Dragonfly Book Bar
Bristol is known as the Birthplace of Country Music, but it is also home to a great deal of art.
The traffic signal boxes in downtown Bristol are covered in art created by a variety of local artists. Other public art includes Val Lyle’s “Take the Stage” and Maria Kirby-Smith’s “Bristol War Memorial” on Cumberland Street. The Bristol Public Library features exhibits in its gallery space, murals inside and sculptures in its landscape, including “Bristol’s Cultural Heritage” designed by Charles Vess and fabricated with Val Lyle and Jim Gallucci.
There are multiple murals throughout downtown Bristol including the Country Music Mural on State Street, Buster Chapman’s mural on the W Square apartment building, Scott Allred’s mural on Bank Street and the Natural Beauty Mural, painted by artist Sidney, near Delta Blues. The Bank Street mural is interactive. It contains QR codes and audio links allowing visitors to explore each of the 12 featured gems of the Bristol region. There is a large mural inside of Bristol Yoga and colorful paintings adorn the walls of Mas Tequila.
There are 11 hungry caterpillar statues located throughout downtown Bristol. They were created by Val Lyle and are based on the book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. This project was spearheaded by the Junior League of Bristol.
Believe in Bristol sponsored the Fairy Doors scattered throughout downtown Bristol. Businesses were encouraged to design a door to be installed on the exterior of their business. There is a musically-inspired cottage entrance at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum and a hand-fired pottery fairy door at Kiln’ Time. In total, there are 10 fairy doors.
Many businesses display local artwork inside to promote regional artists. Much of this artwork is for sale. Some of these are Bristol Bagel and Bakery, The Corner, Blackbird Bakery, Applebee’s and 620 State Street.
Dragonfly Book Bar is filled with art, as is Sherri Jessee’s hair salon on Euclid Avenue. This art is for sale.
And of course, there are galleries, such as HollerHouse, A Work of Art Gallery and Gifts and Benjamin Walls Gallery.
