Carlsbad Art and Culture

Art is omnipresent; it is in everything and it surrounds us at all times. An observant eye picks up on each arrangement of brightly colored flowers, organic cloud formation and scribble in long since wet slabs of concrete. A village crawl is something most of us do because our eyes are attentive and are minds are hungry. For those unfamiliar with the act of crawling, or unaware of the art of observation, freshly painted murals, maps and live music guided you on a creative journey through the streets of our village during the inaugural Carlsbad Village Art Surf.

The evening of May 1st kicked off with a distribution of maps, each one labeled with participating galleries and businesses and the locations of each mural, at the New Village Arts Theater. Friends and family shared stories and created new memories as complimentary drinks and snacks were enjoyed. Emotions fluttered in the partially cloudy sky like a paint laden studio after the completion of a new favorite painting.

Live music echoed in the streets as freshly painted windows awaited. With maps in hand and eyes as wide as a cloudless sky, groups of chatting mural seekers adventured off into the welcoming streets. A Grand Wave roared and beachscapes teased. Sunsets marveled and innocent faces peeked through thick shrubs. A giant squid stretched its tangled tentacles and a turtle floated high above. A lonely cat stared and Jimi sat in a purple haze. Like crafted eggs, decorated pumpkins and hanging ornaments, sometimes the placement of local art is all that is needed to motivate a village crawl and stimulate a mind.

Any creation first requires hours of preparation. Ideas are brainstormed with an explosion of unrestricted potential, each thought is a possibility and each intuition is wildly untamed.  The final piece, whether a painting or a song, reminds you of a journey. It represents the growth of an idea and the development of a creation. The Carlsbad Art Surf began as an idea and matured into a communal success, fueled by the creative and motivated and resulted in proof that local art IS on the rise!

What did you think of the evening? How could it have been improved?

photos by mary geiselhart