Art on the CornerGrand Junction, CO
Wow! Grand Junction - what a surprise! A beautiful old town stuffed with sculpture.
Despite the fact that they have the nasty but necessary Big Box Store Jungle just outside of town, Main Street in Grand Junction, CO is beautiful and thriving. Could it be because every corner on Main has at least one sculpture, and sometimes four? We walked the entire length of main street in both directions, just to see all the sculpture - and of course you see the shops along the way. The shade trees and flower beds were fabulous too and the old brick buildings were clean and renovated, with murals and pretty breezeways to rest in. Plus all the stores and restaurants are independent local owned, not a Starbucks, a KFC or a Subway in sight.
It was just lovely to linger.
Colourful Mural in the Breezeway
And then there is the weekly party on Main Street. Technically it is the "Farmers Market" (every summer Thursday from 5:30pm) except with balloon animals, face painting, buskers, street performers, food trucks, artisans stalls and of course some farm stalls for the most delicious ripe peaches straight from the tree.
Most of the shops and restaurants stayed open late, and some have their own booth outside the shop to entice us back later in the week - a take away curry buffet from the Indian or the DJ outside playing tunes from the Record Store. AND free parking allows you to stay as long as you like. WOW!
And they do this every week? Yup.
Why does a Farmers Market have to be during the day or on the weekend? They have chosen to make it a social summer evening, making Main Street the hub of the community again.
What a very excellent idea.
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This sculpture looked like it had been carved in driftwood, then cast in bronze. The metal retained all the texture and imperfections of the wood
Colourful Tile Mural in a shady breezeway
A Dragon Drinking Fountain
