1. Firehouse Frog
Located at 545 N. Huron St. in Downtown Toledo, this firehouse-themed amphibian is one of many hand-painted, web-footed friends around the city. Why the frog? Because Toledo is a swampland and frankly, frogs are adorable.
2. Kids Art in the Park
Nestled along the Maumee River, Promenade Park is a place for many of Toledo’s large-scale festivals and Fourth of July fireworks display. If you walk near the facilities, you will notice that there are small tiles cemented into the sidewalk. Established in 1982, and spearheaded by Toledo artist Thomas Lingeman, children illustrated their reactions to the Maumee river, nature, life and art onto the tiny bronze squares.
Promenade Park, Water St. in downtown Toledo.
3. TSA Parking Lot Gate
To brighten up the parking lot TSA students used cloth and yarn to adorn the gate of the school’s back parking lot. As part of the art class’s guerrilla installation project, the students wove the material through the gate to create beautiful urban flowers.
Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St. 419-246-8732. ts4arts.org
4. Pianos for “ART”
In honor of Toledo’s Art Tatum, one of the most outstanding pianists of all time, locals have donated pianos to be turned into visual art masterpieces. The Art Tatum Jazz Heritage Society created the Pianos for ART project, to celebrate his ART of the piano.
SeaGate Convention Centre, 401 Jefferson Ave. 419-255-3300. toledo-seagate.com
5. Richard Gosser Memorial
Donated to Toledo in 1964 as part of the One Percent for Art Collection, Ohio artist Donald Drumm constructed this abstract sculpture in honor of Richard T. Gosser. As the Vice President of the United Auto Workers union, the installation stands as a gateway to the UpTown District. The sculpture is made of Coreten steel, a special type of steel that rusts but creates a coating to protect it from corrosion.
6. Tragic Mask
Installed in 1999, this abstract sculpture created by two French artists, Anne and Patrick Poirier, displays one of the masks of drama.
The Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St. 419-242-3490. valentinetheatre.com
