By LK Bruce
“Where your hands go, where the light falls, where the shadows make a pattern,
they will lead you. If it comes from the heart it is part of the universe’s song of jubilation.”
James Hubbell
The legacy of celebrated San Diego artist James Hubbell was very much alive at last weekend’s Harvest Moon Fundraiser, where family, friends, artists and admirers gathered at his extraordinary Ilan-Lael compound in Julian to celebrate a life devoted to art, nature, beauty and the power of human connection.
For nearly seven decades, Hubbell created works that transformed public spaces, private homes and gardens throughout San Diego and far beyond. Although he died in 2024 at age 92, the creative spirit he nurtured continues to flourish at Ilan-Lael, carried forward by his family, protégés, fellow artists and the many people inspired by his work.
A remarkable architect, watercolorist, pen-and-ink artist, designer, sculptor and poet, Hubbell was a humble giant who created beauty and serenity through masterworks around the world. In addition to being a gifted artist and craftsman, James Hubbell was a passionate naturalist, devoted friend and inspiring teacher. He mentored countless individuals, using art as a way to communicate compassion and kindness.
His international acclaim grew in part from collaborative projects such as “Peace Parks,” eight gateway parks that constitute Pacific Rim Park. The projects use the Pacific as a metaphor and catalyst for a world culture that values peace above all – peace through diversity, beauty and respect for people and cultures, as well as the natural world. Under Jim’s loving guidance, each park was built by students from different cultures as an expression of a holistic view of world culture and a statement about our shared future.
“Art and beauty can bridge prejudices, build lasting friendships, change people’s visions of who they are and what is possible in life, and in fact, change our myths.”
James Hubbell
His Sea Ranch chapel in Northern California is beyond imagination, both inside and out. This small meditation structure, looking much like Gandalf’s hat, is made of redwood, local stone, and stained glass. Photos struggle to do it justice but it won numerous architectural awards and was featured on the cover of Progressive Architecture Magazine in 1985.
Hubbell’s local public art continues to enrich the lives of San Diegans, with installations such as the Pearl of the Pacific and the Pacific Portal gazebo on Shelter Island. He also designed and created the Glorietta Bay Fountain, sculptures at the San Diego Botanic Garden, library art for Del Mar, National City, Ramona, Julian, Fallbrook and Alpine, and nature-preserve art in the Elfin Forest, Crest, Lakeside and Volcan Mountain. His work can also be found inside and incorporated into numerous homes throughout San Diego County.
Ilan-Lael, meaning “a tree that is a gift from God,” is home to his still-thriving Hubbell Studios, which, after more than 65 years, continues to create handmade art and architectural elements. The compound is a beehive of activity, with resident and visiting artists creating joyfully throughout the grounds. The art and architecture give new meaning to the word agog.
Fortunately for us, docent-led tours are offered Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. for $45 per person and can be booked up to two months in advance. It is a small price for the opportunity to feast your eyes and uplift your soul.
To learn more about Ilan-Lael’s Center for the Arts, educational programs, Pacific Rim Park, visiting artists and exhibitions – or to volunteer in this extraordinary place – visit the Ilan-Lael Foundation’s website.
As former U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón recited from her poem “In Praise of Mystery” at the Harvest Moon event:
“…We are creatures of constant awe, curious at beauty, at leaf and blossom…”
Jim Hubbell certainly was such a creature.
Go see for yourself.
