Public Art

Sing the Queen City

The Banks

This sculpture greets people as they enter Cincinnati via the Roebling Bridge. The words that make up this sculpture were borrowed from the poem "Seven Hills and a Queen to Name Them", which lies at the center of CincyInk, an interactive, citywide celebration of love, manifested through a poem, tattoos and urban art installations.

Address: 25 E. Freedom Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Mr. Dynamite

Over-the-Rhine

James Brown is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians of the 20th century. Brown spent the formative years of his career on the Cincinnati-based King Records label producing some of his earliest hits and providing inspiration and guidance to a generation of musicians. An innovative and widely respected composer and stage performer, he played a major role in the development of funk, soul, and hip hop, and was a strong, outspoken advocate for civil rights and black self-empowerment. This mural was created in partnership with Urban Sites. Designer: Jenny Ustick Project Manager: Jenny Ustick Teaching Assistants: Derek Toebbe, Christopher Beiting

Address: 1437 Main Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Germania

Over-the-Rhine

A few older buildings survive in downtown Cincinnati that boast free-standing sculpture as part of their original architectural design. This female figure adorns the former headquarters of the German Mutual Fire Insurance Company, founded by Heinrich A. Ratterman. The sculpture originally symbolized the spirit of Germany standing watch over the country's culture. Following the anti-German sentiment of World War I, the figure's name was changed to Columbia, the spirit of America, and "E Pluribus Unum" was added to her robe. The north face of the building features another sculpture by Fettweis. Apollo, Greek god of the sun, music and poetry, is shown driving his chariot to announce the dawn. Created by Leopold Fettweis in 1877

Address: 1200 Walnut Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Frank Robinson

The Banks

Outfielder 1956-65. Playing with unparalleled intensity, Frank Robinson quickly earned a reputation for challenging pitchers, crowding the plate and charging hard around the bases. He spent the first half of his career in Cincinnati, where his powerful swing produced 324 of his 586 career home runs and 1,009 of his 1,812 career RBIs. Robinson, arguably the best player of the Crosley era, picked up the NL MVP Award in 1961 after leading the Reds to their first pennant in 21 years. The 12-time All-Star was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1978 and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. His #20 was retired by the Reds in 1998 Sculptor: Tom Tsuchiya Material: Bronze Streetcar Stop #1: Cincinnati Cyclones station, The Banks

Address: 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Amelia Valerio Weinberg Memorial Fountain

Central Business District

A stack of enormous books with a central cascade of water marks the library's Vine Street entrance and is a reminder that knowledge flows from the printed word. Although the book covers appear leatherbound, Frasca fabricated them from fired clay placed over a concrete core. Amelia Valerio Weinberg left a bequest in 1982 to create a library fountain. Michael Frasca, 1988 Main Library 800 Vine Street Streetcar Stop #4: 8th & Main

Address: 800 Vine Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

3rd & Elm

Central Business District

Art piece by local artist Chase Melendez.

4th & Central

Central Business District

Mural created by local artist Christian Dallas.

Abraham Lincoln

Central Business District

By George Grey Bernard, 1917 Nationally renowned artist George Grey Barnard took nearly five years to complete the 11-foot sculpture. When it was unveiled, the public sharply criticized his interpretation of Lincoln, with its oversized hands and feet and gaunt, beardless face. Today the work is considered to be one of the most eloquent representations of the humanity of the 16th U.S. President. The sculpture and the Federal style home at the end of Lytle Park, now The Taft Museum, were gifts to the people of Cincinnati by Anna Sinton Taft and Charles Phelps Taft. Streetcar Stop #2: 4th and Main

Address: 501 E. Fourth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Additional

Central Business District

Commissioned by 5/3 Bank to mask a garage facade, Julian Stanczak first major three-dimensional work consists of 522 aluminum bars painted in meticulously planned color combinations. Streetcar Stop #3: Richter & Phillips station, 6th & Main

Address: 86 E. Sixth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Aggravation de l’Espace

Central Business District

By Jean Boutellis, 1980 Painted bright red, this abstract sculpture is poised on three appendages, and is geometric and minimal in its style. A gift to the city by the artist, it once stood at the steps to City Hall. Ironically, it became, like its name implies, an aggravation for pedestrians and was moved to a more appropriate location on Central Parkway. The sculpture now stands as a beacon to direct traffic around the bend and along the axis of Central Parkway. Streetcar Stop #5: JACK Casino station, Court & Main

Address: 299 Central Parkway, Cincinnati OH 45202

Allegro – Urban Walls

Central Business District

Urban Walls, by Barron Krody, was one of the largest and most extensive public art projects undertaken in Cincinnati, was conceived and organized by Carl Solway and Jack Boulton. Ten Cincinnati artists and designers were invited to created monumental paintings to mask the scars left by urban renewal in the late 1960's. The visual impact of these walls added a sense of place and spirit to the declining center of the city. The project was managed by Solway's art gallery and funded through private and government sources. The only surviving wall painting is Allegro by Krody, from 1971. Kroduy's award-winning graphic design was used on the poster to announce the "Urban Walls: Cincinnati" project. Streetcar Stop: #17 Aronoff Center

Address: 37 W. Seventh Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

American Classical Music Walk of Fame

Over-the-Rhine

The Walk of Fame is a groundbreaking project that combines classical music, arts education, urban redevelopment, a public park, cutting-edge technology, and a dancing fountain. Located right outside the steps of Cincinnati's famed Music Hall, the Walk of Fame is the only project of its kind in the world and promises to become a tourist destination for the region. Streetcar Stop #14: Washington Park

Address: 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Armstrong

Central Business District

Astronaut Neil Armstrong is the subject of this mural located on Fifth Third Bank Headquarters, in the heart of Cincinnati’s Central Business District. The work of art was created by world-famous Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra, who completed this after wrapping up a massive mural in Rio for the 2016 Olympics. Kobra has also completed projects all over the world depicting subjects like Abraham Lincoln, Tupac Shakur, Albert Einstein and Malala Yousafzai. This mural pays tribute to Armstrong, a Wapakoneta, Ohio native and at the time of its creation, was the largest project in ArtWorks’ 21-year history. Project Manager: Ryan Little Teaching Assistant: Francis Newberry

Address: 511 Walnut Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Black Brigade Monument

The Banks

This monument was the first piece of public art commissioned for Smale Riverfront Park. It consists of bronze statues and plaques, interpretive signs, and carved stones which includes the names of all 718 members of the brigade. The Black Brigade was formed in 1862 to construct barricades to defend Cincinnati from Confederate attack. Initially, members of the Black Brigade were forced into service. Then, after a public outcry, 718 African-American men volunteered for the service and formed The Black Brigade, which, alongside many other local soldiers, successfully built the critical fortifications in Northern Kentucky. Created by: John Hebenstreit and Carolyn Manto, Sculptors; Tyrone Williams, Writer; and Erik Brown, Graphic Designer Streetcar Stop #1: Cincinnati Cyclones station, The Banks

Address: 0 W. Mehring Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Brewing Heritage: Grain to Glass

Findlay Market

“Grain to Glass” celebrates Cincinnati’s brewing heritage and honors the people, past and present, who have worked to support it. The story of a seemingly simple glass of beer unfolds from left to right highlighting each step of the process, starting with the harvesting of grain through the brewing, bottling, and transportation process and finishing out of the tap of a local watering hole. This mural honors the wide range of professions within the brewing industry and the community they create. This mural was created in partnership with The Brewery District Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation. Designer: Jim Effler Project Manager: Jim Effler

Address: 25 Back Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Canal at Vine Street Circa 1900

Central Business District

Located on the side of the old Barlow Motors Building, the mural represents a picture that was taken in the nearby location in the 1900's. The mural is intended to depict the scene of the Miami & Erie Canal that ran through Cincinnati along Central Parkway. ArtWorks Michael Blankenship, 2007 Presented by UBS. Streetcar Stop #15: Central Parkway

Address: 101 W. Central Parkway, Cincinnati OH 45202

Canticle

Russian-born artist Alexander Liberman, recipient of many international commissions for public art, describes Canticle as a hymn of praise soaring in space to elevate the spirit of the spectator. The sculpture was purchased for the plaza outside the Adams Landing condominium complex and dedicated by Allen G. Zaring to the people of Cincinnati. Alexander Liberman, 1992

Address: 900 Adams Crossing, Cincinnati OH 45202

Castle of Air

The Castle of Air is a modern interpretation of a classic hunting lodge (18th century) that is seen all over Europe. The particular one chosen by the pavilion designer, Mr. Peter Haimerl, is the Pagodenburg Castle located in the Nymphenburg Park in Munich, Germany. a Sister City of Cincinnati. The structure uses highly reflective material that reflects images of nature on the inside of the building. This material reflects the sky and its surroundings and as it does so the building seems to disappear – hence the name “Castle of Air”. Created by Peter Haimerl in 2004.

Address: 1120 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati OH 45202

Charles P. Taft Memorial II

Central Business District

Timothy Werrell designed this abstract sculpture to represent the spirit of Mr. Taft's loyalty to both church and state. A man of religious conviction, Charles Taft (1897-1983) served Christ Church vestry for 50 years, as well as holding national ecumenical office. A long-time local political leader who received the nickname "Mr. Cincinnati," Taft held offices as mayor and councilman. The sculpture was a private commission and presented to the church as a gift. Tim Werrell, 1988 Christ Church Cathedral 318 E. Fourth St. Streetcar Stop #2: 4th and Main

Address: 318 E. Fourth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cheers to Cincy, Past and Present!

Findlay Market

“Cheers to Cincy, Past and Present” raises a glass to Cincinnati’s contemporary beer culture. Figures of King Gambrinus, European folk hero and beer aficionado, and Cincinnati’s own Genius of Water, toast the City’s beer making tradition which is prominently featured in the center of the mural that graces the Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery wall. Ensconced within a horizontal beer bottle shape is an interior scene filled with wooden and copper beer barrels that transition into a street scene of the neighborhood and nearby, friendly vendors, and leading to historical Findlay Market. This mural was created in partnership with Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery. Designer: Tom Post Project Manager: Nick Scrimenti Teaching Assistants: Elise Thompson & Holden Pierson Streetcar Stop #10: Findlay Market - Elm

Address: 1625 Central Parkway, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cincinnati Bell Building Facade

Central Business District

This 1931 Art Deco building is notable for its decorative stone reliefs showing symbols of communication such as telephones, headsets, wirecutters, and insulators. Streetcar Stop #17: The Aronoff Center

Address: 209 W. Seventh Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cincinnati Gateway

Central Business District

Cincinnati Gateway is the official entrance to Bicentennial Commons. Commissioned to celebrate the city's 200th birthday, this environmental sculpture contains at least 18 references to Cincinnati's past including prehistoric mounds and historic steamboats. The whimsical winged pigs atop the four steamboat stacks recall a time when Cincinnati was nicknamed Porkopolis and meat packing and soap manufacturing dominated the local economy. A plaque at the site helps explain this three dimensional history lesson. Andrew Leicester, 1988

Address: 520 Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cincinnati Venus

Central Business District

Recognized internationally as painter, printmaker and sculptor, Jim Dine grew up in Cincinnati, attended Walnut Hills High School, the Art Academy of Cincinnati and Ohio University in Athens. Cincinnati Venus was created after Dine purchased a plaster cast of the 2nd century Venus de Milo, cut of the head and began creating his own interpretation of this icon of art history. The sculpture and its reflecting pool were commissioned by Tipton Associates for Centennial Plaza as a bicentennial gift to the city. Centennial Plaza Jim Dine, 1988

Address: 895 Central Avenue, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cincinnatus

Central Business District

Cincinnatus is the legendary Roman military leader from the 4th century B.C. He is shown here giving up the fasces, the bundle of rods in his right hand that is a symbol of leadership, to return to his life as a farmer. The Cincinnatus Association, which commissioned the work, was founded just after the American Revolution by a group of military officers, and one of its members, Governor Arthur St. Clair, gave Cincinnati its name. Created by Eleftherious Karkadoulias and Mercene Karkadoulias in 1988

Address: 720 E. Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Cincinnatus (1983)

Central Business District

New York artist Richard Haas was born in Spring Green, Wisconsin, home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The mere presence of such a dynamic personality in his small town had a dramatic and lasting affect on his appreciation of the built environment. Haas has gained an international reputation transforming drab urban walls into architectural fantasies, painting in a style called trompe l'oeil (to deceive the eye). Historically, this technique was used to extend the architectural vista of a limited space, but Haas has used the technique to comment on architectural consciousness. In the mural Haas created here, Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus (519-439 B.C.), for whom the city was named, appears as a marble statue. The classical setting incorporates the dome of the Pantheon, colossal Renaissance columns and a Baroque staircase. In 2015, the mural was restored by ArtWorks in collaboration with the original artist. Created by Richard Haas in 1983 This painting was commissioned by The Kroger Company to celebrate its centennial.

Address: 1088 Central Parkway at Vine Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Circa Music Pavilion

Over-the-Rhine

The circa-1910 music pavilion is the centerpiece of Washington Park, which began as a cemetery. The city began acquiring the land in 1855, and reinterred the bodies in outlying burying grounds, including Spring Grove Cemetery. The octagonal gazebo reflects the Mission style of architecture.

Address: 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Circumspect

Over-the-Rhine

From above the levels, arcs, and planes of Circumspect resemble an abstract cityscape. At ground level, the sculpture becomes a small park that invites guests to rest or play. Instead of a sculpture, the artist proposed a sculptural space that would relate to the surrounding environment. 1984 by Stuart Fink Streetcar Stop #18: Fountain Square

Address: 100 W. Fifth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Col. R. L. McCook Statuary

Over-the-Rhine

Robert L. McCook (1827-1862), a local attorney of Irish descent with strong connections to the local German community, commanded the German 9th regiment (Die Neuner) during the Civil War. After leading heroically in many battles in Kentucky and Tennessee, he was killed in action in August 1862. His regiment honored him with this tribute. The bust of Colonel McCook is the earlier of the two portraits sculpted by Cincinnatian Leopold Fettweis for Washington Park, a neighborhood hub since the early 1860's. Fettweis worked in a family-owned monument business located on West McMicken Street near Vine. Created by Leopold Fettweis in 1878 Streetcar Stop #14: Washington Park

Address: 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Crazy Cat, Crazy Quilt

Over-the-Rhine

Crazy Cat, Crazy Quilt honors the accomplished life and career of Cincinnati Master artist, Edie Harper. Edie was born in 1922 in Kansas City and relocated to Cincinnati in the 1930s when her father took a job with Procter & Gamble, the place they would call home for the remainder of their lives. Edie enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1940 and it was there that she met Charley Harper, her partner in life and love. Edie always drew on her childhood for inspiration, a time she spent developing her love for animals (especially her favorite cat Katrinka, colorfully depicted in the mural), landscapes, and life in the Midwest. Edie passed away in 2010 at the age of 87, but as an Art Academy distinguished alumnus, she left behind a beautiful legacy that will continue to be celebrated for many years to come. Do you have a favorite memory that you would love to turn into a mural? Crazy Cat / Crazy Quilt Scraps from here, Scraps from there, Silk and satin, velvet and lace— What a super sleeping place! Why use a basket or a box When there’s such a comfy spot? Crazy quilt, yes. Crazy cat? No! – Edie Harper Designer Edie Harper Project Manager Derek Toebbe Teaching Assistants Seana Higgins | Braylyn Bell

Address: 1107 Walnut Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Crosley Square

Central Business District

This former broadcasting center for Powel Crosley, Jr, and home of WLW studios launched careers of Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Red Skelton, and many others.

Address: 140 W. Ninth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Crystalline Tower

Clad in sheets of titanium, mica panels and steel mesh, the sculpture is meant to interact with nature, the Tower stands 90 feet. The titanium panels move in the wind and makes sound. The thin sheets of mica reflect sunlight and appear to glow. Selected by international competition, this collaborative work was created by Ohio artist and Miami University professor Susan Ewing and Czech artist Vratislav Novak. The tower is topped by a rotating north star, in recognition of the importance of the star to slaves navigating their way across the Ohio River to freedom. A spiral stair within the tower is reminiscent of strands of DNA and echoes the signature winding pathways within the park. Created by Susan Ewing and Vratislav Novak in 2005

Address: 1120 Riverside Drive, Cincinnati OH 45202

Dawn is Coming: Open Your Eyes

Central Business District

Designed in tandem with John Wedge, a former inmate who, with the help of the Re-Entry program of Hamilton County, transformed his life, the Justice Center Mural is a story portraying the triumph of the human spirit. From left to right, the narrative begins by depicting the sense of isolation that occurs when people find themselves overwhelmed by unfortunate circumstances. As we learn to lift ourselves up and out of old ways of being, we begin to meet people willing and able to help us, people who become bridges between our old state of existence, and a new, refreshed view of life. With this new point of view, we realize that the city we live in was built by those helping hands; the true architecture of a city IS the community of service people working to save lives, one at a time. With this realization, this new dawn, one embarks on new roads with a sense of support, and a new-found desire to become a bridge for others, in turn. This mural was completed in partnership with Hamilton County. Designer: Tina Westerkamp Project Manager: Tina Westerkamp Teaching Assistants: Paul Rodgers and Haley Rice

Address: 1000 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Energy and Grace

Over-the-Rhine

Abstract mural intended to use vibrant colors and whimsical movements to capture energy and momentum of the changes coming to Over-the-Rhine. ArtWorks mural, created by Kim Krause, 2013 Streetcar Stop #7: 12th & Vine

Address: 16 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Ernie Lombardi

The Banks

Catcher 1932-41. Even more legendary than Ernie Lombardi's pronounced profile were his blistering line drives. Using an interlocked grip and one of the league's heaviest bats, the Crosley-era catcher hit better than .300 seven times for the Reds and remains the only catcher in major-league history with two batting titles. On the eve of Cincinnati's back-to-back pennants in 1939-40, Lombardi became the first Red to win a MVP award, hitting a league-best .342 with 19 home runs and 95 RBIs in 1938. The eight-time All-Star was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 19 Subject(s): Joe Nuxhall Sculptor: Tom Tsuchiya Material: Bronze Streetcar Stop #1: Cincinnati Cyclones station, The Banks

Address: 100 Joe Nuxhall Way, Cincinnati OH 45202

Ezzard Charles: The Cincinnati Cobra

Over-the-Rhine

Ezzard Charles, known as the “Cincinnati Cobra”, was a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, jazz musician and widely respected citizen of Cincinnati. Born in Georgia in 1921, Charles came to Cincinnati at the age of nine to live with his grandmother and great-grandmother in the West End. He began boxing as a teenager and quickly ascended the world of prize fighting, culminating with a heavyweight title against Jersey Joe Walcott in 1949, followed by an undisputed title over the legendary Joe Louis in 1950. He largely avoided the limelight of his profession, and worked quietly all his life to promote education and community responsibility. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. This mural, completed in August 2015, marks ArtWorks’ 100th mural completed since the program launch in 2007. Designer: Jason Snell Project Manager: Nathan Weikert Streetcar Stop: #13 Liberty and Race

Address: 1537 Republic Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Fresh Harvest

Central Business District

This mural brings the essence of farming to a monumental scale. Inspired by the power of classical European paintings, the design shows dramatically lit produce on the verge of spilling out of a crate, fresh from the field. The vibrant colors and dense composition add a modern flair to this traditional theme. ArtWorks mural created by Johnathan Queen in partnership with Kroger Co. Streetcar Stop #15: Central Parkway

Address: 1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Friederich Hecker Monument

Over-the-Rhine

Philosopher and writer Friedrich Hecker (1811-1881) came to this country as a refugee of the failed German Revolution of 1848 that was fought to establish a democratic republic. In Cincinnati, Hecker founded the first U.S. Turner Society, a social organization promoting gymnastics and education. Hecker served as an officer in the Civil War, and his many contributions in Germany to the German-American community are celebrated in this bust. The pedestal inscription translates, "With Word and Deed for the Freedom of the People in the Old and New Fatherlands." Created by Leopold Fettweis in 1883 Streetcar Stop #8: 14th & Elm

Address: 1230 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Guardians of the City

April 1, 2013 marked the 160th anniversary of the Cincinnati Fire Department, the first fully paid professional fire department in the nation. This mural honors that treasured local legacy and illustrates, from left to right, the evolution of the Cincinnati Fire Fighters from 1853 to 2013. Notice the bucket brigade to the left, which shows how they safeguarded our City before modern pumps; the engine in the middle, which reflects our fallen fire fighters in fond remembrance; and the ambulance beside the engine to the right, a nod to the emergency medical services our fire department also provides. ArtWorks mural created by Paul Loehle in partnership with Cincinnati Firefighter Union, 2013

Address: 1011 W. Eighth Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

HomeComing – Blue Birds

Central Business District

Charley Harper, one of Cincinnati's most accomplished and celebrated artists, studied and taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. It was there he met his wife Edie and they continued to make Cincinnati their home, starting a family and sharing an art studio. Charley's favorite subject was the natural world and he worked in a style he called "minimal realism." This particular work is based on "Homecoming (Bluebirds)," a painting done in his minimal, geometric style and is symbolic, depicting two bluebirds - male and female - returning home. ArtWorks mural, created by Charley Harper and Jenna Upstick, 2012 Streetcar Stop #5: JACK Casino station, Court & Main

Address: 119 E. Court Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

I Have a Dream of Peace

Over-the-Rhine

This work of art titled was brought to life through a collaboration of more than 400 children and adults from the community in 2002. Through a partnership between the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and Miami University's Center for Community Engagement, lead artist Suzanne Fisher collected images of peace submitted by neighborhood residents and local artists. Fisher refined the images and transferred them to the bench, working with children to teach them how to transfer the images to a clay slab, how to glaze and fire the tiles, and the technique for applying the images to the bench.

Address: 1320 Elm Street, Cincinnati OH 45202

Ice Cream Daydream

Over-the-Rhine

This fantastical mural brings youthful energy and vibrancy to the district of Over-the-Rhine. A love for color and candy awaken the imagination where a diamond sun rains strawberries on a dessert-filled garden. Streetcar Stop #6: Hanke Exchange Station, 12th & Main ArtWorks mural created by Amanda Checco, 2010

Address: 33 E. 12th Street, Cincinnati OH 45202