Sooo we had nothing to do while we were in the area for a soccer tournament. I mean, if you are…read morewithin 15 minutes of this, sure check it out as it makes from some cute pictures. I wouldn't drive more than 15 minutes to do this again. And it is a one and done experience. Looks neat though for pictures.

I wanted to checkout this mural in person because it kept popping up on things to do while in…read moreColumbia. It was a quick visit and the mural is definitely run down but neat to look at. Other than that, it is what you see and that's about it.

I would be easy to miss this sculpture that stands at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Assembly…read moreStreet next to a McDonald's drive-through. The shape of it caught my eye as I was waiting at the traffic light, it made me smile and I had to learn more. The sculpture is from artist Eileen Blyth, a Columbia based artist who is originally from Charleston. She has a diverse body of work including paintings, sculptures and installations of found objects. From the artist's statement, "Whether one is a visitor or a local; coming or going, Hello Goodbye provides a friend greeting. Elmwood Avenue is one of South Carolina's most traveled roads. McDonald's sits on the corner of this, the busiest intersection, with traffic coming in and out of the city at a steady pace." ​The sculpture is mounted on a 3 foot base and is made of half inch steel. It is stands 8 feet high by 6 feet wide. [Review 2194 of 2024 - 1167 in South Carolina - 23212 overall]

Art can be political at times and this is one of them. The Architecture of Strength is on the…read morecorner directly opposite the South Carolina State House and there are some benches nearby. It is a metal sculpture about ten feet tall and it is clearly "female" from the shape and beyond that, it is unidentifiable as any single woman in particular. "Placed at the northwest corner of Main and Gervais streets, directly across from the State house, this monument stands in conversation with and physically confronts South Carolina's past and its white, male-dominated status quo... Our city has a legacy of remarkable women. The Architecture of Strength, located at the physical and symbolic center of the state, will play a role in creating a sense of public memory for all and a source of public identity for women throughout Columbia and South Carolina." "The faceless, nameless nature of this art represents the idea that it takes all kinds of women, all shapes, all sizes, and beliefs to build a community." As political artworks go, this is about as clear as it gets. Up with Women! [Review 2192 of 2024 - 1165 in South Carolina - 23210 overall]

I've added this cool gas station with the category of "Public Art" rather than "Gas Station"…read morebecause it's not an open gas station. Instead, it is a former station that is decorated with vintage gas pumps, a vintage air pump and even a mannequin in the window dressed as a gas jock wearing appropriate period clothing and ready to "fill 'er up." 29.9 a gallon! Who remembers those days? The station is surrounded by a wrought iron fence for protection but the bars are far enough apart that you can get a camera lens between them for a good picture. [Review 13652 overall, 971 of 2020, number 608 in South Carolina.]

Another sculpture on Augusta's sculpture trail along Broad Street, this is an interesting piece…read morethat I thought was quite pretty. Flowery, colorful, interesting. The artwork is titled "Invasive" and the online caption reads, "Jenn Garrett is from Gainesville, FL. An homage to her mother and sister who have fought breast cancer, Invasive is simultaneously beautiful and somewhat unsettling. The pair of hot pink forms appear to have sprouted from the landscape bringing a robust splash of color to an otherwise ordinary backdrop. The aluminum plate petals are cut with a cell stain pattern, referencing both plant forms and the disease process. Are these flowers or are they weeds?" Stop by and check it out for yourself. What do you think? [Review 15047 overall, 549 of 2021, number 410 in Georgia.]

It has taken a while to figure out what this artwork is named and now I know so I can share. This…read moreis "Stem" and it is by artist John Grade. Grade was born in 1970 and works in Seattle. According to his bio, "Kinetics, impermanence and chance are often central to the work." This large sculpture stands in Marsh Park in Pineville https://www.yelp.com/biz/marsh-park-pineville?hrid=hyiA3qTqzfDLTksPCbSdHQ. The park has a paved trail, bridges and boardwalks that allow an overlook of the marshes. There are some seating areas nearby and parking. While this artwork screams out to be climbed on, it is absolutely not for climbing. "Derived from a magnified cross-section of the rhizome [plant stem] of a common sedge indigenous to Marsh Park, Stem is sited along a walking path at the edge of a reclaimed wetland. Purpleheart hardwood was chosen for the sculpture for its durability as well as for its heavy weight. The site floods periodically, temporarily submerging the lower portion of the sculpture under water." [Review 19694 overall - 3425 in North Carolina - 666 of 2023.]

Absolutely stunning mural -- the scale, the detail, and the emotion captured in these faces are…read morebreathtaking. You can really feel the connection between generations and the community spirit it represents. We saw it while driving through and had to pull over just to take it all in. It's not just public art -- it's a tribute to humanity. A powerful and moving piece that makes the city more beautiful. Definitely worth seeing in person!

The carillon's 25 bells float within a basic structure of three painted steel columns, the highest…read moreof which is 54 feet tall. A continuously flowing water feature can be seen at the foot of the tower. The bell tower's open structure preserves the direct view from the RiverPlace courtyard to the river and the city beyond. The design and location of the bell tower and carillon were approved by the City's Arts in Public Places Commission and the former Design and Preservation Commission. It was unveiled in August 2012. The tower structure was dedicated in honor of Tommy Wyche, who was selected because of his love of music and lifelong support of downtown Greenville. Sadly, I didn't get to hear it ring today. [Review 2226 of 2024 - 1193 in South Carolina - 23244 overall]