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Exploring Queen Califia's Magical Circle
-- A Magical Circle --
Where is Queen Califia? (Hint: She is the tallest sculpture in the garden.) Niki de Saint Phalle named this garden after the legendary black warrior, Queen Califia, who was believed to rule an island paradise of gold and riches inhabited only by women. The story was first popularized by Spanish writer Garci Rodriguez Ordonez de Montalvo in his novel, "Las Sergas de Espandian" (The Exploits of Esplandian), published in 1510.
Cool Fact; In 1524, when explorer Hernan Cortes landed with his crew in what is known today as Baja California, it is said that he announced to his en that they had arrived in "Califia's land." By 1770, the entire Pacific Coast controlled by Spain was given the name California, and the Spanish-speaking people who lived there were called Californios.
Can You Find The Eagles?
The eagle is an important bird symbol in Native American, Mexican, and American culture. Niki de Saint Phalle used it in many of her most important sculptures.
Cool Fact: In Native American and Mexican myths, the eagle (because of its extraordinarily high flight) was believed to live in closer proximity to the gods than any other creature.
How Many Totem Poles Are in the Garden?
Eight large totem poles (ranging in height from eleven to twenty-one feet) surround Queen Califia. They are decorated with monsters, protective deities, geometric symbols, crests, skulls, humans, and various animals.
What types of birds, animals and marine life can you find and name? Here are a few to look for: a frog, spider, bull, and cat.
Cool Fact: "Totem pole" is the name given by Europeans to the magnificently carved wooden pillars made by Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest Coast.
What Is Your Favorite Mosaic?
The garden is decorated with mosaic designs created by placing small pieces of glass, stone and other materials into a bed of grout or other form of fixative. Mosaics originated with the ancient Greeks and is one of the oldest and most enduring art forms.
Cool Fact: It took six craftsmen four months to hand cut and apply the mosaic decoration to Queen Califia.
Can You Find Niki's Signature? (Hint: It's near the golden egg fountain)
Niki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) is an international famous French-American artist. Today, her large-scale installations and sculptures are seen in museums and cities around the world.
Cool Fact: Niki de Saint Phalle moved form France to La Jolla, California, in 1994. She loved the San Diego region so much that she created this extraordinary garden as her gift for our community and its children. |