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.]

Installed in 2016, this interactive work initially looked like some sort of Greek letter. As I got…read moreclose to it, I noticed the bell shape was hanging loose from the support and just to the side, there's a metal striker with a rubber end to it. Yes, this giant piece of art is a huge gong. And at 9:30 am, am I going to bang the gong? YOU BET I DID! And wow, the sound it made was just so beautifully satisfying. A calming, bong that echoed back from the trees as it slowly dissipated. And while I was tempted to hit it again, I recognized that a second strike would never be as pleasing as the first surprisingly mellow tone so I returned the striker to the handle and stepped back with an exhale. The artwork is titled "Generations" and it is by artist Stefan "Steebo" Bonitz. It is near the western end of Sally Fox Park. If you're in the park, give it a go. [Review 15869 overall - 3087 in North Carolina - 1373 of 2021.]

I noticed the historical marker before I spotted this classic historic house and pulled in…read more Unfortunately, the museum was closed today but I did manage to examine the house from a few angles and it is pretty cool. I will need to come back when I can tour the museum properly. The marker reads, "Mundy House. Built between 1850 and 1870 by descendants of a Revolutionary War soldier and Methodist minister Jeremiah Mundy (1760-1835); One of the founding families of the Rock Springs Methodist Camp Meeting grounds in Denver; The R.O. Mundy family owned the property until the 1990s; Gravesites at the Denver Community Cemetery and Bethel United Methodist Church." The Mundy House is one of the few remaining historic houses in eastern Lincoln County, and it stands a local landmark that documents the history of the Mundy family and the development of Denver during the nineteenth century. The Mundy House is a central-hall house that maintains much of its original architectural integrity. It represents a house form that was ubiquitous in the county during the last half of the nineteenth and first decade of the twentieth century, but nearly all of these houses have fallen into disrepair by abandonment and neglect or have been substantially altered with artificial siding, replacement windows, and unsympathetic modern additions. Preservation of the Mundy House is necessary for educating people about local history, historic preservation, and architecture. [Review 15905 overall - 3121 in North Carolina - 1410 of 2021.]

The website is a joke. Their online catalog search doesn't work, it just hangs until it eventually…read moretimes out.

Large public library that serves Catawba County, this is the main branch. Free wifi, power outlets,…read morea quiet spot to study or work. And of course, lots of books. Fiction, non-fiction, periodicals and reference materials. I spent about an hour here charging up my phone and laptop, plus figuring out what I was doing next. It's peaceful and roomy. Plenty of tables and [Review 12720 overall, 32 of 2020.]

This 13 foot tall artwork graces this small corner that would otherwise be an empty green space…read more There are no benches or other features here. The sculpture is titled "Revolution Rise" and it looks like a handful of pickup sticks stuck together. The artist is Desmond Lewis and it was installed by the Hickory Public Art Commission in 2017. It's pretty but I just don't understand it. Why these colors, why this shape, why this name? Ideas, people? [Review 15880 overall - 3096 in North Carolina - 1384 of 2021.]

The Hickory Museum of Art is located at the SALT complex which was once a high school gymnasium…read more Both admission and parking are free and if the lot in front is full there is a huge lot in the back. Hickory Museum of Art just celebrated its 80th Anniversary. The museum is on three levels and they have curvy staircases; regular staircases and an elevator. I used each during my visit as the curvy stairs made me dizzy so I opted for the elevator to the 3rd floor and found the regular stairs. Besides in the big open spaces there is also art to be found in the nooks and crannies of the art portion of the building. There are also hands on areas for children. I really enjoyed the In Memoriam exhibit of Joe LaFone. I do not believe I had seen his work before but I loved the vibrant colors of the work as well as the textures. It grabbed my attention and made me smile. I believe there are permanent and changing exhibits so that means a return trip to see the new artwork and discover another artist new to me.

I'm surprised that I'm getting the FTR on this wonderful museum. While it's not MOMA or the Getty,…read moreit's a great museum in a small town that is an exurb of Charlotte. Five stars because it's in a category all by itself. Y'all need to make the trip up here! The Hickory Museum of Art has a long-term exhibition of Southern contemporary folk art, showcasing the work of self-taught artists from around the region. North Carolina's second oldest museum, Hickory Museum of Art was established in 1944 when visionary founding Director, Paul Whitener, declared, "I am going to make Hickory, North Carolina an art center." Hickory Museum of Art first earned national accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 1991. The museum is free to enter though they of course accept donations. When I visited, only the first and third floors were accessible as the second floor is currently having a changeover of exhibitions. You can easily tour the entire place in an hour. Today, the museum's permanent collection includes approximately 1,500 art objects, ranging from Hudson River School paintings, American art pottery, Glass Art, High-Speed Photography, and the work of regional artists. The third floor of "folk art" was interesting and enjoyable though not the type of art that I usually look for. On the first floor, more landscapes and portraits and a few pieces of contemporary art. Definitely more my speed. The museum has free parking and if you've come this far, check out the Ivey Arboretum two blocks away which features 50 different species of trees and plantings plus a few pieces of public sculpture, https://www.yelp.com/biz/ivey-arboretum-at-sally-fox-park-hickory?hrid=7Ncg9GcUykd7nIRM-MopeA. The museum shares the space with the Catawba Science Center. [Review 15882 overall - 3098 in North Carolina - 1386 of 2021.]

This marker was installed by the City of Newton rather than the State of North Carolina so it looks…read moredifferent. It reads, "Wilson Warlick. 1892-1978. Judge of United States District Court, 1949-1978, NC Superior Court Judge, 1931-1949, first chairman of NC Probation Commission and WWI veteran. Home stands 100 yards east." Online, there is more information. Judge Warlick was born here in Newton NC and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Catawba College in 1911 and a Backelow of Laws from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1913. He was in private practice of law in Newton from 1913 to 1930. He was a Judge of the Superior Court for the 16th Judicial District of North Carolina from 1931 to 1949. Warlick was nominated by President Harry S. Truman on January 13, 1949, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina vacated by Judge David Ezekiel Henderson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 31, 1949, and received his commission on February 2, 1949. He served as Chief Judge from 1961 to 1962 and from 1966 to 1968. Warlick assumed senior status on June 24, 1968 and served in that status until his death on January 30, 1978. The marker is in front of the Catawba County Government Center. [Review 12719 overall, 31 of 2020.]