Mid December 2021
Introduction
I had occassion to visit the La Perla section of Old San Juan the other day, with a friend of mine. We paid particular attention to the wall art there, as well as a few local beers. Here is some of what I found. I’ll also include some art from other locations, some of which have been painted over. Note: I’ve used some of these images in earlier posts. But they are worth a second look.
La Perla
La Perla sits outside the wall of Old San Juan, on the northern coast. Many of the buildings have been freshly painted, and it seems to be undergoing a bit of a revival. It is a rich area for wall art.
The art above reminds me of a work along Avenida Fernandez Juncos, in the Santurce neighborhood.
I suspect the two examples above are by the same artist. I have not yet tried to find out who that is. I’ll work on that later.
The image above reminds me that the words canoe, barbeque, and hurricane were borrowed by the Spanish from the native Tainos. I have not yet figured out the symbols on the side of the canoe, nor do I know what the white swirl to the left means.
A red octopus watches over La Perla. I have not yet followed up on the artist’s name.
I like the portrayal of the two women above. Note that they are both have scarfs with the Puerto Rican flag.
The work above seems to depict native life in the area before European settlement.
The two images above are undoubtedly Puerto Rican musicians. I don’t know who yet – I’ll have to work on that.
The image above is one part of artwork along a retaining wall. It is rare to find a section without a car parked in front.
Other Findings
La Perla is certainly not the only location for wall art. Here are a few from other locations around the city.
The image above is just off Calle Cerra in the Santurce neighborhood. I had not seen it before.
The art above is by Danae Brissonnet, a French-Canaduan artist. I showed this in an earlier post. Click here to see that.
The image above is in the Calle Loiza area of Santurce. It is a neighborhood in transition.
The work above is one of a series of figures painted on a bridge pier in the Condado section of San Juan. They are gone, painted over.
Conclusion
There you have some of my images of wall art in San Juan.
I once received a comment asking if I had copyright permission from the artists. The answer is no. The images are in public spaces and fair game for any photographer. I edit them as a hobby. I do not sell any of my images and therefore I am not profitting from the creative work of others.
However, I can see a business opportunity. I think some of the art work would make exceptional post or note cards. Tourists, and even locals, represent a market for them.
I would have to negotiate an agreement with each artist. Any one have any thoughts as to how to do that?
Notes and Sources
The images are mine. I edit them, more or less extensively, with Adobe Lightroom and/or Photoshop.