Beneath the Surface in Little Rock, Arkansas, is one of those public art pieces that sneaks up on…read moreyou--in the best way. Tucked along the riverfront near the Clinton Presidential Center, it's not just something you see, it's something you feel (and maybe scratch your head about for a second). At first glance, it looks like a group of ghostly steel fish swimming in mid-air, suspended in a kind of poetic, underwater ballet. But then you walk through it. You start noticing how the fish are grouped, how they're spaced, and how the light plays off the metal at different times of day. Suddenly it's more than art--it's motion, it's rhythm, it's like the Arkansas River whispered a story and the artist froze it mid-sentence. It's peaceful, clever, and just weird enough to make you stop and think, "Why don't more places have floating fish art?" Five stars for turning a simple riverside walk into a moment of quiet wonder.

This is a mural by Matt McLeod who painted the piece in 2015. It is a large mural, covering 4300…read moresquare feet (30-foot-by-142-foot) . Given this large project, McLeod needed assistance, which came in the form of art students from University of Arkansas at Little Rock and the University of Central Arkansas. This larger than life mural is located on the side of the Bennett's Military Supplies building and overlooks a commercial parking lot. It depicts an assortment of koi fish against a gradient green background as if you were viewing them from above. This mural displays some great artwork. Since the mural overlooks a parking lot, briefly parking here to get a closer look is very easy to accomplish. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, 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.

Sponsored by some of the local businesses including the Bank of England, this mural near the center…read moreof town points out some of the history of industry here. Cotton, apparently. Here in the United States, we enjoy reusing place names from the old world. Yesterday, I was in Leeds (Alabama) and Oxford (Mississippi). Last night, I was in Stuttgart (Arkansas). Now I'm in England (Arkansas). What's not to love? It is a neat mural and it was interesting to see. Stop by when you're in England or passing through. [Review 2297 of 2024 - 362 in Arkansas - 23312 overall]

We pulled into England, Arkansas right around sunset, the sky doing that thing where it turns…read morecotton candy pink before fading into blue. That's when we saw it--the big, warm mural stretched across the wall like a hometown handshake: "Welcome to England, AR." It's not flashy or trying to be a tourist magnet. It's just proud. The mural tells a story of tractors, trains, cotton, and community--all the things that make a small Arkansas town tick. It feels like someone said, "Let's show folks who we are," and they meant it. We snapped a photo, of course--how could you not? It's the kind of spot that makes you slow down and appreciate where you are, even if it's just for five minutes. If you're passing through, it's worth the stop. One of those small-town touches that makes the place feel like home--even if you're just visiting. Solid 4 out of 5. Just missing a bench or a little plaque to tell the story behind it. But still, we left smiling.

We were just walking through Little Rock, not looking for anything in particular, when we turned a…read morecorner and bam--there it was. "Everyone's Neighborhood." Bold colors, bright faces, wide-open arms. It didn't whisper. It spoke. This mural doesn't just decorate a wall--it tells a story. People of all kinds, all walks of life, stitched together in paint like a big neighborhood quilt. You don't have to read a plaque or know the backstory to feel it. It's welcoming. It's hopeful. It feels like someone painted it with both love and purpose. The art stretches long and lively across the wall, and it makes you stop. Makes you smile. Makes you think. In a city that's got its share of rough patches, this piece feels like a reminder of what community could look like. It's not just a mural. It's a message. One we need now more than ever. Five stars, no question.

This colorful mural is the work of Matt Mcleod who was commissioned to do the piece by the Downtown…read moreLittle Rock Partnership. It was dedicated in 2021. This mural was a community effort, which I am always a fan of. Everybody from the neighborhood had the opportunity to paint the Everyone's Neighborhood mural (I know....cheesy). The mural was based off a sticker that local graphic designer Josh Coker made. The mural depicts the Little Rock Skyline in a blue frame with the words "Downtown Little Rock" above it and "Everyone's Neighborhood to the left of it. It is all set against a lite blue background and colorful rays coming from the skyline. It has a "Greetings From ...." kind of vibe to it. It is a nice welcome to the city. This mural is definitely worth a peek and is very instagrammable (if that is your thing). The mural overlooks a private parking lot, so briefly parking here to get a closer look should not be an issue. There is also street parking available nearby. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, 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.

Tucked into the heartbeat of downtown Little Rock, we stumbled upon the "City Dreamers" mural like…read moreit was meant to find us. At first glance, it stops you in your tracks--a massive face in dreamlike repose, floating above the city skyline, with the bridge stretching across like a tether between dreams and reality. It's the kind of mural that doesn't just look pretty--it feels like something. Like hope. Like imagination. Like someone believed a city could be more than just buildings and traffic. You stand there for a minute and you start to wonder what the city dreams about at night. It's vibrant and thoughtful and tucked right into the daily rush of downtown life. And that's the magic of it--it reminds you to pause. To look up. To believe in something bigger than the moment. Five stars. No question. It's more than paint on a wall--it's poetry in color.

This piece is the work of Joel Boyd who completed the work in 2019. It is a 2 part mural with one…read moreside being the silhouette of a woman's head with a city scape painted in it and the other side being the silhouette of a man's head with the Calico Rock area of Arkansas painted in it. You will find this mural on the side of a parking garage and there is street parking on the adjacent street available to park, get out and take a closer look. It is a very nice piece that has some masterfully artwork. This mural demands your attention and definitely got mine. I like the Ying and Yang thing the mural has going on. The blue background of the man goes well with and compliments the woman's red background. I really like this mural. The artwork is on point. Boyd is very talented. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, 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.

This is the work of French artist Youri Cansell, artistically known as Mantra. He painted the piece…read more2021. It is a very realistic depiction of a butterfly shadow box. Mantra has a fascination with entomology, The study of insects. This fascination reflects in his work that is frequently of insects such as this one. You will find this mural on display in the heart of Downtown Little Rock, right at the entrance of the River Market and side od David's Burgers. This piece is not only detailed, but scientifically accurate as well. Some of Native Arkansas butterflies depicted in the mural include the Parhassius, Cupido, Celastrina, and Lycaena. Also, the shading Mantra uses in the mural is amazing. In addition to the reflecting Mantra's love of insects, the mural gives a nod to the famous Little Rock Nine, a group of nine courageous black students who instrumental in integrating a local high school in 1957, drawing national attention to the civil rights movement. There is metered street parking available within a reasonable walking distance from the mural. The meters run from about 8AM to 6PM, Monday thru Friday. This is a nice mural and I enjoyed the very loose tribute to the Little Rock Nine. If you are near the Market, you cannot miss it. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, 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 walked up to the "Testament: The Little Rock Nine Monument" expecting a sculpture -- something to…read moreadmire and move on from. What I found stopped me cold. Nine bronze students stand in a loose circle, right there on the Capitol lawn, facing the very building where decisions were once made to keep them out of school. Life-size. Eye-level. There's no pedestal to separate you from them -- you're right there with them. You can walk between them, around them. They're frozen mid-stride, books in hand, faces calm but unshakable. It felt like I had interrupted something sacred. Elizabeth Eckford looks like she just stepped off the sidewalk from 1957, her book held tight to her chest, eyes ahead, not afraid but definitely carrying the weight of what's behind and in front of her. Each figure carries that same quiet strength -- not defiant, not boastful -- just brave. Braver than I think I've ever had to be. Quotes from each student are etched into stone nearby. I read every one. Some are heartbreaking, some defiant, some just honest. You start to understand that these weren't symbols -- they were kids. Teenagers just trying to go to school.

In 1957 nine strong black high school students, ranging in age from 15 to 17, set off to change the…read morecourse of the nation and lead the way in the integration of schools, following the Brown vs the Board of Education decision. The students enrolled in Little Rock's Central High School and were met with threats, intimidation and harassment. Only 3 of the nine ended up graduating from the school and one was expelled, after retaliating to the harassment she was receiving. These nine statues, titled Testament are a tribute to those students, Ernest Green, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls. You will find these statues on the lawn of the Arkansas State Capitol facing the Governor's Office. It is a little over a mile from where the High School is located These sculptures are the work of John Deering whose intent was "for observers to become virtual witnesses, imagining themselves amid the blur of protestors, reporters and troops who surrounded the Little Rock Nine." It would be hard for me to give this sculpture anything less than a 5-star rating given its background. I love the determination and perseverance that the statues give off. The set of sculptures does a great putting the viewer back in that time. The sculptures are not uber detailed, but still have an uncanny realism about them. You will find some bronze plaques placed around the statues that have quotes from some of the nine students. The plaques are very weathered and have definitely seen better days. Some of them are hard to read and are in dire need of being repaired or replaced. Anyway, as with most sculpture that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, 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. The Capitol has a lot of memorials and statues on its grounds to visit and you can also take a tour of the Capitol building if they are open.

We met the owner at Palm Springs Art Show last year. My husband and I fell in love with one of the…read morebeautiful, solid stainless steel artwork of Mr. Ryan Schmidt (The Artist). All of his art works are high quality, sturdy and very elegant. He designed the letter "J" - all hand made solid stainless steel for our new house in Arizona and his staff who coordinated the packing, shipping and meeting our deadlines did an amazing job, they are very professional. They even gave us a very reasonable price. I highly recommend the SoulArt if you want an incredible customized stainless steel art work for your home, patio, garden, office or business.

The Arkansas River Trail is a beautiful seventeen mile paved loop, which runs along both the north…read moreand south side of the Arkansas River. It is rarely crowded and full of birds and other wild life. The trail runs between two bridges--The Clinton Presidential Park Bridge on the east, and the Big Dam Bridge on the west. Recently, the trail has been extended westward a couple of miles from the Big Dam Bridge to Two Rivers Park, an "out and back" ride, since there's no trail west of Two Rivers Park. The only unmarked part of the trail is an interrupted segment that puts riders out on busy Cantrell Road for a bit in front of the Dillard's headquarters. The city has never been able to complete this part of the trail. It would be an ideal philanthropic opportunity for Dillards to allow access behind their buildings. I don't understand why they haven't done this. As mentioned above, there is no trail west of Two Rivers Park, although the roads leading out to Maumelle Park and Pinnacle Mountail are labeled "Arkansas River Trail" on maps and even road signs. There is no trail, bike lanes or shoulders once you get on Pinnacle Valley Road. It's misleading and not very safe.