A Glass Phoenix

Firebird Sculpture, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

One of the great things about traveling is finding and seeing art.  The Firebird (aka Le Grand Oiseau de Feu sur l’Arche) is a giant sculpture found at the entrance to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art.  It is covered with mirrored tiles which make up a mosaic covering the body of the sculpture.  Above is a sunburst adorning the shoulders on the back.  Below is the front of the sculpture and the entrance to the museum.

 

In Shape to Swim

Hotel Pool, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Set on a rooftop outside the Omni Hotel in Charlotte, this round pool in a right triangular space was really cool to look at and interesting to visit.  Although it was in some ways similar to a backyard above ground swimming pool that had somehow been recessed, it was fun to sit around while enjoying a snack and drink.  They even had a small bar and barbecue set up for guests.

What's in a Name?

Sculpture, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

The Garden, like so many pieces of contemporary art, might derive its name from the location, from a hidden meaning in the sculpture, or from a random thought in the artist's mind.  The next time you're in Charlotte, go ahead and ponder the name and meaning of this sculpture by artist Jerry Peart.

Urban Canvas

BB&T Building, Asheville, North Carolina, USA

We love how the mirrored panes on this skyscraper serve as a canvas upon which clouds are painted.

Appalachian Glow

Sunset, Highlands, North Carolina, USA

This time of year always draws us to the mountains.  For some reason, cold weather invites us to the quiet mountain wildernesses.  Mountains are beautiful all year, but fall brings the sound of crunchy leaves under our feet, the sight of cold mist in the air, and the smell of fireplaces to the leafless mountains.

Riverside Barbershop

Barber Shop, Bryson City, North Carolina, USA
We were vacationing in The Great Smoky Mountains and spotted the Riverside Barbershop next to the Tuckasegee River in Bryson City. While cutting Marc's hair, the barber said he had been there over 40 years and wasn't planning to upgrade the look since he could have done that years ago. We think he made the right choice.

Make Tracks

Railyard, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Railroads helped build the United States into an industrial powerhouse. Although passenger rail has been passé in much of this country for many decades, shipping goods by rail is still very common and increases significantly each year. This picture demonstrates the awesome amount of construction required to make a nationwide rail network. In this picture alone we can see many railways branching and merging.