Here’s our vote for Most Charming among the new crop of Urban Trees installed (August 3) along the waterfront downtown: Californiascope, the creation of artists Vicki Leon, Harmon Nelson, and Steve Riggs. When we walked by the other day, it had passersby lined up to peer through the kaleidoscopic viewing port. Twisting various dials changes the patterns, and the piece is fun to look at, as well as through.
This is the fifth incarnation of the arboreal public art installation, sponsored by the Port of San Diego. Even if you quibble over whether the sculptures, each built around a pole set in a heavy planter box — constitutes a “tree,” you have to concede the collection spices up the already lively pleasures of strolling along the Embarcadero. They trees are planted along the half mile stretching from the Cruise Ship Terminal to north Hawthorn Street.
This time 122 proposals were submitted, of which 31 were chosen. The Port provides each artist with about $2,000 for materials, and at the end of the year-long installation, the works will be offered for sale.
The Port District has compiled a detailed map, for those who take their tree-sighting seriously.
