Good to see them, giraffes are my favorite animal..... They…read moreare very unique. very tall, just like real giraffes, glad we have them in Charlotte

Up against the tall building in South End, these two giraffes look a bit out of place. What are…read moresteel sculptures of an African animal doing in Charlotte? It turns out that there are stories and that's okay. Feel free to make up your own. One of the giraffes appears to be stretching its long neck, looking outward. The other is stooped low, giving the appearance of grazing. I think they look very neat. It appears that they were designed by Ben Parrish of Steel Design Studios and are here as public art in front of this mixed use tower. I like art. [Review 16925 overall - 3248 in North Carolina - 441 of 2022.]

Almost passed right by it -- it looks like an unsuspecting alleyway but fear not! The murals were…read moreBEAUTIFUL and I so appreciate when cities make an effort to incorporate more art into its streets

Great to walk through and read about the installations! Beautiful and free street art. Awesome…read morephoto opportunities and lots of hidden treasures. :)

A project funded by the City of Charlotte's Public Art Ordinance, Tapestry is the work of…read moreKentucky-based artist Douwe Blumberg. It stands in the roundabout on Berryhill Road and you absolutely can't miss it. What you can miss is the shape. It's a face but you have to catch it at the correct angle. "'Tapestry' is intended to communicate the value and beauty of diversity in community. Many diverse segments come together to create a harmonious and vibrant unity of image," Blumberg says in his artist statement. Blumberg crafted the 20 foot tall piece from welded aluminum and magnesium alloy. [Review 298 of 2024 - 3554 in North Carolina - 21332 overall.]

Located on a small triangle of land at the southern end of Charlotte's Latta Park, this bright…read moreyellow artwork is the ultimate in upcycling or recycling. The artwork is made from the line of trolley tracks that were buried underground since the 1930's when they brought people from the city's first suburb into downtown. They were uncovered in 2010 during roadwork on East Boulevard. The rail pieces were fused into V's and then assembled into something that looks like a DNA double helix and were then painted a vibrant yellow. The sculpture is pointed with one end toward downtown and one toward Dilworth, a reference to the two placed the rail used to connect. Nearby, a caption gives some history of the transportation in the city, dating back to the 1880s with horsecars through the 1930s when gas motorbuses were introduced. It is a striking artwork and with the bright color, you won't miss it. [Review 14482 overall, 1808 of 2020, number 2736 in North Carolina.]

Recently ranked as one of the Top 50 artworks built in 2018, this interesting display is made up of…read more5.768 individual pieces and climbs 8 feet tall around Southwest and Southeast corners of the new Stonewall Station Parking garage. It's not a great spot to enjoy unless you are headed into Uptown on Caldwell Street. I had to park on the 277 onramp and hope not to get a ticket as I took my pictures and tried to appreciate the artwork. The piece is suspended as a one continuous piece without the use of a secondary support system. According to information I found online, "The 16-inch deep directional folds across the structural skin borrows from the concept of nappe--a geological term relating to both the movement and form that creates the earth's peaks and valleys over their tectonic history. A dynamic cultural asset for the City of Charlotte, Wanderwall celebrates the spirit of growth and discovery." Worth a stop to check it out. [Review 11551 overall, 1331 of 2019.]

You'll find this bright yellow sculpture standing on a pedestal since shortly after this building…read morewas completed. It is outside the building in front of what used to be Italian but is now an ice cream shop. What did this machine do? How important was it to the factory where it sat? How many people did it take to operate? The caption simply says, "These parts were salvaged from the Charlotte Machine Company which occupied this site from 1925 until 2015. Sculpture by David Furman." There is street parking if you can find a space or a paid parking deck behind the building. [Review 16883 overall - 3212 in North Carolina - 397 of 2022.]

Located on the side of Romare Bearden Park closest to Mint Street, this welded stainless steel…read moresculpture soars 30 feet into the air like a wave. The artwork was unveiled on September 23, 2017. The caption reads, "Richard Hunt created 'Spiral Odyssey' as a tribute to his friend Romare Bearden (1911-1988). Bearden and Hunt were the first contemporary African American artists to have solo exhibitions at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1971." "In 1963, Romare Bearden played a pivotal role in the founding of a collective of African American artists known as the 'Spiral Group' who actively participated in the Civil Rights movement. In the manner of the Archimedean spiral that advances by radiating outward to embrace all directions, the elegant spiral formed by Richard Hunt's sculpture symbolizes the widening influence of the Spiral Group. It also represents the circular nature of progress and the complexities of Bearden's multifaceted career, which even in its legacy continues to ascend." "The 'Odyssey', Homer's epic poem chronicling the hero's perilous voyage home, inspired Bearden as well as Hunt. A form resembling a ship's bow servs as the base of Hunt's sculpture. A journeying vessel, the ship alludes to forward momentum as well as the suffering experienced by enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage. The sculpture's ascending height attests to a fortitude of character - strength, tenacity and liberty. Whimsical vignettes mimicking fish surfing in the ship's wake, and generative plant life inspired by the surrounding garden, signify resiliency and regeneration." Collection of Mecklenburg County, Commissioned in partnership with the Arts & Science Council and the Public Art Commission. Funding was generously provided by Mecklenburg County, Duke Energy Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Board of Directors of the Arts & Science Council. [Review 268 of 2024 - 3525 in North Carolina - 21303 overall.]

With a place of honor on South Tryon at the entrance to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, this…read moreshimmering statue was installed in 2009. Over 17 feet tall and weighing over 1400 pounds, the "Disco Chicken" is as much a symbol of Uptown as the Bank of America tower. Covered from top to bottom in over 7,500 pieces of glass, it was created in 1991 by French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle, and purchased by Andreas Bechtler specifically for placement at the front of the museum. The official name of the statue is "Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l'Arche" or "Large Firebird on an Arch" even though it does look a lot like a chicken wearing disco pants. If you're in Uptown, this is the place to stop for your "I've been to Charlotte" photo! Round number - this is my 1300th Charlotte review! [Review 13131 overall, 448 of 2020.]