Pacific Beach residents looking to occupy themselves while waiting out the coronavirus “pause,” may be interested in taking beautifulPB’s self-guided murals tour for a fun afternoon.

There’s nearly 50 to choose from, not even counting painted crosswalks or decorated utility boxes.

BeautifulPB is a public nonprofit charity formed by Pacific Beach residents, businesses, and property owners collaborating to create a sustainably beautiful beach community. The group is implementing a number of community projects and programs moving toward the realization of a PB EcoDistrict.

There is a descriptive map with bios of murals artists and their work at beautifulpb.com. The map was done by Hilary Dufour, a GIS specialist.

Beach & Bay Press recently went on a mini murals bike tour of some of the more high-profile murals on Garnet Avenue and scattered elsewhere throughout town.

The murals art tour was conducted by beautifulPB volunteer Leslie Dufour, a self-professed art “nerd.”

“I have tried to tell a lot of people that we have the work of an artist whose work is in the Smithsonian and in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art permanent collection,” said Dufour. “But I don’t think a lot of people know that.

“Pacific Beach is lucky to have the work of so many talented and devoted artists. Hopefully, we will see more of their work, from important mid-century art to work by the most creative and respected street artists, when this period is over.”

Added Dufour, “When you learn more about the artists, you really learn about what inspires them, and it makes it much more meaningful.”

Having personally interviewed most of the artists on the tour, which presently features 46 murals, Dufour said: “The idea was to add more information to the map link so that people could do their own tours. People can do whatever they want. They get the map and then decide what to do. Once they get more information about the artists they’re going to say, ‘Wow.’”

MURALS ON THE TOUR INCLUDE

– A historically accurate depiction by Kathleen King on the corner of Cass and Garnet from 1943.

“She did the first mural in 1989,” said Dufour. “She also did the America’s greatest city mural downtown that is really well known.”

– John Moody’s giant super woman heroic figure on Pagaea at 909 Garnet Ave. “He has done work all over the country, and he recently did a really colorful graphic of a superhero nurse,” Dufour said.

– “Nate Banuelos’ shark mural on his tattoo shop at 4675 Cass St.  represents an effort to promote protecting sharks,” noted Dufour.

– Leroy Davis’ two seagulls mural at Play it Again Sports, 1401 Garnet Ave. Said Dufour: “He has done four murals in PB. He’s one of the most creative artists around. Someone standing in front of his mural looks like the seagulls are taking you away. He’s one of the few artists using a brush. Most use spray paint.”

– Gretchen Weidner’s Einstein mural wearing sunglasses reflecting Crystal Pier is on Land’s End at 4984 Cass St.

– John Lennon mural in 2006 has a daisy in one eye on the side of Five Guys at 1020 Garnet Ave.

“It was painted by Steven Gorrow from Australia,” said Dufour. “He is a pioneer of the surf aesthetic who has also done garage art. This mural is from a famous photograph of Lennon taken by rock ‘n’ roll photographer Robert Whitaker.” She added Gorrow’s mural used to have a ladder on the side with the word “yes” visible at the top. It is a re-creation of how Lennon first met wife Yoko Ono in her art studio. “This is one of the most photographed murals in the area,” noted Dufour.

– The wide-eyed woman by Gloria Muriel on the French Gourmet building at 960 Turquoise St. “Big wide eyes is her iconic style,” said Dufour. “She’s also doing a coloring series during the pandemic. She’s one of the most well-known artists in San Diego.”

– There is also a new mural yet to be painted on the side of the Red Dragon Martial Arts building at 1603 Garnet Ave. won in a contest by artist Aaron Glasson.

Concluded Dufour, “People really love the tour. They’re happy to learn about the artists. Hopefully, the tour will inspire people to maybe want to add more murals in PB.”