Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, Call for Artists to Participate in “Coined in the South: 2022” – Deadline June 4, 2021

The Young Affiliates of the Mint, in collaboration with The Mint Museum, are seeking works of art produced by southeastern artists for the second installment of “Coined in the South”. This juried exhibition will be held from March 25, 2022 to July 3, 2022 at Mint Museum Uptown.

Coined in the South is about bridging the gap between the museum, the gallery, and the studio, to highlight the innovative and thought-provoking works produced by the creative innovators of the southeastern arts community. The show is not confined to any single aesthetic, theme, or medium.

Prize money will be awarded. There will be a $10,000 juror-awarded grand prize, a $5,000 Young Affiliates of the Mint member-awarded prize, and a $1,000 “People’s Choice” prize awarded by the general public at the conclusion of the show. All selected artists will be provided with a $200 stipend to offset shipping and travel costs.

Open to artists who are from or currently working in the following states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana.

Jurors include: Hallie Ringle, curator of contemporary art at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Lydia Thompson, artist and chair of the Art and Art History Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte; and Ken West, photographer and digital experience designer. Winner of the inaugural “Coined in the South” “People’s Choice” award.

Submitted works of art must be less than two years old, non-perishable, do not produce excessive noise pollution, and do not result in physical harm to any living beings. Installation, video, and performance artists are encouraged to apply but must provide instructions for installation and space requirements, as well as recordings and/or documentation of past performances when available.

Exhibition dates: March 25, 2022 to July 3, 2022

Where: Mint Museum Uptown, 500 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Deadline for submissions: Due at 11:59pm on June 4, 2021 at (https://form.jotform.com/210624429601044). All works of art must be delivered ready to install between February 28 and March 18. Artists are responsible for the cost of shipping.

Entry Fee: $50. Each artist may submit up to five works as part of their application. The one-time $50 fee covers all submissions.

For further info contact Kaitlyn McElwee, Art Show Chair by e-mail at (yam.artshow@mintmuseum.org).

Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, Offers Women2Women Museum Experience

Round up your network and join us for a Women2Women Museum Experience! Discover the compelling life stories of women artists, experience a private tour of “Women of Abstract Expressionism” and “Fired Up”, and enjoy refreshments.

Work by Perle Fine

This two-hour program is available for reservations on Wednesdays-Fridays December – February from noon-2pm or 4-6pm at #themintmuseum Uptown. $40 per person; maximum group size is 12. Book your group today by contacting Julie Olson Anna at 704/337-2043 or e-mail to (Julie.OlsonAnna@mintmuseum.org).

Turtle Island Pottery to be at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, for WOW “Wine on Wednesday” – June 8, 2016

Turtle Island Pottery, a WNC pottery staple, will be at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, on June 8, from 5:30-9pm, for “Wine on Wednesday” at the Mint. Admission is free. They will have music, wine (cash bar) and possibly a chocolatier. Come out and enjoy a relaxing evening of wine, music, art and craft from Turtle Island Pottery!

Turtle Island Pottery features handmade pottery by Maggie and Freeman Jones, who create one of a kind, functional, decorative stoneware items.

For more info about Turtle Island Pottery call 828/669-2713 or visit (www.Turtleislandpottery.com).

For more info about the Mint call 704/337-2000 or visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, Offers First-ever #LongLiveArts Festival – May 21, 2016

The public is invited to a full day of activities on Saturday, May 21, 2016, from 10am-6pm, to the First-ever #LongLiveArts Festival for FREE performances, art activities, and more to at the Levine Center for the Arts in Uptown Charlotte, NC.

The Levine Center for the Arts is located at the 500 block of South Tryon Street, including Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Knight Theater, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and Mint Museum Uptown

Salsa dancing. Puppets. A portrait paint-off. Drums. Aerial dancing. Jazz. Food trucks. An Arts Guy. An outdoor symphony concert. And FREE museum access all day.

All this and more will be part of the inaugural LongLiveArts Festival, the first event of its kind to be hosted by the four member institutions of Levine Center for the Arts – the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Blumenthal Performing Arts’ Knight Theater, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and Mint Museum Uptown. The public is invited to the 500 block of South Tryon Street between 10am and 6pm for the festival – and both before and after those hours to enjoy a free “plazacast” of Charlotte Symphony’s Romeo & Juliet, showing from a big screen in front of the Firebird statue at 7:30pm on both Friday and Saturday evenings. The Bechtler and Mint will also offer special hours of free access on Friday May 20 in conjunction with the plazacast (the Bechtler will offer Bechtler by Night from 6-9pm, while the Mint will offer free general admission from 6-8pm).

More fun for all ages begins Saturday morning at 10am, with a main stage set up on Levine Avenue and emceed by Moira Quinn, Vice President of Charlotte Center City Partners. And about that Arts Guy? He’s part of a new marketing initiative jointly launched by Levine Center for the Arts institutions, and he will represent the Charlotteans and global visitors who want to learn more about the cultural offerings of the Queen City. Watch for him to give behind-the-scenes insights to Saturday’s audience.

Community artists are also invited to join a #LongLiveArts Festival Portrait Paint-Off, in which participants are invited to meet local oil painter Gordon James. He will first paint a live model from 10:15 to 11am, and then at 11:30 and 1:45pm, audience members will be invited to grab some art supplies and paint volunteer models. The paint-off contest will give prizes including gifts from the three museum gift shops and free passes to return to the Levine Center for the Arts museums.

Other performers and activities scheduled as part of Saturday’s activities include the Charlotte Symphony’s Musical Petting Zoo; Caroline Calouche’s aerial dancers; Drums4Life; Africano Campbell; Blue Moon Puppets; an art class with Cathay Dawkins; Dancehall Groove; and a salsa dancing demonstration, as well as interactive art-making activities led by the education staffs of the three member museums. Docents from the three museums will lead free 30-minute “ArtBreak” tours inside each museum at noon, 1pm, and 2pm.

Levine Center for the Arts is one of Charlotte’s major cultural destinations, home to Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, John S. and James L. Knight Theater, and Mint Museum Uptown. The Center was made possible through the support of the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Campaign for Cultural Facilities, and The Leon Levine Foundation, one of the country’s largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations, along with the generosity of Bank of America Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, and Duke Energy Foundation, among many others.

A generous grant from the THRIVE Fund is enabling the four institutions to work more closely together than ever before to increase visibility and access to the unified center. The $250,000 award from the THRIVE Fund over two years is making possible the center’s first-ever joint marketing campaign, as well as free monthly lunchtime tours and a free community festival to be held on May 21, 2016. The THRIVE Fund was established in 2013 to provide financial stability for Charlotte’s cultural sector under the leadership of Hugh McColl, former Bank of America chairman and CEO, and is currently administered by the Foundation For The Carolinas. The Mint Museum spearheaded the grant and is managing the project in collaboration with the other institutions. More information at (levinecenterarts.org).

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to the exhibition of mid-20th-century modern art. It is named after the family of Andreas Bechtler, who assembled and inherited a collection created by seminal figures in modernism. The collection comprises more than 1,400 works. Some works are accompanied by books, photographs, and letters illustrating personal connections to the Bechtler family. For museum details visit (bechtler.org).

Blumenthal Performing Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education provider. Blumenthal Performing Arts receives operating support from the Arts & Science Council and North Carolina Arts Council. Blumenthal Performing Arts is also supported by PNC Bank, sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights. More information at (blumenthalarts.org).

Founded in 1974, Charlotte’s Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (formerly the Afro-American Center) exists to present, preserve and celebrate the art, history and culture of African-Americans and people of the African Diaspora through dance, music, visual and literary arts, film, educational programs, theatre productions and community outreach. Named for Harvey Bernard Gantt, the prominent architect, community leader and former mayor of Charlotte, the Center is housed in an inspired and distinguished award-winning structure and is home to the nationally celebrated John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American Art, which was generously donated by Bank of America. More information (ganttcenter.org).

The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative museum of international art and design committed to engaging and inspiring all members of our global community. Established as the first art museum in North Carolina in 1936, The Mint Museum has grown to include two dynamic facilities, Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph, and currently boasts one of largest collections in the Southeast. Mint Museum Uptown houses an internationally renowned Craft + Design Collection, as well as collections of American and Modern & Contemporary Art. The five-story, 175,000 square-foot facility was designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston. Historic Mint Museum Randolph is located three miles to the south. For more information visit (mintmuseum.org).

A complete schedule of events is attached and available at (facebook.com/levinecenterart).

International Acquisition Joins Craft + Design Collection of The Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC

Mint Museum Uptown visitors can now see the latest acquisition to join the Craft + Design galleries, “Shredded Side Table” by Jens Praet, a Belgian native now based near Siena, Italy.

Praet is internationally recognized for work that values traditional craftsmanship, innovative techniques, and conceptual sophistication in equal measure. “Shredded Side Table” comes from the “Shredded” series that Praet initiated as a research project in 2007-2008. The series was inspired by his observation of the amount of paper that is used and discarded in industrialized society. He embedded shredded paper in resin and formed it around a hidden aluminum frame to create furniture whose material origin is clearly visible. This particular “Side Table” was commissioned by Design Days Dubai and was produced on-site, part of a performance during the public programming of the fair, using copies of “Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Arabia”.

Jens Praet. Belgian, 1984 – Shredded Side Table (Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Edition) 2013, Paper, resin, aluminum. Donation of Design Days Dubai and the Artist through Industry Gallery, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, CA.

Praet said his goal is to give concrete form to the idea of waste. “What I always like is that people gradually find out what the material really is, as the surface might look like granite if you superficially observe the object,” he said. “Once people understand the material, their reaction is quite often an understanding of what else can be done with paper waste, or just waste in general… Waste can be turned into something useful and hopefully aesthetic.”

The acquisition was announced in March during the latest edition of Design Days Dubai 2014, an event featuring acclaimed international and regional galleries dedicated to collectible design which takes place every year at the foot of Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world. The commissioned piece was donated to The Mint Museum by the fair organizers, and the artist’s presence was possible thanks to Industry Gallery of Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, CA.

“The proliferation of paper is a global challenge and speak to the international nature of contemporary design,” said Annie Carlano, the Mint’s Senior Curator of Craft, Design, & Fashion. “The Mint museum’s collection echoes the diversity of contemporary design today, and Jens Praet’s work resonates perfectly with our goals. Made by a Belgian designer active in Italy, during a performance at a design fair in the United Arab Emirates, and acquired through an American gallery, it truly allows us to bring the world to Charlotte. The ‘Shredded Side Table’ will engage viewers from the city, the region, and beyond in thinking about paper as a material and about the role of designers in society.”

“A big part of Design Days Dubai’s mission is to give its visitors and collectors the chance to discover regional and international design with a focus on contemporary creations,” said Cyril Zammit, Design Days Dubai Fair Director. “Each year, we commission pieces from emerging designers to support contemporary design and focus buyers’ and media attention on alternative or new techniques. We are delighted to see that the UAE’s thriving market is reaching out to great institutions such as The Mint Museum, reconfirming Dubai’s position as a platform for art and design attracting a dynamic and diverse audience.”

Last fall, the museum announced the launch of a three-year Collections Initiative with the help of Bank of America, which donated a monumental canvas by California artist Sam Francis to the museum. The painting, “Untitled (Seafirst)” 1979, at approximately 19 feet tall by 38 feet wide, is one of the largest by size in the Mint’s collection and is one of the first works seen by visitors to the atrium of Mint Museum Uptown. Many other significant acquisitions have arrived or are in the process of arriving at the museum as a result of the Initiative, and more announcements will follow soon.

The fourth edition of Design Days Dubai – the leading fair in the Middle East and South Asia dedicated to collectible design – will take place March 16-20, 2015. The fair features leading international designers and galleries alongside up-and-coming design from across the world. The fair also presents a strong non-commercial programm consisting of education, workshops, installations, and live performances. The fair’s 2014 edition welcomed 40 exhibitors and design galleries from 20 countries and showcasing more than 239 designers, confirming its position as the most diverse design fair in the world.  Design Days Dubai 2014 received more than 12,000 visitors. Design Days Dubai has become a meeting point for design collectors and enthusiasts to acquire unique design and gain a glimpse of the contemporary trends of the regional and global design industry.

As the first art museum in North Carolina, with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art and design from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop.

For further information on the Mint’s Collections Initiative and how to get involved, contact Leigh Dyer by e-mail at (leigh.dyer@mintmuseum.org) or call 704/337-2009.

Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, Participates in Art Museum Day – May 18, 2013

Charlotte, NC’s, premier cultural destination, Levine Center for the Arts, is celebrating the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day 2013 by offering “pay what you wish” admission to museum visitors on Saturday, May 18, 2013.

Three of the cultural institutions at the South Tryon Street campus, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and Mint Museum Uptown, are joining forces to offer visitors an unparalleled arts experience. The Mint Museum is also offering “pay what you wish” admission at its other location, Mint Museum Randolph. (Normal admission is $8 each to the Bechtler and Gantt Center and $10 to the Mint, or a Levine Center for the Arts joint admission pass is available for $20 on CarolinaTix.org.)

Since 2010, the AAMD has encouraged art museums across the nation to participate in conjunction with the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) International Museum Day, dedicated to promoting the value of museums in society. Over 100 AAMD member museums have participated each year. This year’s theme is “museums (memory + creativity) = social change.”

At the Mint, other special promotions and opportunities are surrounding the Art Museum Day 2013 effort. Beginning Monday May 13, anyone who “shares” the Mint’s Facebook posts at (facebook.com/mintmuseum) or “retweets” at (@TheMintMuseum) is eligible to win prizes including free guest passes and tickets to the museum’s May 30 “Party in the Park” event. On Saturday May 18, the Mint will offer a one-day-only special 50 percent off price for annual memberships, which brings unlimited free admissions to both museums and a host of other valuable benefits. And Mint Museum Uptown will be hosting two special events: a gathering for grandmothers, mothers, and daughters benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank called F.O.O.D. and Fellowship (registration required at mintmuseum.org/happenings) and a residency by local performance artist John W. Love, Jr. entitled FECUND. Special exhibitions on view at Mint Museum Uptown include F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design); Sociales: Debora Arango Arrives Today; and Return to the Sea: Saltworks by Motoi Yamamoto. At Mint Museum Randolph, new exhibitions on view include American Glass; Arts of Africa; and the fashion exhibition Dior, Balmain, Saint Laurent: Elegance & Ease.

Visitors who are familiar with one or two of the institutions are encouraged to use the day to experience one they may not know as well.

All donations by museum visitors support making the priceless artistic treasures of these facilities more accessible to the larger community, as well as enabling museums to mount unforgettable educational programming.

More information about supporting each museum can be found at (bechtler.org) click on “Support”; (ganttcenter.org) click on “Join & Support”, and (mintmuseum.org) click on “Support”.

Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC, Offers Lecture and Conference on F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design) – Apr. 25 & 26, 2013

The public is invited to join a roster of chefs, writers, historians, and international designers – led by internationally renowned architect Michael Graves – who are visiting the museum later this month for a conference devoted to the innovative Mint-organized “F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design)” exhibition. Graves will be speaking on Apr. 25, 2013, as part of the Mint’s Contemporary Architecture + Design (CAD) Series at Mint Museum Uptown, in Charlotte, NC, which will serve as the F.O.O.D. Conference’s keynote address, and the day-long conference which follows on Apr. 26, 2013.

Michael Graves and his firms have received more than 200 awards for design excellence since he founded his practice in 1964, including the 1999 National Medal of Arts from President Bill Clinton. Michael Graves & Associates provides planning, architecture and interior design services, and Michael Graves Design Group specializes in product design, graphics and branding. As one of the most well-recognized contemporary architects in the country, Graves is widely credited with the ‘democratization of design’ through his partnership and accessible product line with Target.

“Good design not only addresses practical problems, it humanizes the products we use daily. Fittingly, the Mint’s CAD Series (Contemporary Architecture + Design) concludes its season and opens the F.O.O.D. Conference with a lecture by Michael Graves, the visionary architect and designer. More than anyone else, Graves has changed the field by championing good design as essential to everyday life, and by creating objects that are accessible, intuitive, functional and beautiful,” said Cheryl Palmer, the Mint’s director of Learning & Engagement.

Graves’ lecture begins at 7pm and the lecture is $5 for museum members, $15 for non-members, and free for students with valid ID. A light reception precedes the program at 6pm. Registration is required by visiting (www.mintmuseum.org/happenings).

The F.O.O.D. Conference promises a day of learning and creativity with presentations from industry leading writers, historians, chefs, and designers to complement the museum’s current exhibition devoted to objects designed to prepare, cook, and present food. The conference sessions mirror the four sections of the “F.O.O.D.” exhibition – Kitchen, Pantry, Table and Garden.

Presenters include Jessica Harris, author of 11 cookbooks and contributor to magazines such as Gourmet and Saveur; James Beard Award-winning author, bread expert and Johnson & Wales chef Peter Reinhart; Darra Goldstein, food historian and founding editor of Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture, named the 2012 Publication of the Year by the James Beard Foundation; Asheville-based architect Ken Gaylord, and Matteo Bologna, founding partner and principal of Mucca Design in New York.

Designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin of the FormaFantasma Studio, who created the work “Autarchy” for the Mint’s “F.O.O.D.” exhibition, will also be presenting. Based on a prototype from 2011, this version of Autarchy was created especially for the Mint, and is made of agriculture waste, spices such as turmeric and paprika, and Geechie Boy corn meal. The two Italian designers are based in The Netherlands and their work seeks to bridge the relationship between craft, industry, object, and user. This is the studio’s first showing in an American museum. In 2011 the studio was nominated as one of the 20 most promising young design studios by Alice Rawsthorn, the design critic of The New York Times and Paola Antonelli, the senior design curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

“Designers are creative individuals who apply art and engineering to solve a problem. Regarding food, that problem might be making a spoon that holds just the right amount of liquid, that is comfortable to hold, and that looks really cool.  It might be creating a kitchen that incorporates sustainable appliances, green machines, and ergonomic furniture.  And it could even be coming up with a typeface, and innovative graphic designs, for restaurant advertisements, menus, or cookbooks. The Mint’s F.O.O.D. Conference brings together top international talent – chefs, culinary historians, designers, and architects –  to discuss their perspectives on the meaning of table, pantry, kitchen, and garden in our lives today,” said Annie Carlano, the Mint’s director of craft + design.

The conference runs from 9:30am-4pm and the cost for Mint or Center for Craft, Creativity and Design members is $60 with a box lunch and includes admission to Michael Graves’ CAD lecture. Cost for non-members is $85 with a box lunch, or $100 for lunch and admission to the Graves CAD lecture. Registration is required at (www.mintmuseum.org/happenings).

The conference is co-presented with The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design in Hendersonville, NC, and funded by the Founders’ Circle. In-kind partners include Johnson & Wales University and The Mother Earth Group. Michael Graves’ lecture is generously supported by a grant from the Arts & Science Council.

The “F.O.O.D.” exhibition features approximately 300 modern and contemporary pieces, including unique and mass-produced works chosen from the Mint’s permanent collection, loans and new acquisitions. The exhibition is co-organized by the research center FoodCultura, Barcelona, and remains on view through July 7, 2013. “F.O.O.D. (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design)” is made possible through major support from PNC with additional support from Piedmont Natural Gas. Acquisition support was provided by the Design Committee of The Mint Museum.

For more information, visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

A Floating Garden of Salt to Take Shape at Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte, NC

The public is invited to take part in an unprecedented event at Mint Museum Uptown as internationally renowned artist Motoi Yamamoto visits to create a temporary large-scale work from Feb. 18 through Mar. 2, 2013, then help dismantle it on Mar. 3, 2013.

Motoi, who calls his native Japan home, will be in the Robert Haywood Morrison Atrium creating his saltwork, to be entitled “Floating Garden” and the public is invited to watch him at work during regular museum hours. Atrium access is free, although visitors must pay admission to experience the saltwork from higher vantage points within the five-story space. The museum is normally closed on Mondays but will also grant free public access to the atrium level on Feb. 18 and 25 (no other areas of the museum will be open those days). The museum will also continue to grant free access to all levels each Tuesday from 5-9pm, the Mint’s normally scheduled free hours. The work will be celebrated at a “First Look Friday” on Mar. 1 at 6:30pm, remain on view Mar. 2, and then be dismantled on Mar. 3.

“Japanese installation artist Motoi Yamamoto’s residency here in Charlotte is another opportunity for the Mint to present to our community innovative works by an international roster of artists,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint.

“In Japan, salt is a symbol of purification and is also used in funeral ceremonies. Motoi’s remarkable body of work was born out his grief following the death of his young sister in 1994 from brain cancer. It was at that point Motoi adopted salt as his primary medium and for almost twenty years, he has developed a unique artistic expression that celebrates both life and remembrance,” said Brad Thomas, the Mint’s curator of modern & contemporary art. “It is not until you experience Motoi and his work in person that the true impact of his singular, yet universal, journey is felt.”

The “First Look Friday” from 6:30-11pm on Mar. 1 is free to Mint members and tickets are available to non-members for $15 per person. The night will also celebrate the openings of two other special exhibitions at Mint Museum Uptown, “F.O.O.D.” (Food, Objects, Objectives, Design) and “Sociales: Débora Arango Arrives Today,” as well as including a multicultural “Mint to Move” dance party (more details on all exhibitions and events available at www.mintmuseum.org).

The community is also invited to help dismantle the saltwork at a special ceremony on Mar. 3 at 1:30pm. Visitors may collect salt in specially designed containers to be released back into a body of water so that it may re-enter the natural cycle. Participants are encouraged to document their own personal ceremonies and upload images to Motoi’s website at (www.motoi.biz), and the Mint’s Facebook page, (www.facebook.com/mintmuseum).

Motoi Yamamoto was born in Onomichi, Hiroshima, in 1966 and received his BA from Kanazawa College of Art in 1995. He has exhibited his award-winning creations in such cities as Athens, Cologne, Jerusalem, Mexico City, Seoul, Tokyo, and Toulouse. He was awarded the Philip Morris Art Award in 2002 as well as the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant in 2003.

The saltwork’s creation leads up to the opening of the exhibition “Return to the Sea: Saltworks by Motoi Yamamoto”, which will be on view in the Modern & Contemporary galleries of Mint Museum Uptown from Mar. 2 through May 26, 2013. The exhibition features a smaller saltwork along with a series of recent works on paper, mixed media works, a video about the artist, and a 170-page color catalogue documenting twelve years of the artist’s saltworks around the world. The catalogue includes essays by Mark Sloan, director and senior curator of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at College of Charleston School of the Arts, and Mark Kurlansky, author of the “New York Times” best seller “Salt: A World History”.

“Return to the Sea: Saltworks by Motoi Yamamoto” is presented to the community with generous support from Sapporo USA Inc. and Tryon Distributing. Organized by the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, College of Charleston School of the Arts. Learning and engagement programming for the exhibition is generously underwritten by the Mint Museum Auxiliary.

For more information, visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

Here’s a Parking Advisory for the Levine Center for the Arts – It’s Garage will be Closed Aug. 25 & 26, 2012

Here’s a Parking Advisory: Levine Center for the Arts parking garage will be closed to non-monthly visitors Saturday, August 25, and Sunday, August 26, 2012. Visitors to cultural campus must park at The Green, using College Street entrance.

In conjunction with the 2012 Pride Charlotte Festival taking place in Charlotte, NC, visitors to the cultural attractions at Levine Center for the Arts must park at The Green this Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26, using the College Street entrance opposite the Charlotte Convention Center (501 South College Street). The Levine Center for the Arts parking garage will be closed to all non-monthly visitors both days.

Pride Charlotte’s hours are noon to 9pm Saturday August 25 and noon to 6pm on Sunday August 26. Organizers expect 25,000 attendees. South Tryon Street will be closed to vehicles between Fourth and Stonewall streets beginning at 5am on Saturday and continuing until 10pm on Sunday. Levine Avenue of the Arts is also closed during those times. Parking is affected for visitors to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture; and Mint Museum Uptown (no public events are scheduled at the neighboring Knight Theater during the festival). For more information about the festival, call 704/333-0144 or e-mail to (info@pridecharlotte.com).

Specifics for each cultural institution:

·         All Bechtler Museum of Modern Art galleries are closed August 24 through August 30 for the installation of “Giacometti: Memory and Presence”, an exhibition opening August 31, 2012. During this time, the Bechtler’s museum store and café will remain open regular hours, 10am-5pm Saturday and noon-5pm Sunday. Visit the museum for free make-and-take art activities on the museum plaza from 11am to 1pm each day the galleries are closed. More information at 704/353-9200 or (www.bechtler.org).
·         The Gantt Center will be open for normal operating hours, 10am- 5pm Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday. It is hosting the exhibition “America I AM: The African American Imprint. More information at 704/547-3700 or (www.ganttcenter.org).
·         Mint Museum Uptown will be open for normal operating hours, 10am-6pm on Saturday and 1-5pm Sunday. The new exhibition “VantagePoint X / Vik Muniz: Garbage Matters” opens Saturday. More information at 704/377-2000 or visit (www.mintmuseum.org).

Levine Center for the Arts is one of Charlotte’s key cultural destinations, comprised of Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, John S. and James L. Knight Theater, Mint Museum Uptown, and Duke Energy Center. The Levine Center was made possible through the Campaign for Cultural Facilities, the support of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and the generosity of the Leon Levine Foundation, one of the country’s largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations.

 

 

 

Three Art Museums at Levine Center for the Arts in Charlotte, NC, Celebrate Art Museum Day with Free Admission – May 18, 2012

Charlotte, NC’s premier cultural destination, Levine Center for the Arts, is celebrating the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day by offering free admission to museum visitors on Friday, May 18, 2012.

Three of the cultural institutions at the South Tryon Street campus, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, and Mint Museum Uptown, are joining forces to offer visitors an unparalleled arts experience. The Mint Museum is also offering free admission at its other location, Mint Museum Randolph. (Normal admission is $8 each to the Bechtler and Gantt Center and $10 to the Mint, and each institution offers regular ticket discounts to visitors who purchase admission to either of the other two museums within the same 48-hour period – the Mint offers $3 off to Bechtler and Gantt visitors, and the Bechtler and Gantt offer $2 off for visitors to the Mint and each other’s institutions).

Since 2010, the AAMD has encouraged art museums across the nation to participate in conjunction with the International Council of Museums’ (ICOM) International Museum Day, dedicated to promoting the value of museums in society. Over 100 AAMD member museums have participated each year. This year’s theme is “museums in a changing world.”

“Art Museum Day brings attention to the important role institutions such as the Bechtler, Mint, and Gantt Center play in maintaining Charlotte’s vibrant cultural life,” said Christopher Lawing, Vice President for Programming and Research at the Bechtler. “This special day of free admittance is a great way to introduce art museums to new audiences or welcome back those who we haven’t seen in a while.”

Visitors who are familiar with one or two of the institutions are encouraged to use the day to experience one they may not know as well.

“We are excited to join our partners on International Museum Day and will open our doors so visitors have the chance to celebrate the art, history, and culture of African-Americans and those of African descent,” said Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture President & CEO David Taylor. “We believe this is an excellent opportunity to recognize the important role that museums and cultural centers play in contemporary society. International Museum Day is a global celebration of the incredible collections and programs at museums and cultural centers around the world, and their commitment to public service and audience engagement.”

The museums are pleased to have an opportunity to highlight Charlotte’s emergence as a national leader on the arts scene. “The Levine Center for the Arts is a jewel in Charlotte’s cultural crown, and each resident of this region has reason to celebrate its presence here,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of The Mint Museum. “The Mint also welcomes visitors to experience both of our locations, including our beloved historic facility on Randolph Road, which was the state’s first art museum and is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary year.”

The Bechtler, Gantt Center, and Mint all rely on a combination of public and private fundraising to offer their world-class exhibitions and programming to the public. Annual fund drives enable the museums to offer benefits such as occasional free admission to visitors. If visitors are inspired during their free-day visits to these institutions, their leaders hope they will make a donation to enable the museums to share that same inspiration with others.

Levine Center for the Arts is one of Charlotte’s key cultural destinations, comprised of Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, John S. and James L. Knight Theater, Mint Museum Uptown, and Duke Energy Center. The Levine Center was made possible through the Campaign for Cultural Facilities, the support of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and the generosity of the Leon Levine Foundation, one of the country’s largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations.

The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is dedicated to the exhibition of mid-20th-century modern art. It is named after the family of Andreas Bechtler, who assembled and inherited a collection created by seminal figures in modernism. The Bechtler collection comprises more than 1,400 artworks by seminal figures such as Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro, Jean Tinguely, Max Ernst, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Le Corbusier, Sol LeWitt, Edgar Degas, Nicolas de Stael, Barbara Hepworth and Picasso. Only a handful of the artworks in the Bechtler collection have been on public view in the United States. For museum details visit (www.bechtler.org).

Founded in 1974, Charlotte’s Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (formerly the Afro-American Cultural Center) exists to present, preserve and celebrate the art, history and culture of African-Americans and those of African descent through dance, music, visual and literary arts, film, educational programs, theatre productions, and community outreach. Named for Harvey B. Gantt, the prominent Charlotte architect and community leader and former Mayor of Charlotte, the Center is housed in an inspired and distinguished award-winning structure and is home to the nationally celebrated John and Vivian Hewitt Collection of African-American art.  Please visit (www.ganttcenter.org).

As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, groundbreaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.

Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.

Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, and features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop.  For more information, check out (www.mintmuseum.org).