Love is in the air. It’s also on the walls and sidewalks. Across the city, it’s easy to find expressions of love from local artists, neatly mapped out in the Lovers Art Trail.

by Sharon Smith

Each February, many of us try to embrace the idea of love a little bit more. Love thy neighbor. Love yourself, family and friends. Love the one you’re with.

As Chad Cartwright and Kent Youngstrom’s black-and-white mural on the backside of Revolution Clothiers on East Boulevard reminds us boldly, “love, love, love.” The mural, painted back in 2020, reads, “There is no disruption without change and love.” An outdoor project perfect for those long days of Covid, this one answered the call. 

It’s one of 17 stops on the Lovers Art Trail compiled by Anne Wise Low, founder of Art Walks CLT. Wise Low created the nonprofit to connect people with outdoor art through 28 self-guided digital art walks and trails with 350 pieces of public art. She provides location, artist name and a summary for each piece — and for the Lovers Art Trail, a little “love connection” fact perfect for Valentine’s Day. 

Many are familiar Instagram-worthy destinations with high visibility, like “Confetti Hearts Wall” by Evelyn Henson in South End, but Art Walks CLT also maps out more obscure murals, ones that are painted on a building’s back wall, like this written-word mural. Youngstrom also has a large mural featured on a building corner on Central Avenue, “Love, Always Hopes.”

See them all in a day, or a few close together one afternoon. The point is to get out there, on your own or with someone you care about. Appreciate the art and take in the message. Love is everywhere, if you look.  SP

Find an art trail at artwalksclt.com

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