Space Invaders: San Diego

Space Invader SD_19 finds a location on an abandoned building in downtown San Diego

San Diego has been invaded.  The news was shocking.

Somehow the major media outlets missed it.  Invader visited the west coast of the United States in June (2010) and left a collection tile mosaics behind in most unusual locations.  Indeed, Downtown San Diego has been invaded.  When learned the news, we rushed down for a weekend to investigate further.  For us, it would be the first dedicated Space Invader hunt since London last year.  And for Gigi, our new pup, it would be her first sleepover.  We hoped she (and her hosts’ house) survives!

Space Invader SD_06 plus a bonus defender

Monsieur Invader reports that 21 tile mosaics have been left in San Diego.  Our two days of searching downtown San Diego confirmed 14 Space Invaders.  Of the seven remaining Invaders, we found the locations of 4 that had, without doubt, been removed (in one case the building was torn down).  We spent hours hunting for the remaining three tile sets but we saw no sign.  Perhaps these had been removed soon after the installation or perhaps we never actually found the correct spot.  It is always this way.  Did we miss it or is it gone?  Invader’s mosaics often have a short environmental half-life.

The Invasion of San Diego coincided with the beginning of Viva La Revolucion:  A Dialogue with the Urban Landscape at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASD).  This contemporary art show features street art and art from street artists like Banksy and Shepard Fairey. Along with the museum works, the La Revolucion’s artists, including Invader, contributed several halting pieces of street art.  We didn’t search for these outside works intentionally, but ended up seeing many of them as a side product of our Space Invader hunt.  It was an unexpected bonus to find the sometimes powerful and other times whimsical street works on San Diego’s otherwise generic downtown grid.  These works created some controversy in San Diego.  When does interesting art not create a debate?

San Diego's Balboa Theater

For us this Invader search reinforced urge for the activity.  Yes, hunting down the ever-elusive tile mosaics is an interesting urban game.  How can the Space Invaders hide so well in plain sight and be so obvious at the same time?  And, as always, we come away seeing and feeling more of the essence of the host city than would could ever imagine.  Therein lies the true appeal of the search.

Banksy's "Soldiers Painting a Peace Sign" was on display at MCASD

Has San Diego become the canvas for art?  Is a tour of the downtown the same as a stroll through an urban art museum?  Perhaps it is not.  But at least you don’t have to exit through the gift shop.

A Google Map was posted on Yelp with some of the locations of the Space Invaders.  And, of course, more hints can be found on Mr. Invader’s own website.

The Se San Diego served as a central base for our Space Invader search.

Pictures of San Diego’s Invaders have been posted on Picasa along with a few downtown San Diego pics.

Our San Diego Invader search scorecard:

		Found?
1	SD_01	Yes	Northside of the MCASD (Ketner Blvd & W. B St)
2	SD_02	No	Between 12th and 13th on Broadway northside, 100% positive building torn down
3	SD_03	No	Removed from pier facing USS Midway
4	SD_04	No	Couldn’t find at location
5	SD_05	Yes	7th and F
6	SD_06	Yes	West Grape bridge under 5
7	SD_07	Yes	Broadway & India, partially removed, transformer box down low
8	SD_08	No	Couldn’t find after location found, reportedly removed from location
9	SD_09	Yes	City College, on the “M” building, north/courtyard side
10	SD_10	Yes	Park and G
11	SD_11	Yes	6th and C
12	SD_12	No	Site at Chicano Park, invader definitely removed, found exact spot
13	SD_13	No	Couldn’t find after location found
14	SD_14	Yes	Blick Art Supply 1844 India Street
15	SD_15	Yes	1st and F
16	SD_16	Yes	2nd Street Bridge over the I-5 on ramp from 1st Street
17	SD_17	No	Couldn’t find at location
18	SD_18	Yes	Front and Island, New Childrens Museum
19	SD_19	Yes	4th and C
20	SD_20	Yes	Westfield Horton Plaza
21	SD_21	Yes	Westfield Horton Plaza

More pictures by Banksy

And more pictures of San Diego’s street art: