A roster of outstanding exhibitions that are as diverse as the collectors
For more details and to register, scan the QR code or visit mintmuseum.org/art-101.
What a year it has been so far at the Mint! Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds, organized by the American Federation of Arts, and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations pushed the museum to record-setting attendance. Nearly 70,000 people, experienced the power of Picasso during the 14-week exhibition run in the form of tickets, tours, education programs, and special events — the most of any special exhibition at The Mint Museum since Ramesses the Great: The Pharoah and His Time that opened in October 1988.
One major goal for the Mint’s board and staff is to provide access and opportunities for diverse and broad populations. During Picasso Landscapes, The Mint Museum welcomed visitors from 98 out of the 100 counties in North Carolina, visitors from all 50 states and at least 46 countries spanning from Mexico and France to South Africa and New Zealand. In addition, thanks to generous funding of sponsors, including Bank of America, Duke Energy, the City of Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County, we welcomed students in grades K-12 and art teachers at no cost, along with the more than 6,000 local school students to explore Picasso Landscapes
The momentum and mission to present a variety of cultural perspectives continue as we move through fiscal year 2024. On July 1, we opened The Vault that presents collections from four private Black collectors who all call Charlotte home. In September, The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design opens and will feature more than 50 examples of American seating furniture, from the rich holdings of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation. The exhibition features many of the most iconic designs and designers from the past two centuries and includes new additions that have entered the collection since it started touring over a decade ago. Also opening in September at Mint Museum Randolph is Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek. The exhibition is inspired solely on the earliest decades of American Belleek production and the role Walter Scott Lenox played in developing the concept of the porcelain products as an art form.
In December, Craft Across Continents — Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection features more than 60 works from the private collection of Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro, longtime Mint supporters. The exhibition’s design will underscore the theme of enjoying life through living with art and provide visitors the opportunity to relax and enjoy the ceramics, glass, bamboo, and textile art on view. Not only do these upcoming exhibitions highlight a variety of artists, cultures, and periods of time in history, there is an emphasis on recognizing donors and collectors that are steadfast in their support and essential for the Mint’s continued growth.
We set a high bar with Picasso Landscapes and we are committed to continuing to bring outstanding installations and thought-provoking work to our audiences. Now more than ever we need beauty, education, understanding, and inspiration!
Sincerely,
Todd A. Herman, PhD, president and CEO
5 | TO THE MAX
Embrace maximism this fall with these bold, vibrant items from The Mint Museum Store.
10 | ON THE DAILY
Follow along 24 hours in the life of artist Ajané K. Williams.
12 | UPCOMING EVENTS
Mark your calendar for not-to-miss Mint events.
14 | NOTEWORTHY
Notable mentions, awards, and recognition of Mint people, projects, and programs.
15 | 15 REASONS TO LOVE THE MINT RIGHT NOW
From dynamic programming to artist conversations and exhibitions, there’s a lot to love about the Mint.
49 | AFFILIATES IN ACTION
A review of the Mint affiliate groups’ events and activities.
50 | EVENTS AT THE MINT
Snapshots from recent events, exhibition openings, and more.
54 | CROWN SOCIETY PATRONS
57 | CURATOR’S PICK
Michele Huggins
CREATIVE DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN
Stephanie Lepore
Shelby McVicker
Liz Bertrand
Annie Carlano
Hillary Cooper
Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD
Brian Gallagher
Rubie R. Britt-Height
Molly Humphries
Maggie Kapitan
Page Leggett
Margaret Mauldin
Alexandra Olivares
Clayton Sealey
Joel Smeltzer
Leslie Strauss
Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD
Zoe Whiteside
Justin Williams
Jennifer Winford
Meghann Zekan
ON THE COVER
Tanaka Yū 田中悠 (Japanese, 1989–). Tsutsumimono (Bundle) (detail), 2020, glazed stoneware. Promised Gift of Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro. PG2022.57.18
RIGHT: Roy Fox Lichtenstein (1923–97), Graphicstudio, University of South Florida (United States, 1968–), Beeken Parsons (United States, 1983–). Brushstroke Chair and Ottoman (detail), 1986–88, laminated white birch veneer, paint, clear varnish. Collection of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation. L2023.63.4a-b © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
Connect with the Mint @themintmuseum
26 | THE ART OF SEATING: 200 YEARS OF AMERICAN DESIGN
Fifty examples of chairs that reflect more than a century of seating design and craftsmanship.
31 | WALTER SCOTT LENOX AND AMERICAN BELLEEK
A dedicated look at the artistic influence of Walter Scott Lenox on American Belleek porcelain.
35 | LIVING WITH ART
Craft Across Continents — Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/ Ferraro Collection presents contemporary works from around the world.
40 | NEW ACQUISITIONS: HARDSCAPES/DREAMSCAPES
A sampling of captivating works recently added to the Mint’s permanent collection.
42 | INSIDE INTERVENTIONS
A look at artist Naudine Pierre’s stunning Chrysalis at the Altar of Change.
43 | LOCAL/STREET RETURNS ONE LAST TIME
The third and final installation curated by local artist Carla Aaron-Lopez.
44 | BEYOND THE RED CARPET: ICONIC AWARDS AND ARTISTIC COLLABORATIONS
Inside the design world of David Moritz and Society Awards.
46 | POTTERS MARKET AT THE MINT RETURNS IN SEPTEMBER
Shop works by 50+ of North Carolina’s best potters at this one-day event.
48 | NEW! MEMBERS-ONLY TRIP: ‘UNLOCKING ITALY’
Members and affiliates are invited to join in a spring 2024 trip to Sicily!
Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations were generously presented in Charlotte by Bank of America, the City of Charlotte, Duke Energy, Mecklenburg County, M.A. Rogers, Ann and Michael Tarwater, North Carolina Arts Council, and Moore & Van Allen. Additional generous support is provided by: Leigh-Ann and Martin Sprock; Robin and Bill Branstrom, Sally Cooper, Laura and Mike Grace, Marshelette and Milton Prime; Posey and Mark Mealy; Chandra and Jimmie Johnson; Marty and Weston Andress, Mary and Walt Beaver, Betsy and Alfred Brand; Sarah and Tim Belk, toni and Alfred Kendrick, Beth and Drew Quartapella, Rocky and Curtis Trenkelbach, Charlotte and John Wickham; Mary Lou and Jim Babb, and Jo Ann and Joddy Peer.
Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds is organized by the American Federation of Arts with guest curator Laurence Madeline, with the exceptional support of the Musée national Picasso-Paris. The exhibition is generously supported by Monique Schoen Warshaw. Additional support has been provided by Lee White Galvis, Clare E. McKeon, and Stephanie R. La Nasa. Support for the accompanying publication provided by Furthermore: a program of the J.M. Kaplan Fund. Picasso Celebration 1973-2023: 50 exhibitions and events to celebrate Picasso. Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations is organized by The Mint Museum.
The Vault is generously presented by Bank of America with additional corporate support from TIAA. Additional individual support is kindly provided by Marshelette and Milton Prime.
The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design is generously presented by PNC Bank. Additional individual support is kindly provided by Mary and Walt Beaver, Sarah G. Cooper, Lucy and Hooper Hardison, and Kati and Chris Small.
Mint 2 Move is sponsored by the Arts and Science Council
Support for Student Tours is provided by the Mint Museum Auxiliary.
Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek is generously presented by Wells Fargo Private Bank. Individual sponsorship is kindly provided by Hillary and Fairfax Cooper, Laura and Mike Grace, Mozelle DePass Griffith, and Liz and Dave Shuford.
Wednesday Night Live is presented by Bank of America.
Free Wednesday Evenings are generously sponsored by Publix Super Market Charities and the Mint Museum Auxiliary.
Potters Market at the Mint is generously presented by Principal Foundation.
The Grier Heights Program is financially supported by the Mint Museum Auxiliary.
The Mint Museum’s 2023 Coveted Couture Gala was generously presented by Bank of America.
The Mint Museum is supported, in part, by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, and the Infusion Fund.
The Mint Museum’s FREE Party in the Park is generously presented by Principal Foundation.
The Mint Museum is supported, in part, by the Infusion Fund and its generous donors:
Multimillion Dollar Commitment
City of Charlotte
$1.5 million and above
Bank of America
C.D. Spangler Foundation / National Gypsum Company
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Trane Technologies
$600,000-$1 million
Albemarle Foundation
Atrium Health
Barings
Duke Energy
Honeywell
JELD-WEN, Inc.
LendingTree Foundation
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
Novant Health
Red Ventures
Truist
$300,000-$600,000
Ally Financial
The Centene Charitable Foundation
Childress Klein Properties
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Deloitte
EY
The Gambrell Foundation
Moore & Van Allen
PwC
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
Rodgers Builders
Wells Fargo
Up to $300,000
Fifth Third Bank
Foundation For The Carolinas
Deidre and Clay Grubb
Leslie and Michael Marsicano
Jane and Hugh McColl
Nucor Corporation
PNC Bank
Premier, Inc.
Jane and Nelson Schwab
Live colorfully this fall with these unmistakably vibrant selections from The Mint Museum Store. store.mintmuseum.org
Margot Umbrella $52. Xuan Spring
Purse with Loop Handle and Zipper ‘23
$58. Basquiat “In Italian” Crossbody
Tote $98. Sally Necklace $48. Daisy
Vase $44. Degas at the Opera $60.
Women in Abstraction $65. Wendy
Red Star Delegation $65. A Kids Book
About Racism $19.99. Frida Kahlo
Action Figure $36. Japanese Gift Soap $48. Red Adjustable Cube Ring $52.
Banana Vase $44. Prints Spring Flower Earring $64. Fender 75 Years $50. Hey You! by Marija Mandic (Sketchbook) $60. ABCs of Art $19.99. Insectum Bottle Opener $18. When We See Us $65. Afrofuturism $29.95. Basquiat “Anthony Clarke” Trench Coat $425. Knitted Pterodactyl Dinosaur $28. mintmuseum.org
Large Nebula $640. White Esti $120.
Fondation Louis Vuitton-Jean-Michel
Basquiat $70. SM Manzanillo Vase
$188. Abstraction Necklace $172.
Basquiat “A-One” T-Shirt $90. Felt
Gaucho-”Georgia O’Keefe” Hat $76.
Joe Grant Large Black and White Pumpkin $280.
Blue Confetti & Rubber Ring Necklace
$220. Hamsa Blue Catchall $42. De Morgan Peacock Tie $62. Ride Along Vespa $260. Ceramic Basket Sicilia
Large $96. Marine Blue Silk Dupioni
Clutch with lavender accent and emerald $295. Museum Nerd Blue Dad Hat $38. A Line is a Dot: Notebook Graphic L $46. Pettibon Point Break $65. Forest Oakmoss Absolute Candle $110.
Ajané K. Williams’ art is out of this world. Her artist’s statement reveals that she “came to Planet Earth … to show humanity how to find their higher self and travel to the edge of infinity using the power of our own consciousness.”
Naturally curious, Williams immerses herself in the unfamiliar. The self-described “space and time traveler” is a DJ (DJ Nebula), video artist, and Afrofuturist painter. She sees Afrofuturism as “a cultural aesthetic that combines African American culture with futuristic, innovative ideas.”
She finds working in the genre therapeutic and her work is garnering national attention. It was part of the “Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition” at the Chicago Science and Industry Museum.
“Every time I make something, it’s healing to me as a Black woman [who suffers] from generational and karmic curses from my family lineage. Afrofuturism is healing my Black self, and I hope healing humanity,” she says.
Williams was born in 1999 on a military base in Fort Stewart, Georgia and spent her youth in Alaska, both Carolinas, Germany, Japan, and Korea. After graduating with a BFA in painting from UNC Charlotte, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where she currently lives.
She’s fascinated by UFOs, death, the afterlife, and reincarnation. A related belief is that “children born within your own family [might] be here to finish something a past family member wasn’t able to complete.”
Such is the case in her family. Her great grandfather, Harvey Williams, was a left-handed painter, as is she. He was a surrealist who painted gospel and jazz album covers. He couldn’t afford to be an artist and support his family, so he gave up art. Williams believes she’s here to fulfill his purpose. Another late relative was a DJ; Williams feels she’s meant to finish his work, too. Here is a look at a day in her life.
7 AM I used to go to bed at 8 PM and wake up at 4 AM. I was trying to control my schedule, which never goes as planned. So, I surrendered to my natural body rhythm. My body naturally wants to get up at 7 AM, so that’s when I wake up without an alarm.
7:15 AM The first thing I do in the morning is feed the stray cats who’ve been showing up at my door. Cats are such spiritual beings.
7:45 AM I get my flash card deck of daily affirmations so I can tell myself some positive things before I start my day. Humans can be so self-critical, so I start my day by putting something positive into my head. I set an intention I decide it’s going to be a day full of abundance, peace and happiness. I get clear on how I want the day to go.
8:15 AM I stretch, do some yoga, and play my singing bowl to induce a peaceful state.
8:45ish AM I go for a walk barefoot. Yes, I look like a crazy lady walking down the street with no shoes on, but lately I’ve wanted to feel connected to the earth, to feel Mother Earth’s heartbeat. I’ve been listening to what my body wants. We wear shoes everywhere now, so we’re not as connected to the earth as we should be. It feels good for your feet to touch the ground.
9:30ish AM I have the same breakfast every morning, and it’s delicious: organic, probiotic oatmeal with chopped bananas, apples, berries, and chia seeds. I don’t drink coffee; I don’t want the caffeine. I have either Yogi brand stress relief tea or roasted dandelion root tea, which tastes just like coffee, with a little honey added.
10 AM Now, it’s time to go upstairs and work. I live in a two-bedroom townhouse, and I use one bedroom as my art studio. Usually, I’m painting, but I also build canvases for my works. This has always been my least favorite part of the process, but I’ve started to fall in love with it. It allows me to make any size canvas I want, and a lot of mine are odd sizes, like 20 inches by 70 inches.
AROUND 1 OR 2 PM I have the tastes of a child: I love PB-and-J sandwiches. Lunch is usually organic peanut butter and strawberry jelly on whole wheat bread with some fruit. Then, I’ll go outside and talk to the cats before going back to work.
3 PM Some days, I’ll go to my local library, which has a lot of resources for creatives a wood shop, a music production studio, a fiber works studio. But I mainly go to the music production studio, play with sound and make samples for my DJ set.
4:30–5 PM I’ll stop work for the day, clean up and figure out dinner.
6 PM Veggie curry is a go-to. I try to keep it light. Another favorite is a bowl with brown rice or quinoa as the base topped with avocados, roasted tomatoes, sweet potatoes.
AFTER DINNER I’m a big homebody. I love watching TV but not the mindless kind. I watch what pleases my inner child, including the animated “Adventure Time” on Max. It’s lighthearted, innocent, but also very spiritual, if you pay attention.
9:30 PM After my shows and before bed, I’ll play frequencies, which can benefit you physically and emotionally. My favorite is a 417 Hz it’s on YouTube that I play to cleanse negative energy.
I’ll read whatever book, or books, I’m reading at the moment. I currently have three going one on UFOs, one on near-death experiences and another on the universe, creation and the emergence of life.
Williams is the featured Constellation CLT artist whose works will go on view at Mint Museum Uptown September 15.
Page Leggett is a Charlotte-based freelance writer. Her stories have appeared in The Charlotte Observer, The Biscuit, Charlotte magazine and many other regional publications.
6 WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Night Live: Catawba Nation 101
Presented by Bank of America Mint Museum Uptown
5–9 PM | Free, cash bar
Enjoy drum group performances and informative presentations by Catawba Nation representatives.
15 FRIDAY
Members-Only Preview | The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design
Mint Museum Uptown
11 AM–9 PM | Free for members
Mint Members can enjoy early access to The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design at Mint Museum Uptown before it opens to the public.
16 SATURDAY
The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design Opening Celebration Mint Museum Uptown
11 AM–6 PM | Free
Enjoy a community day with free admission and activated spaces. The exhibition, drawn from the rich holdings of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, provides a rare opportunity to survey the history of American craftsmanship and ingenuity, seen through the lens of seating furniture.
22 FRIDAY
Members-Only Preview | Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek
Mint Museum Randolph
11 AM–6 PM | Free for members
Mint Members can enjoy early access to this exhibition featuring 80 works from the Mint’s collection, as well as other notable public and private collections, that solely focus on the earliest decades of American Belleek production.
Potters Preview Party
Mint Museum Randolph Lawn
5:30–8:30 PM | $200
Be the first to see and purchase works by the more than 50 North Carolina potters selected for the 2023 Potters Market. Ticket includes dinner, beverages, and live music. Purchase tickets at pottersmarketatthemint.com.
23 SATURDAY
Potters Market at the Mint
Presented by Principal Foundation
Mint Museum Randolph Lawn
9:15 AM–4 PM | $20
The annual Potters Market returns to Mint Museum Randolph. See works by more than 50 of North Carolina’s top potters together under one tent on the lawn. Activities include live pottery demonstrations, bluegrass music, a beer garden, and raffles. Tickets include FREE admission to Mint Museum Randolph for a first look at the exhibition Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek
24 SUNDAY Party in the Park
Presented by Principal Foundation
Mint Museum Randolph
1–5 PM | Free
Enjoy free admission to the museum, a food truck contest, live music, and a cash bar on the front terrace (weather permitting). This month check out a puppet-making station, go on a scavenger hunt, and explore artist demonstrations celebrating the Charlotte Guild of Artists 50th anniversary.
4 WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Night Live: XOXO performance of Eugene Ionesco’s ‘The Chairs’
Presented by Bank of America
Mint Museum Uptown
5–9 PM | Free, cash bar
Take a seat for theater troupe XOXO, Charlotte’s masters-of-the-absurd, as they present a new take on Ionesco’s 1952 oneact tragi-comedy.
6 FRIDAY
Mint 2 Move
Mint Museum Uptown
7:30–11:30 PM | $11 members, $14 nonmembers
Join in a night of music that pays tribute to artists and dance forms from Latin, African, and Caribbean countries. Experience sizzling salsa, cha cha, bachata, line dancing, live musicians, Latin rhythms, Afro-beats, and dance lessons all under one roof.
15 SUNDAY
Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek Opening Celebration
Mint Museum Randolph Noon–6 PM; 2:30 PM curator talk | Free
Celebrate the opening of Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek with free museum admission and activated spaces.
2:30–3:30 PM: Exhibition Curator Brian Gallagher presents an overview of the exhibition, discussing central themes and highlighting some of the remarkable works of art.
18 WEDNESDAY
Mindful Looking: The Art of Seating
Mint Museum Uptown
7–7:45 PM | Free
Participants will delve into the details of the Centripetal Spring Chair and others in the The Art of Seating exhibition. Limited capacity. Registration required.
22 SUNDAY
Double Feature Sunday
Mint Museum Randolph
1 PM curator-led tour, 2–4 PM film screening Free with museum admission
Join Brian Gallagher, senior curator of decorative arts, for a tour of American Belleek and then stay for a screening of the Martin Scorsese’s movie “Age of Innocence.” Registration required.
29 SUNDAY
Party in the Park
Presented by Principal Foundation
Mint Museum Randolph
1–5 PM | Free
Enjoy food trucks, live music from the Mike Strauss Band, and a cash bar on the front terrace (weather permitting), plus free museum admission. In honor of Emotional Wellness Month, pick up resources to help cope with stress, and try out a mindful painting exercise.
1 WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Night Live: ‘Early Abstractions’ Film Screening
Presented by Bank of America
Mint Museum Uptown
5–9 PM | Free, cash bar
The Southern premiere of a new 2K restoration of Harry Smith’s pioneering short animated films created between 1946 and 1952. Inspired by Native American cultures, jazz, the Kabbala, and surrealism, Smith assembled his own cinematic universe of shape, color, light, and time. Lecture and discussion by Rani Singh, director of the Harry Smith Archives, following the screening.
12 SUNDAY
Double Feature Sunday
Mint Museum Randolph 1 PM curator-led tour, 2–4 PM film screening Free with museum admission
Join Brian Gallagher, senior curator of decorative arts, for a tour of American Belleek and then stay for a screening of the classic “Hello, Dolly.” Registration required.
19 SUNDAY
Curator Chat | White Gold: Porcelain as Art in the Gilded Age Home Mint Museum Randolph 2–3 PM | Free
Ulysses Grant Dietz, retired senior curator and curator of decorative arts at The Newark Museum of Art, examines how high-end ceramics like those in the exhibition Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek would have fit into the fashionable interiors of America’s Gilded Age.
1 FRIDAY
Mint 2 Move
Mint Museum Uptown
7:30–11:30 PM | $11 members, $14 nonmembers
Join in a night of music that pays tribute to artists and dance forms from Latin, African, and Caribbean countries. Experience sizzling salsa, cha cha, bachata, line dancing, live musicians, Latin rhythms, Afro-beats, and dance lessons all under one roof.
6 WEDNESDAY
Wednesday Night Live: Youth Orchestra of Charlotte
Presented by Bank of America
Mint Museum Uptown
5–9 PM | Free, cash bar
Youth Orchestra of Charlotte will perform works by composers from across continents in recognition of the exhibition Craft Across Continents
9 SATURDAY
Craft Across Continents — Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection Opening Celebration
Mint Museum Uptown
11 AM–6 PM | Free
Enjoy free museum admission and activated spaces for the public opening of the exhibition Craft Across Continents
— Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection.
1–2 PM: Exhibition curator Annie Carlano in conversation with collectors Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro on their personal journey to collecting contemporary craft, their adventures across the globe, and how living with handmade functional objects and sculpture has enhanced their lives.
2–3 PM: Introducing the work of 23 artists working in ceramic, glass, jute, and bamboo, Joe Earle, Japanese art expert, will show how practice-based considerations of material and technique have interacted with local traditions and global movements to produce one of the world’s most dynamic craft ecosystems.
13 WEDNESDAY
Mindful Sketching: The Art of Seating
Mint Museum Uptown
7–7:45 PM | Free
Take a restorative pause in your day and enjoy a mindful sketching session of the Brushstroke Chair and others in The Art of Seating exhibition. Limited capacity. Registration required.
All events are subject to change. For our full calendar and most up-to-date information, visit mintmuseum.org/events or call 704.337.2000.
Drop-in Art
Mint Museum Randolph
Wednesdays, October 18–December 13, with exception of November 22
4–8 PM | Free
All ages are invited to drop by the Art Room at Mint Museum Randolph between 4 –8 PM for self-directed, creative fun. Explore drawing, clay, collage, and painting stations. A museum educator will be on hand to provide encouragement and helpful tips.
Yoga at the Mint
Mint Museum Uptown
5:15–6:15 PM, Tuesdays
Mint Museum Randolph
10–11 AM, Saturdays
Free for members using code MINT21; $15 for nonmembers
Participate in a one-hour yoga class with Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts. Registration is required. Find the full schedule online at mintmuseum.org/events
Free Art Kits
Mint Museum Randolph
First Wednesday–Saturday, September–December
Museum hours | Free
Visit Mint Museum Randolph the first Wednesday through Saturday each month during museum hours to pick up a fun all-ages project to create at home (while supplies last).
ArtBreak
Mint Museum Uptown
Noon–12:30 PM, Thursdays | Free
Recharge midday visiting the museum galleries. Enjoy a guided tour on the third Thursday each month.
All smiles at the August Mint 2 Move.In the newly published book “Family Spaces in Art Museums: Creating Curiosity, Wonder, and Play,” the Mint’s own Director of Learning and Engagement Cynthia Moreno is a featured expert. The book, by Julia Forbes and Marianna Adams, includes a case study by Moreno based on her experiences at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky and its interactive center Art Sparks, and weaves in lessons from programming and current practice at the Mint. The book contributes important research and guidance for creating spaces for intergenerational play and learning.
The Artist Nill, who has worked as a Mint Museum staffer for seven years, recently had her first solo exhibition at the McColl Center. Titled Diaspora Disassociation: A Solo Exhibition, the exhibition included more than 25 paintings that explored narratives about the African Diaspora, women, and shared histories between Europe and Africa. Her practice, mostly consisting of paintings and printmaking, embody ideas of identity, ceremony, space, and the intersectionality between culture and symbolism. Nill’s next endeavor takes her to graduate school where she will pursue her master’s degree in fine art. Follow her @theartistnill.
Director of Community Relations Rubie R. Britt-Height was recently awarded the Excelente Award for Non-Latin Person Most Supportive of the Latino Community by La Noticia. La Noticia is an independent news organization that provides news in Spanish for the Latino community. Britt-Height works tirelessly to create museum programs like Mint 2 Move, invite diverse artists and vendors, and open conversations around the arts with the Latin community of Charlotte. A well-deserved recognition!
Community Programs Coordinator Kurma Murrain, who hails from Colombia, South America, is a featured artist in the photography project by local artist Juan Manuel Mejía titled Latinx/e Portraits: Faces of a Community. When completed, Mejía’s project will include 25 portraits that highlight Latin American community in Charlotte. See the project as it unfolds at @LatinxPortraits.
Photo by Jon Strayhorn
The Mint Museum welcomed more than 4,100 students to experience Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds during the exhibition’s 14-week run. These students included approximately 2,000 Title I Students and 64 students with special needs.
The museum opened its doors on Mondays specifically for school groups to provide more student access. Many of the students were first-time museum visitors and it was a first for them to experience the scale, color, and texture of works of art.
Teachers were provided a curriculum guide, created by the Mint’s School and Gallery Programs team, that provided contextual information on Pablo Picasso and Romare Bearden, as well as topics that would be discussed during the visit. It also included activities for students to reflect on after the tour.
The Mint’s School and Gallery Programs team collaborated with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ E3 (Exposure, Experience, and Education) program that provides a
guaranteed arts experience for students. Through the partnership, students in grades 10–12 participated in an inquiry-based tour of Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations. Peersharing opportunities enabled participants to gain confidence discussing art and collaborating.
An impactful component of the E3 Program was ingallery sketching exercises. Students rarely are granted the opportunity to sit, sketch, and meditate on a single work of art in a museum without distractions. Students and teachers were granted one-on-one time with a landscape painting and were encouraged to closely look and draw to find meaning and discover details in the works of art. Many students, teachers, and docents shared that it was the most exciting portion of their visit. —Molly Humphries, tour programs coordinator
The success of Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations could not have happened without the steadfast time and energy of the Mint docents. Working closely with the School and Gallery Programs team, Mint docents began training for guided tours of Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds well before the exhibition ever opened to the public.
In January, Laurence Madeline, curator of Picasso Landscapes, met with the group to provide background information on the thematic exhibition. In early February, docents presented research on Picasso and Romare Bearden to their peers. The Docents Teaching Docents team also collaborated with the School and Gallery Programs team to create a peer-training experience that modeled the exhibition tour program offered to student and adult audiences.
Within one week of the exhibition opening, Mint docents had collectively completed 350-plus hours of training and research in preparation for tours. They were able to start providing guided tours just 10 days after the exhibition opened.
Because of the magnitude and popularity of Picasso Landscapes, I was able to learn so much and to meet so many visitors from different walks of life in a short time. It was such a memorable beginning to my docent experience!
The specific exhibition training and touring took place while docents continued to provide other tours to over 1,700 visitors. These included tours in the special exhibition Fashion Reimagined: Themes and Variations, 1760-NOW, and our permanent collections galleries at Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. The group also conducted 42 separate free programs during this period that attracted over 600 visitors. —Molly Humphries
Mint Museum Randolph served as the field-trip destination for some local camps that offer sliding-scale or free childcare for families during the summer. CMS Summer Enrichment camps, Friends of the Children mentorship program, and other community groups were invited to participate in the two-year pilot program. The summer art sessions focused on the theme of Animals in Art, exploring how and why artists use animal imagery in their works. After gathering inspiration in the New Acquisitions: Hardscapes/ Dreamscapes exhibition and Ancient Americas galleries, the children were given free choice of several art-making stations where they created their own real and imaginary animals with their peers in clay, paint, and collage. —Margaret Mauldin, assistant head of school and gallery programs
In June, ASC awarded The Mint Museum a Cultural Vision Grant to support Mint 2 Move Cultural Dance Night. Mint 2 Move is more than just an amazing dance party, it is a dynamic opportunity to experience Latin, Afro-Latin, and Caribbean culture and music, plus fitness and camaraderie!
Guests at the August Mint 2 Move enjoyed free dance lessons with Rumbao Latin Dance Company and live music with the Mint Latino Percussionists Trio. DJ Carlos LeBron and C’Leb Entertainment were on the turntable, live artists painted throughout the four-hour event, and
the museum galleries were open for all to enjoy. The next Mint 2 Move is scheduled for October 6 at Mint Museum Uptown. Tickets are $11 for members, $14 for nonmembers. Purchase tickets at mintmuseum.org/events. —Rubie R. BrittHeight, director of community relations
In April, more than 50 local and regional artists participated in “Pablo and Romy, Culture, Color, and Cubism,” a three-day pop-up activation at Mint Museum Uptown. Organized by the Community Relations, DEIA, and Learning and Engagement teams at the Mint, the event included visual and performing artists showcasing their own works in response to works in Picasso
Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms
and Reverberations. The Mint collaborated with Nine Eighteen Nine Gallery, The Palette’s Table, and VAPA Center, to bring the free program to the community.
The Mint’s Artist Response Program began in 2012. Since then, more than 100 artists have participated in the program. —Rubie R. Britt-Height
This year’s staff art exhibition Flavors of Justice presents several interpretations centered around a compelling question: “What does justice mean to you?” In an exceptional display of creativity, Mint staff created works that capture the essence of justice in its myriad forms, be it social, political, environmental, personal, or historical.
The exhibition is more than just a collection of works of art. It is a dialogue around the impact of injustice, designed to inspire reflection, foster empathy, and encourage understanding. As the exhibition paves the way for a
journey through justice, it invites visitors to broaden their perspectives, challenging them to contemplate their own understanding of justice and their role in fostering a more equitable world.
A special shoutout goes to the dedicated team staff that worked diligently to bring the concept of Flavors of Justice to life. Their efforts have translated into an extraordinary exploration of justice, contributing to a vital conversation in our society. —Justin Williams, human resources coordinator
The library has a growing selection of photography titles thanks to the generosity of local photography expert and scholar Del Zogg. Zogg amassed an extensive library during his 35-year career of managing museum photography collections. For the past four years, he has donated items from his personal research collection to the The Mint Museum Library. The gifted books cover a variety of topics, such as conservation, photographic processes, and the history of American photography. Many of the books feature monochrome images from influential photographers, including Diane Arbus, Irving Penn, and Alfred Stieglitz. This collection and more are available for research, enjoyment, and inspiration at The Mint Museum Library. —Jennifer Winford, associate librarian
In July, the Mint Museum Docents, School and Gallery Programs team, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Libraries began offering the “Art of Reading” program. This recently revived tour program uses works of art from the museum’s permanent collection to bring to life and put into context five selected books. Current programs include “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd, “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, “A Single Shard” by Linda Sue Park, “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson, and “The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver. Library branch managers can request the presentation that best suits their branch patrons’ needs.
To ensure that these programs are accessible to all branches, we are offering them at the museum, at the branch library, or completely virtual. All tours are 60-minutes long and feature a discussion on the selected book and connections to The Mint Museum’s permanent collection. While reading the selected book will enhance the program, it is not required to enjoy these programs and may encourage visits to the museum. We hope to strengthen our relationship with CML and eventually bring these programs to the public at The Mint Museum.
Molly Humphries
During Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds, the Mint implemented its first audio description tour. This service plays a crucial role in enhancing accessibility for visually impaired visitors. With a museum educator as a guide, audible descriptions that depicted color, stance, size, and directions for moving through the gallery, enabled visually impaired visitors to experience the exhibition. More audio description tours are in the works for upcoming exhibitions, as well as tours through permanent collection galleries. A member of the Learning and Engagement team also will be trained in audio descriptions to then train a segment of the Mint docent volunteers. These transcriptions will be made available on the website and downloaded as a mobile version to enable a fully immersive experience for all individuals. —Michele Huggins, associate director of marketing and communications
Last spring, the Family and Studio Programs team began opening the art room doors from 4–8 PM every Wednesday at Mint Museum Randolph for Drop-In Art. During the free program, museum visitors of all ages were invited to practice self-directed artmaking. The space and activities were structured to promote the Teaching for Artistic Behaviors (TAB) philosophy which encourages children to experiment, make choices, and explore their artmaking practice at their own pace. Visitors had access to a variety of high-quality art materials and chose from several art forms, including collage, painting, fiber art, and clay.
Throughout the season, a following of families became regular attendees. Recurrent attendance in TAB art rooms has been shown to be especially impactful for growing artists as it helps them feel comfortable finding and experimenting with materials and asking for help from educators when needed. The Family and Studio Programs team frequently swapped and added new materials and prompts to keep returning participants engaged. Based on the success of the pilot program, weekly Drop-In Art will return to Mint Museum Randolph beginning in midOctober. More details are available at mintmuseum.org/events. —Zoe Whiteside, assistant head of family and studio programs
This past spring, the Mint Museum’s Student Artist (STAR) Gallery hosted two exhibitions filled with works made by local lower primary schools. In the fall, we invited the students of Invest Collegiate Transform charter school to tour Diedrick Brackens: ark of bulrushes and gather inspiration for their artmaking. In February, the students returned with their families to enjoy the collaborative weavings and dances that directly referenced the materials and forms within Brackens’ work.
In March, we hosted the Independent School Youth Art Month show which showcased paintings, drawings, and three-dimensional works made by private school students around Charlotte. The opening reception for the exhibition drew students, faculty, and the student artists themselves to the museum to receive recognition from their teachers and the National Art Education Association.
Outside of the STAR Gallery, the MINT5pace once again held the Mid-Carolina Scholastic Art Awards Show in collaboration with UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture. This year’s show celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards with a virtual award ceremony and a closing reception for the secondary school artists.
The Mint Museum takes great pride in being a community hub not just for local and professional artists but a welcoming place for young artists in the early stages of their creative outputs. —Margaret
Mauldin
To activate all available museum space, the MINT5pace on Level 5 at Mint Museum Uptown is designated as a place for artists and curators to actualize and install an exhibition in a museum setting to gain perspective and knowledge. In July, Araceli Gómez Castro’s installation Muicle: Materials taxonomies in Abya Yala opened in the MINT5pace. Curated by Marta Gualda, the installation explored the spiritual and natural elements of color through ancestral techniques and a majestic monochromatic approach.
Upcoming MINT5pace installations include the third and final installation of LOCAL/STREET ’23: The Last One curated by Carla Aaron-Lopez and Beyond the Red Carpet: Iconic Awards and Artistic Collaborations More information about the MINT5pace is online at mintmuseum.org/mint5pace Michele Huggins
What is museum evaluation? It’s a reflective process that has become an essential part of the way museums operate. It involves collecting and analyzing data and feedback from museum audiences with a variety of growth-based goals, such as improving educational programming and better
serving audiences. Evaluation can help museum staff understand and describe the visitor experience, as well as demonstrate positive benefits to participants, ensure program quality, meet audience needs, and connect the museum mission to community. Earlier this year, the Learning and Engagement team wanted to learn the value of the museum’s Free Art Kit outreach initiative to external partner organizations. Since early 2021, the Mint has provided nearly 9,000 kits to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students via Communities in Schools of CharlotteMecklenburg (CIS). Focus group sessions were conducted with the CIS site coordinators to glean the value of the art kits to students, CIS staff, and families. Students learned about new and different artists, mediums, and developed positive ideas about art and creativity. Likewise, CIS staff were excited to use artmaking and the museum collection as a resource to engage students and support their curriculum. Evaluation feedback like this enables further program development and fostering of relationships with community organizations. —Alexandra Olivares, audience research and evaluation specialist; and Leslie Strauss, head of family and studio programs
Impeccably dressed Mint patrons filled the Wells Fargo Plaza in front of Mint Museum Uptown for the Coveted Couture Gala the evening of April 29. The 2023 gala was the first to be held at Mint Museum Uptown and celebrated Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds. It was an evening filled with live music, lively conversation, a four-course dinner, dancing, and socializing in support of the Mint.
Through support of our host committee, corporate sponsorships, live and silent auctions, paddle raise, and donations, we were able to net over $342,000 at this year’s
Coveted Couture Gala. We are supremely grateful for the generous support. A very special thank you to the presenting sponsor Bank of America, and to our wonderful gala cochairs, Marshelette and Milton Prime, for their creativity and leadership in making the evening a night to remember.
Please mark your calendars and join us Saturday, April 27, 2024 for next year’s Coveted Couture Gala and opening celebration of Objects of Affection: Jewelry by Robert Ebendorf from the Porter • Price Collection. —Hillary Cooper, chief advancement officer
NexGen Mint is bringing new awareness to its already enriching and creative artistic experiences. Open to ages 14-18, NexGen Mint was created for teens who want to learn more about art, an art museum, and the creative process of artists. Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, the Mint is partnering with a local boardcertified art therapist for Expressive Arts Open Studio as part of the NexGen program. Utilizing the galleries and exhibitions as inspiration prior to each session, NexGen members will have the opportunity to explore a variety of art materials, various themes, personal identity, and learn more about the benefit of artmaking and one’s own well-being. For more information on joining NexGen, visit mintmuseum.org/programs. —Maggie Kapitan, public programs educator
Host your upcoming social event at either of the mint museum locations. whether it’s your wedding, rehearsal, anniversary, or a cocktail party to celebrate your birthday; our venues guarantee an experience in a setting your guests will never forget.
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BY JONATHAN STUHLMAN, PHD
Chairs are an integral part of our everyday lives. They fill our homes, our places of work, and are found just about everywhere else that we might go. In fact, I’d venture a guess that you’re likely sitting on one as you read this! Yet perhaps because they are so omnipresent, we don’t give them too much thought.
Along with being functional objects that are a key part of our environment, seating has even entered our language and vocabulary in fascinating ways. If you want to welcome a visitor you might say, “please take a seat.” A person in a leadership position is the “chair” of a committee, board, or department. And a country’s capital is sometimes called its
“seat” of power. Yet despite the ubiquitous presence, we likely don’t think about how chairs came to look like they do, how they are constructed, or what their backstories might be.
From September 17 through February 25, 2024, visitors to Mint Museum Uptown will be invited to see chairs through a different lens and to think about many aspects of America’s history presented through The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design. The exhibition will feature more
George J. Hunzinger (1835–98). Side Chair with Curule Base (detail), circa 1870–76, ebonized cherry, gilding, modern silk upholstery. Collection of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation. L2022.48.10
If it’s the right chair, it doesn’t take too long to get comfortable in it.
—Robert De Niro
than 50 examples of American seating furniture, all from the DeMell Jacobsen Collection, created between the early 19th century and the early 21st century.
The exhibition reveals that chairs have much to tell us. They are not merely props in our homes, but rather thoughtfully designed and manufactured sculptural objects that speak to a wide range of topics. They trace the development of new materials, technologies, and manufacturing processes. They reveal changing aesthetics, fashions, and artistic movements. They remind us that immigrants to the United States have made important contributions to this country’s history and culture. And they touch on the way that we
TOP: Laurie Beckerman (1953–), Wellstone NYC Custom Woodworking (United States, 1995–). Iconic Bench, 2010, laminated Baltic birch plywood, clear Italian acrylic varnish. Collection of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation. L2022.48.42
BOTTOM (from left): Thomas E. Warren (American, 1808, active 1849–53), American Chair Company (United States, 1829–58). Centripetal Spring Arm Chair, circa 1850, cast iron, steel, wood, sheet metal, reproduction gauffrage velvet upholstery, faux bois rosewood, metal casters. Collection of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation. L2022.48.5.
have lived, worked, and relaxed for more than two centuries. In many ways, chairs are a reflection of the constant change and evolution of the United States, from the era of its founding to the present moment.
Although the exhibition has been on tour around the country for more than a decade, the Mint’s presentation is special, adding several wonderful examples that have entered the collection since it started touring, and revamping the presentation to play upon the unique qualities and histories of these fascinating objects.
Rather than being presented in a strict chronological order, the show will be divided into six distinct sections: comfort, the natural world, inspiration from the past innovation, immigration; simplicity, and whimsy. From 19th-century examples like the Finlay Brothers’ neoclassical chair and settee, and Thomas Warren’s innovative Centripetal Spring Arm Chair to 20th-century classics, such as Ray and Charles Eames’ LCW Chair, Frank Lloyd Wright’s office chair
created for the S.C. Johnson and Son building, and Isamu Noguchi’s playful Rocking Stool, visitors will be sure to find something that intrigues, inspires, and delights.
The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design is generously presented by PNC Bank. Additional individual support is kindly provided by Mary and Walt Beaver, Sarah G. Cooper, Lucy and Hooper Hardison, and Kati and Chris Small.
Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, is the senior curator of American art and curator of the exhibition.
This is architecture you can get your hands on.
—CharlesEames, 1977
Over the years, and especially at the beginning, friends, family, and colleagues who knew that I was trying to build a representative collection of American art asked: “Why focus on chairs along with painting and sculpture?” The puzzled looks on their faces indicated that their questions were serious, not critical.
For me, chairs are pieces of sculpture on which we all happen (or are lucky enough!) to sit. There are very few art objects that tell the history of American design, craftsmanship, industry, and technology as well as chairs. In much the same way that other art forms (such as the paintings and sculpture in the collection) evolved over the last 200 years, so, too, has chair design.
As I began seriously building this collection in 2003, I kept thinking about a comment made by my late husband every time I brought an “antique” chair into our home. He said, “I thought that when I finally made it in life, I could have new furniture. Nothing makes it through the door that isn’t a hundred years old!” For sure, he did have a good sense of humor. He wanted his legacy to be for people to learn about and truly appreciate all kinds of American art. And I’m hoping he would have been pleased that today almost half of the collection includes chairs that are less than 100 years old!
—Excerpted with permission from The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design catalogue, available in The Mint Museum Store or online at store.mintmuseum.org
Delicacy, superb craftmanship, technical virtuosity, and quirky shapes are defining qualities of the 19th-century porcelain works that inspired Senior Curator of Decorative Arts Brian Gallagher to organize Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek
“Whenever I walked through the Mint’s permanent collection gallery in which examples of American Belleek porcelain from late 19th-century Trenton, New Jersey, were on display, I could not help but stop and admire them,” says Brian Gallagher, senior curator of decorative arts at The Mint Museum.
In making the exhibition come to life, Chief Exhibition Designer Meghann Zekan created an design that exemplifies the Aesthetic Movement during the Gilded Age.
“During the Gilded Age, people believed that art should be pervasive in all areas of life — ‘art for art’s sake’ — and one should be ever seeking of the utmost beauty of their surroundings,” Zekan says.
Zekan’s exhibition design is a take on the Peacock Room — a quintessential aesthetic decorative interior featuring black lacquer cabinetry, gold leaf detailing painted into the shelves, and a rich color palette inspired by the collection, she says.
“I was inspired by the delicate beauty of the objects and wanted to design a space that highlighted each object chosen for the exhibition. A ‘jewel box’ of a space where visitors can take in each individual piece, it’s beauty and artistry, while learning about the makers, the history, and the skill required to craft every detail.”
A ‘JEWEL BOX’ OF SPACE
EXEMPLIFYING THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT AND ART FOR ART’S SAKE
These works are some of the finest porcelain objects produced during America’s Gilded Age, and I think that our visitors are going to be as captivated by their beauty as I am.
Brian Gallagher, senior curator of decorative arts
See the elegance of America’s Gilded Age and the artistic influence of Walter Scott Lenox on view September 23, 2023–January 21, 2024 at Mint Museum Randolph.
Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek is generously presented by Wells Fargo Private Bank.
In United States history, the last three decades of the 19th century and first few of the 20th century are known as the Gilded Age. The American economy doubled in size during those years. Railroads, factories, mining, and other industries flourished, and for some individuals, remarkable fortunes were made.
It was a time of conspicuous consumption and ostentatious living for affluent, fashion-conscious consumers, and highend retailers throughout the country — Tiffany’s in New York, Bailey, Banks and Biddle in Philadelphia, Marshall Field’s in Chicago, to name a few — sold a wide array of luxury goods to those wanting to outfit their residences in splendor. Among these products was a refined porcelain known as American Belleek.
The term “Belleek” comes from the name of a small village in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It was home to ceramics manufacturer David McBirney and Company,
which in 1863 perfected a fine, ivory-colored porcelain with a light, eggshell-thin body. The firm’s wares quickly became prized among discerning customers in the British Isles.
As the porcelain’s popularity then spread across the Atlantic, several ceramic manufactories in Trenton, New Jersey — known then as the “Staffordshire of America,” because of the city’s profusion of ceramics-related concerns with their accompanying smokestacks and bottle kilns liberally sprinkling Trenton’s skyline — sought to make their own versions.
In 1882, Trenton ceramics manufacturer Ott and Brewer, already a significant producer of hotel dinnerware and other utilitarian ceramics, became the first factory in the United States to produce a porcelain in imitation of Irish Belleek. Former Belleek factory employees William Bromley, Sr.; his son William Bromley, Jr.; and other Irish workers had recently joined Ott and Brewer and contributed the necessary expertise to help ensure the firm’s success.
Just as Ott and Brewer was beginning to develop its Belleek offerings, the 22-year-old Trenton native Walter Scott Lenox (1859–1920) joined the firm to lead its decorating department. As a youth, he studied painting and drawing and apprenticed at another Trenton ceramics
factory. His arrival at Ott and Brewer on the eve of its launch of a new Belleek-type porcelain could not have been better timed. In his own words, he “created good designs, and pottery that sold well.”
In 1884, Lenox was lured away from Ott and Brewer by Trenton competitor Willets Manufacturing Company to become the manager of its decorating department. Willets, like Ott and Brewer, was already producing utilitarian ceramics, but probably with Lenox’s urging the factory eventually started developing its own Belleek-type porcelain body.
Willets invited Irishman William Bromley, Jr., Lenox’s former colleague at Ott and Brewer, to join the firm, and in 1887 the firm publicly announced its new “Art Porcelain.” Walter Scott Lenox was once again contributing American Belleek designs for a large Trenton manufacturer. He continued doing so for two more years before leaving Willets to start Ceramic Art Company. He was 30 years old.
Lenox’s primary partner in this new enterprise was Jonathan Coxon, Sr., who also had an extensive background in the ceramics industry. Lenox and Coxon had an ambitious vision for their new company. Ceramic Art Company would create pieces of high artistic merit in a Belleek-type porcelain, and nothing else.
This singular focus immediately set the firm apart from Ott and Brewer and Willets Manufacturing Company, both of which continued to produce utilitarian ceramics even after they developed their porcelain recipes. In 1896, Jonathan Coxon retired from Ceramic Art Company, and Lenox took over as the company’s president and treasurer.
Ten years later, the firm officially changed its name to Lenox, Incorporated. The company has undergone various restructurings and relocations since its namesake died, but it is still in operation today. Under Lenox’s artistic leadership, all three firms — Ott and Brewer, Willets Manufacturing Company, and Ceramic Art Company — produced some of the finest porcelain in America’s Gilded Age.
On view September 23, 2023–January 21, 2024 at Mint Museum Randolph, Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek features 80 stellar examples of these works, on loan from notable public and private U.S. collections and the Mint’s own holdings.
Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek is generously presented by Wells Fargo Private Bank. Individual sponsorship is kindly provided by Hillary and Fairfax Cooper, Laura and Mike Grace, Mozelle DePass Griffith, and Liz and Dave Shuford.
Brian Gallagher is the senior curator of decorative arts and curator of the exhibition.
BY ANNIE CARLANO
Surrounded by both bold and quiet sculptures from around the globe, Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro have created an intriguing and comfortable environment that reflects their interest in world cultures, eclectic and idiosyncratic tastes, and a passion for the well-crafted object. Entering their Charlotte home, one encounters an informal and unlikely pairing of objects, furniture, and two-dimensional art that fosters uninhibited deep encounters of the best kind. The “joie de vivre” spirit belies the knowledge, travel, friendships, and thoughtful design behind the making of this autobiographical interior.
The Lassiter/Ferraros came to collecting contemporary craft as a couple though the mentorship of a group of Washington, D.C. and Renwick Gallery national members, collectors of primarily American and British craft. Most of these individuals and couples were focused on a specific medium — wood, fiber, ceramics — and although the couple’s collecting adventures began with glass, they had an insatiable curiosity to learn more about whatever objects excited them at the moment, drawn in by the “wow” factor but intent on knowing as much as possible about the materials and techniques, as well as the maker.
Lassiter and Ferraro have each had professional involvement in world affairs. Ferraro is a former professor of cultural anthropology at UNC Charlotte. Lassiter directed the
Business for Russia program for several years and served as executive director of the Mayor’s International Cabinet. They spent time in Moldova related to Lassiter’s position with the Mayor’s International Cabinet, and lived in Brno, the Czech Republic during Ferraro’s Fulbright.
Their comprehensive and enthusiastic approach to collecting has endeared them to museum professionals, gallerists, and artists, some of whom have become close friends. Long-time members of The Mint Museum and founding members of the Founders’ Circle, the former affiliate group for the The Mint Museum of Craft + Design, the couple attended many art fairs and study tours in the United States and abroad. Lassiter also served as executive director of the Founders’ Circle, as well as on the board of the American Craft Council. The couple traveled to Japan with Tai Gallery and Starworks Ceramics, and continue to travel, learn new languages, and collect contemporary art.
Craft Across
Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection presents over 60 outstanding works from the U.S., Europe, and Japan in a setting that evokes the loft-like feeling of the couple’s Charlotte home through colors, textures, and arrangements of objects among furniture and books, with the goal of inspiring others to consider collecting craft, a particularly welcoming field, with many opportunities right here in North Carolina.
Collectors Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro
ABOVE: Gareth Mason (British, 1965–). Shadow Aghast (detail), 2010, stoneware, porcelain, feldspar, shards, layered slips and oxides, ironstone, copper, glaze. Promised Gift of Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro. PG2022.57.22
The fun of developing a close friendship with an artist often led to multiple acquisitions from the same maker. Nancy Callan, the Seattle-based virtuoso glass blower, whose installation Spin, Weave, Gather is featured in the Craft + Design permanent collection galleries, is represented by a few works in the exhibition including Tiger Top. Several works in the exhibition demonstrate the elegance and restraint of Danish design, including sculptural objects and installations by Tobias Møhl, one of which was a gift to the couple by Møhl after a dinner in Copenhagen. A visit to ceramicist Sharif Bey’s exhibition at the McColl Center sparked an emerging friendship and resulted in a commission and an additional acquisition.
While Lassiter and Ferraro must agree on every acquisition, it was Ferarro who was first drawn to the esoteric Japanese bamboo sculptures, especially the refined and smooth delicacy of openwork forms by Honda Shōryū. As they looked together at a wide array of bamboo work, Lassiter became fond of the rougher hewn textured objects, both types well represented in the exhibition (pictured above).
The energy and emotion that goes into the gnarled and uneven surfaces of some of the bamboo works can also be experienced in the ceramic vessels of British maker Gareth Mason. Somehow, in the Lassiter/Ferraro home, these emotionally charged objects pair well with the reductive beauty of works, such as Tanaka Yu’s Tsutsumimono (Bundle) and Keishō ’20-2 by Fujino Sachiko.
Russel Biles, The Passion of Andy, and Preston Singletary’s Raven
narratives, and Rowland Ricketts’s Untitled, Noren, is one
Steals the Sun are among the few works with explicitContemporary Japanese and Western Objects
of only two textiles in the exhibition. It is the shows unifier, bridging Japan and the West. Experienced together, the Lassiter/Ferraro Collection provides access to intriguing objects and the joys of collecting.
Craft Across Continents is on view December 9, 2023–May 5, 2024 at Mint Museum Uptown.
Annie Carlano is the senior curator of craft, design, and fashion and curator of the exhibition.
ABOVE: Honda Shōryū 本田聖流 (Japanese, 1951–). Shadow, 2005, bamboo and rattan. Promised Gift of Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro. PG2022.57.5. RIGHT: Tobias Møhl (Danish, 1970–). Green Glassweaver Vessel, 2012, glass. Promised Gift of Lorne Lassiter and Gary Ferraro
Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection
features an interview with Lassiter and Ferraro at the center. Published by Giles UK, the catalogue includes major texts by leading Japanese craft scholar Joe Earle and Mint curators Rebecca E. Elliot and Annie Carlano.
CRAFT ACROSSAN INSTALLATION OF NEW WORKS ADDED TO THE MINT’S PERMANENT COLLECTION
BY JEN SUDUL EDWARDS, PHD
Thanks to the incredible generosity of private collectors, galleries, and devoted donors, The Mint Museum has added more than 200 new objects to its esteemed collection throughout the past year. New Acquisitions: Hardscapes/ Dreamscapes, on view at Mint Museum Randolph, features a sampling of these works that span the collection, from decorative arts to contemporary works.
Among the featured artists are a multitude of contemporary talents, representing various mediums and stages in their careers. Notable additions include captivating works by early-career artists Marielle Plaisir, Justin Ellis, Genieve Figgis, Danielle Orchard, Vaughn Spann, and Umar Rashid. Additionally, the exhibition showcases works that seamlessly blend art and craft, such as the masterful paper construction by Kirsten Hassenfeld and the elegantly satirical sculpture by Ryan Wilde.
The Hardscape gallery features an extensive collection of tableware, vases, and small statues from Hyalyn Porcelain. This generous gift from the mid-century ceramic fabricator, based in Hickory, North Carolina, significantly enhances the Mint’s representation of this manufacturer. Not only do these objects embody the streamlined style of the modern era, but the collection also includes pieces designed by Herb Cohen, a Charlotte-based ceramic artist
and former museum exhibition designer, who has been an integral part of the North Carolina craft community for over seven decades.
The installation serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between The Mint Museum and its dedicated supporters to build a lasting legacy. While New Acquisitions provides a preview of the museum’s recent additions, visitors can look forward to exploring other collection objects in upcoming special exhibitions, including Craft Across Continents — Contemporary Japanese and Western Objects: The Lassiter/Ferraro Collection, Objects of Affection: Jewelry by Robert Ebendorf from the Porter • Price Collection, and new installations in the American and contemporary permanent collection galleries at Mint Museum Uptown.
Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD, is the chief curator and curator of contemporary art.
Since September 2022, Naudine Pierre’s stunning Chrysalis at the Altar of Change has been on view at Mint Museum Randolph as part of the Interventions exhibition series. The Interventions series was created to explore parallels between the past and present by pairing contemporary art alongside historic objects in The Mint Museum’s collection.
Pierre’s painting stimulates a new consideration of the Spanish Colonial galleries. Growing up in a devout Seventh Day Adventist home (her Haitian father is a minister), Pierre revises the white Western visages that dominate many devotional and institutional spaces to better reflect her world and create a divine, mythological space. In her words, she is “acknowledging the incredible history contained within my body and transferring it to a visual language co-opted from the dominant Western art historical canon.”
Pierre’s work poignantly reminds us of an era when Spain attempted to eradicate the culture and people they found in North, Central, and South America. Christian missionaries replaced indigenous traditions with Western religion. Pale
faces with straight, narrow noses filled churches and altars, as evidenced by the religious paintings and statuary in the Mint’s Spanish Colonial gallery. There were, however, exceptions, such as the Mint’s 18th-century Peruvian portrait of Saint Martin de Porres that hangs nearby Chrysalis at the Altar of Change
Basically, I’m making images that I want to see. As this ‘other’ that I have created is held, sometimes it can feel to me like I am being held as well, through these images.
In May 2022, while on a trip with the Mint’s Contemporary Collecting group, Todd Herman, PhD, president and CEO at The Mint Museum, along with Chief Curator and Curator of Contemporary Art Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD; and curatorial assistant Jamila Brown first saw Chrysalis at the Altar of Change in Pierre’s solo exhibition at James Cohan Gallery.
“The response to Pierre’s show was immediate and visceral,” says Sudul Edwards. “While Pierre had been on the Mint’s wish list for the last four years, it felt imperative to bring this work into the Mint’s collection now.”
James Cohan Gallery initially loaned the work to the Mint. The work officially entered the museum collection in the summer of 2023. It will remain on view at Mint Museum Randolph until 2024 when it will be loaned to the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth’s Dreams of Emancipation exhibition
Jen Sudul Edwards, PhD, is the chief curator and curator of contemporary art.
LEFT: Naudline Pierre (American, 1989–). Chrysalis at the Alter of Change, 2022, oil paint, enamel paint, oil stick, canvas. T0317.1 Image © Izzy Leung
Naudline Pierre
AARON-LOPEZ IS BACK AT MINT MUSEUM UPTOWN WITH THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF LOCAL/STREET
BY CLAYTON SEALEY
When Carla Aaron-Lopez experiences the world through her signature thick-rimmed glasses, she’s confronted by the potential and creativity of the underrepresented in our community. Her desire to give these local voices a megaphone led her to create LOCAL/STREET. In March of 2021, after more than five years of planning, Mint Museum Randolph opened its doors to 1,000 visitors clamoring to see the work of our local art community. Over those three days, the public engaged with the creations of more than 40+ local artists, most of whom had never been exhibited in a museum setting.
“Originally, LOCAL/STREET began as an idea to honor the artists of the Black Lives Matter mural. Two years later, I’ve learned that it reflects our overall arts community and Charlotte residents as a whole,” says Aaron-Lopez. “This is the last year of LOCAL/STREET ’s existence as an exhibition. I’ve had a wonderful time learning about and understanding Charlotte’s art community.”
The third and final show will feature 60+ artists, many of whom will be familiar faces, but expect new ones in the mix, including Valentin Ramirez, Vanessa Steele, and Mono Feo.
“When visitors attend this year’s exhibition, I want them to walk away knowing for a fact that Charlotte does not have an arts problem,” Aaron-Lopez says. “We, the artists, are no longer waiting for outside validation. LOCAL/STREET became and will always be us validating us in spaces we know we belong.”
LOCAL/STREET will be on view November 10–19 in the MINT5pace on Level 5 at Mint Museum Uptown. The exhibition will open with a free celebration featuring Sainted Trap Choir, a musical group founded by local performer DJ Fannie May, that was recently featured on “America’s Got Talent.” Look for more information about the opening celebration on the Mint’s website.
Clayton Sealey is the senior director of marketing and communications.INSIDE THE DESIGN AND CREATION OF SOCIETY AWARDS, MAKER OF THE WORLD’S MOST CELEBRATED AWARDS
BY LIZ BERTRAND
This December, visitors to Mint Museum Uptown can walk the red carpet for a first-of-its-kind exhibition that showcases the art and craft behind award miniatures.
Beyond the Red Carpet: Iconic Awards and Artistic Collaborations, on view December 1, 2023–February 11, 2024, presents a close look at more than 150 awards designed for the world’s most celebrated competitions, prestigious brands, and discerning clients.
The exhibition highlights the exquisite creations of Society Awards, the premiere designer and manufacturer of luxury custom awards.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have collaborations with some of the most famous artists and brands in the world,” says Society Awards Founder and CEO David Moritz, whose company is among the fastest growing in the United States.
Since 2007, the company has teamed up with worldrenowned artists like Kehinde Wiley and Jeff Koons, fashion and jewelry designers like David Yurman, esteemed brands like Nambé and Baccarat, and iconic organizations ranging from the Emmys and American Music Awards to MTV and YouTube.
Moritz knows people will be excited to see the bestknown awards up close, but he thinks the real surprise will be in glimpsing the variety of ways our culture honors achievement.
From the American Welding Society and the Gies Editorial Award for dental editors and journalists to the Crushies that honor the world’s best beer marketing and design to “Dancing with the Stars” and the Video Game Awards, people can see themselves and the dreams of possibility in these objects.
“We tend to be aware of the awards that have celebrity recipients and … have publicity behind their program,” Moritz says. “But in every field of human endeavor there is that top honor, where if you work in that industry or you’re associated with that field, you’re aware of it. And winning that is the most important thing that you can do in your career and potentially in your life.”
Behind each design and collaboration is a story. Take, for example, the MTV Video Music Awards. For decades, VMA trophies have used MTV’s iconic moon person, inspired by the first astronaut landing on the moon. To mark its 40th anniversary in 2021, the VMAs engaged artist Kehinde Wiley to create a limited-edition version. Society Awards helped bring the vision to life. The special version is only the third in VMA history designed by an outside artist and the first by an African American artist. It includes botanical vines wrapped around the moon person’s legs and arms — a motif also used in some of Wiley’s current portraiture work.
As reported by “Rolling Stone,” the design symbolized inclusivity and diversity, with each vine and leaf having a different historic relevance.
“I think any celebration that we can have of these awards as true works of art, which they are, benefits all the parties involved,” Moritz says, “and elevates the milieu of super iconic and important awards as art … and as a part of pop culture and a part of our cultural heritage.”
Having an artist at the “stratospheric level” of Kehinde Wiley (who also painted President Barack Obama’s official portrait for the National Portrait Gallery and whose work is within the Mint’s permanent collection) elevates a design even higher, he says, to the realm of fine art.
Award design inspiration can also come from significant works of the past, as with the licensed, individually numbered reproductions of Alexander Calder’s stabile Elephant Walking (1942) used for the National Magazine Awards. The awards, which honor outstanding achievement in print and online publications, are popularly known as “The Ellies” because of its distinctive prize.
Other times, Society Awards collaborates to create a completely new piece of art, as it did for the YouTube Creator Awards, capturing the essence and excitement of a new cultural phenomenon.
“It’s art because of what it means and how badly people want it,” Moritz says, “and of course what it is — it’s beautiful and it’s iconic. And this to me is very interesting. The interplay, how we’re walking on the lines, blurring them, crossing them.”
As its designs and clientele continue to evolve, so does Society Awards. In 2020, Moritz and his young family relocated from Manhattan to Charlotte in search of more green space, better weather, and a different pace of life.
“We looked all around the country and settled on Charlotte as the ideal spot,” he says. “And then once we planted ourselves here, we realized that it was a great place to do business and … to expand our company.”
Society Awards is now headquartered in South End’s historic Atherton Mill with a second office space underway at The Line.
“I appreciate it every day,” Moritz says. “... I’m sitting in an office where I can see trees just outside the windows, filtered light rays coming down. It’s gorgeous and feels good to step outside and enjoy that sunshine, to appreciate how beautiful this area is.”
North Carolina’s largest pottery sale with the state’s top ceramic artists returns to The Mint Museum 9:15 AM–4 PM Saturday, September 23 on the lawn of Mint Museum Randolph.
Organized by The Mint Museum, the 2023 Potters Market at the Mint, presented by Principal Foundation, will feature 55 top potters working in North Carolina. The potters were selected through a competitive jury process and will be exhibiting and selling their best work. The event helps support the artists and introduces ceramic arts and collections of The Mint Museum to new audiences. The event includes pottery demonstrations, live music, a beer garden, and food concessions.
This year’s Potters Market also coincides with the opening of Walter Scott Lenox and American Belleek at Mint Museum Randolph. The exhibition will feature 80 of the earliest decades of American Belleek porcelain works. Admission to The Mint Museum is included in the price of a Potters Market ticket.
“Potters Market at the Mint is one of the most beloved events hosted at the museum and a wonderful way to celebrate North Carolina’s rich pottery traditions,” says Todd Herman, PhD, president and CEO of The Mint Museum. “We are excited to bring people from throughout the state together to experience this one-ofkind event and to support our talented ceramic artists. It is a wonderful opportunity to see high-quality ceramic work in one place and meet the makers to learn more about their work and creative processes.”
The Potters Market was established in 2005 by the Delhom Service League, the ceramics affiliate of The Mint Museum from 1972 through the spring of 2022. The affiliate group was established following the arrival of Miss M. Mellanay Delhom and her outstanding collection of historical pottery and porcelain. The organization had a profound impact in supporting key projects of the museum’s decorative arts program. The Mint is pleased to continue this legacy event that highlights the depth and breadth of ceramics from “The Pottery State.”
Tickets for Potters Market at the Mint start at $20 per person. Proceeds support arts education and programming at The Mint Museum. To purchase tickets and learn more about participating potters, visit pottersmarketatthemint.com.
Michele Huggins is the associate director of marketing and communications.
ABOVE: Melissa Weiss, Pink and Orange Vase (detail), 2022, coil built with ash glazed and underglaze
ABELHA DESIGNS
KURT ANDERSON
ANJA BARTELS PORCELAIN
ZAN BARNES
BLUEGILL POTTERY
CARLISLE CERAMICS
CHRISTINA BENDO POTTERY
CARTER CLAY
RENEE CALDER
JOSH COPUS CERAMICS
WILL DICKERT
GILLAN DOTY
SUSAN FILLEY
EMILY FLORES CERAMICS
GREG SCOTT CLAYART
HAMLIN CERAMICS
PHIL HARALAM
DEBORAH HARRIS
HARTSOE POTTERY
CANDICE HENSLEY CERAMICS
TRISTA HUDZIK POTTERY
JOHNSTON AND GENTITHES STUDIOS
NINA KAWAR
ERIC KNOCHE STUDIO
LEAH LEITSON
BECKY LLOYD
ANDREW MASSEY
JENNIFER MECCA
MUDVENTIONS
BEN OWEN POTTERY
PARADOX POTTERY
GILLIAN PARKE
PARMENTIER POTTERY
RON PHILBECK
GRETCHEN QUINN POTTERY
JOHN RANSMEIER POTTERY
BARRY RHODES POTTERY
DAVID ROSWELL
KRISTIN SCHOONOVER
GALEN SEDBERRY AND
KEN SEDBERRY
JENNY LOU SHERBURNE
POTTERY
ANDY SMITH
GAY SMITH
ANDREW STEPHENSON POTTERY
GRACE STOTT
DAVID STUEMPFLE
ANGELIQUE TASSISTRO CERAMICS
CHARLIE TEFFT POTTERY
HANNA TRAYNHAM
THE TRIANGLE STUDIO
MARIA ANDRADE TROYA
EVELYN WARD POTTERY
MELISSA WEISS POTTERY
JULIE WIGGINS POTTERY
CURRY WILKINSON POTTERY
“Unlocking Italy: Sicily’s Layers of Culture” is the Mint’s new travel program designed exclusively for Mint members and affiliate group members. Curated by The Mint Museum and The Della Donna Company, the trip will explore Sicily’s unique culture through history, art, architecture, food, wine, and festivals.
The guided experience will be led by Elaine Trigiani. A native of Mississippi, Trigiani has lived in Italy for more than 20 years, has a degree in art history, and is the author of the “Eyewitness Guide to Sicily.” She also is a certified olive oil taster, olive oil producer, certified wine taster, and specializes in heritage foods and production. Todd Herman, PhD, president and CEO of The Mint Museum, and Joel Smeltzer, head school and gallery programs, also will join on the trip.
Scheduled for May 12–19, 2024, the trip is based in Palermo and Noto. To ensure a quality travel experience, a limited number of spaces are available. For those who
want to explore more, an optional add-on trip is available for May 19–22 that goes deeper into the cultural diversity and geographical beauty of Sicily.
For more details and pricing, email Maggie Kapitan, public programs educator, at maggie.kapitan@mintmuseum.org or call 704.337.2093.
The Crown Society Travel Program continues to offer Mint Crown Society members enriching experiences and opportunities to strengthen friendships with fellow Mint supporters and staff. From Berlin to Palm Beach, Washington, D.C. to Tuscany, the 2023–2024 Crown Society Travel Program trip roster features special access to museum exhibitions, private collections, and studio visits, which only the Mint can organize with help from curators, artists, and colleagues in the art world. Travelers will enjoy well-appointed accommodations and delicious meals with attention paid to every detail.
For more information or to inquire about eligibility for a particular trip, please reach out to Kitty Hall, leadership giving manager at kitty.hall@mintmuseum.org or call 704.337.2034.
Record attendance, inspiring gardens and magnificent weather made for a fabulous Art in the Garden Tour May 6–7. This annual fundraiser for the Charlotte Garden Club featured six private gardens in Eastover, Elizabeth, First Ward and Montclaire, with plein air painters and potters selling their work throughout the tour. Monies raised support the club’s horticulture scholarship at Central Piedmont Community College, maintenance of plantings at McGill Rose Garden, and member educational programming.
Having wrapped up another successful year of fundraising, the Mint Museum Auxiliary spent the summer getting ready for its Room to Bloom events. Joseph Altuzarra will be the keynote speaker at our Fall EnrichMint Forum on November 15. In 2008, Joseph launched his luxury womenswear brand. He was raised in Paris by a Chinese-American mother and French father. His multicultural upbringing and avid interest in different facets of culture are key influences throughout his work. He is sure to inspire and engage our audience. In addition, Auxiliary memberships are now on a rolling basis, and we welcome new members! Find more information at mintmuseumauxiliary.org
This spring, the Young Affiliates of the Mint welcomed 250 of Charlotte’s young professionals for the 32ndannual Derby Days at Mint Museum Randolph. The event, which included a live viewing of the Kentucky Derby, Mint Juleps, Derby fashion, and music, raised over $25,000 to support school tours at The Mint Museum.
The annual Charlotte YP Mixer will be held from 6–9 PM September 13 at Mint Museum Uptown. The Charlotte YP Mixer is a city-wide young professional mixer bringing together the top young professional organizations in Charlotte, opening the doors of our city to young people looking to get involved. The 2023 YP Mixer is generously sponsored by OMJ Clothing.
Mint Docents are ready for a robust training schedule and peer input on tour preparation for upcoming special exhibitions and gallery rotations. The Research Committee reports on exhibition and permanent collection works of art, artists, and makers will supplement training by curators and Learning and Engagement staff members. And it is always a treat to learn directly from a contemporary artist.
Docents are also participating in a collaboration with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ E3 (Exposure, Experience, and Education) initiative and will receive instruction on meeting the program standards. Secondary students will experience docent-led tours in The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design and Craft in the Laboratory: The Science of Making Things. E3 fits nicely with the docent group’s focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in general. Training will be provided by the Docent DEIA Committee and Learning and Engagement staff with considerations on content and conversation.
It was a night filled with enthusiasm at the VIP Opening Celebration for Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/ Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations. Guests were the first to see the blockbuster exhibition, which was followed by guest speakers, live music, food, and dancing.
JazzArts Charlotte performing at the opening celebration.
Left to right: Todd Herman, PhD; Mecklenburg County Commissioner George Dunlap; Laurence Madeline, exhibition curator; Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Braxton Winston, and H.E. Santiago Cabanas, Spanish Ambassador to the United States.
Left to right: Weston and Marty Andress, Natalie Frazier Allen, and Marshelette Prime.
Andres Echevarria and Kristerpher Smith.
The 2023 Coveted Couture Gala was yet again a headturning, fashion-forward event. The 10th annual gala, held for the first time at Mint Museum Uptown, celebrated Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds and Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations.
Gala Chairs Milton (second from left) and Marshelette Prime (far right) with guests.
Guests enjoyed cocktails on the Wells Fargo Plaza before the live auction, dinner, and live music inside the museum.
Left to right: Jenn Waugh, Lee Kennelly, and Liz Hilliard.
Jo Ann and Joddy Peer.
The July 15 public opening of The Vault included a tour of the exhibition with exhibition curator Jessica Gaynelle Moss and the four collectors: Judy and Patrick Diamond, Christy and Quincy Lee, Nina and James Jackson, Cheryse and Christopher Terry, plus free pop-up portrait sessions with local artists Cary King and Breonna Collier.
A crowd fills The Vault gallery during the opening celebration.
Left to right: Cheryse Terry, Sandra Johnson, Rubie R. Britt-Height, guest, Nina Jackson, and Jamila Brown.
Families enjoyed nature-themed art experiences at Wild Wednesdays this summer. In partnership with Stevens Creek Nature Center, each event included an animal encounter, art activity, and self-guided scavenger hunt through Mint Museum Randolph.
All ages delighted in live music, food trucks, and art at this year’s Party in the Park series, presented by Principal Foundation. The casual events take place the last Sunday of each month from April to October. Each event includes food trucks, live music, art activities, and free museum admission.
SARAH G. COOPER
LAURA AND MIKE GRACE
MOZELLE DEPASS GRIFFITH
STEPHANIE S. LYNCH
MILTON AND MARSHELETTE PRIME
MARY ANNE (M.A.) ROGERS
LEIGH-ANN AND MARTIN SPROCK
ANN AND MICHAEL TARWATER
CURTIS AND ROCKY TRENKELBACH
CHARLOTTE AND JOHN WICKHAM
MR. AND MRS. WESTON M. ANDRESS
JENNIFER AND ALEX BAUER
MARY AND WALTER BEAVER
KELLE AND LEN BOTKIN
BETSY AND ALFRED BRAND
BILL AND ROBIN BRANSTROM
HILLARY AND W. FAIRFAX COOPER
MR. AND MRS. JAY FAISON
WILLIAM J. AND JENNIFER FOX
LYNN AND BRIAN GOOD
LISE AND TRAVIS HAIN
BEVERLY AND JIM HANCE
LUCY AND HOOPER HARDISON
LAUREN A. HARKEY
CHANDRA AND JIMMIE JOHNSON
JILL AND MARK KELLY
ASHLEY AND SCOTT MATTEI
MR. AND MRS. NEILL G. MCBRYDE
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM B. MCGUIRE, JR.
POSEY AND MARK MEALY
STACI AND JEFFREY MILLS
AMY AND MATTHEW MOORE
DAVID AND CHARLOTTE MORITZ
MARÍA-JOSÉ MAGE AND FRANK MÜLLER
CELENE AND MARC OKEN
EMILY AND BILL OLIVER
MARY AND DICK PAYNE
BETH AND DREW QUARTAPELLA
CHRYS AND CHES RILEY
PATRICIA A. RODGERS
BETSY ROSEN AND LIAM STOKES
TREY SHERIDAN
STAN SHERRILL AND KAT KING
POPE AND PEGGY SHUFORD
LIZ AND DAVE SHUFORD
KATI AND CHRIS SMALL
MAUREEN E. STOCKTON
CAROLYN AND BRYAN TAYLOR
SARAH AND TIM BELK
SUSANNE AND RUDOLF BLESS
ANSLEY AND JOHN CALHOUN
MARY ANNE DICKSON
BETH AND BILL HOBBS
BEVERLY AND MARK LADLEY
SUSAN AND LOY MCKEITHEN
JO ANN AND JODDY PEER
EDWIN RASBERRY
SALLIE SCARBOROUGH
SABINA AND WILIFRID SCHLUMBERGER
BOBBIE AND THAD SHARRETT
SHANNON G. SMITH AND DANIELA SEBOVA
EDITH AND LANDON WYATT
JOAN H. ZIMMERMAN
Left to right: Jacob John, Kim Nixon, Neely and Michael Verano, Alicia Barnes, and Natalie Frazier Allen and Hugh Allen.HOWARD P. ADAMS AND CAROL B. MCPHEE
ANONYMOUS
MARY CELESTE BEALL
KIM AND JOHNNY BELK
JULIE BOLDT AND DHRUV YADAV
MARY AND CHARLES BOWMAN
JAN AND ED BROWN
JOHN GREGORY CLEMONS
MRS. JANE CONLAN
AMY AND ALFRED DAWSON
ANNA AND SCOTT GLASS
DEIDRE GRUBB
MICAH HARDKE AND JOSEPH MILANO
SEAN AND JACQUELINE JONES
TONI AND ALFRED KENDRICK
KATHRYN AND LUKE KISSAM
CHELSEA LAWSON
FRANCIE AND JOHN MANGAN
LINDSAY AND STANTON MCCULLOUGH
DANY AND CHIP NISBET
CHERYL A. PALMER
AMY AND JOE PITT
DON RENALDO
LESLIE AND J.R. RICHARDSON
MRS. S. EPES ROBINSON
MANUEL RODRIGUEZ
SARA GARCÉS ROSELLI AND
DANIEL J. ROSELLI
JASON SCHOEN
PARKER AND STEPHEN SHUFORD
EMILY AND ZACH SMITH
MELINDA AND DAVID SNYDER
LORIE M. SPRATLEY
RUARD VELTMAN
BETSY FLEMING AND ED WEISIGER, JR.
BETSY AND BRIAN WILDER
PAT AND BILL WILLIAMSON
ROSE AND DAVIS WITTIG
NATALIE AND HUGH ALLEN
MR. AND MRS. JAMES G. BABB, JR.
BILL AND GEORGIA BELK
BARRIE AND MATT BENSON
ANGELA AND RALPH BREEDEN
DAVID AND TERESA CARROLL
E. COLBY AND LYNNE W. CATHEY
MONICA M. GALI AND ARMANDO L. CHARDIET
MRS. ROBIN COCHRAN
ANN COLLEY
MR. AND MRS. JOHN JULIAN CULBERTSON
LISA AND PERRIN DARGAN
DOUGLAS W. DAVIS
LAURIE AND NED DURDEN
LISA AND CARLOS EVANS
JAY EVERETTE AND BRIAN SPEAS
LINDA AND BILL FARTHING
PATTY AND ALEX FUNDERBURG
VALERIE AND LARRY GOLDSMITH, JR.
HEATHER AND LARRY GWALTNEY
KATHY AND JOHN HAIRSTON
KATHERINE G. HALL
ANDREW AND JOANNA HAYNES
TODD A. HERMAN, PHD AND HARRY GERARD
AMY AND JOHN HINES
JANE SCOTT AND PHILIP HODGES
CYNTHIA AND DAVID HOUSTON
DR. DIANE D. JACOBSEN
LESLIE AND JIM JOHNSON
VIRGINIA M. KEMP
COCO AND RAY KILLIAN
JESSIE J. KNIGHT, JR. AND JOYE D. BLOUNT
BARBARA L. LAUGHLIN
MERRILL BARRINGER LIGHT
NOELLE AND MARK MAHONEY
RICHARD MCHENRY AND CINDY CALDWELL
DYKE MESSINGER
ULRIKE AND ALEX MILES
SHANNON AND KARL NEWLIN
DR. KIM NIXON
PAULA AND CHRIS PINK
CARRIE AND BILL POLK
LARRY AND DALE POLSKY
MR. AND MRS. WALKER L. POOLE
RUTH AND TREVOR RUNBERG
THE SCHWARTZ FAMILY
ASIF SHAIKH
JANE AND CARL SHOWALTER
MATTYE AND MARC SILVERMAN
CAROL J. SMITH
TIFFANY AND SCOTT SMITH
GATES AND ROBERT SPILMAN
MARGARET AND JOHN SWITZER
JOHN A. THOMPSON AND LEE R. ROCAMORA
MEREDITH AND JIM THOMPSON
PATTI TRACEY AND CHRIS HUDSON
AMY AND HAL TRIBBLE
JENNIFER AND ALEXANDER WAUGH
FRANCES AND DUBOSE WILLIAMSON
MELISSA AND JOHN ANTON
HON. JOHN S. ARROWOOD
HARRIET BARNHARDT
TREVOR AND WINSTON BEASLEY
MRS. KATHERINE BELK-COOK
SARAH BISLAND BIGGERS AND ROBERT BIGGERS
DEBBIE AND GARY BLANKEMEYER
BETSY AND BILL BLUE
AMY AND PHILIP BLUMENTHAL
DR. LARRY BRADY AND MR. ROMAN MATSO
LEAH AND DAVID BRADY
KATHLEEN AND TERRY BRODERICK
CANTEY AND JEFF BROWN
HILARY BURT AND PETER BOVE
MARY-IRVING CAMPBELL
MEREDITH AND WILL CHAPMAN
MELISSA CORNWELL AND BRAD CHRISTMANN
GWIN BARNWELL DALTON
MELISSA AND JOSEPH DEL BROCCOLO
CAROLINE AND BEN DELLINGER
NELIA AND WILL DOLAN
DAPHNE DWYER AND TOM O’BRIEN
LEIGH DYER
ANDRES AND SIDNEY LOGAN ECHEVARRIA
DR. JEN SUDUL EDWARDS AND MR. GAVIN EDWARDS
JULIE AND TOM EISELT
ANNA AND DENNIS ELLIOTT
BLAKE EVANS AND KELLY PATTERSON
KATHY AND TOM EWING
LIZ AND LANE FAISON
CHRISTA AND BOB FAUT
WHITNEY AND MITCHELL FELD
SARAH AND WILL FISHER
SANDY AND GEORGE FISHER
AMY FRITSCHE AND FELIX VON UKLANSKI
MOLLY AND HENRY FROELICH
AMY AND GREGORY GACH
MIKE AND LIBBA GAITHER
TED GARNER
RENATA GASPARIAN AND CAIO LIMA
FREDDIE AND LAWRENCE GRAY
SUSIE AND TED GROSS
CLAY GRUBB
SUSAN M. HAMILTON
MR. AND MRS. WATTS HAMRICK III
MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. HARRIS III
TRICIA AND DONNY HARRISON
CLAUDIA AND ANDY HEATH
ANNE J. HENDERSON
LIZ HILLIARD AND LEE KENNELLY
LYNN AND CHARLEY HODGES
BARBARA HOLT
MANDY AND TODD HOUSER
DR. CHIP AND MRS. VICTORIA HOWELL
LANIER AND DOUG HOY
MR. AND MRS. JAMES E. S. HYNES
PAIGE AND CURTIS JONES
DR. MARIE-CLAIRE MARROUM-KARDOUS AND MR. KAL KARDOUS
MARCIE AND MARTY KELSO
JOAN KIRSCHNER
ADAM AND SHELLY LANDAU
LORNE E. LASSITER AND GARY P. FERRARO
LIZ AND HAYNES LEA
JANET M. LECLAIR AND JOHN C. BRAGG, JR.
QUINCY AND CHRISTY LEE
DR. A. DAVIS LIGON, JR.
DRS. SIU CHALLONS-LIPTON AND JORDAN LIPTON
MEGAN BLANKEMEYER LIST AND KEVIN LIST
OWEN LOCK
NAN AND BILL LOFTIN
VINCE LONG AND CAMERON FURR
BOB AND MARY LONG
ROGER AND DEBORAH LOVELETT
WESLEY A. MANCINI
KAIT MARLEY
KAREN AND J.P. MCBRYDE
SAMANTHA AND MARK MCCALL
RENEE AND HUGH MCCOLL III
DEE DEE MCKAY
MARY MARGARET AND PATRICK MEALY
MARY AND JERALD MELBERG
SALLY MITCHENER
ARRINGTON MIXON
KIMBERLY AND GEOFFREY MIZE
CYNTHIA LEE MORENO
STEPHANIE AND SAM MUHS
JANET PREYER NELSON
MR. AND MRS. ARTHUR R. NEWCOMBE IV
MARIAN M. NISBET
RIDGELY AND JOHN PHILLIPS
JOSEPH AND AMANDA PILIGIAN
REECE MEALY RAHILLY AND IAN RAHILLY
DEBORAH HALLIDAY AND GARY RAUTENSTRAUCH
PATSY M. REAMES
RENEE AND DAVID REECE
MICHAEL A. RODRIGUEZ
PAULA AND DALT RUFFIN
WILLIAM L. AND JANE O. SALTER
AIDA AND GREGORY SAUL
DEE SCHWAB
TOMMY AND JAN SHEALY
MORGAN SHIELDS
WAYNE SMITH AND INDUN PATRICK
CHRISTINA AND CASEY M. SMITH
KELITHA SPENCE
MRS. JOHN A. STEWMAN III
PAM AND HARDING STOWE
J. MCKINLEY B. TAYLOR, JR.
KRISTY AND BILL THOMPSON
KATHYLEE AND KEN THOMPSON
MELISSA AND PAUL TOLMIE
JUDITH AND GARY TOMAN
IRINA TOSHKOVA
ANNA AND TROY TOZZI
MARGARET AND CHRIS ULLRICH
CAROLYN AND MATT VANDERBERG
NELIA AND MICHAEL VERANO
PATRICIA COX VISER
CASSANDRA AND DAVID WAGNER
VERA WATSON
DOROTHEA F. WEST
DANA AND JOE WOODY
Cochiti Pueblo, located halfway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico, is known for figurative ceramics called story tellers. A centuries old tradition, animal and human forms are often depicted with open mouths, as if in mid speech or song. Born into a family of celebrated makers of these and other objects, Virgil Ortiz honors his ancestors by continuing past ways of making. For this sculpture, Ortiz gathered his nieces and nephews and together they dug the clay from Cochiti’s mountains, an arduous and seasonal project. On their land they collected the wild spinach to process and make the black paint. The firing was also a family affair, but sculpture itself, from its dynamic stance and bold graphic designs, illustrate contemporary innovations Virgil Ortiz has brought to the genre, including fashion, digital art, and performance, melding the past in the present, with an eye on the future of indigenous art and culture.
Annie Carlano is the senior curator of craft, design, and fashion.
Mint Museum Uptown
at Levine Center for the Arts
500 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Mint Museum Randolph
2730 Randolph Road
Charlotte, NC 28207
mintmuseum.org
@themintmuseum
704.337.2000
The Art of Seating exhibition catalogue available in–store and online!
