The creation of a set of dazzling murals and a mosaic by three local and nationally renowned artists is underway to further enliven the community-centric shopping destination The Shops at La Jolla Village.
The mall at 8801-8879 Villa La Jolla Drive is the new canvas for artists Ian Ross, Alexandra Underwood, and Jim Bachor.
Rishika Mahtani, director of shopping center marketing at ShopCore Properties, which owns and manages The Shops at La Jolla Village, noted ShopCore owns about 100 open-air, mostly grocery-anchored properties in cities nationwide.
Discussing how the mall murals/mosaic project came about, Mahtani said: “We are reimagining the space at The Shops at La Jolla Village introducing new place-making opportunities including furnishings, landscaping, and decor. We really want to be a more integral part of the community, and showcase public artworks and art projects that can entice the community to come by and enjoy these works of art.”
Added Mahtani: “We are really looking to elevate exposure to art in public spaces. That’s a huge driver for us. We love to collect artists and promote their artwork. We’re working with artists who will be true to San Diego, creating art that resonates with the community. And the local floral and fauna of La Jolla and the beach is a huge inspiration.”
To celebrate the debut of these new works of art, which are expected to be completed in the next month, The Shops at La Jolla Village is inviting the public to a celebration from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. Attendees will enjoy an evening of food, music, and, of course, shopping.
Mahtani added the new murals/mosaic is intended to be “somewhat permanent,” pointing out that the art project “is intended to become a part of The Shops.”
For more information about the art celebration event, visit eventbrite.com. For more information, visit theshopsatlajollavillage.com.
MURAL/MOSAIC ARTISTS
Ian Ross: A prolific muralist, ceramicist, installation artist, and painter, Ross is an interdisciplinary artist whose love of the natural world deeply influences his practice. Ross draws from his meditative, solitary experiences in Northern California’s forests and beaches to inform his signature approach to abstract imagery. He allows himself to get carried away in an intuitive creative process, channeling the calm he feels while communing with nature through organic shapes. For more information, visit ianrossart.com or his Instagram @ianrossart.
“La Jolla is one of the rare and magical utopian environments that exist along the West Coast,” said Ross. “The natural surroundings are breathtaking above and below the ocean surface. One special place where both protected ecosystems can be enjoyed at the same time is the Sea Caves. I love the idea that you never know what you will find, and this mural is indicative of that discovery process.”
Alexandra Underwood: is an illustrator, designer, and muralist. A Hawaiian, she is influenced heavily by the color, saturation, and beauty of the world around her. For more information, visit alexandraunderwoodart.com or her Instagram @underwoodalexandra.
“Whimsical and nature-forward, this free-form mural blankets the walls and adjacent walkway in an engaging and unexpected application,” Underwood said. She said this mural highlights beautiful native San Diego plants – False Indigo, Milkweed, Bladderpod, and Mulefat – that attract butterflies and are depicted alongside local endangered butterflies, the Monarchs, Quino Checkerspots, and Hermes Coppers.
“Using the same whimsical shapes seen in the adjacent nature-inspired floral mural, this geometric interpretation focuses on the colors and spirit of La Jolla,” said Underwood of her second mural. “The wave-like movement simultaneously evokes soothing coastal breezes, cool water ebbing along the shoreline, warm sun, sand, and bright skies.”
Jim Bachor: A student of history as much as art, Bachor is fascinated by the idea of leaving a lasting mark on the world. After volunteering to work on an archaeological dig in Pompeii, Bachor was inspired to merge these interests in the ancient, durable art of the mosaic. Using the same materials, tools, and methods of archaic craftsmen, he creates mosaics – amaranthine assemblages of hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny, hand-cut pieces of Italian glass, marble, and other materials – that speak of modern things in ancient voice. For more information, visit bachor.com or his Instagram @jimbachor.
“A bit of an abstract piece, I like to make the viewers work a bit to ‘get’ what they’re looking at,” said Bachor. “Fun, high-energy, colorfully patterned swim/board shorts (all designed in Italian glass) are juxtaposed against a subtle background. The sand, sea/sky, and legs are fabricated in muted porcelain to make those wild shorts pop off the piece.”
