Bert and I wanted to check out the new sculpture at the J Street Marina...
so we did just that the next day...
We hadn't been here in a long time. In high school we would hang out at the park, have picnics with our family and friends and enjoy the laid back atmosphere.
When the South Bay Power Plant was imploded two years ago, a young local man salvaged several tons of scrap metal after being granted to be on the grounds of the power plant immediately after the implosion. The young man, Michael Leaf is a self-taught metal worker and was commissioned by the City of Chula Vista to make this commemorative free standing sculpture. On Friday, it was put up. The next day, the bench (fashioned from turbine blades) was installed. The Sunday we went, the area was still fenced off.
Looking eastward, we could see the Otay Mountains. To the right is the spot where the South Bay Power Plant once stood.
In the distance, you can see the piles of white salt at the South Bay Salt Works off Palomar Street.
We thought the sculpture would be bigger but in retrospect, it is pretty tall. Once the fence is down, people can walk around it and even underneath it and look up through the tube.
The view of the bay looking north. Coronado is to your left and in the far distance, the Coronado Bridge.
As we were snapping photos of the new sculpture, we saw several cars come by; they also came to see the new art work.
This photo is not the clearest but in the middle is what look like a tiny white building. This along with one lone panel of the "Elephant Cage" is what remains of the Wullenwebber Antenna Array. It was taken down late last year. I'm glad Bert and I got to see it before it was dismantled.
A few more views of the "Powering the Arts" sculpture by Michael Leaf:
Before leaving the park, we took a drive to see these cone sculptures that we used to like hanging out at when we were in college. Across the bay is the site of a restaurant which has changed names many times. It used to be Jake's, then changed to Bob's by the Sea, then South Bay Fish and Grille and lastly, Dolphins. It closed sometime last year. Kind of sad that it kept changing ownership and didn't sustain enough business to remain open.
The Chula Vista launching ramp...
It was such a pretty day...so clear and sunny unlike last weekend's wild and wet and stormy weather.
In the distance, you can see the downtown skyline and San Diego's iconic Coronado bridge. To the right, was a pier that we later found out is part of a park called Chula Vista Harborside Park.
This is what we came to see...a trio of fluid geometric sculptures known as the Konoids. They were installed in 1984 and restored in 2008.
I'll have to find this old photo of me taken here years ago. In college, Bert and I were attempting "arty" photos and I was sitting on the lowest shape with my hair covering half my face. It's one of my favorite shots and I was wearing totally fabulous 80's fashions too, ha ha.
This was a nice diversion before we left for a quick lunch nearby.
www.cvmarina.com
www.portofsandiwgo.org
+ reviews from yelp
More info:
Konoids by Kenneth Capps
Articles on the making of the implosion of the South Bay Power Plant and the evolution of the "Powering the Arts" sculpture:
"Crowds watch the South Bay Power Plant implosion" NBC San Diego, Feb 2, 2013 (the day it happened!)
"Chula Vista says goodbye to '50s era powerplant" LATimes, Feb. 3, 2013
"Power plant's twisted metal to become public art" NBC San Diego, March 29, 2013
"Power plant scraps to be turned into art". Fox5San Diego, April 2, 2013
**This article has a video of the artist as well as a video of the power plant implosion
"Sculpture to commemorate demolished Chula Vista Power Plant" The Log, May 13, 2013
"Chula Vista's man of steel makes most of scraps", CV Star News, May 23, 2015
"Powerful monument set for South Bay, SD UT, July 22, 2015
Artist website
michaelleafdesign.com
J Street Marina Park (Chula Vista Bayfront)
550 Marina Parkway
Chula Vista, CA 91910
We plan to check out the Chula Vista Bayside Park and Pier for another weekend. I can't believe we haven't been there yet!
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