Activities for Kids

Interactive Public Art for the Whole Family

Prove to the kids once and for all that art can be fun (and free)!

By Amanda Freerksen May 23, 2016

If one more museum guard gives you the evil eye because your preschooler is giggling and imitating dance moves in front of a Degas painting, then it’s time to take a new approach to art appreciation. San Diego is brimming with interactive public art — you just need to know where to look. Here’s your guide to installations around the county that invite participants to sit on, play with, touch, look and listen to art.

Public Art on the UCSD Campus

From giant stone teddy bears to neon lights, the UCSD campus offers tons of opportunities to interact with public art. In fact, every outdoor installation or sculpture on campus, together known as the Stuart Collection, exists for the purpose of enriching the cultural life of UCSD as well as the San Diego community.

Some of the more popular pieces are Alexis Smith’s Snake Path and Niki de Saint Phalle’s Sun God. But did you know there is an installation that includes three eucalyptus trees covered in lead skin, two of which are “talking” trees? A piece that is sure to please kids and adults alike is Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh. This work can be seen hanging off the Jacobs School of Engineering building, and you can visit the inside of the house for a unique, dizzying experience. Make a day of it and see if your family can hit up each of the 18 works of art. (Check out the Stuart Collection iPhone app for a self-guided tour.)

Insider’s Tip: Plan ahead if you want view the inside of Fallen Star. It is the only work with very limited visiting hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Park at the Gilman Structure in visitor stalls, otherwise parking is free at the weekends.

9500 Gilman Dr.
La Jolla, Ca
858-534-2117
Online: stuartcollection.ucsd.edu

Did we miss your favorite interactive public artwork? Tell us about it in the comments below.

— Amanda Freerksen (photos too, unless otherwise noted)