The Art of Wall Street – California Creations

I feel like each place that I visit has a lesson to teach me, a form of symbolism to spark within myself and that is exactly how I wanted to structure my blogs throughout my travels. I’m hoping to somehow incorporate a balance of travel/destination advice in combination with my personal experiences and of course the depth and perspective each place contributes to my life.

So here goes:

North Park & Old Town, San Diego – Tuesday 22^nd May

As we make our way to the girlfriend’s house of one of the guys we’re staying with, we pass the bright amber of the original houses built in San Diego. I walk into a house and it’s as if someone has taken my perfect balance of minimalistic style crossed with quirky décor, the shine of the teal glass –mirror like-bowl balancing the blue metal dining chairs.  Of course my first reaction is to scan the antique eggshell coloured bookshelf and instantly my day was brightened as I recognised the covers of a few favourites: The Notebook, The Great Gatsby and Seat of the Soul. Don’t think I could have had a bigger sign to say I was exactly in the place I should be. *I live for those moments- literally!* Thus begins my noted theme for this beautiful city!

We walk the streets of North Park to find a place to eat and come across this colourful mural I can’t help but gravitate towards. I love everything about this wall. The colour so vivid, it provides no symmetry or consistency to the eye.  And yet the use of both surreal and realistic imagery creates its own perfect balance of how it should be. There are dots and geometric shapes – it is so unapologetically bold.

Balboa Park, San Diego – Thursday 25^th May

Today we went to the San Diego Museum of Art. Zac stands in front of an abstract piece and expresses his preference for the previous impressionist pieces. I stand fascinated by the concept that some can find one work of art so internally balancing and aesthetically pleasing- and yet others can have such a significantly different preference.  These works of art-much like all works of art-can be seen as representations of ourselves. I intrinsically compare this concept to the way we perceive beauty in people.

It reminds me of this quote I once came across from Danielle Laporte. “You will always be too much of something for someone; too big; too loud; too soft; too edgy. If you round your edges, you lose your edge. Apologise for mistakes. Apologise for unintentionally hurting someone – profusely. But don’t apologise for being who you are.”

Though Americans can sometimes be misconstrued I can’t help but find their brutal honesty of themselves and who they are refreshing. You see, it wasn’t until my time here particularly in San Diego that I realise just how swept up people my age have become in conforming to a particular image- fuelled completely by social media. It wasn’t until I noted the diversity here, in a culture I initially believed to be so similar, that I realised just how much I love the fact that individualism in both appearance and character is so highly encouraged.

The room décor; the mural in North Park; each piece of art in the museum; the trees that frame the road; even the attention to detail in each and every single café or bar here, these were all my symbols.

Embrace how you look and who you are! Wear the things you want to wear, and do the things that you enjoy doing. Stand proud of the traditions of where you’re come from; the things that fuel your fire; the people you’re drawn to; of the things that make you different!

*I met a girl here at a skatepark tearing it up on her roller skates – after speaking with her I couldn’t help but  appreciate the heck out of the fact she was so proud of something that is so underrated *

Though how we look may not be permanent; though what we feel and who we are may change in each stage of life, we are the masterpiece we should be at any given moment. And with that peace of mind how can you not let your rainbow shine.

America has been a necessary reminder that we are the artists of our own lives. There is so much freaking beauty in open-mindedness and diversity. Despite the amount of artists out there, there is no piece quite like you. So don’t dim the vibrancy, diversity or honest emotions you use in the brushstrokes of depicting your existence.

Until next time & place..

Kaitlyn.

Itinerary to date:

20/05/18 – Arrive in LA and make our way to Woodward BMX Bike Park/Camp
21/05/18 – 27/05/18 – San Diego inc. North Park, Old Town, Balboa Park, San Diego Museum of Art – Ocean Beach Skatepark…
28, 29, 31/05/18 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Staying at the Venetian Casino.
30/05/18 – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona – Road Trippin
01/06/18- To date: San Diego, California.