We came across this mural in Cincinnati. "ArtWorks, Urban Blooms, and the Walnut Hills…read moreRedevelopment Foundation partnered to facilitate a living green wall mural in historic Walnut Hills. A project steering committee with representatives from each partner/organization as well as prominent community members was assembled to organize this project. The plants on the green wall will grow and thrive thanks to their built-in irrigation system. The design, created by artist April Sunami (who has family ties to Walnut Hills), is meant to represent the literal and figurative growth of the community. Youth worked with Professional Artists to executed the project which seamlessly integrates with a living green wall, designed by Urban Blooms."

The journey is a massive public art mural located in the short north community of downtown Columbus…read moreOhio. The mural actually consists of 3 pieces. 2 gigantic ones on each side of the tall downtown building and a smaller one with birds at the ground level. All 3 murals is very colorful and vibrant and are well done by the artist. My favorite of the 3 is the large weight on your shoulders rendering. But all 3 are well done. Overall very cool piece is a public art heavy short north area. Fun stroll to take for public art lovers like me and my family.

This mural is one of the newest in the Short North neighborhood and it is by far the biggest!…read moreActually, it's officially confirmed as the tallest in all of central Ohio, coming in at 11 stories tall and 11,000 square feet total between the three pieces (located on both sides of the building). It even includes an "augmented reality" component which can make it a 3D experience. It's also the largest of its kind in the entire world, pretty rad right?! We're lucky to have such an abundance of art in Columbus and I'm glad this piece is here to stay. While it wasn't painted by local artists, it was painted by two extremely talented artists from LA and was inspired by Columbus and the large number of immigrants that come here, specifically from Somalia. The Short North Arts District did a write up on it last summer and it was really cool to learn more about the different components of the artwork and the stories of courage and resilience it portrays. The colors are super vibrant and I love how you can see it from a distance as you walk down High St. I live in the area and greatly enjoyed watching it go up, as it did so rather quickly in my opinion. While I walk by it often, I can't help myself, I always have to stop and snap a picture and admire it. I suggest you do the same!

The Gates of Hell in north Columbus is one of those eerie local spots that sticks with you. It's an…read moreold, graffiti-covered tunnel that feels straight out of an urban legend--dark, damp, and definitely creepy once you step inside. The echo of footsteps, the dripping water, and the way the light disappears the deeper you go all add to the unsettling vibe. It's not an official attraction, more of a hidden curiosity, but if you're into spooky local history and a little adventure, it's worth checking out. Just be prepared--it definitely earns its name. I was there alone and I got a sketchy vibe from it. Nothing happened, of course, but you always want to be aware of your surroundings. Maybe pick up a rock incase someone there has ill intent.

This is smack dab in the middle of unhoused encampment. Because this is sort of a see at your own…read morerisk it is unkempt. I'm not sure if the storm over the weekend made it worse but we could figure out how to get around the water or if there was a less dangerous way of seeing it.

This mural is on my favorite store in Hamilton. Unsung Salvage. Be sure to stop in if you're…read morechecking out the mural. I'm pretty sure that this building used to be a place that sold lighting fixtures and parts, so the bulbs seem appropriate. I don't know why Hamilton is so into origami, but whatever. It's neat. At first I thought they were cranes and bats but then I found out I don't know anything about origami and that they're swallows "foreshadowing spring." Thinking they are bats is way different than swallows foreshadowing spring. The more I learn the names of murals in Hamilton, the more it seems they are titled to try to alleviate people who fear losing their city to the sort of people who make murals. And the people who make murals are paying homage to the history of the city with bright color pallets. Anyway, I forgot to say this is from the Street Spark team here in Hamilton. They do a fantastic job. I love to see them out painting. From their homepage (https://www.fittoncenter.org/streetspark) Lead Artist: Nick Scrimenti Supporting Artists: Lori Farr, John McCoy, Ariel Williams Thanks, guys!

Public Art [Florence KY]…read more On our way to Cincinnati we took a little detour to stop by this mural, we were nearby when I saw the check-in in Yelp. Well, it wasn't really as close as I thought since we were coming from Louisville (I-71) and still had to cut across US 42 towards Florence. It was still a drive (luckily, I have a patient husband). We found it and it is located in a quiet part of Main Street in Florence KY. The mural is painted on a brick wall of Stringtown Bar & Grill and is a little twist on the Looney Tunes signature closing sequence written over the bullseye, it says "That's Y'all, Folks!" Some people have discovered this sign for fun pics but I'm not sure if this quiet neighborhood will like it once it gets a little more popular. It was a fun stop, quick, unexpected and random. Anywho, Th-Th... that's all, folks! Review #3924

This was a cute little stop and take a picture site. We didn't have time to explore any more of the…read morearea but the artist shop looked interesting.

This is a sculpture located in Dayton's wonderful RiverScape MetroPark. It is the work of Romain…read moreartist, Prince Monyo' Simon Mihailescu-Nasturel and is dedicated to the people and children of the Miami Valley. It is not a one of a kind though. There is a color version of this exact mural that the artist created, along with a bunch of similar pieces, that are located at Gallery Via Veneto in West Palm Beach, FL. I guess that one got the better assignment if you ask me. The sculpture was commissioned and dedicated by the Arnovitz family in memory of their family member, Tala Arnovitz. The sculpture is made of bronze and depicts 5 small children running in a line across while holding hands. The detail on the sculptures of the children are pretty good. One of the children has roller blades hanging from their shoulders and two others are wearing ball caps. The sculptures are set upon a cement base. The one on the far right has its own base for some reason. There is a bronze plaque on the ground next to the base that has the title of the sculpture and another that explains the sculptures dedication and names the artist. You cannot help but be happy when you are viewing this sculpture. It had me reminiscing about my good old childhood days. There is metered street parking available on the street adjacent to the park that the sculpture is located in and also in a reasonable walking distance. The parking is free after 6 PM and on weekends. I am not sure of the sculptures age, but it appears to be in fairly decent shape. Anyway, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would start with RiverScape MetroPark, which it is located in, the Military Memorial or Cooper Park to make a half to full day of your excursion.

I'm a big fan of street art and murals. The historic part area of Richmond has some really cool…read moremurals. We were in the area looking at a list of waterfalls but happened upon this area and neat murals. I would like to come back and spend more time exploring.

If you enjoy murals in unexpected places, this is the block to go! The north end of the blocks…read morewhere Ft Wayne Avenue meets North E Street has surprises on the fronts, backs, and even near the tops of the buildings. On the west side of Ft Wayne Avenue, the Richmond Furniture Gallery building has numerous images of furniture painted by the loading docks on the north side. There is also a portrait of Charles Mosey, early recording artist, by Pamela Bliss (1999). There is also a banner mural which reads "Greetings from Richmond, Indiana". On the south end of the block is a mural by Damon Reed of guitarist Lonnie Johnson with a post card of Richmond behind him and to the left. On the east side of Ft Wayne Avenue, you probably see the rooftop billboard/mural of Louis Armstrong playing his trumpet next to a sign for Historic Richmond. Down at street level on the north end is a mural of Louis Armstrong on one side of the doorway and Hoagy Carmichael on the other. The mural that seems to spur the most discussion is the alley mural of windows and doorways by Pamela Bliss. Although there are very few actual doors and windows on the alley, Bliss had painted in the areas to make it appear the building is occupied by a variety of characters. As you stroll through the alley, you will see a peacock, a puppy, a kitten, a young woman, a recreation of the famous WWII image of a sailor kissing a gal, a guitarist, a carousing husband getting home late to a wife with a rolling pin, and even a flying pig! There are other windows and doors as well. Lots of imagination and a bit of humor. If you are in Richmond's Historic Depot District for coffee or a bite to eat, make a point to stop by and check out the fabulous murals throughout the area. Review #1235

The "Glass Capital of Indiana" Dunkirk mural was painted by Pamela Bliss Art FX in 2020. It is 135…read morefeet long and located on the side of a downtown building. It faces the laundry mat across the street, but can be seen from Main Street. It's huge and colorful!

This statue is located in front of the Main Branch of the Dayton Public Library. It is a nice…read morestatue that sits upon a pedestal and overlooks Cooper Park. The statue was dedicated in 1910 and is in great shape considering its age. They must do periodic maintenance on it. It does have the green tint to it like the Statue of Liberty that is caused by oxidation. The statue is standing on a stone pedestal high above the park. The sculpture depicts President Mckinley wearing a suit and long overcoat, with his right hand resting on an American flag which is draped over banded arrows and is left arm raised directly out in front of him, as if he is hailing. McKinley was an Ohio native and eventually became the Governor of the state and 25th president of the United States. He also served as an Ohio representative in Congress and a soldier in the Union Army. The bronze plaque on the pedestal reads as follows: To The Memory of William McKinley born Jan. 29th, 1843 died Sept. 14th, 1901 soldier in the Army of the Union representative in Congress Governor of Ohio President of the United States statesman, patriot, martyr a Christian gentleman whose sublime faith in his last moments was a crowning glory of a virtuous life this monument is a tribute by the Citizens of Dayton and the Children of its Schools "Nearer My God to Thee" It is interesting to note that over 11,000 local school children donated the $4,000 needed to build the statue. Metered street parking is available on the streets suroounding the park that the statue is located. The parking is free after 6PM and on weekends. This is a nice piece of Dayton history and a nice spot to visit. However, as with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. I would start with Cooper Park, which it is located in, the Military Memorial or RiverScape MetroPark to make a half to full day of your excursion.