Beautiful Art Work in Linda Vista
Beautiful Art Work in Linda Vista
Plus, Let Us Praise the Donut
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Pablo Picasso
One of the most attractive sights in Linda Vista has to be the mural titled “Linda Vista Messenger of Love and Light,” located on the wall of the Buggy Bath Car Wash (on Comstock Street, across from the Post Office). The mural has entertained and inspired Linda Vista residents and visitors since 2014—engaging us with the gift of a visually stimulating work of art that has now become a vital part of the Linda Vista landscape.
But many residents know little of the mural’s background. In an attempt to fill in this knowledge gap, the Linda Vista Update contacted the mural’s artist—Isaias Crow—to provide us with some background information.
Crow happens to be a local San Diego artist. As mentioned on his web site, “Gibran Isaias Lopez, professionally known as ISAIAS, is an international muralist and an eclectic artist that travels with his family or Traveling.Family of Light (TFOL) to diverse parts of the world to advocate, practice and share their philosophies, ideas and empowering information through a series of multidisciplinary programming and experiences.”
Photos of his many murals can be seen here.
His art work is not limited to San Diego. “Due to his multi-faceted skills and work experience ISAIAS is sought out by U.S.A Embassies, architects, builders, program managers, community leaders, teachers, professors, counselors and therapists to collaborate with them on complex projects that require communication, trust and alignment with multiple moving parts.”
Here are the answers that Crow provided in response to our questions regarding the mural and his art work.
1. What was your inspiration for the mural (i.e. content and style)?
I consider myself a communicator. My aim is to share positive, joyous and loving energy and information via my colorful murals, books I’ve authored, facilitating introspection workshops and participatory speaking engagements.
Please visit my website for more information: www.isaiascrow.com
2. Related to question # 1, what themes/subjects were you trying to express in this mural?
In talking to Lisa (owner of the Buggy Bath Car Wash), she mentioned that her wall kept getting tagged and that the local youth would hang around the car wash. She wanted me to create a mural that would be attractive to the youth and her clients while simultaneously empowering the viewer.
She had a larger vision though, she wanted to invest in my family and I to provide art classes for the local youth and weave literacy into the program since the public library is very close by to the car wash.
Due to unforeseen reasons from her end, we had to shelf the project. My hope is that we someday resurface it and bring into fruition.
3. How long did it take to complete the mural?
If I remember correctly it took me 7 days to complete.
4. What local organization did you work/partner with to complete the mural at its site? (i.e. was it sponsored by the city? By Buggy Bath Car wash? Another civic or private organization?)
Lisa Lyons the owner of Buggy Bath Car Wash contacted me directly.
5. Where else in San Diego are your murals displayed?
— The Brown Building located in City Heights/Azalea Park
— Central Market located in Barrio Logan
— Roland’s Taco Shop alleyway in Barrio Logan
— Chicano Park
— Mercado Shopping Center in Barrio Logan
— La Entrada Low-Income Housing Development in Barrio Logan
— The Gateway Apartments in Barrio Logan
— The Front Arte Cultura in San Ysidro
6. Do you have any other murals in the Linda Vista area?
Not at the moment, but would love to paint more in Linda Vista. Anybody that is interested in a mural in my style, please contact me at isaiascrow@gmail.com
7. Which artists have inspired your work?
Matias Macias Lopez, my Father
Joshua Lopez, my Brother
Gibran Lopez, my Son
Priscilla Lopez, my Eldest Daughter
Galaxy Amethyst Lopez, my Daughter
Magia Celestial Lopez, my youngest Daughter
Irene Castruita, my wife
Huni Kuin Tribe from the Amazons in Brazil
The Linda Vista Update wishes to thank Isaias Crow for taking the time to answer our questions.
And we hope that after reading this post, local individuals or organizations begin to ponder the possibility of working with Crow to bring more of his art work to fruition in Linda Vista.
You Can Count on Donuts
That old saying…“When the going gets tough, the tough get going” is often referred to when advising people about the importance of persistence in the face of trying times. But sometimes the lesser known saying…“When the going gets tough, just reach for a donut” can serve as an equally appropriate form of guidance. After all, the donut has the power to make just about anyone feel good. Donuts can be seen as possessing a therapeutic power capable of lessening the daily hardships we must all face. As someone once said…”You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy donuts. And that’s kind of the same thing.” We can count on donuts to give us that pleasing sense of a sugar high that is sometimes necessary for making it through a tough day (when consumed in relatively healthy moderate portions, of course).
As just about any Linda Vista resident knows, when one gets the urge for a donut, one must head to the popular Yum Yum Donuts located in the center of downtown Linda Vista. And what’s great is that you can go there any time you want since its open 24 hours a day.
Needless to say, Yum Yum Donuts has been a destination for my periodic late night donut runs conducted during the pandemic. And that’s where I recently headed to find out the latest in donut news.
We asked Yum Yum’s manager— Joanna — if she would answer some donut-related questions for us, and she was happy to comply.
Here is what she had to say:
What is your most popular donut?
The custard filled or Boston cream donut. Apple fritters are also popular.
Are some donuts more popular at night?
Yes, the cake or old fashioned donuts are more popular at night.
Do police hang out at donut shops?
Not really.
Which donuts are popular with little kids?
Donuts with sprinkles.
Which donuts are your personal favorites?
I like maple bars, and the plain buttermilk.
Besides coffee, what is your most popular beverage?
Hot chocolate is very popular.
Besides donuts, what other items are popular?
Our hot turkey sandwich, and our pastrami sandwich.
Tell me something interesting about donuts?
Our maple with bacon donut didn’t sell well. It was discontinued. (Ed. note: Sorry, Joanna, but sometimes the world isn’t ready for revolutionary change)
The Linda Vista Update wish to thank Joanna for taking the time to answer our questions.
In the spirit of supporting your local businesses, I suggest you pay a visit to Yum Yum Donuts and buy yourself a delicious treat.
Yum Yum Donuts
6925 Linda Vista Road, San Diego 92111
(858) 571-9410
Good News: Foster Kitten Adopted
We are happy to report that Princess Pearls, our foster kitten from the SD Humane Society featured in last week’s post (https://lindavistaupdate.substack.com/p/is-this-the-best-food-deal-in-lv), was adopted!
She didn’t waste any time. Once she was available for adoption, it only took a day to find her forever home. It must have been her refined British accent.
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