Retro post... Birding in Queen Califia's Magical Circle

Jan. 16, 2012

I received a e-mail from a friend notifying me of a field trip that the Palomar Gem club was hosting to the Queen Califia's Magical Circle at Kit Carson Park in Escondido. Just the place I needed to go on this gloomy day... a special magical whimsical place to lift your spirit. "A black Amazon Queen Califia was believed to rule a terrestrial island paradise of gold and riches"... this legend was first popularized in the 16th century romance novel.  Now I know how we got the name California and the inspiration for the Magical Circle Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle. 

The weather was overcast and the weatherman said we were to get some rain today. I grabbed my camera and drove out to Escondido, I was hoping for some good photos before it started to rain... 

This is a photo of Niki de Saint Phalle (born in France, 1930- 2002). What a beautiful lady (notice the bird feathers on her hat). She was a model early in her career but started to paint in 1948 and moved to Europe in 1952.  There she became world famous as one of the "New Realist Artists".  She moved to La Jolla in 1994 due to poor health from the toxic fumes from working with polyester materials for her works of art.

"Niki" uses snakes in muchof her artwork, like this one on her perfume bottle. However she does not put fangs on her snakes. The docent said that when Niki was a little girl her brother would scare her with snakes so Niki decided that she was not going to scare the kids with her artwork... so no fangs on her snakes. You can still purchase her snake artwork perfume online. The photo of Niki and the perfume bottle are the property of the Docent.

 

Info on Califia's Magical Circle in Escondido at Kit Carson Park: This artwork "Califia's Magical Circle was entirely financed by Niki de Saint Phalle with land acquisition, site grading and landscape, maintenance, and operations donated by the City of Escondido. The artwork is 120 feet in diameter. There are nine freestanding sculptures in the garden with symbols and forms inspired by Native American, Pre-Columbian and Mexican art... entwined with Niki's own fantastic imagery. The internal materials used for these art forms are polystyrene encased in urethane skin with applied fiberglass coating over a steel armature and of course the beautiful tiled surface utilizing natural stones from all over the world combined with man made tiles... absolutely beautiful!

 

Hidden away up on a small hill in Kit Carson park, you would never know this fantastic artwork was in this area if you just drove in to the park. It is surrounded by trees and bushes so you would have to look for it and know that it was here in this little part of Escondido. As you reach Califia's Magic Circle, this is your first view standing outside the wrought iron fence. It is the sight of Queen Califia standing on her majestic mystical eagle throne (Niki's personal symbol was the Eagle). It measures 24 X 22 X 20 feet and there is a golden egg right under the magnificent eagle, the sign of re-birth. The eagle was admired and revered by the Native Americans for the ability to fly the highest of all birds, thus... to be close to heaven.

The outer wall of the garden is decorated by snake sculptures. The circular wall measures 400 feet long and the height varies from 4 to 9 feet., the diameter of the circle is 120 ft. As you enter the circle, you become part of the magic garden because there are tiled mirrors everywhere and the refection and colors are always changing and moving. You can touch and sit where you like... or just stand and look at all the beautiful works of art that this great artist has given for all to enjoy. This photo shows two people entering the circle through a maze-like opening giving a good size comparison.

 

A side view of the Black Amazon Queen Califia measuring 11ft tall and her Magical Eagle stands 13 feet tall. This photo was taken on a very cloudy day... can you imagine the beauty on a sunny day!

 

Niki was famous for the big full-bodied women she created, they are called "Nanas"... some say it was her way of celebrating the liberated women, freedom, and transformation and empowerment.

The golden egg-shaped fountain in the middle of the temple-like area under the eagle. This is a reference to Queen Califia's magical reign over the oceans as well as the life cycle of birth, death, and transformation. As you walk around the interior, you enter Niki's world and it combines with yours and your fantasies... your dreams, it is truly magical, a wonderful place to bring children.

Everything is rounded, easy to touch. You can sit anywhere you wish, every angle is unique and ever changing with the light and your presence in the mirrors of the outer black and white wall. This is the most inviting artwork I have ever seen... it invites everyone to touch, to sit... to become a part of this magic circle.

 

Until you come and see it for yourself there is no way to really capture this wonderful place. These photos cannot come close to capturing this great artwork. 

The Eagle is Niki's personal symbol. Of all the totem sculptures in this garden, the eagle has particular importance in pre-conquest Mexican legend and Native American belief. He is distinguished by his extraordinary high flight which brings him nearer to the sun and in closer proximity to the gods than any other creature. This totem is breathtaking... the gold and the cobalt blue just capture the sunlight and it is truly magic!

Hope you enjoyed my unusual morning walk. I got to see an eagle and a kingfisher today, they are both in this frame... LOL a very good day for birding.

This photo shows the inner wall at the entrance where there are lots of mirror tiles at all different levels so the little ones can become part of the magic garden. The kids just love this place because they are allowed to touch and hug and play with the artwork. How fantastic is that! This artist loved children, she wanted them to love her work and they really do. They say this magic circle brings out the child in all of us that come here and that's a good thing... carefree and fun-loving. 

The tile work is amazing... it took nearly four years to complete and Niki passed away before the opening of the garden to the public. The city of Escondido has the only "American" sculpture garden created by this artist. We are really lucky to have a place free to the public, for the public, and especially for our kids. I don't know any kids that wouldn't love to touch and play in this Magical place...

 

Some examples of stones used on the surface of the sculptures...

My friend Betty's husband,Gene (the man in this photo with a microphone in hand) a Geologist, gave a tour of all the sculptures and a wonderfully informative talk about the artwork and the artist... also what type of materials were used to create these beautiful works of art. 

There are a total of eight large totemic sculptures that surround Queen Califia. They are adorned with stylized monsters, protective deities, geometric symbols, crests, skulls, humans, and various animals that once played vital roles in the lives of the people and are still thought to have special powers... 

As I look at this sculpture... I see a bird in flight over the golden ray of sunshine. I hope you all get to go there and see it in person and see the magic... of course on a sunny day if possible.

Have a special week everyone...