STINGAREE REIMAGINED
A Bold Fusion of San Diego’s Grit and Glamour
The Stingaree District—once the heart of San Diego’s wild and untamed nightlife—lives on in legend.
A place of intrigue, shadowy rendezvous, and rebellious spirit, it shaped the city’s underbelly while
leaving a lasting mark on its cultural history. For the Marriott San Diego, Decora International
proposes a bold, sophisticated artistic narrative: a contemporary homage to this storied past,
where history meets modern elegance.
EXPLORING THEMES
New Visions of a Storied Past
The Stingaree district of San Diego has such a rich and gritty history, yet it can be translated into something upscale and intriguing for a Marriott setting. The goal is to nod to the past--the era of saloons, gambling halls, and speakeasies--while keeping it refined, cool, and modern.
THEMES TO CONSIDER
-
"Gilded Vice" – A sleek, opulent take on the Stingaree’s red-light history, mixing gold accents, deep velvets, and abstracted vintage imagery. Think high-contrast, moody lighting with layered historical references. Luxurious textures and high-contrast imagery that hint at the glamour and secrecy of the era.
-
"Neon Noir" – A blend of 1920s-1930s noir aesthetics and modern neon art. Vintage San Diego brothel signage could be reinterpreted in a minimalist, sculptural way. Vintage signage-inspired light installations with an edge of mystery.
-
"Secret Rendezvous" – Art that hints at hidden encounters, shadowy figures, and coded messages. Could include historical blueprints of old speakeasies, layered with ghostly silhouettes. Shadowy silhouettes and layered storytelling elements woven into murals and mixed-media works.
-
"Sin & Elegance" – A fusion of vintage prohibition-era glamour with a rebellious twist—silk-screened femme fatales, whiskey-toned abstracts, and metallic typography. Dramatic black-and-gold contrasts, reinterpreting the past through a sleek, modern lens.
​
ART STYLES, & MEDIUMS
-
Abstracted Vintage Photography – Distressed yet high-end compositions of old San Diego, overlaid with modern textures and metallic foiling. Archival photos layered with contemporary metallic finishes.
-
Minimalist Silhouettes – Playing with shadow and mystery, using cut-out forms or sleek black-and-gold contrasts. Playful, yet elegant forms that hint at movement and secrecy.
-
Neon Typography Installations – Classic phrases from the district’s heyday, subtly placed as modern neon or LED light art. A blend of old-world storytelling and modern lighting techniques.
-
Mixed-Media Collage Walls – Incorporating old maps, handwritten letters, and ghosted-out imagery to tell the layered story of the area.
-
Sculptural Installations – An interactive art piece that changes as you move, perhaps shifting between past and present views of the Stingaree.
-
Custom Murals with a Twist – Elegant murals that hint at the past but use a bold contemporary palette—deep reds, noir blues, and gold leaf. Large-scale, immersive works that tie into the hotel’s spatial experience.
COLOR PALETTE
-
Deep indigos, moody blacks, and rich burgundies
-
Aged metallics (brushed gold, tarnished copper, and smoked silver)
-
Cool neon accents (think muted purples, electric blues)
THE ARTISTIC VISION
We propose a curated collection of art that subtly nods to Stingaree’s notorious past, blending its raw history with a refined, contemporary aesthetic. The artwork will be designed to evoke emotion and curiosity—not simply decoration, but an immersive experience.
WHY DECORA?
Decora International is a world-renowned artist collective specializing in creating museum-quality, narrative-driven hospitality art. With experience crafting bespoke installations for elite hotels worldwide, our team understands how to translate history into a visually striking, meaningful experience. Let’s bring Stingaree’s history back to life—elevated, sophisticated, and unforgettable.
THE VISUALS
Below are some preliminary sketches that give life to the above theme concepts … a mix of digital mockups showcasing murals, neon elements, and layered storytelling pieces.
"Lilies of the Night" is a bespoke Artography series, inspired by and specifically conceived for this Marriott project. These works would be masterfully crafted to embody the allure and enigma of the Gaslight Quarter’s golden age. Ornately framed these images will blur the line between reality and reverie, evoking the presence of figures—most often women—who exist just beyond the veil of clarity. Hints of secrecy and forbidden pleasures emerge in shadowy glimpses, where the suggestion of poker cards, dice, and other ephemeral relics transport the viewer to another era. Yet, the imagery remains intentionally elusive, allowing the imagination to wander, for what is unseen often holds more power than what is revealed.
"Lilies of the Night "
Art Concept & Direction: Christian Wolfe Art Production: Tyler Nilson and Christian Wolfe
CLICK ABOVE TO ENLARGE
ABOVE: A sketch of a series conceived specifically for this project—entitled: "Lilies of the Night"—which are epic-scale framed "Artography" prints placed strategically in unexpected locations. Whether positioned around a corner or in a shadowed alcove, these pieces heighten the sense of secrecy, surprise, and mischief.
​
Each composition is an abstract interplay of light and form, subtly evoking themes of femme fatale intrigue, clandestine romance, and untold stories—never fully revealed, yet undeniably felt. While they carry a whisper of seduction, they stand as timeless works of classical art.
​
Dramatic lighting—possibly even backlit—enhances their presence, drawing the eye within darkened spaces—tucked into corners, positioned near elevator exits, or hidden just beyond a turn—moments waiting to be discovered.
​​
​LEFT & BELOW: More "sketch" samples of this same series—one being, placed at the end of a hallway, and the lower a detail portion of another sketch..
CLICK BELOW TO ENLARGE
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE >
"What this project calls for is a high-class version of steampunk debauchery."
~ Tyler Nilson / Decora Photographer & Designer
The following are some AI rendered images that may have nice ideas based on the descriptions I gave about this hotel's design focus ... however, the elements used in these
AI images would need to be changed to align more with that Gaslight Quarter era.
Nonetheless, some good ideas came from this.
CLICK ON EACH IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE
ABOVE: A concept mockup of an upscale hotel lobby inspired by the Stingaree district. The design blends abstracted vintage photography, metallic gold and deep red accents, and a subtle neon typography installation reading "Whispers of Stingaree." The sculptural silhouettes add a touch of mystery, creating a moody yet sophisticated atmosphere.
ABOVE: Another mockup—this time showcasing a luxury hotel hallway with a dramatic noir-inspired mural of the Stingaree district. The piece features elegant 1920s silhouettes, vintage maps, and deep burgundy and gold layers, all enhanced by hidden lighting and a subtle neon phrase, "Lost in the Stingaree."
ABOVE: Here's a mockup of a high-end hotel bar featuring a neon-lit art installation, "Whispers of the Stingaree," surrounded by abstract murals of shadowy figures layered over aged maps and handwritten letters from the early 1900s. The deep red velvet seating, gold accents, and moody ambient lighting create an atmosphere of mystery and elegance.​
We can also create variations focusing on sculptural
elements, neon installations, or additional mural styles.
Each of these samples ties back to the overarching vision we’ve refined—ensuring a cohesive, immersive theme that aligns seamlessly with the bold, sophisticated essence of this endeavor.​​
Mystery, secrecy, forbidden pleasures, indulgence to the extreme are all key coloring here.
Championing Excellence
We have a responsibility as designers to create a poetic resonance ...
the experience not only becomes about beauty seen with the eye alone,
but, it becomes a beauty felt in the stirrings of the heart ~ this is the
alchemy ... this is where we know we have triumphed with our art.
~ Decora Designer
The Creative Directors
Christian Wolfe
Founder / Director
Erin Kennedy
Senior Art Advisor
The Management Officers
Drew Gojsovich
Project Director
Angie Farynnyk
Client Liaison
Camila Pineda
Events Manager
Johnathan Macedo
Photographer
The Core Creatives
T.J. Kiser
Artist
Jonah Allen
Aerial Photographer
Donn Delson
Aerial Photographer
Inger Nova Jorgenson
Sculptress
Leho
Artist
Jack Magurany
Artist
Sheri Armor
Artist
And many more!