Carlsbad Art and Culture

It’s not a surprise that many view the coastal communities of North County as conservative in terms of supporting creative thought and artistic expression. There might be more blank walls than murals and an art show sprouts up as often as a North County downpour drops, but the pockets of creativity that do exist make large waves.

Encinitas has a colorful history of creativity. Richard Margolin began his fascination for art and installation in Encinitas. His brightly decorated house laden with rock n roll references has been showcased in numerous newspaper and magazine articles, as well as in a book. The infamous Surfing Madonna created by Mark Patterson and installed under the bridge near the intersection of Encinitas Blvd. and the 101 continues to gain national attention.

Though the Surfing Madonna may rival for making the biggest waves in the art community of Encinitas, the once hated and now beloved Cardiff Kook takes the cake for longevity. Installed in 2007, it was first criticized for its unnatural surfing pose. Today, accompanied by it numerous costumes and installations, it continues to be a driving force in establishing Cardiff as one of the coastal communities at the forefront of North County art.

Kevin Anderson, artist and Encinitas resident of over 30 years, asked to paint the highly visible wall of the recently opened Kook’s Cafe. Anderson, a Cardiff resident artist, received numerous honks from passing cars, often accompanied by drivers greeting Kevin on a first name basis.

The Cardiff Kook has been used as a public canvas where installations have included Oprah Winfrey, a Kook gulping shark, giant prehistoric scenery and Van Gogh. A creative community and the development of a more artistic culture have resulted from this local love for public art and the many projects it has inspired.

Check the finished mural and the cafe at…

2121 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007 (map)