Public artwork enhances neighborhood rides.
By Dwain Hebda
Of all the benefits cycling provides, connecting to one’s surroundings is one of the most satisfying. There’s nothing like riding through a familiar neighborhood and seeing it with fresh eyes from the seat of a bike.
One trend accentuating neighborhood rides in many Arkansas communities is the creation of murals and other public artwork in communities large and small across the state, giving rise to the “art ride.” Here are some of our favorites:
FORT SMITH
Fort Smith is one of the pioneers in the public-art-as-tourism movement, particularly as it pertains to murals. Through the work of The Unexpected, begun in 2015, buildings throughout this historic frontier town have been transformed with colorful scenes created by an international cadre of artists.
“We really pull from a cross-section of people on bikes, on skateboards and walking,” said Claire Kolberg, executive director of The Unexpected. “We want [outdoor art] to increase mobility within the community and that desire to get out and explore.”
Fort Smith’s outdoor art is in its densely populated downtown; most murals are in the heart of the historic district within a couple of blocks of Garrison Avenue. South and west of there, at 400 Wheeler Ave., is the stunning artwork “American Heroes,” Guido Van Helton’s transformation of multiple grain elevators into a photo-realistic work of art that has to be seen to be believed. From Wheeler, travel south to D Street, east to Towson Avenue and turn north. As you cycle north, you’ll see multiple murals (watch for “Rabbits”, “Untitled Buffalo” and “Native”) before you intersect with Garrison Avenue/U.S. Highway 64.
Turn left on Garrison Avenue and enjoy 10 blocks of artwork all the way to the river, spliced in among restaurants and quaint shops. Iconic images include “Cherokee Man” (913 Garrison), “Untitled Ana Maria” (800 Garrison), “Cherokee Women” (424 Garrison), “Badlands” (317 Garrison), “War Paint” (115 Garrison) and, with a slight detour between Ninth and 10th streets, don’t miss “Rapto Divina” and “War Birds.”
FAYETTEVILLE
Northwest Arkansas has long been a hub of cycling activity. So when public art began to gain steam in Fayetteville, advocates and city leaders gave careful thought to the placement of the murals for access by various audiences.
“What sets us apart is proximity and accessibility,” said Molly Rawn, CEO of the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission. “There was certainly strategic placement within the downtown core, adjacent to the trails, to encourage a walking or biking tour. As other privately funded murals have popped up, many are similarly placed.”
Brannon Pack, cycling coordinator for the commission, has mapped two art routes — one under 2 miles, the other under 5 miles — for taking in the city’s murals on bicycle-friendly streets and trails. Both tours start at the city’s visitor’s center at 21 S. Block Ave. with an initial six-block area bordered by West Rock Street, South East Avenue, West Meadow Street and South Church Avenue. Within those boundaries you’ll find eight works, including popular photo spots “Bearly Illegal,” “Enjoy Local,” “Gnomes” and “26 West Center Street.” A particular treasure is Fenix Fayetteville’s “Athena” mural, tucked into an alley right across East Center Street from the Fayetteville Town Square. Both routes then take the visitor to Dickson Street, where murals grace local businesses Gearhead Outfitters, Grub’s Bar and Grill and Dickson Street Bookshop. The neighborhood is also a great place to fuel up or wind down with a beverage.
For full turn-by-turn directions, visit ridewithgps.com/routes/33745230 (5 mile) and ridewithgps.com/routes/33748040 (2 mile).
LITTLE ROCK / NORTH LITTLE ROCK
The joy of having two cities as close together as Little Rock and North Little Rock are the many ways their respective attractions meld into one experience. That’s certainly the case with bike routes, and now with public art as well.
North Little Rock’s historic Argenta neighborhood along the river has increased its inventory of public art in recent years. Start at Diamond Bear Brewing (600 N. Broadway) and travel north and east to a full-size cyclist mural (Seventh and Main streets). Travel south down Main to view mini murals on utility boxes and dancing dog sculptures before making a right on Fourth Street to Flyway Brewery’s mural (314 Maple St.). Head back east on Fourth to the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub mural (204 E. Fourth St.), passing the Argenta Drug Store mural (324 N. Main St.) along the way. From the Innovation Hub, head south on North Poplar Street to Riverfront Drive, where multiple murals complement the natural beauty of the Arkansas River. Just south of Riverfront is the Arkansas River Trail; take that east to the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge and cross over to the Little Rock side of the river.
FOR THIRSTY BIKERS: Matt McLeod’s mural (top) is on the wall of Stone’s Throw Brewing in Little Rock.
TWO SEVENTH STREETS: No cyclist will want to miss Kevin Kresse’s mural at Seventh and Main in North Little Rock (middle); Little Rock’s Seventh Street has become a site for artistic expressions urging social justice.
Photos by Brian Chilson
Once in Little Rock, start your tour at Main Street and President Clinton Avenue in the River Market district. Traveling south, you’ll see several iconic images, including “Playtime” (Main and West Capitol), “Beneath the Surface” (Main and Sixth streets) and, just a couple of blocks over, “City Dreamers” (West Sixth and Spring streets). Continue south of the interstate past the “Golden Harvest” mural (East 10th and Main streets) and find yourself in funky SoMa (the South Main neighborhood), with additional murals at 1201 S. Main St. and 1500 S. Main St. While you’re there, enjoy the eclectic shops and independent restaurants.
Off the Main Street arterial, but well worth the detour, are the social justice murals along Seventh Street west of Capitol Avenue. Recent additions to this poignant collection include themes of social protest and racial justice in memory of George Floyd who died while being arrested by Minneapolis police on Memorial Day.
Gabe Holmstrom, executive director of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, said as outdoor art expands past the city’s core into other neighborhoods, it combines as a mosaic for the city as a whole.
“It’s been interesting to see the different pieces of public art pop up,” he said. “It usually takes building something to alter the focus point of a landscape of a city. But this is a way, with paint and artistic expression, that we’ve really seen a big impact on bringing focus to Little Rock.”