Carlsbad Art and Culture

A walk to the beach or the local pub is like browsing the thin pages of the North County Times. It’s like wandering down the alleys of the internet and sitting through an onslaught of television commercials. In each case, thoughts present themselves for you to interact with. The time you invest all depends on […]

Summer simmers and the sun hangs low as locals brave the streets after the annual early summer onslaught of tourists. Streets find relief and the rolling waves are no longer overwhelmed as long trails of motor homes and minivans putter back inland like a scrap laden trail of ants. What is better than late August […]

With two more days until my show, I sit relaxed and ready. My paintings are finished, my promotions all placed and all business set. I breath deep and relax for the first time in 7 months as I reflect on my journey. I sit atop a gift, wrapped and waiting to be given to our […]

A steady flow of cars push their way along the boulevard as impatient pedestrians tap the crosswalk button and sleek bicyclist balance. Local shops buzz with the latest sales and restaurants clank with occasional lame spoon. The sun shines while clouds hide and the village is in full effect. When you have something to say, […]

Hello Summer part 12 of 12 After its longest shift of the year, the sun slowly sinks below the colorful horizon as carlsbadcrawlers celebrate with a swim during the first sunset of summer. The setting sun smiles as the evening’s waves tumble upon the sand. It flashes a quick wink as the glistening ocean draws […]

Hello Summer part 11 of 12 The day’s blue meets the sleepy sun at the distant horizon. A casual interaction merges the two through a smooth gradient of color. Scattered clouds dance with the wind as they highlight the sinking sun. Limp clumps of seaweed tumble through the waves and wash up around my ankles. […]

Hello Summer part 10 of 12 Locals and tourists dip plump burritos into hot sauce as sandy hair dries under the summer sun. Hungry village crawlers and beach combers chat in between bites and cars honk as locals whistle. Runny ice cream cones drip onto the hot sidewalk like paint off the brush of Jackson […]

Hello Summer part 9 of 12 Summer rolls blankets of tourists onto our beaches like the tumbling June gloom of our village streets. Sun blocked kids dance in the heat as parents sit attentively in rented chairs under brightly colored umbrellas. Summer swells peak and lifeguards scour. For years now, it has been a tradition […]

Hello Summer part 8 of 12 Blue skies and long weekends invite spontaneous adventures. Your cell phone constantly rings with fuzzy plans that guide not to a destination, but in a direction. Encounters in the streets pass ideas of evening gatherings, but nothing is ever set in stone. The sun whispers the time and the […]

Hello Summer part 7 of 12 Along with giddy tourists and over sized beach bags, locals seek the refreshing breezes and cool tides of our beaches. Toddlers scamper along the shore with sand heavy diapers while parents, stagnant and cold from a long day in the office, unload the day’s worries. The sun, orange and […]

Hello Summer part 6 of 12 Thick mustaches and low brow hats circulate within our village like slithering snakes through the dark trenches of a lost kingdom. Red curbs radiate as watchful eyes glare. A skateboard is a weapon and a beer is a drug. Eyes hidden behind dark shades scan for underage hoodlums while […]

Hello Summer part 5 of 12 Kids with wet hair and sandy faces throw seaweed and collect shells. The rising tide teases as castles made of sand drip into the sea. The crashing waves roar with aggressiveness but are silent to the ears of the unconcerned. The beach is a playground where you don’t have […]

Hello Summer part 4 of 12 When more time is spent on the balcony of the ARTpartment than inside, we know summer has arrived. A view of the village with dancing palm trees and fluttering clouds provides a perfect atmosphere for a lazy summer day. The near street carries neighbors in route for the beach […]

Hello Summer part 3 of 12 Carlsbad buzzes with excitement as summer arrives and becomes a destination for many beach seeking out-of-towners. Our sleepy village becomes overworked and tired as a steady flow of motorists creep down the coast. Traffic is a sure sign of the arrival of summer. Cars spurt headaches and motorists overheat. […]