This mural design was inspired by feedback from a survey conducted with Prebys Foundation staff. The survey was created to better understand the Foundation and the people who work there, offering insight into Prebys’ vision for the mural: to serve not only as a visual landmark, but also as a meaningful reflection of the people, stories, and landscapes that shape our region. The mural incorporates themes of innovation, opportunity, belonging, and shared purpose — values that emerged strongly through the survey responses.
The primary takeaway from the survey was that staff perspectives strongly align with the Foundation’s mission, embodying a deep love for San Diego and a shared desire to help the community thrive. Staff highlighted an appreciation for the local natural environment and the ease of accessing it, the abundance of cultural activities, and the richness of diversity and multicultural life in the region. They also expressed a wish for their workplace to feel uplifting, energetic, and inspiring. With this mural, the artist aims to capture those values, creating a work that inspires hope and serves as a daily reminder of the purpose and vision of the Prebys mission.
To embody that mission, the mural represents San Diego’s diverse, multicultural, and multigenerational community. The figures all face the same direction, symbolizing a shared sense of belonging and a collective, hopeful vision for the future. Behind them stretches the Pacific Ocean, while an outline of the Cuyamaca Mountains grounds the composition in the San Diego landscape. The figures are interwoven with abstractions of culturally significant icons, including The Rady Shell, the California Tower in Balboa Park, a lowrider, the Geisel Library, and a motif from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Local monarch and swallowtail butterflies also appear, representing hope and transformation.
The title Rising Tide references both the Pacific Ocean and the idea expressed in John F. Kennedy’s often-cited phrase, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”