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San Diego artist David Ybarra will unveil a new large-scale mural honoring the “people, places, and history that shaped San Diego” at a free, public ribbon cutting ceremony from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Lantern Crest senior living community in Santee.
The mural features historical events and area landmarks ranging from the USS Midway, Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Bridge, Pacific Beach Pier and Belmont Park to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, the Gaslamp Quarter and local missions.
One section of the mural honors the legacy of the late Harold K. Brown, an civil rights leader and former resident of Lantern Crest senior living. Brown was awarded a San Diego State University honorary doctorate in 2017 that recognized his lifelong work to “fight racial discrimination and secure civil rights and community and economic development for Black communities in San Diego and around the world.” San Diego State University established the Harold K. Brown Civil Rights and African American Experience Collection in 2011, which preserves thousands of photographs, documents, and oral histories connected to the civil rights movement, many from Brown’s personal archives.
“The mural was the vision of Mike Grant, who developed Lantern Crest and knew Dr. Brown,” Ybarra said.
Ybarra’s 11 ft by 80 ft. mural is on the south side of The Plaza grounds at Lantern Crest, 800 Lantern Crest Way.
“I’m lucky to have a job where people tell me what I’m doing is beautiful–I feel blessed,” said Ybarra a San Diego native.
Ybarra, 78, is known for the public murals and signs, many with historical overtones, that he has hand painted over half a century in San Diego as well as Los Angeles. Ybarra, a Lakeside resident, will be attending the unveiling ceremony. There will be light bites, refreshments and live jazz music along with a display of additional artwork created by Ybarra.
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