You Say Traffic Circle, We Say Masterpiece

Art looks different in Bend, Oregon. It has skinned knees and a gleeful, good-time grin. It doesn’t sit stiffly on the walls of some museum. Our art plays outside!

With its abundance of sensory pleasures, it’s no surprise Bend can transform even the mundane into something breathtaking. That’s the spirit driving the world of art in Bend, and the fuel that feeds the Roundabout Art Route.

The Roundabout Art Route is a collection of more than 20 pieces of public art on display throughout the city in the most unlikely places—at the center of Bend’s traffic circles. The circles filled with trees and flowers are designed to keep traffic flowing around the city.

Each roundabout holds a unique display of art designed to enhance the cultural environment for Bend visitors and residents. It’s sponsored by Art in Public Places, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing art to the community of Bend. In 2005, Americans for the Arts honored these sculptures as being among the most innovative approaches to public art in the country.

Want to play the game? It’s easy to do the Roundabout Art Route at your own pace. Simply pick up the map at the Bend Visitor Center and make your way to a minimum of 10 of the roundabout sculptures in the city. Answer the trivia questions on your map and bring it back to the Bend Visitor Center for a fabulous prize.

Want to tackle the art route on two wheels instead of four? Many bike shops offer rentals of both traditional bikes or electric-powered bikes to let you explore the artsy side of Bend. Think of it as an art tour for active souls, offering 360-degree views of art against the backdrop of the most beautiful, vibrant, and quirky town in the nation.

Once you’ve completed the Roundabout Art Route, don’t forget to bring your completed map back to the Bend Visitor Center for a tasty and unique commemorative prize.

GET YOUR ART GAME ON AT ROUNDABOUTARTROUTE.COM