Famed French-American artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, made San Diego her home near the end of her life. A lot of her work can be found throughout downtown San Diego. Her kaleidoscopic mosaic pieces are hard to miss – not only for their color but also for their size. As a bonus, many of these pieces are outdoors and easily accessible for the public. You can find them in downtown, Balboa Park, La Jolla, and up to Escondido.
In downtown, there are three pieces that can be reached on a 1.5-mile (one-way) walk. The entire way is paved and flat, so it’s a great outing for all ages and abilities. It’s also transit-accessible with trolley stops situated at each end of the walk.
Start at the San Diego Convention Center. If traveling via MTS, exit the Green Line at the Gaslamp Quarter Station. Cross over Harbor Drive and go to the grassy lawn in the southeast corner of the convention center. Once there, look for the 28-foot-tall “Coming Together.” A mix of black-and-white and vibrant colors, the sculpture depicts a two-faced figure.
Saint Phalle wrote of this piece: “The windows in the head allow us to see nature and the sea; representing an awareness of our surroundings. The mirrors will give, like the wheel of life, a sense of perpetual movement. Each time of day will (be) reflected in the mirrors. The sunset, the sunrise.”
Walk north along the waterfront. From the convention center, make your way to the bayfront walkway tucked behind the convention center. Travel north on this promenade past superyachts, the Rady Shell, Seaport Village, the USS Midway, and other attractions. It’s a pleasant stroll with a constant breeze from the bay and plenty of people-watching.
Stay on this walkway until you reach W Ash Street (hint: stop at the Star of India). This is where you’ll cross Harbor Drive and pop into the County’s Waterfront Park.
Find two pieces at the park. After crossing Harbor Drive, follow the sounds of cheerful children to the Waterfront Park Playground. Nestled in the middle of the playground is the aptly named “Seal” sculpture that was designed by Saint Phalle for children to crawl through and climb on.
Another piece, “#19 Baseball Player,” is less than 100 yards away. An ode to baseball player Tony Gwynn, aka “Mr. Padre,” this piece is for the eyes only and is not intended for children to play on.
If you’ve lived in San Diego long enough, you may be wondering about another Saint Phalle piece that used to call the Waterfront Park home. The multi-headed “Serpent Tree” was on the other side of the County building, but was relocated when that area was renovated. SDSun
Deanna Ratnikova is the creator of The GO Deck – grab a deck today and be inspired to Get Outdoors and GO on new adventures.
