from around the world, like sculptures of Hindu gods from the 6th century and pieces from 18th century Japanese art.  Their Current Exhibits feature four very different presentations that you will not want to miss: Contemporary artist Pan Gongkai has created six new paintings especially for the museum; “Coney Island: Visions of an American Dreamland 1861-2008” explores the fun and fantasy of New York’s famed amusement park; “Art of East Asia” focuses on the history of ancient China, Japan, and Korea; and finally “Romantic Views: Mexico at the Turn of the Century.”

For those who want to not only enjoy art in a museum, but to own an original work of art, then this Saturday and Sunday you won’t want to miss San Diego’s ArtWalk.  Now in it’s 10th year, this event gives patrons the unique opportunity to talk with the artist about their inspiration and ideas behind their work.  ArtWalk takes place at the NTC Liberty Station at Ingram Plaza near Downtown, once used as the Naval Training Center, it now houses art studio, galleries and a performance stage.  In addition to free admission and free parking, there will be live music, food trucks, and KidWalk, an interactive area for kids and adults to create their own art.  The event takes place from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and will feature over 175 talented artists selling their originals.  

Sandwiches between forested mountains and a glimmering ocean, it’s no wonder San Diego has inspired so many artists.  Our picture-perfect setting is also ideal for galleries and museums to display their pieces, as viewers can enjoy masterful works of art and then step outside and enjoy the equally-stunning Mother Nature.  With La Jolla to the north, Balboa Park to the east, and Downtown San Diego to the south, Mission Bay Vacation Rentals just happens to be at the center of it all.   

Partying with Planet Earth

Today is Earth Day, and San Diego is the perfect place to celebrate this weekend!  Our town is surrounded by, both rolling mountains and the vast Pacific Ocean, which makes it easy to appreciate this gorgeous planet.  We've compiled a list of diverse ways to honor Earth Day, from learning about gardening to sailing the open waters to roaming the hills and valleys.

For three days this weekend (April 24th to 26th), The San Diego Museum of Art, will hold its 34th annual fundraiser, Art Alive.  The museum's permanent collection is uniquely brought to life by creating over 100 floral interpretations of the art.  There will also be activities, such as an art lecture on Saturday and a floral arranging class on Sunday.  Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4:00pm, will also have a museum-wide flower hunt, a children's reading area and floral-inspired art projects.

Bring the whole family this Saturday (9:00am to 3:00pm) to Cuyamaca College, as it hosts the 22nd annual Spring Garden Festival.  The free festival will turn the college, which is home to the renowned Ornamental Horticulture program, into a green-haven, where you can learn about sustainability and how to take care of this earth for future generations.  There will be a composting demonstration, a lecture on urban farming, and tips on water conservation in the gardening.  There will also be over 50 artisans and vendors selling their crafts and food.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego will host its first annual Earth Day on the Bay this Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.  The museums wants to ensure everyone is available to participate in an Earth Day celebration, so entry will be free.  The Wyland Foundation will provide a mobile learning experience with a 4D interactive theater called the Wyland Clean Water Learning Experience, which teaches visitors about ways we can keep our oceans clean.  On top of all the fun, the museum will also offer $5 historic, 45-minute bay cruises.

If you want to celebrate Earth Day in its purest form, than look no further than Tecolote Canyon Natural Park, located just five miles from Mission Bay.  Tecolote Park is a narrow coastal valley that offers picnic areas, tall trees to climb and hikes for kids and adults.  There is plenty of open space and it's easy to appreciate this untouched patch of San Diego.  Considering its proximity to downtown, it's a quiet and peaceful retreat.  Stop by the visitor center to get more facts about the flora and fauna and see if a park guide is available to point out edible plants and recent animal tracks.  

Mission Bay is the ideal place to start celebrating.  We've got sandy beaches, grassy fields, tumbling ocean waves and the glassy waters of the bay.  Whether you want to honor Earth Day in a museum or appreciate the planet in the great outdoors, you're bound to find some activity that suits you, all close to Mission Bay Vacation Rentals.