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.

Get Woke! This Wake sculpture was commissioned as part of…read morethe Mel Chin: All Over the Place exhibition that led to this artwork being displayed in Times Square. It's supposed to be animatronic and move or something, but I didn't see it doing any moving. Maybe Wake was sleeping? It kinda looks like the person at the helm of a ship, with the parts of the helm behind them. When we came, during Pandemic, the Wake person was wearing a mask, which was most appreciated. This giant work of public art is nestled in a triangular lot right next to Burial Brewery on the South Slope of Asheville's brewing district. It fits right in with all the cool, unique weird stuff going on in this neighborhood!

This amazing sculpture was engineered and sculpted by a team of UNC Asheville students and staff…read moreand community artists. It was displayed in Times Square and has since been brought home and is on display in Asheville's South Slope. It's a beautiful piece designed to make a statement about climate change. It's 40 feet tall and the coolest part? It's animatronic! I highly recommend stopping by, visiting her and then hitting one (or three) of the brewers that are in the area. Have fun!!

Asheville has a vibrant street art and mural culture that is in its historic center . The artwork…read morereflects the community's creative spirit, transforming bleak urban brick walls into art . An absolute must-visit landmark in West Asheville! I stopped by the side of the Beauty Parade salon on Haywood Road to see the famous Dolly Parton and RuPaul mural by Gus Cutty, and it completely exceeded my expectations. The detail and scale of the artwork are stunning. Definitely go see it.

River Art District is a nice block to stroll but weather in summer could damper your mood so best…read moreto enjoy early evening hours. Lots of independent artists studios, many walks painted with "stories", and some local eatery -- seems like oven fresh pizza is a hit here! The road leading to the Art District is beautiful and yet to walk across the bridge.

I'm not sure why this ground level sculpture is titled "Otter Out of Water" but I nearly tripped…read moreover it as I returned to my car after visiting Sally Fox Park. It looks more like a long eel but hey, that's just my opinion. Installed in 2017 and surrounded by low shrubbery, it would be a little hard to find if you didn't know it's here. As well, it's not in the park itself but on a triangle shaped piece of land across the street. If you've seen pictures of the Loch Ness Monster, or at least the tails of it, that's what we have here. But definitely not an Otter. Odd. The caption gives us the title and the name of the artist, "Harry McDaniel" and that it was installed by the City of Hickory Public Art Commission. And as tempting as it might be, please don't climb on it! [Review 15870 overall - 3088 in North Carolina - 1374 of 2021.]

Shiny and glittering out of the corner of my eye, this large piece of public art is placed near the…read morefront of the Valerie C Woodward Center facility that houses a number of Charlotte-Mecklenburg city/county offices. From the artist's website, "Pillars of Dreams... makes a soft landing in a field of quiet moments and curious interactions. Open columns drop down from the floating canopy into a field of seating, open paths for wandering, and unbounded spaces for self-assembly. More than an idiosyncratic space for individual discovery, Pillars of Dreams establishes a public agora for visitors and employees at this important community interface between local government and Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents." The caption points out that the artist is Marc Fornes and it is powder-coated aluminum with stainless-steel rivets making up some 3564 parts and 54,000 rivets. Step into and under the center of this public art for a moment. The artist has put openings into the aluminum skin that let some light in. It reflects off the pieces and makes for a pretty sight. Shadows, projected and reflected light in the space below are lovely. Check it out when you're in the area. [Review 13437 overall, 756 of 2020.]

This is a very unique and pretty art installation. I wasn't sure exactly where to go and Apple Maps…read morearen't that helpful what you want to do is go to the front of the building and then turn right. It is on the right side of the building easily accessible if you are coming from the front. Make sure to go close up and look from underneath to see the wide array of colors.

A very large art district with lots of galleries, a building with artist studios, the North…read moreCarolina Glass Center who offers classes, and a few restaurants and a coffee shop. The Gray Line Trolley has two stops for the River Arts District - North and South. The North stop is at the north side of Haywood Rd at Roberts St just before traffic circle, directly across the street from city bus shelter. There was a low concrete wall where I sat and waited to be picked up. The North Carolina Glass Center was located down the street to the left with the bigger multi-artist studio was up the street to the right.

The River Arts District, aka RAD, is full of creativity and local charm. It feels like paint spills…read morethrough the streets, bringing every corner to life especially to old industrial buildings. You can watch artists creating beautiful pieces right in their studios -- so look for the yellow signs in front of various studios.The mix of murals, galleries, and old warehouses gives RAD a unique character. It's nice to stroll to watch, shop, and support local artists.

Surprisingly intriguing museum with a wide variety of art which is presented in a gorgeous,…read morewell-lit space and organized well. Excellent staff who were cordial and knowledgeable. Highly recommend! It would be nice to provide a bit more info about each painting beyond the donor info.

The Art Museum was easy to find and is one of several museums all near each other, The Children's…read moremuseum, The Music Museum and The History museum as well as a Library and Theatre. We were greeted at the entrance and they explained about standing 3 feet back from the art on the wall. I was given a sheet of paper explaining what exhibits were on each level. The works of art were displayed nicely with cards listening Artist, title and mediums used. Also on the walls were interesting facts about the featured artist and their works. The Andrew Wyeth pictures were a beautiful representation of his work spanning several decades of his life. There was also a wonderful exhibit of American artist Bob Ray's work. I was not familiar with his work but it was lovely and intriguing. There are elevators and stairs and ramps making transitions to each floor very easy for all. We went to the top floor and a wonderful gentleman who works there, John , told us quite a bit about the mixed media bird sculptures that were made by Grainger McKoy and and featured at the museum. Gravity defying and extremely detailed we were in awe. John was enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we had a wonderful time. There was a delightful group of young children on a school trip, that were at the museum and were incredibly well behaved. They were listening to their guide and I was smiling as they were told to discuss with their partners different aspects of the works..... their sweet voices sounded like music as I was behind a wall. The gift shop was small but lovely and I bought some cards and beautiful paper masks. There is no admission fee, so we took an envelope to send in well deserved donation.

Absolutely an unforgettable Asheville experience!…read more Christian and I had an amazing time at the North Carolina Glass Center. We each created a piece--I made a glass pumpkin, and Christian made a pint glass--and the entire experience was fantastic from beginning to end. We recently picked up our finished pieces, and seeing how beautifully they turned out was almost as exciting as making them. The artists and staff made the process fun, comfortable, and approachable, even for complete beginners. Watching molten glass transform is incredible, but getting to participate makes it truly special. I also found a gorgeous clear glass icicle, an adorable curly glass plant spike I nicknamed "Baby Curly Cute" , and the cutest little glass measuring cup. This was one of our favorite Asheville experiences and a wonderful vacation memory to bring home. If you're visiting Asheville, GO HERE! Make something, explore the glass art, and bring home something beautiful. Five VERY enthusiastic stars from us! Thank you, North Carolina Glass Center, for such a memorable experience!

Since we travel with a carry-on and backpack, I am extremely selective about what I buy when we…read moretravel. I do, however, have a fondness for hand-blown glass and pottery. ChatGPT recommended that I definitely check out the North Carolina Glass Center while exploring the River Arts District North stop on the Gray Line Trolley, and I am glad I did. There is a good-sized shop with a wide variety of items, from larger decorative statement pieces and vases to drinking glasses and jewelry, with many items at affordable prices. While I was there, two artists were creating fall pumpkins using the furnaces, molds, and different techniques for blowing and shaping the hot glass. It was a great free demonstration that I hadn't needed to schedule or show up for at a special time. One of the artists even engaged those of us watching by asking what color he should use for the stem of the purple pumpkin he was making. Even though I still had more trolley stops and sightseeing ahead of me, I bought two hand-blown glasses that I knew I could fit into my personal-item bag. For me, buying something when I know I have to carry it around for the rest of the day and somehow get it home in my luggage is a pretty good endorsement. 8-) I recommend making the North Carolina Glass Center a must-stop during a visit to the River Arts District. You may also want to check their website before you go to see if there is a glass-making class you can sign up for.

Great murals, personalized attire, mugs, tumblers, paintings, actually they are artists, do laser…read morecutting and engraving, apparel printing, embroidery, and specialized large format and specialty printing

Mr. Joe Haick has not printed a job for me that we contracted for almost a year and a half ago. He…read morehas promised with every excuse that he would print my panels but never followed up on his promises. I even offered to pay him more for the printing than the money I paid which he asked for. He defrauded me of my panels worth $500.00, which I had custom made here in FL and sent to him. Due to the distance, as Cat Studios is no longer in Palm Beach County, FL, where I live, and he moved to NC, it doesn't pay me to pursue a legal procedure. At this point I just wanted my panels returned, unprinted. This is a clear fraudulent case and that is why I have contacted the local Police, and Better Business Bureau in Charlotte. With all his promises in all of our documented emails, this has been a most traumatic experience for me doing business with Cat Studios and Joe Haick.

The Old Cigar Warehouse was a perfect venue for a wedding…read more As its name suggests, it is historically detailed that provides a mixture of modern and Southern aspects. The venue was perfect in terms of its layout and space. An ideal place that ensures coziness of everyone. The layout consists of a main hall with a deck and another space for the reception. The deck was a perfect idea for the bride to walk down the stairs and into the aisle. The main hall was small, but it was enough to fit about 150 people with room for other stuff. The side room was turned into the reception with arranged tables. I loved the high ceilings and the bricked and stained decors. It was a warehouse feel indeed, but a newly renovated one. The bathroom locations were convenient and so was accessibility in the entire venue. It is beautiful and perfect not just for weddings, but any special occasion.

We came here for a wedding and was so amazed at how beautiful the venue is. We took an uber here so…read moreI can't tell you how it was for parking. The setting was great. Decor was beautiful and the staff was friendly. The bride and groom were also pleased as well!