Greenville is known for many things, one of them being public art. If you are familiar with the city, you will be able to witness different arts in the city center and in different corners. The permanent collection of public art in Greenville includes over 120 works (architectural elements, statues, murals, sculptures, and historical pieces).
In addition to the listed public arts, there are ongoing efforts to add more public arts as a way of enhancing and beautifying the environment. Greenville, SC, is an ideal location if you are looking for a retirement community to access different activities and events. These are some public art sites to visit if you are retiring in an independent living community in Greenville, SC:
Dr. Pete Hollis Statue
An eight-foot-tall bronze statue of Dr. Pete Hollis is located at the gateway towards the western side of Greenville. The statue is a tribute to Dr. Pete Hollis, an educator and superintendent who served in the former Parker School District.
A local civic organization was responsible for an engraved brick campaign in the city that funded the sculpture. Leading to the sculpture is the Pete Hollis Walk of Fame, protected by a retaining ceramic tile wall.
Heldman Plot
The Heldman Plot is a popular memorial plot in Greenville in the Springwood Cemetery. George Heldman was once a county’s wealthiest and largest landowner and a saddle maker.
In 1889, he caused controversy when his daughter drowned herself to escape marriage to his business partner. Many years after Heldman died, a deed was presented to build Heldman’s plot in Greenville.
Be the Change You Want to See in the Neighborhood
The mural “Be the Change You Want to See in the Neighborhood” is a public artwork that changes color once people walk by. This work of public art is a depiction of a boy looking into an aquarium containing fish and vegetation. It was created by Stone Academy and is the second in their mural series.
Southern Sounds
The Art Department of Ross McClain at Furman University planned this mural project. This was done in conjunction with Charlie Tyre and the owner of Horizon Records, Gene Berger. The art class was focused on the design, marketing, and importance of public arts. Southern Sounds is a depiction of two influential musicians, Josh White and Russ Morin.
Liberty Bridge
Liberty Bridge lies under the Main Street overpass leading to Falls Park, and jewel of downtown. Take a walk down to the water’s edge, climb the steps, or take the elevator to the street level to view the cantilevered bridge. Once you are on the street level, you can check dining options available and end the tour.
However, if you are in the mood for more sightseeing, you can go farther into the park to explore more artwork along the way.
Freedom
This public artwork was designed in the 1960s at the entrance to the County Museum of Art in Greenville in its former location. Freedom is a nature-based theme art work made up of welded brass and bronze and was created by sculptor John Acorn. You can easily see the branches, roots, and trunk in the finished product. The sculptor was well-known at Clemson University because he taught sculptural art for 30 years.
