Pacific Beach’s newest public mural, “Explore PB’s Wild Side,” highlighting coastal flora and fauna, was formally unveiled at a celebration party on Aug. 24.
Local artist Hanna Daly designed the mural located on the side of Surf and Post Shipping Center at 4629 Cass St. Known for her vivid use of color and nature-inspired themes, Daly has painted more than 1,500 murals since 2004.
This community art project was a partnership between beautifulPB, DiscoverPB, the beach community’s business improvement district, and the San Diego Audubon Society.
“We hope that installing creative, and whimsical art into the streetscape, will inspire a sense of curiosity about our natural surroundings, and a desire to care for, and explore our beautiful neighborhood,” said beautifulPB in a statement noting, “Our trash can plaques on Garnet Avenue feature the animals and plants of Pacific Beach that fly, float, hunt and grow in our wetlands, streets, canyons, and beaches. We look forward to more contributions from both professional and student artists.”
“Hanna, you were the perfect person to do this,” noted Leslie Dufour of beautifulPB. “I think Hanna captured the best of a PB day.”
How long did it take to paint the new mural? “It took six days,” answered Daly adding, “It was pretty easy because I went and met with Audubon and they talked to me so much about all the birds that live in the bay, and it’s funny because I’ve spent so much time on the bay… and when you’ve spent a lot of time out there, you realize just how many birds are living there. Just thousands. It’s wild. So I just wanted to show off the bay as it is, how we can have fun on the bay, and also respect all the birds that live out there.”
Daly works all around San Diego County noting she probably has done 30 murals in PB, including a well-known, high-profile mural for the Night Owl cocktail lounge in 2018 at 2772 Garnet Ave. near the community’s entranceway.
Of Daly’s direction in painting the mural, San Diego Audubon Society’s director of conservation, Andrew Meyer, said: “Only that it should involve natural resources and bay (bird) species, not just ocean species. BeautifulPB and the San Diego Audubon Society got together and did all of the organizing work for it. So kudos goes to them for picking a great spot, getting buy-in from the landlord, and all of the other work they’ve done to promote public art in San Diego.”
Added Meyer: “For us, this is the connection between the bay and the coast. This is the reason why people come to PB, not just for the birds but for the sunsets, the coastline, for clean water to swim in, and for other species that we share the beautiful piece of California that we call home with. That was the goal we had, and Hanna nailed it.”
“This (mural) is gorgeous. This is why people love coming out to PB,” noted beautifulPB president Ryan Stock. “It adds to our community for the people who care about the built environment, and for the natural environment, that they live in. I love how this brings together everything that all of these great organizations have been trying to do and celebrates our community.”
Concluded Stock: “This event marks the start of beautifulPB’s Arts District in PB. What that means is we’re trying to connect artists to opportunity and provide a place where that communication can happen.”
