Metalmorphosis, in Charlotte, is a modern art piece by artist David Cerny featuring a huge head in the center of a circular fountain. The polished steel surface acts as a mirror reflecting North Carolina’s blue sky and clouds.
Charlotte – Metalmorphosis Face Reflections
A photographer captures the image of the Metalmorphosis in transition as a plane flies overhead in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte – Capturing the Metalmorphosis
When the motorized, internet-controlled segments of Metalmorphosis (in Charlotte) are rotating, the result is an oddly mesmerizing perpetually moving showpiece which alternately looks like a human head—with disturbing, gaping holes where the mouth or eyes should be—or, alternately, like nothing replicated in the physical world.
Charlotte – Metalmorphosis in Action
Charlotte – Metalmorphosis Side View
Metalmorphosis, by Czech artist David Černýa, is a mirrored sculpture housed in the Whitehall Technology Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. The creation consists of nearly 40 steel pieces grouped into 7 segments which independently rotate 360 degrees. When the segments are aligned, the sculpture appears to be a giant, silver head with all of the usual fixtures in their regular places.
Charlotte – Metalmorphosis Face On
Reflections off church windows in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte – Reflecting from the Church
Sculpted stacks of Goliath-size books, with titles such as Don Quixote and Withering Heights, flank the entrance to a small downtown park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Charlotte – Tall Stacks of Big Bronze Books
With glass in all the buildings in Uptown Charlotte, someone has to wash it!
Charlotte – Window Washers
The use of glass on many buildings in Uptown Charlotte creates unusual reflections on these arches
Charlotte – Tree Reflection on Glass Arches
Charlotte – Building Reflection on Glass Arches
The pride of Spirit Square is the 730-seat McGlohon Theater, named in honor of the late legendary jazz pianist Loonis McGlohon of Charlotte. With beautiful stained glass windows and a cupola, this space served as the First Baptist Church sanctuary for many years. The theater has been carefully restored to preserve and enhance its unique architectural details.
Charlotte – Inside McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square
One Wells Fargo Center is a skyscraper in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the headquarters for Wells Fargo’s east coast division. At 588 feet tall and 42 stories, it is the fourth tallest building in Charlotte.
Charlotte – Wells Fargo Center
Interesting reflections on arched windows of an old church in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte – Reflections on Church Windows
Church Window Reflections
The Old Cemetery is a resting place for early settlers of Charlotte, North Carolina. The modern buildings seem out of place against this serenity.
Charlotte – Resting Place Midst Skyscrapers
The Green, a park in Uptown, has the coolest fountain in Charlotte, quite literally. There are banks of water jets in the pavement, and they fire in sequence. Each fish’s mouth also spews water in its turn. The whole routine culminates in an all-fins-on-deck water show, and then the sequence repeats.
This is the perfect place for kids to splash, Spring, Summer, or Fall.
Charlotte – Cooling Off
Il Grande Disco (also known as The Grand Disc) is a round coin-shaped piece of art that sits at Bank of America Plaza in Uptown Charlotte. The piece is a large, bronze wheel with dark edges and designs etched throughout both sides. The piece has a futuristic, foreign feel and almost seems to be ripping apart at its seams. This piece was created specifically for the space by Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, Il Grande Disco and was installed in 1974.
There are five more “Il Grande Disco” sculptures throughout the world, all with similar design and all installed in around the same time frame.
Charlotte – Il Grande Disco
Thomas Polk Park is located on the southwest corner of Independence Square in downtown Charlotte. A man-made waterfall cascades down, and the water courses through channels that feature vignettes of Charlotte’s history.
Charlotte – Downtown Waterfall
Buildings in downtown (referred to as Uptown) Charlotte use a lot of glass and reflections from other structures are often distorted.
Charlotte – Distorted Reflections
The Lynx Blue Line is a light rail line in Charlotte, North Carolina. Riders are treated to art at some stations and colorful buildings on the routes.
Charlotte – A Colorful Train Ride
Charlotte – Art at the Train Station
Affectionately known as “Disco Chicken” by area residents, the shimmering Firebird sculpture was installed in 2009, and stands at the entrance of the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina. The statue stands over 17 feet tall and weighs over 1,400 pounds. The entire statue is covered from top to bottom in over 7,500 pieces of mirrored and colored glass. The piece was created in 1991 by French-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle.
Charlotte – Firebird Sculpture
The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a 36,500-square-foot museum space dedicated to the exhibition of mid-20th-century modern art. The museum is designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta. A key design element of the four-story structure is the soaring glass atrium that extends through the museum’s core and diffuses natural light throughout the building.
Charlotte – Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
The uptown Charlotte Omni Hotel sits close to Independence Square. The foreground has a sculpture of Transportation, highlighting the African-American prominence in building the railroad that runs through Charlotte. The hotel in the background has a sharp design with glass fronted exterior.
Charlotte – A Sharp Hotel