Concord was founded in 1796 after local leaders finally reached, well, concord over where the…read morecounty seat should go, and the name stuck from the very beginning. The town grew around its courthouse square, and the historic Cabarrus County Courthouse that stands today dates to 1876 after an earlier building was lost to fire. Designed by GSH Appleget, it is a Victorian era mix of Second Empire and Italianate details with a tall clock tower that still anchors downtown even though it no longer handles court business. Downtown itself is quaint and on a quiet Sunday morning, it feels almost paused in time. I was passing through to visit the courthouse and ended up staying for coffee and a slow walk along Union Street where there are sculptures tucked along the sidewalks that make the whole stretch feel playful and welcoming. Too early for most of the restaurants, which do have streetside seating set up. It is all adorable and fun and i really enjoyed my time here. [Review 668 of 2026 - 4755 in North Carolina - 25849 overall]

As I was walking along Union Street super early on a quiet Sunday morning, making my way from the…read morehistoric courthouse towards my eventual stop for coffee, I came across "Dawn" by Sam Spiczka, one of the city's public arts commission installations, and it hit just right for that hour of the day. The piece rises in this organic, skeletal curve that feels both industrial and natural at the same time. Something about the upward reach immediately made me think of the Holocaust Memorial in Miami with its giant hand stretching toward the sky, not in a direct way but in that shared sense of striving and tenson. Standing here with no one else around, the street still waking up and most of the shops still closed, the sculpture felt like a quiet marker of transition, the kind of artwork that is a reward for being out before the world gets noisy. [Review 664 of 2026 - 4752 in North Carolina - 25845 overall]

Industrial Oaf: Delicate Dump by Kevin Vanek sits in the parking lot of the F&M Trolley Barn in…read moreSalisbury like a big steel question you weren't expecting to find, this rough welded figure that looks both awkward and strangely random at the same time. Having read up on the artist for this review, I've learned that it is his design to reinvent industrial forms with a child-like curiosity and celebrating the history of labor through reclaimed materials. You can see that here in the way the metal still carries the marks of its past life while becoming something almost humorous and expressive. What really works is how the piece transforms this corner of the parking lot into a small moment of discovery, because as you walk around it the posture shifts and the welds reveal little decisions that make the figure seem more alive. Vanek's approach to material and form comes through clearly here, a blend of industrial grit and emotional softness that he aims for. The result is a sculpture that feels both heavy and oddly endearing, like it's carrying the memory of the work that shaped it. It's the kind of artwork that rewards a second look and adds a small spark of curiosity to a place you wouldn't normally think of as an art stop. [Review 656 of 2026 - 4744 in North Carolina - 25837 overall]

On a quiet Sunday morning, the Union-Market Passageway in Concord felt anything but spooky, which…read moreis always a pleasant surprise because some alleys can definitely give off that vibe. But here, the white painted brick and the bright artworks made it feel open and welcoming. The murals tell the story of Concord's industrial past and how those early mills and factories shaped the city. Knowing the installation was completed in 2013 by artist Sharon Dowell made me appreciate how intentional the space feels. One of the captions, "This image shows the original Cabarrus County Courthouse, built after the Town of Concord was laid out in 1796 on a 26 acre tract of land called 'Pea Ridge' near the old Indian Trading Path. It was a modest frame structure 30 feet wide and 30 feet long with a 15 foot hip roof. It was constructed in the intersection of Union and Corbin (now Corban) Streets." Walking through with no one else around, it was easy to slow down and take in the colors and the way the artwork is framed against the clean brick walls, and the passageway felt more like a small outdoor art gallery than a cut through. It is a simple spot but a charming one, and on a calm Sunday morning, it added a nice bit of character to my walk through downtown Concord. [Review 665 of 2026 - 4753 in North Carolina - 25846 overall]

Union-Market Passageway is not just another utilitarian alleyway in an historic downtown district…read more It's historical and artsy too! located between 48 and 46 South Union the pedestrian alley is currently adorned with works by Charlotte artist Sharon Dowell titled "Momentous- A Timeline of History Shaping Sites of Concord" it includes several large pieces installed on the wall depicting places and periods significant to life in the early days of the greater Concord metro. small plaques accompany the panels providing background and context for the illustrations.

Dedicated on Veterans Day, 2011, the Veterans Monument pays tribute and remembrance of those who…read morehave served the United States. With six marble towers each dedicated to one of the branches of armed forces, there is also a polished wall that is inscribed with the names of over 1100 veterans living or deceased that are or were Cornelius residents. At the top of the monument, there is a six-foot tall likeness of Corporateal Jerry K. Crump on a granite base. Corporal Crump received both the Purple Heart and the Congressional Medal of Honor. There is a brief description of his heroic actions at the base. There is free parking across the street and a crosswalk. [Review 12627 overall, 2419 of 2019.]

Located in one of the more upper crust neighborhoods of a town that's already upper crust itself,…read morethis sculpture is definitely political. The statue depicts a Jesus as a homeless vagrant sleeping on a park bench. Huddled under a blanket with his face and hands obscured, only the crucifixion wounds on his uncovered feet give him away. The bronze statue was purchased for $22,000 as a memorial for a parishioner, Kate McIntyre, who loved public art. The rector of this liberal, inclusive church is the Rev. David Buck, a 65-year-old Baptist-turned-Episcopalian who seems not at all averse to the controversy, the double takes and the discussion the statue has provoked. "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me." -Matthew 25:40 [Review 13405 overall, 724 of 2020.]

This is homeless Jesus I guess they have a lot of these because we have one of these in my city…read morethat I live in. So we were downtown exploring the area we came across another homeless Jesus. I guess the meaning of this is to love everyone and just respect people no matter who or what they are.

The George Clinton Mural is located in Kannapolis, NC, aka Towel City. The city got its name as it…read morewas the leading manufacturer of textiles, particularly towels. Clinton was born in an outhouse in a segregated, poverty-stricken area in Kannapolis. This mural is #28 in the series that Scott Nurkin has been painting for the North Carolina Musicians Mural Trail. It was completed in October/November 2025. Nurkin captures Clinton in a massive close-up with such detail that his eyes follow you. It feels as if George Clinton is looking right at you, with a psychedelic, cosmic energy. It is located on the side of Towel City Tavern in the West Avenue District. There was plenty of parking the day I was there, but I wasn't there near game time at the baseball stadium. The location of the mural is symbolic and fitting, as Clinton's dad worked at Cannon Mills, not too far from the mural, removing cotton from 500-lb bales. The Opening Room was the only place where Black people could work at the company. The job was physically demanding under the harsh conditions of the heat and suffocating dust. George Clinton was born in Kannapolis, NC, although he grew up in Plainfield, NJ. George Jr. was the oldest of nine children. George's mother, Julia, was a house cleaner and babysitter and helped spark Clinton's creative side. His upbringing came out in his songs. She inspired his funk with her "funky faces" from being part of Louis Jordan's music. She also sang to him. He witnessed her resilience in the face of segregation in the South. George Sr. was a gospel singer whose music and harmonies inspired George Jr., and Sr.'s work ethic gave Jr. the drive to work just as hard. George Clinton ran a barber shop for 10 years and started a doo wop group called the Parliaments. The group moved to Detroit to audition for Motown. Clinton was a songwriter and wrote songs for the Jackson 5 and the Supremes. His biggest hit for the Parliament was "(I wanna) Testify". After the label that had the Parliament went under, Clinton created a new group called Funkadelic. Both bands overlapped for a time, sharing members and becoming known as Parliament-Funkadelic (P-Funk). The sound was a mix of psychedelic rock and R&B, marking the start of the funk sound. He later started a solo career and has collaborated with Bootsy Collins, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. In 1997, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. In 2019, he and Parliament-Funkadelic received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024. In 2025 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The mural serves as a reminder that the "Godfather of Funk" began his journey in Towel City.

so I'm walking around Salisbury trying to enjoy a damp, grey, sullen, and mostly overcast Saturday…read moreafternoon and I happen upon a steel pole strategically placed in the middle of what should be an alley except that it's kinda narrow and the planters and benches tighten it up just a bit more. seems a decent spot to park oneself for a bit, maybe if it had some ivy... no dumpsters nearby to stink up the place so this might be okay in the summer to get out of the sun if a breeze comes through. or not?