Taking a road trip is an American institution, and part of what makes is great is the endless supply of offbeat and unusual sights sprinkled across the country. From foodies to stamp collectors, there seems to be something for every interest to see off of every highway. Art enthusasts have a particularly interesting array of sights available to them; we've gathered some questions from art-loving travelers to assemble this collection of must-see sculptures across America.
Image of "Man With Fish", Chicago: Flickr
Washington D.C. is the country’s mecca for all things monuments and it’s easy to overlook smaller sculptures. Are there any hidden gems worth checking out in the area?
Yes! In fact, Washington D.C. may have the most prolific collection of sculptures that peole tend to overlook, which is sad because there are some real treasures there. Right beside the Lincoln Memorial are the Arts of Peace, Music and Harvest sculptures which James Earle Fraser created in 1951. The statues evoke mythical and Civil War symbolism and there is actually a matching pair right by the Lincoln Memorial. Across from the Lincoln statue is a fatherly gargoyle that everybody knows, but no one "sees." Sponsored by the National Geographic World Magazine, the Darth Vader gargoyle ominously hangs off the side of a building as he looks on as the dark ruler of the masses!
European sculptures are almost explicitly religious, which regardless of your affiliation are something to behold. But in America, we see more sculptures commemorating great men and women. Are there any lesser-known religious sculptures?
That’s a good point and we know that in particular, Europe’s religious works stem from Roman Catholicism. There is one stunning Roman Catholic sculpture that is hardly mentioned in Jasper, Ind., and that is “The Providence Home Geode Grotto.” The work is an elaborate stone laden fountain and shrine definitely worth checking out.
In a country of over 300 million people (a decent portion of which are artists) there have to be some weird sculptures out there. Where can we find some of the oddest sculptures?
Yes! There are a slew of strange sculptures in this country and you can actually start by looking in Chicago. Standing 16 feet tall in front of the Shedd Aquarium is a towering man hugging a fish. In a way constructing the piece in front of an aquarium makes sense, but let it be known that if you try and hug any of the fish in in the Shedd, you probably will get thrown out.
What are some other odd sculptures and pieces of art that travelers simply can't miss? Let us know in the comments!
By Steve Goble, VP of Marketing Communications for Navis Pack & Ship. When he's not spilling packing and shipping secrets, he's spending time with his family at a San Diego Padres or Chargers game. Connect with Steve on Google+ and LinkedIn.
