“Public Display of Affection” in Downtown Matthews

Usually, we think PDA is a little icky. (Come on people, get a room.) Especially now that we are supposed to be social distancing. (Seeing people hold hands in the produce section raises our anxiety level now.) But there is one Public Display of Affection that warms our hearts every time we see it.

The metal sculpture found in the heart of Stumptown Park in Downtown Matthews titled “Public Display of Affection” was created by philanthropist/skateboarder/sculptor Tom Risser. (How do we get that job?).

Tom is also the owner of the Charlotte-based US Bottlers Machinery Company, a specialized packaging company that has been in the Risser family since 1906. The materials used for his PDA sculpture and other artworks are leftover metal scraps from the machinery company.

We might not be into PDA but we will publicly display our affection for “Public Display of Affection” any day of the week.