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.

Almost passed right by it -- it looks like an unsuspecting alleyway but fear not! The murals were…read moreBEAUTIFUL and I so appreciate when cities make an effort to incorporate more art into its streets

Great to walk through and read about the installations! Beautiful and free street art. Awesome…read morephoto opportunities and lots of hidden treasures. :)

What a gem of a brewery in South End! Huge space with lots of outdoor space! Like 12 beers and…read moreplenty to choose from light to IPA. I enjoy a delicious hazy IPA--hazy pitch. No food but you can bring your own food.

My sister and I came here for an event: Cirque Du Fehr. This place is a big open space, perfect for…read morea variety of events. The whole place was decorated with a Halloween theme, and the dancers were placed in the middle of the establishment with plenty of seats surrounding the "stage". Although they offer free parking, parking is scarce. TIP: DO NOT PARK AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX BECAUSE THE TOWER MAKES ROUNDS OFTEN. There is plenty of street parking and paying in their app is easy, just scan the QR code. Loads of wine and draft cider alongside non-alcoholic options. Outside food is welcome, just no outside drinks. TIP: Benny Ferrovia's pizzeria is right next door! Brewery also offers rental options for any event. All the staff was friendly and encouraged tasting beverages.

Beautiful gallery and amazing collections. We came in on Wednesday evening and discovered that…read moreentry was free. The front desk person was friendly and helpful. She explained the lay out of the gallery and we were on our way. We explored each floor and were met with incredible, thought provoking, pieces. I'm so glad that we found this space and we're able to spend time here.

We just happened to be in Charoltte for Fomo! So all the museums were free. Bechtler was by far my…read morefavoite. Such extensive collections that really dispayed the African American culture. I was very impressed and moved by the paintings on display.

A photography gallery in Uptown, right next to the 7th Street LYNX Station. When I arrived, the…read moreplace was quite desolate. The security guard had me wait in the lobby while he went in to the gallery to turn the lights on. I got the impression that there wasn't a whole lot going on here. It's a good thing that it's free, because 30 minutes of looking at pictures wouldn't have been worth much. And even at 30 minutes, I was still moving pretty slow. When I visited, the exhibit was "Streetwise", a collection of pictures of America's troubled 60's. Capturing images of not just our troubled times, including Boston's "Combat Zone" and close-ups of the Black Panthers, there were also shots of just regular people and places. All in black and white, which gave it a feel of being very like a documentary. Pictures of the pictures are not permitted, but I took that as meaning not taking a picture of the individual pictures. Instead, my wide shot of the gallery doesn't give away the detail but helps you see what you're going to see there. I might come back for the next exhibit, but I think this is a "See it once" kind of thing.

I had never been to The Light Factory and saw there was a very interesting reception called A…read moreShared Elegy. I was so happy I made it out to see what it was all about since I live so close by. Great intimate space, the artist were so insightful and the crowd genuinely appreciated the artist panel and the photography. It was very well curated. Great space, seasoned artists. Well done.

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.

Lovely sculpture. Well done. Love the lighting at night. Thank you for investing in public art.read more

I've been to loads of art museums. I've seen some strange scupltures. Some, I "got" and some…read moreremained a complete puzzle. Grandiflora falls into the latter category. Two large round loops that look like stirrups at the intersection of Wendover and Randolph. What's the point? Do I feel more arty after stopping at this traffic light and looking over at the sculpture? Maybe the horn honking at me caused me to lose the imagery. I don't know. It's art. But it's weird.

As someone who moved here from the Bay Area and is still finding my favorite outdoor spaces in…read moreCharlotte, I'm always on the lookout for places that offer a little peace and beauty in the middle of a busy day. The McGill Rose Garden absolutely delivered on that. This is truly a beautiful venue--lush flowers everywhere, winding walk paths, and plenty of places to sit quietly and just take it all in. It's the kind of space where you can slow down, clear your head, and quite literally stop and smell the roses. I found it to be a wonderful spot for reflection, a casual stroll, or simply enjoying nature without needing to leave the city. One of the things I especially appreciated is that you can enhance the experience with a visit to the wine bar onsite, Rosie's Wine Garden, where you can grab a coffee, cocktail, or glass of wine and then wander the grounds at your own pace. It adds a relaxed, almost European feel to the whole experience. A quick heads-up: parking can be a bit tricky, as the entrance is off a busy street, so just take your time and be patient when pulling in. Once you're there, though, it's well worth the effort. Bottom line: If you're looking for a small but charming botanical-style garden in Charlotte--a quiet place to reset, reflect, and enjoy the outdoors--this is a lovely little gem. For me, it checked all the boxes and has become a welcome respite in the middle of a busy day.

Talk about a hidden gem! This was a great place to get coffee, wine and/or a snack and hang out for…read morea while. Rosie's Coffee and Wine is adjacent and service there was super friendly and fast. There is indoor seating there, but the gardens have little twists and turns and different areas to sit, too. When we visited it wasn't too busy, so we had our choice of tables. There was a birthday or bachelorette type of party in another part of the garden.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg library district offers a number of very nice regional and special…read morelibrary settings: the South Park Regional, South County Regional, and the library collaboration with the Children's Theatre of Charlotte ... ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center on Seventh Street downtown to name just three. Each has specialties that make them individuals. The ImaginOn: The Joe & Joan Martin Center collaboration between the library district and the Children's Theatre is a hands down wonder. While some libraries specialize in library things (games and toys) to engage kids and others specialize in library materials (books and puzzles), ImaginOn has it all ... including plays and story times. The library itself is free to enter, multi-story, newish, clean and easy to get to, with available parking that is free for 90 minutes with a stamped ticket. This facility absolutely had everything to stimulate kids of all ages ... probably 2 to 12 being the sweet spot. Do make a point of finding your way here for a visit someday ... you'll be glad you did. Highly recommended.

I love that the Mecklenburg libraries have story times for various ages throughout the week…read more We've been coming here since February and my toddler loves it. There is always some sort of craft, legos, toys and computers for her to play with/use. They also usually have monthly events and a theater. I prefer to download the CMLibrary app to keep up with events. We prefer to come here on the Saturday's but it's definitely more packed. It's about 40ish families at every session. They have a parking garage (under the library) which you can take the elevator directly into the library. They validate for 90 minutes. The issue is when it's full or days they have events parking can really be a pain. They may direct you to park at 7th street parking garage but they only validate after 5pm on weekdays or anytime on weekends.

Though the bridge itself is simply a means of foregoing the need of an intersection on the west…read moreside of NoDa, the beautiful mural makes it stand out and a more memorable part of Charlotte's art flavor. Brainchild of local artist Will Puckett, this gorgeous mural tells a wonderful story of Mecklenburg history. There's a brilliant explanation of this at the listed website. Though you may not find yourself walking down North Davidson Street most days, take the time to walk by and take in this gorgeous story/work of art. It's quite remarkable and more memorable up front rather than from your car window.

Hooray for public art! This used to be one of the ugliest bridges in a city that prided itself on…read moreutilitarian industrial infrastructure. But a few NoDa artists have, with the help of many grants, painted the columns with the major contributors to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. For those of you who took history classes in the real world, the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence probably isn't a familiar document. All true Charlotte citizens know that Mecklenburg declared independence from the British years before the Continental Congress. But then they lost the document and all proof of its existence so just take our word for it okay? This is especially convenient for southern gentlemen who are ferociously proud of the revolution but uncomfortable giving any credit to those damned Yankees. In the project's later stages the mural will extend beyond the bridge's columns to decorate the embankments on either side with images of the Mecklenburg Resolves, another document of unclear purpose and dubious existence. Basically, I'm saying that they could have picked some better subject matter. Like, something that actually happened. Or, if you are happy with imaginary events, why not choose something truly heroic like the day America beat back the Martian menace? But regardless, I think it is fitting that this bridge, spanning one of two routes into NoDa's arts district, be covered in an enormous, colorful mural.