Queen Califia's Magical Circle facts for kids

Queen Califia's Magical Circle is a unique sculpture garden located in Kit Carson Park, Escondido, California. It opened after the artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, had passed away. This garden is one of her very last works.

What is Queen Califia's Magical Circle?

The garden gets its name from Califia. She is a make-believe warrior queen from the mythical Island of California. The garden's design is inspired by California's interesting history and culture.

It features a round area and a maze-like entrance. This entrance is covered with colorful mosaic tiles. Inside, you'll find ten large sculptures. Native trees and bushes grow both inside the main plaza and around the outer wall. There are also three long benches for visitors to rest. These benches are made with travertine marble and river rocks.

This special garden is part of a 12-acre natural area. It's located within Kit Carson Park's Iris Sankey Arboretum. The garden first opened to the public on October 26, 2003. It is usually open only a few days each week. It closes during rainy weather and for a day or two afterward to keep visitors safe.

Queen Califia’s Magical Circle is the only sculpture garden by Niki de Saint Phalle in America. It was her last big international art project before she died in 2002. The garden shows off her famous style. This includes curvy female figures, fantasy creatures, and mythical symbols. All of them are covered in bright, colorful mosaics.

The artist used bright colors to make her work feel alive. Niki de Saint Phalle's art and color choices helped her deal with difficult feelings throughout her life.

The idea for this artwork came from the Califia legend. It also drew from California's myths and history. The artist learned about the legend from a book called Assembling California. This book, by Pulitzer Prize winner John McPhee, describes California's geological past.

Escondido, California, was chosen for the garden because of its quiet, natural setting. This helped create the perfect mood for the artwork. The city of Escondido worked with the artist to build and take care of the garden. A wire fence was added to the project. It helps keep visitors safe from any broken mosaic pieces. This way, everyone can enjoy the garden safely. The Coast News has called Queen Califia’s Magical Circle an important cultural spot in the San Diego area.

How Was It Built?

The garden's main wall is mostly covered with small Mexican pebble stones. The snake sculptures and other figures are covered with thousands of tiny pieces. These pieces are made of hand-cut glass, ceramic, and stone mosaic tiles. Some parts of the wall also have ceramic plaques. These plaques show Native American rock art and other symbols. You can also find handprints and signatures from Saint Phalle's family and art team.

The main sculpture, Queen Califia, shines with hand-cut mirrored glass. The fountain uses gold leaf glass. A solar-powered pump makes the fountain work.

The wall, maze, and sculptures were built using polystyrene foam. This foam was covered in a special plastic skin. Then, a fiberglass coating was put over a steel frame, called an armature. The designs were based on Niki de Saint Phalle's original small models, called maquettes. Computers helped create and test the designs.

The artist started working on Queen Califia in 2000. After she passed away, her granddaughter, Bloum Cardenas, and her long-time assistants finished the work. This was Niki de Saint Phalle's last big art project.

Exploring the Sculptures

A wavy, 400-foot-long "snake" wall forms the edge of the garden. It is between 4 and 9 feet tall. Colorful mosaic serpent sculptures sit on top of this wall. The only entrance leads into a maze. The maze's short walls and floor are covered in black, white, and mirrored mosaic tiles. After walking through the maze, visitors enter the main courtyard. This is where the ten main sculptures are located.

The ten freestanding sculptures include Califia, the fountain, and eight totems. Their designs mix ideas from Native American art, Pre-Columbian art, and Mexican art.

Queen Califia, Egg Fountain and Eagle Throne

In the center of the garden is an 11-foot-tall mosaic sculpture of Queen Califia. She wears gold glass armor. She stands on top of a 13-foot-tall eagle. The queen holds a small bird above her head. Visitors can walk among the eagle's five legs. Inside, there is a domed temple. It is decorated with symbols of the sky and plaques from another of Saint Phalle's gardens, the Tarot Garden.

In the middle of the plaza is a golden egg-shaped fountain. This fountain represents two things. It shows Califia's magical rule over the sea. It also stands for the cycle of birth, death, and change. This cycle is a common idea in Niki de Saint Phalle's artworks.

Totem figures

Eight totem sculptures stand around Califia. They are between 11 and 21 feet tall. These totems are covered with special symbols, creatures, and animals. These figures were important in the stories of many different indigenous peoples.

The eagle is a very important part of this artwork. It appears often in Native American and indigenous Mexican legends. The eagle was also a personal symbol for Niki de Saint Phalle. It shows up frequently in her other works too.