The Palette: Where Community Meets Color
Welcome to The Palette! If you’ve ever admired the murals along Park Boulevard, felt inspired by our epic neon sign, or appreciated the fresh art on our electrical boxes, you’re in the right place. In this column, I’ll be celebrating our community’s vibrant, playful spirit—from Color of the Month features to spotlights on creators who make our neighborhood beautiful—in order to explore the unique creative pulse of University Heights.
I’m Kelsey Diaz, a born-and-raised San Diegan, UH local for eight years, and a firm believer that color makes the world go ‘round. Whether through fashion, food, or illustration, I’m obsessed with how art connects us. I grew up just over the bridge in Normal Heights with an artist mom and a dad who instilled a deep love for our city. My journey took me through the San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts and UCSD—where I studied neuroscience—before I returned to my first love through art classes at City College and the Athenaeum (back when it was on Park Boulevard).
Today, I explore my identity as a mixed media artist through bold, juicy color. I sell my art as Color Me Diaz at local pop-ups and have created public works like the electrical boxes at Texas Street and El Cajon Boulevard. I also work as an art mentor at Revision Hillcrest, a non-profit creative workspace for disabled and neurodiverse adults. As a disabled artist and parent of a disabled kid, I advocate fiercely for disability inclusion, representation, and accessibility.
So what is it about this place that calls to painters, sculptors, and creators of all types? For me, art feels built into the fabric of our neighborhood. This includes the delightful green and purple building next to Bahn Thai, the entire vibe of The Lafayette Hotel, and not just any neon neighborhood sign, but a whole trolley complete with bronze ostriches atop each post. Local art is for sale in coffee shops and at our very own art store, small businesses regularly host pop-up markets featuring local makers, and we have an entire annual event showcasing UH studios and artists. Park Boulevard is home to a least six murals, and we have a larger collection of colorful lamppost banners than any other neighborhood in San Diego. Above all, there is strong community support via the UHCA and UH Arts organizations that highlight the value of art and artists within our neighborhood.
Is there a particularly colorful spot or a specific color you notice in UH? Is there a local artist that everyone should know about? Email me at kelsey@uhsd.org; I’d love to hear from you! Until then, go make bad art (more on that next month) and stay colorful.
Upcoming Markets & Events:
Clos Bazaar: April 25
South Park Shop Local: April 26
UH Party on Park: May 9
Goldenpalooza: May 16