Photo courtesy of Murals of La Jolla
La Jolla real estate is widely known for its beauty, but that is not all it has to offer. Over the years, the lovely seaside community has cultivated strong artistic roots. From yesteryear's Green Dragon Art Colony, to present day’s Murals of La Jolla, artistry has long been embraced by the Jewel. In fact, there are remarkable pieces of artwork and architecture capturing attention all over La Jolla.
La Jolla's ambiance is often enhanced by the artwork and architecture of up and coming and renowned artists and architects. A meandering walk through La Jolla’s Village will please with prominent visuals that stir the senses and move the viewer.
La Jolla’s artwork
The Murals of La Jolla is an ongoing project that commissions and displays murals throughout the Village. Each piece has a different theme and is completed by a different artist. The project began in 2010 and in the years since, 15 murals have been commissioned and displayed across the Village. According to Murals of La Jolla’s website, the project is part of Athenaeum, but was initiated by the La Jolla Community Foundation and is funded by private donations.
The project’s first mural was “Brain/Cloud (with Seascape and Palm Tree)” by John Baldessari, which was completed in 2011. The most recent addition to the collection is “Playing La Jolla” by Terry Allen, which was completed in 2015. Some of the first murals were painted on their sites, but the rest were installed and will remain in place for at least two years.
The mural pictured above is “Favorite Color” by Roy McMakin, which has been on display at 7596 Eads Avenue since 2010. This particular mural is quite interesting because the artist incorporated the color preferences of passersby into the piece. Roy McMakin showed fellow La Jollans color swatches and asked them to select their favorite colors. After they chose their favorite colors, he would present them with different shades to pick from. Once they found their favorite shades, the artist incorporated the hues into the piece, which is composed of hundreds of vibrant color blocks. More information about Murals of La Jolla can be found on their website.
La Jolla’s architecture
Photo courtesy of FSDA/Ned Paynter Collection
La Jolla holds some true architectural gems that were designed by Irving Gill, whose work is widely admired. The San Diego History Center stated that many consider him one of San Diego’s most prominent and innovative architects. He is also one of the most celebrated to date. Irving Gill designed a number of iconic buildings and homes in La Jolla, including the La Jolla Recreation Center and the La Jolla Woman’s Club. He also designed the Green Dragon Art Colony, which became a famous retreat for some of the 20th century’s most famous painters, musicians and writers.
Irving Gill worked with a variety of architectural styles, but he is most widely known for his modern works, such as the La Jolla Woman’s Club, which is pictured above. The talented architect was commissioned by Ellen Browning Scripps to design the building in 1913. Through his innovative designs, Irving Gill left an undeniable imprint on a number of beautiful buildings and homes throughout La Jolla.
For information about homes in this area visit our La Jolla real estate page or contact DeSouza Select Properties.
Posted by Dennis DeSouza on
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