Art Mural Project Chronicles Culture in Little Italy

Ever notice the multiple murals and installations adorning the city streets of Little Italy? Although potentially graffiti by definition; Little Italy celebrates the communal art in practice. The current murals and installations represent a larger city-wide art mural project sponsored by Precious Cheese. A handful of volunteer local and guest artists chronicle the spiritual, cultural, and political evolution of Little Italy through various artistic mediums and techniques.   

On the corner of State and Grape Streets, artist Catherine Becker created a vibrant illustration of daily life in Little Italy from 1871 to 1941. Artist Yakov Kandinov's mural, located on the corner of Juniper and India Streets, is a three-part illustration of religion, sexuality, and the Italian family. Additional murals highlight the mystery of femininity and religion, and the brutality of fishing in the San Diego harbor. Artists created these murals with a combination of chalk and various paint forms.

Beyond the mural lies the installations located at Amici Park on State and Date Streets. Artist Nina Karavasiles blended Sicilian proverbs and language with San Diego soil to create emblematic installations in the concrete. Nearby a statue reminiscent of a picnic table with bright red and white checkers also commemorates Italian heritage.

Take a stroll through San Diego's neighborhood of culture, class, and charisma, Little Italy, to admire the many masterpieces of the ongoing Art Mural Project.

Chronicle Corners:

State and Grape Streets

State and Date Streets

Juniper and IndiaStreets

Indiaand Fir Streets

& select businesses on India Street