3 Cool Pieces of Art Hidden in Plain Sight
From Darth Vader frolicking with a Care Bear in Cincinnati to a Dayton sculpture that tells the history of the Miami Valley, these Ohio public artworks invite you to look closer.
Cincinnati Toy Heritage, Cincinnati
ArtWorks has beautified the sides of buildings throughout the city, but don’t miss Jonathan Queen’s surreal mural depicting a bunch of toys made by Cincinnati-based Kenner. It features R2-D2, Yoda, Strawberry Shortcake, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, Mr. Potato Head and many more. 23 W. Court St., Cincinnati 45202, artworkscincinnati.org
Portage Path American Indian, Akron
Portage Path runs 8 miles, connecting the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers. Native Americans used the route to carry their canoes between the waterways, and today, a bronze sculpture depicting that act (made by Seneca-Onondaga tribe member Peter Jones) stands along Merriman Road near the path’s northern terminus. Merriman Road and North Portage Path, Akron 44313
Heritage Sculpture, Dayton
The 48-foot-long Heritage Sculpture installed at sidewalk level on Courthouse Square depicts the history, people and identity of the Miami Valley. It was made from 2,800 individual pieces, which were assembled into one cohesive work by artists and volunteers and then cast in bronze. Corner of Third and Main streets, Dayton 45402
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