Today's Charlotte Woman by Sharon Simpson

SEPTEMBER 2012 VOL 16 | NO 5 | COMPLIMENTARY

At Home

Marcy Gregg

Decorate Your Abode The Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Way

From Memory Loss To Artful Awakenings

Showing Off

Usher In Cooler Weather

Our Annual Arts Preview

With Leather

PHOTO BY MICHAEL C. HERNANDEZ

FromTheEditor

My Life As A Working Artist

L Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 6

ong ago, in a land far, far away … back before I had a little girl … back before 9/11 rocked the whole country … back before the recession put the U.S.economy on the skids, I quit a pretty awesome job as managing editor of a NASCAR magazine to become a starving artist. Thankfully,I had a husband who paid the bills and kept food on the table while I earned my master’s in creative writing and sent out short stories to publications all over the country. I never starved. But I would have, if not for his financial support. In those days,I knew the schedule of my mailman as intimately as I knew my own. Yep. I was a mailbox-stalker. I waited anxiously every day for the acceptance letter to arrive that would make all of my artistic dreams come true. And while I did get some acceptance letters,I also got hundreds — and I do mean hundreds — of rejection letters … rejection letters on scraps of paper just large enough to wrap a wad of gum in. I still have those rejection notes, packed away in a shoebox in the corner of a closet. I have one pretty great handwritten note from Esquire magazine, telling me they loved my story (ironically, one based in the land of NASCAR) but couldn’t print it. And I have a nice, formal letter on good cardstock from a

publishing house admitting that,while they liked my work, they couldn’t see fit to publish my short story collection at the time. What is ironic to me is not that it was so difficult to make money as a fiction writer,but that I completely expected to not only survive, but thrive, as a writer. Of short stories, no less. I truly thought I was gonna make a million bucks. Delusional, anyone? These days, my life is more firmly rooted in reality. I have my fiction, and it means the world to me. But I also know that I need my“real”job to keep things afloat. And even though working as a nonfiction writer and editor (and, thankfully, getting paid for it!) can sometimes put a bit of a clamp-hold on my creativity, there is something so very pleasing about earning a living with a practical version of my chosen art form — writing. Every month,I pick up the latest issue of the magazine, complete with its glossy cover and interesting Charlotteans and beautiful colors and (thank you,Kerrie Boys) gorgeous design, and my soul expands a little bit. I look through my magazine — our magazine — and forget about all the myriad of headaches that went into its creation. I thumb through the pages,and embrace it for what it is: a very tangible sign that I am a writer, and a working one, at that. [TCW]

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Contents September

DEPARTMENTS 6

Editor’s Letter My Life As A Working Artist

12 Queen City Jewels Happenings You Don’t Want To Miss

14 Girl Time Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 8

28 Wine Up Savor Summer With A Bounty Of Bistro Wines

38 At Home

Tips,Trends, And Fancies

Decorating Your Home With Art

26 On The Move Charlotte Women Making Strides

44 Fashion 38

Usher In Cooler Weather With Leather

52 Health Flash What You Need To Know To Stay Well

2012

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Volume 16, Number 5 September 2012

Publisher

Sharon Simpson

Associate Publisher

Fern Howerin

PROFILES

Editor

Karsen Price

18 The Art Of Starting Over Marcy Gregg Overcomes Memory Loss & Rediscovers Her Art

Sales Executive

Trisha Robinson

22 Tough Act To Follow Paula Baldwin Works As Drama Teacher By Day & Actress By Night

Sales Executive

Carole Lambert

42 Creative Director

Kerrie Boys, idesign2, inc

FEATURES 30 Showing Off A Sneak Peek At Charlotte’s 2012-13 Art Season

36 Charlotte’s Got Art Explore Galleries Around The Queen City Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 10

42 Everything Old Is New Again Fashion,With A (Re)Purpose

58 Essay: The Climb A Marriage Worth The Work

Contributing Writers

Trevor Burton Dana Durham Fiona Harmon Melinda Johnston Renee Mathis Deb Mitchell Contributing Photographer

Michael C. Hernandez P.O. Box 1676 Cornelius, NC 28031 704.677.9159 Today’s Charlotte Woman is published by Venture Magazines Inc., and is distributed on a complimentary basis throughout the greater Charlotte area.

OnTheCover Marcy Gregg colors her world. Photo by Michael C. Hernandez.

Subscription rate is $20 per year for 12 issues. Copyright© 2012 Venture Magazines Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited. Today’s Charlotte Woman and Venture Magazines Inc. do not necessarily endorse the views and perceptions of contributors or advertisers.

U E E N

I T Y

E W E L S

HAPPENINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

Gallery Crawl, Y’all

Girl Power

Second Annual Sip & Savour

Make Way For Women-Centric Events

ooking for a good time for a great cause? Don’t miss the second annual Sip & Savour Gallery Crawl,which benefits Melissa’s Voice Foundation Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of eating disorders. Held Sept. 22 from 6 to 11 p.m., the splashy, fun-filled event features the exquisite art of five Myers Park galleries: Allison Sprock Fine Art, Providence Gallery, Shain Gallery, Renee George Gallery, and FABO. And don’t miss the delicious fare of 14 fine eateries,including Amelie’s French Bakery, Edible Art, and Fran’s Filling Station. Wrap up the evening with an after-party with Simplified. Melissa’s Voice raises awareness of eating disorders and helps fund treatment for young women in need of treatment for eating disorders. Lynn Dreyer created the nonprofit in 2011 in honor of her late sister, Melissa.

WantToGo? The all-inclusive event is $25. To register, visit sipandsavour.org.

Potters Market Returns

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 12

• Charlotte Fashion Week, held Sept. 19 through Sept 22, is presented by Charlotte Seen and includes four days of fashion events at Reelworks Studios, at the NC Music Factory. Visit charlottefashionweek.com. • The 30th annual Southern Women’s Show, Sept. 20-23, at The Park Expo & Conference Center, located at 2500 E. Independence Blvd. Visit southernshows.com. • Dress for Success Charlotte’s annual signature fundraiser, Look at Her Power, presented by Wells Fargo Sept. 20, at The Park Expo, from 6 to 9 p.m. The private, ticketed event includes shopping,food, wine, and The Faces of Dress for Success Fashion Show, presented by Belk. Visit dressforsuccess.org.

Pottery, Anyone? he eighth annual Potters Market Invitational brings the top names and talents of North Carolina pottery to Charlotte Sept.15,from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.on the grounds of Mint Museum Randolph. Forty outstanding North Carolina potters have been invited to participate in this year’s event, which typically lures over 1,200 collectors and enthusiasts with its taste of Seagrove, the Catawba Valley, and well-known artists. The event is presented by the Delhom Service League, an affiliate group of The Mint Museum dedicated to the support and study of ceramics. “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to share our enthusiasm for this important art form with the Charlotte community and the region,and to give residents a chance to engage with some of our state’s most

all is full to bursting with women-centric events. Don’t forget to jot down the following on your to-do list this September and October:

significant artists and their work,” says Lee Abbott, the event’s chairperson. “The Mint Museum already boasts the largest collection of North Carolina pottery in the United States, and we look forward to future opportunities to put a strengthened focus on ceramics at Mint Museum Randolph.” WantToGo? Mint Museum Randolph is located at 2730 Randolph Road. Tickets are $10, and available at mintmuseum.org/delhom-serviceleague.html, or onsite the day of the event.

• The fourth-annual Coffee & Conversation, to benefit the Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation, Sept. 21, from 7:30 to 10 a.m., at The Park Expo. Tickets are available at belvascancerfoundation.org. • The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure is returning to uptown Charlotte on Oct. 6. It’s not too early to register! Visit komencharlotte.org.

Fore! The Symetra Tour Hits Charlotte he SymetraTour:Road to the LPGA, is making its debut at Raintree Country Club Sept 10-16. The 2012 Symetra Classic tournament is the developmental tour of the LPGA. Its mission is to prepare the very best young professional women golfers for a career on the LPGATour. The tournament brings together a field of 144 women professional golfers from around the world, including nearly 30 players with North Carolina ties. Players also include stars from the most recent season of the hit Golf Channel show,“Big Break:Atlantis.” Every year, the top-10 Symetra Tour players earn automatic membership to play on the LPGA Tour. “We are delighted to support women’s golf and the next generation of LPGA superstars at the 2012 Symetra Classic,”says

Jim Pirak, Symetra senior vice president of marketing. “Like Symetra, women’s golf is on the rise, and we’re thrilled to be part of that growth and excitement.” The event includes special challenges between players and local celebrities, player practice rounds, junior clinics with Dana Rader and other golf pros, a “Rock and Roll the Putt” contest, and of course, tournament play.

PHOTO COUR TESY OF SYME TRA

WantToGo? Visit SymetraTour.com.

It’s Time To Vote … For Art Your View, Your Vote

allow the DNC delegates the first opportunities to cast votes, just as they do during the nation’s real-life electoral process. Mint Museum Uptown, which is normally closed to the public on Mondays, will be open free Sept. 3, Labor Day, to coincide with CarolinaFest, a day-long party for DNC visitors along Tryon Street. All visitors to the museum through Sept. 7 will be offered the opportunity to cast votes. Voting closes after the DNC and reopens Oct. 1, running through Nov. 9. During the project, voters must be inside the museum to cast a vote; no online voting will be allowed. Only one ballot will be permitted per visit, but patrons can make multiple visits if they wish to cast multiple votes for their favorite candidates. WantToGo? Visit mintmuseum.org. [TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

t’s not November; nevertheless the Mint Museum is offering a one-of-a-kind election within the walls of its Uptown location. Starting Sept. 1,Vote For Art gives Charlotteans — and Democratic National Convention visitors — the chance to vote on art to be acquired by the Mint Museum. Here’s how it works: Six specially chosen pieces of art will be on view in the museum. Voters get to cast a ballot for their three favorite works out of the six. The three pieces of art with the most votes will be acquired and incorporated into the Mint’s permanent collection. The project is aimed at educating the public on both the electoral process and the process of building a worldclass art collection for Charlotte. Voting was slated to begin in September to coincide with the beginning of the Democratic National Convention,to

GirlTime T I P S ,

T R E N D S

A N D

F A N C I E S

COMPILED BY KARSEN PRICE

Don’t Be Dumb About Your Smartphone recently gave in and got smart. Smartphone, that is. And while I have found that I am in love with my sudden ability to check each and every email as soon as it hits my inbox, I have also discovered that keeping what is essentially a tiny computer safe — not to mention protecting the $250-investment I plunked down on it — is a weighty responsibility. Alan Wlasuk is a managing partner of 403 Web Security, a full-service, secure web application development company. With his security background, he admits he’s seen every dumb smartphone decision known to mankind. “As we collectively wander America with our ubiquitous smartphones glued to our lives, most of us don’t realize how fragile the relationship really is with this device,” Wlasuk says. “Think about it — you have your diary, wallet, phone, social support system, and best friend all wrapped up in one piece of hardware. One slip, and it’s all toast.” In an effort to help all of us avoid wearing a“Hack me, please”sign on our backs, Wlasuk has compiled a top-five “don’t do this with your smartphone, you big dummy” list:

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 14

1. Don’t download apps from unverified sources. Wlasuk notes that, whether you know it or not, every app on your smartphone is a potential security risk. “A well-meaning app treats you fair, while a malicious app might be recording your keystrokes, accessing your contact list,and signing you up for expensive services you never wanted.”And while every app is a potential risk,the ones you download from unauthorized sources are far

riskier. “Either play within the lines (authorized Apple,Google,and Microsoft app stores) or risk an unexpected friend sharing your smartphone with you,” he says. 2. Don’t jailbreak your smartphone. Maybe you’ve met the guy or girl who proudly hoists his or her smartphone in the air at lunch and announces it’s been “jailbroken” … meaning, modified to bypass the original security features. “I always think of this as the geek version of, ‘Hey, y’all, watch this!’” Wlasuk says. He notes that there is a good reason to trust Apple, Google, and Microsoft, who have worked to build smartphone operating systems that protect people from security risks. And anyone who thinks they are smarter than the collective brainpower at Apple, Google, and Microsoft is, well, not smart. 3. Don’t go smartphone commando by not having a pass code. According to Javelin Strategy & Research, 62 percent of smartphone users do not use password protection on their smartphones. Dumb, dumb, dumb. All you have to do is lose your unprotected smartphone at the mall, and suddenly,anyone could be wandering through your device. He notes that emails and photos would be hit first, then social apps, and finally any app that could be used for fun and profit.“You will misplace your smartphone sometime in the future … so why make it easy for a teen to use it?”Wlasuk asks. 4. Remember that pride goes before a fall. OK, so you are one of the smart ones: You use your pass code, and you don't download

things your mother warned you about. Wlasuk says it’s still not smart to store up lots of secrets on your phone. “The good news is that the average bear will be thoroughly thwarted by a pass-code protected smartphone,” he says. “The bad news is that the pasty-looking kid living in his mom’s basement could break your code in about 30 minutes. Maybe keeping those pictures from Las Vegas is not the best idea.” He adds,“There are no secrets;there are no 100 percent secure smartphones.” 5. Smartphone OS updates are never optional. “It’s a cyber war out there,” he says. “Hackers figure out new ways to compromise smartphones, and then new OS versions are released to neutralize the vulnerabilities. When Apple, Google, or Microsoft send out a new OS update, it almost always means they have discovered and fixed a security problem. The more updates you skip, the more likely you are to get hacked during normal smartphone operations.”

sm ar t!

Hoo, What, When, Where? A New Line Of Vaginal Care

o, let’s be honest: Vaginas aren’t exactly the most fun topic in the world,and vaginal cleaning products even less so. But one company has found a unique way to market a product that is not only conducive to healthy, feminine care, but also to a good chuckle. Healthy Hoo Hoo is a new personal care line of products that was created by Stacy Lyons and is marketed as “gentle care for down there.” And although the packaging is light-hearted and fun, the story behind its creation has a serious tone. Lyons began studying the dangers of paraben after a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her tumor biopsy showed an alarmingly high concentration of paraben,a harmful preservative that is surprisingly common in lotions, creams, and shampoos. Lyons began searching for healthy products that weren’t loaded with the preservative, and coming up short. Thus, the birth of Healthy Hoo Hoo. The product line offers feminine hygienic cleansers, foamers, and wipes that contain no paraben,alcohol,sulfates,or dyes,and are pH balanced to compliment“your natural chemistry.” They are“tested on gal pals, not animals,” and are fragrance-free, gluten-free, and Vegan. That said,they also aren’t exactly cheap — a travel pack of 10 wipes retails for $4.79. But seriously. Isn’t your hoo hoo worth it? Find Healthy Hoo Hoo products online at drugstore.com, healthyhoohoo.com, and westseattlenaturalmedicine.com.

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Feeling Forgetful? Reach For That Chocolate Bar

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 16

ow, here is one study I wish I could have participated in. Candy maker Mars Inc. recently funded a study to research the effect cocoa — rich with flavanols — has on brain function. No, they didn’t offer a lifetime’s supply of Snickers bars to participants. But Italian researchers did get 90 patients to consume a cocoa-drink to see if the antioxidants found in chocolate can help people with mild memory problems, by improving their brain function. Participants consumed chocolaty-drinks that contained either 990 mg, 520 mg, or 45 mg of cocoa flavanols each day for eight weeks. Results showed that those who drank the liquid with high and medium amounts of flavanol showed significantly improved brainpower. They had higher hand-eye coordination,improved working and verbal memory, and higher verbal fluency than those in the low-flavanol group. They also had reduced blood sugar and blood pressure, and lower levels of a marker for oxidative damage to the cells. “In this context, regular cocoa flavanol consumption seems to represent an effective strategy in preserving brain and cardiovascular health and function,” says lead researcher Dr. Giovambattista Desideri, director of the geriatric division in the department of life, health, and environmental sciences at the University of L’Aquila. The study was published online in Hypertension. Researchers say flavanols may be good for brain function because of the antioxidant’s ability to protect brain cells,improve brain metabolism and blood flow, which helps preserve memory. Where’s my Snickers bar again?

Want A Divorce? Make It A Quickie e’ve all known someone whose divorce was so raucous and painful and flatout offensive that it makes “War Of The Roses” look like a fairy tale, complete with happy ending. But divorce expert Lois Tarter insists it doesn’t have to be that way. According to Tarter, quickie divorces — similar to the Tom-Kat style settlement — are the way to go … if divorce is an unavoidable event in your life. Below, Tarter explains why couples that have made the decision to divorce should aim for a quick,amicable settlement: You’ll have more money. A less drawn-out divorce process will minimize the attorney fees, which means more money for you, your ex and, most important, your children. Heading into your new life with as many resources as possible will be beneficial to your family.

It helps to rip off the breakup Band-Aid quickly. While it definitely hurts, Tarter says it’s better in the long run to cut ties to your soonto-be ex as quickly as possible. It can be easier for everyone to rip off the Band-Aid, than to have a period of long, drawn-out pain and anguish. It’s better for the kids. A quicker divorce settlement is always easier on the children,who don’t want to be stuck in the middle watching mom and dad battle it out. As much as you might try to hide it from your kids, you are bound to show some pain or stress if it’s a long divorce process. Your new life will begin quicker. There’s something about those three words — your new life — that sounds inviting, isn’t there? On the flipside, being single again might be a difficult adjustment for you … so why not get started sooner than later.

You’ll have less stress. Stress is a killer, Tarter insists. Ending a breakup or divorce in the easiest way possible will afford you the opportunity to avoid additional drama and stress. Lois Tarter has a master’s in alternative dispute resolution, and has written articles about divorce for The Huffington Post, and More Magazine,among others. [TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

The Art Of Starting Over

Marcy Gregg Overcomes Memory Loss And Rediscovers Her Art By Deb Mitchell | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez

It seems like the plot of a movie:

For Marcy Gregg,longtime Charlotte resident and accomplished painter, this story is completely true. “I remember looking up at a doctor with my head hurting terribly and saying, ‘Help me,’ ” she recalls. Awakenings Asking the doctor for help is the last thing Gregg remembers before waking up from her coma nearly a week later, believing herself to

still be a 17-year-old art student instead of a married mother of three. The year was 1990. “When they told me after waking up that I’d just had a baby,I thought, ‘You’ve got the wrong person!’ ” she says. The doctors believe Gregg had a sinus infection and that during delivery she“blew”bacteria into her brain, causing severe bacterial meningitis. The infection resulted in a brain injury that left her with approximately 15 to

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

A happy, young wife and mother of two boys, ages 6 and 3, gives birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. But, just hours before being released from the hospital, the woman spikes a dangerously high fever. Within hours, she is in a coma and must be placed on a ventilator to remain alive. Her husband, friends, and family hold vigil around the clock, praying against the odds for healing. Miraculously, she awakens. But she does so with the majority of her memory erased. In the ensuing months and years, the woman works to put the pieces of her life back together — to learn to be a mother to her children again; to rediscover who she is as a wife, a daughter, a friend.

“I experience great joy when I stand in front of a canvas with a paintbrush in my hand. In my miraculous healing, God gave me a second chance at life; and each day that I paint I have a second chance to pursue my love of art.” — Marcy Gregg

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 20

20 percent of her pre-coma memory. Gregg admits that it is a difficult situation, at best. “It’s a little like living with déjà vu all the time,” Gregg says. “I’m never sure what was real and what wasn’t; what actually happened or what someone told me about; or what my imagination is filling in.” Though she remembers almost none of this, Gregg grew up in the small town of Jasper,Texas, and earned a degree in studio arts from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. She married her college sweetheart, Dev Gregg, and in 1988, the pair moved to Charlotte. She set aside her art to start a family and to focus on raising her sons, Casen and Conner. Then came daughter,Callie,and the coma that followed. Even though the next phase of Gregg’s life was challenging,to say the least, she considers her life far from destroyed. Coming back physically,mentally,and emotionally from the catastrophic coma took years, but Gregg — who was always characterized by determination and an intense faith — refused to waste a moment of what she calls her “second chance at life.” “I just had to learn to accept how it is and to be so grateful

to be here,”Gregg says. “To be surrendered to what God chose for me. To stop fighting and to live with gratitude was a big thing for me.” Although Gregg’s pre-coma passion for art still stirred within her, she took a 14-year detour from the art world, starting a corporate consulting company instead. Gregg traveled the country speaking and teaching from curriculum she developed based on her experiences. “I think my business was successful,” Gregg says,“because I believed that if I could come back from my coma and move forward, anyone could move forward. I was determined to have every person leave my classes knowing they could succeed.” The Creative Self Satisfied with her company’s accomplishments, Gregg sold the business in 2006 … and picked up a paintbrush. “I experience great joy when I stand in front of a canvas with a paintbrush in my hand,” Gregg says. “In my miraculous healing, God gave me a second chance at life; and each day that I paint I have a second chance to pursue my love of art.”

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ToLearnMore Visit marcygreggfineart.com for information about the artist. For information on Slate Interiors, visit shopslateinteriors.com. [TCW]

Deb Mitchell is an ardent fan of the Queen City and its arts community; she views the computer keyboard as her version of a paintbrush.

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Today,her abstracts,still lifes,and the barnscapes she is best known for all seem to mirror her pre-coma memories. “My paintings are expressionistic,but I’m leaning more toward the abstract as I go along,” she says. “I love to lose the edges to the lines … to use a lot of paint and to use colors that you wouldn’t really see in a scene.” Gregg’s art — so tactile you want to run your hand over the canvas — is fast gaining popularity in Charlotte and beyond. Her work is a staple at Plaza Midwood’s chic home décor boutique, Slate Interiors, where Gregg will be the featured artist for September. A special collection of her rural landscapes, juxtaposed with her Charlotte skylines, will manifest the eclectic mix that is Charlotte, and is sure to dazzle attendees of the Democratic National Convention. Picking up her art education where her memory left off, Gregg is undertaking intensive programs with nationally recognized local artists Andy Braitman and Curt Butler. Though her works almost sell faster than she can create them, Gregg insists she is still in her adolescence as a painter and is working to develop her style. She paints six days a week at her studio space in NoDa but, she exclaims, “I’d paint seven days a week if I could, that’s how much I love it — I’m having so much fun!” The joy Gregg finds in painting is reflective of the simple, yet profound way she views life. To Gregg, not every aspect needs to be clearly seen for her to fully embrace it. “Not a day goes by,” she says,“that I’m not grateful to be here.”

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Tough Act To Follow

PHOTO BY MICHAEL SIMMONS

Paula Baldwin Works As Drama Teacher By Day And Actress By Night By Melinda Johnston | Photos By Michael C. Hernandez

If her life was a play, Paula Baldwin would be starting the second act — after a decade-and-a-half intermission.

Acting The Part This “accidental” actress didn’t start out on stage. In fact, she may not have found the spotlight if her theater teacher at Mount Pleasant High School hadn’t recognized a special talent. “I didn’t take theater until my senior year,because it didn’t fit into my schedule,” Baldwin says. “The Monday after the final production of the year, Flowers For Algernon, my theater teacher, Nodghia Fesperman,came up to me and said that

theater was something I should do.” At the time, Baldwin was already slated to attend UNC Charlotte, with plans to become an English teacher. But her theater teacher was undeterred. An alumni of Catawba College, she teamed up with the guidance counselor and arranged an audition for Baldwin at the college that same week,even driving her star student to campus at the appointed time. “Catawba had been on my college list, but it

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

The Charlotte actress and high school drama teacher has been in theater almost all of her adult life, taking on a variety of roles both in front of the curtain and behind the scenes. Now, at age 57, she finds herself juggling both roles, and having the time of her life.

PHOTO BY SHANNON HAGER

“My mom is going on 90, and still can’t wrap her mind around why I’m doing this craziness. She would never get up in front of an audience. I told her that as long as I can talk and memorize lines, I’m going to keep on acting!” — Paula Baldwin was too expensive,” Baldwin admits. “I found out at the beach after graduation that I had been accepted there and awarded a partial scholarship. Talk about a turn-around!” Baldwin majored in theater education and completed her student teaching in Salisbury. Shortly after college graduation, she married Ken Baldwin, her high school sweetheart, and enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program at UNC Greensboro. “I planned to start teaching after I earned my master’s,” she says. “But they were preparing us to perform professionally,and I started thinking how nice it would be to get paid for something I loved to do.”

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 24

Traveling Show Baldwin signed on with the Barn DinnerTheater in Greensboro, but the pay there was minimal. She soon realized the only way to make a living in acting was to travel. For several years she stayed on the road, working in theaters in Illinois, Michigan, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, and Connecticut. “I traveled a lot, but I did manage to work full time as an actor,” she says. “Ken and I decided the next step was to move to New York City and see what happened.” The couple lived there for eight years. During that time, Baldwin was offered numerous parts, however, most were outside of the city. She soon tired of traveling. She found acting jobs here and there,but made a living waitressing and then managing Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant in Central Park South, where she waited on a number of famous people and became acquainted with Mantle himself. Eventually, family ties pulled the couple home. They moved to Charlotte,and Baldwin put away her scripts and dusted off her

teaching certificate. For the next 16 years,she stayed behind the scenes teaching drama to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, first at Northeast Middle School, then at Mint Hill Middle School. Enjoying The Limelight Five years ago, while directing her students in High School Musical, Baldwin imagined how fun it would be to play the role of the drama teacher in the show. Soon after,she heard about auditions at Matthews Playhouse for the same role. She auditioned, got the part, and was back on stage, this time for good. “As soon as that part was over, I said,‘Oooh, I think I’d like to try another one,’ and then another, and another. It’s almost like an addiction,” she says. Since her return to acting, Baldwin has been in 13 plays with a variety of different companies, including Matthews Playhouse, Theatre Charlotte, CPCC Summer Theatre, and Carolina Actors Studio Theatre, known as CAST. Shortly after her comeback to the stage, she won a Metrolina Theatre Award for lead actress in a drama as Annie Nations in CAST’s production of Foxfire. Last year, Baldwin moved to Independence High School, where she’s rebuilding the drama program from scratch. This year, one of her students,Marissa Plondke,was nominated for a Blumey — a new award presented by North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts for outstanding high school musical theater performances — for a cameo in the school’s production of Grease. These days, Baldwin is enjoying the best of both worlds. She credits her husband of 35 years with keeping all the pieces together. “Teaching high school, I have to get up at 5 in the morning, and sometimes I don’t get home from rehearsals until 11 at night.

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But I love it. The rehearsal process is so wonderful for me,and I enjoy being around other actors and directors. Every show is a learning process,even after all these years. And then I can go back in the classroom and take all that with me to pass on to my students.” Although Charlotte isn’t NewYork City,Baldwin says it’s the perfect place to indulge her passion. “Being a working actor in Charlotte is difficult if you are trying to make a living at it.There are lots of wonderful theaters here, but most don’t pay. But you will find lots of highquality acting,directing,and producing — it’s fully professional in that sense,” she says. She adds,“When I retire from teaching, I don’t plan to retire from theater. My mom is going on 90,and still can’t wrap her mind around why I’m doing this craziness. She would never get up in front of an audience. I told her that as long as I can talk and memorize lines, I’m going to keep on acting!”

ToLearnMore Baldwin is currently in rehearsal for CAST’s production of Lombardi, based on the book,“When Pride Still Mattered — The Story of Vince Lombardi.” Set in the 1960s,Baldwin will tease her hair each night and speak with a Jersey accent as she plays the role of Lombardi's totally supportive and self-sacrificing wife,Marie. Lombardi runs Aug.30 through Sept.29;visit nccast.com for information. [TCW]

LIMITED APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. CALL NOW TO RSVP! 704.375.7111 © PCG Inc. 2012

Assuming the roles of writer, runner, children’s choir director, mother, and grandmother, Melinda Johnston used to call herself the queen of multitasking ... until she met Paula Baldwin, that is.

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Mini-Makeovers Refreshments/Door Prizes Free Goodie Bags to the first 100 people

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Job Changes/Promotions Emeritus at Eastover, a senior living community, has named Julie Goforth, BSN, R.N., LNHA, executive director.

NEW NAME. NEW PLACE. SAME INCREDIBLE EDUCATION. For over 30 years Dore Academy has been the premier learning disabilities and ADHD educational resource in Charlotte, and it’s about to get even better. This year we've moved to an amazing new campus, and have changed our name to The John Crosland School. John Crosland Jr. has overcome the challenges of dyslexia to become one of the region’s most successful businessmen and philanthropists. More than most people Mr. Crosland intimately understands the impact a focused education can make for children with learning disabilities. Visit us online today to join us in our exciting new chapter. Open House Mini Tours

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 26

8:15-9:00am - September 6, 13, 20, 27 Tour begins promptly at 8:15 am RSVP 704-365-5490 or peley@doreacademy.org

Connect with us

5146 Parkway Plaza Blvd. • Charlotte, NC 28217 704.365.5490 • JohnCroslandSchool.org Crosland does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, marital status, disability, religion, creed, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational programs, admissions, financial aid policies or employment practices.

Melissa Ryder was hired by Planet Central as account executive.

Lisa Gerard was hired by Edifice Inc. as project assistant.

Maria M. Leahy was named associate head of school at Dore Academy, a K-12 school focused on providing an outstanding education for children with learning disabilities and ADHD.

Aimee Simmons was named vice president of healthcare marketing for Senior Living Communities.

Amanda Moore was hired by Rogers Townsend Attorneys At Law as an associate.

Charlotte Symphony music director Christopher Warren-Green has renewed his contract through the 2015-16 season; he has been music director for the Symphony for three years.Warren-Green is also the music director for the London Chamber Orchestra, and was chosen by the royal family to conduct the LCO for the

wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in April 2011.

New Business/Changes Pizza Fusion, an organic, eco-friendly pizza restaurant, is opening at 1055 Metropolitan Ave., in The Metropolitan shopping plaza.

Awards & Installations Interior designer Bobbie Cox, owner of Dragonfly Designs, earned her CQRID national certification test, making her a registered interior designer of North Carolina.

Karen Bennetts, cofounder and managing partner of Little Red Bird, was named president-elect of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Charlotte chapter.

Sonja Hunter, of Fifth Third Bank, was named to the board of directors of The Arc of Mecklenburg County. The Arc of Mecklenburg County works to improve the quality of life for both children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

TellUsYourNews Send announcements about hirings, promotions, honors, and new business development — all specifically about/for Charlotte-area women — along with high-resolution images to Editor Karsen Price at karsenprice@hotmail.com.

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Savor WineUp

By Trevor Burton

Summer With A Bounty Of Bistro Wines

t’s the time of year when summer slowly but surely gives way to a kinder, gentler day. But if you have lived in Charlotte for any length of time, you know that September is more summer than not. With that said, one of my favorite things in the whole world is a good summertime “bistro wine.” Bistro wines are wines that are not overwhelming and never ranked in the list of the world’s most prestigious wines, but are still really good with plenty of character. Best of all,they have that ever desirable attribute — they’re not expensive! They come in all the wine food groups; white, rosé, and red. At our house,the warmer months of the year are great for dining out on our patio and taking in the beauty of a Carolina sunset. And that generally calls for lighter fare — something like grilled chicken or fish or, if it’s a luncheon,maybe a selection of cold cuts and some fresh,crusty bread. The challenge, of course, is to come up with a wine that fits this kind of food. The answer is bistro wine. In my view, you just can’t go wrong if you choose one of the red wines from France’s Loire Valley.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 28

A River Runs Through It The Loire Valley as a whole is a long wine region that sits on the banks of the country’s longest river, the Loire. The region stretches from the Atlantic coast to well inland, and produces a wide variety of wines. The ones that fit our warm-weather dining needs are from an area in the middle of the region,near the town of Tours. It’s from the town that the region gets its name,Touraine. This part of the Loire Valley is justifiably proud of its storybook châteaux, complete with turrets, moats, and drawbridges. The châteaux are certainly gorgeous — butTouraine’s wines should take equal billing. The Loire Valley is about as far north as you can get and still get grapes to ripen. Chilly conditions produce the light and crisp red wines that are perfect for al fresco dining activity. The choices are plentiful. You could sip on a wine that simply has the “Touraine” designation on its label, but your best bet is to go for wines from two areas within Touraine: Chinon and Bourgueil. Many years ago,these wines were as sought after as some of the best wines from Bordeaux; and priced accordingly. That’s no longer the case. Likewise,these wines are tasty and relatively inexpensive,my favorite kind of wine. The Left Bank Chinon (pronounced“she-non”) is on the south bank of the Loire River, also known as the left bank. There is a distinct terroir here that determines the style of the wines. Chinon’s highly regarded soil is called “tuffeau.” These are limestone slopes and hills. And limestone is something that gives

a definitive character to wines. It’s the same type of soil that produces the stunning, silky elegance in the wines of Burgundy. In Burgundy, Pinot Noir is the grape that reaps the benefit of limestone soil. In Chinon, it’s Cabernet Franc — although you won’t see the name of the grape on any labels. In France,most wines are defined by where they are from, not what’s in them. Cabernet Franc has to be one of the world’s most under-appreciated grapes. It’s best known as a blending grape in Bordeaux, a bit player to Cabernet Sauvignon. But when it plays a major role,it can shine, and Chinon is certainly proof. Most Chinon wines are 100-percent Cabernet Franc, but sometimes a little Cabernet Sauvignon is added. They might be light and crisp, but Chinons are serious wines. They have a deep, dark color — almost purple sometimes. They are beautifully earthy and what I like to call “barnyardy,” with a combination of dark fruits. Along with the fruit is a distinct green vegetable aspect; sometimes this quality is likened to tasting a farmers market. This all lends to an amazing complexity. For hot weather sipping, this is

Going North Hop over the river to the north side and you land in Bourgueil (pronounced “bore-goy”). These wines are less well known on this side of the Atlantic than Chinon. Honestly, that might be because the name is more difficult to pronounce! One of my general rules is that wines with difficult names get ordered less frequently — who wants the embarrassment of being corrected by a sommelier or wine merchant? As a result, easily pronounceable wines tend to get ordered more, so there is more market demand for them. Basic economics says that the tongue twisters probably give better value for money than one whose name slips easily off the tongue. Tongue twisters are wines to seek out. Bourgueil wines are not too different from Chinon. They tend to be more intense, which is not too surprising, since they are from the north side of the river, where the slopes get better exposure to

the sun. In a blind tasting,it’s tough to distinguish a Bourgueil from a Chinon. You might find that a Bourgueil is a little bit rustic. Comparatively, it has a little less smoothness than Chinon. Bourgueil wines also have a floral and fruity bouquet, which becomes earthy as the wine ages. These wines are 100-percent Cabernet Franc — no Cabernet Sauvignon is ever allowed. So, from a purist’s point of view, they would be the best expression of the Cabernet Franc grape. Both Chinon and Bourgueil are deep, excellent wines that are tailor-made for warm weather. Chinon is pretty easy to find, although you might have to dig a little deeper to score a Bourgueil. If you can get your hands on a bottle of each, try them side-by-side to see what the different characteristics are. Experiment with some lighter dishes and see how a bistro wine can create a summer banquet. [TCW]

Wine aficionado Trevor Burton says his three grandchildren are a lot like wine: It's impossible to pick a favorite, and they definitely get more interesting as they age.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

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like having your cake and eating it. You have a light-bodied wine, but you don’t have to compromise when it comes to depth and complexity.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NC BLUMENTHAL PAC

“War Horse” comes to Belk Theater May 28 through June 2, 2013.

Showing Off Compiled By Dana Durham

A Sneak Peek At Charlotte’s 2012-13

Season Tap into your creative side this fall — and on into 2013 — with Charlotte’s latest artistic offering of shows, exhibits, and performances. >

“Wicked” plays at Ovens Auditorium March 13 through 31, 2013. PHOTO BY MARK SELIGER

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 30

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Art

Natalie Merchant performs with the Charlotte Symphony March 23, 2013.

Note: Visit each organization’s website for complete season information.

Actor’s Theatre Of Charlotte

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre

actorstheatrecharlotte.org 704/342-2251 God Of Carnage

nccast.com 704/373-7529; for reservations, 704/455-8542

Sept. 26-Oct. 13, 2012

Lombardi

Red

Aug. 30-Sept. 29, 2012

Nov. 14-Dec. 1, 2012

Bengal Tiger, Baghdad Zoo

The Whipping Man

Oct. 11-Nov. 11, 2012

Feb. 20-March 9, 2013

33 Variations

The Divine Sister

Nov. 23-Dec. 23, 2012

June 5-22, 2013

Frost/Nixon

Alberto Giacometti Annette from Life 1954 Bronze © Alberto Giacometti Estate/Licensed by VAGA and ARS, New York, NY

Jan. 3-Jan. 27, 2013

Bechtler Museum Of Modern Art Bechtler.org 704/353-9200 Giacometti: Memory And Presence

Through Feb. 8, 2013

Assassins

June 30-July 13, 2013

Carolina Voices carolinavoices.org 704/374-1564 Shake Your Ghoul Thing!

Oct. 27, 2012 The 58th Annual Singing Christmas Tree

Dec. 8, 2012 Good Vibrations! Chart Toppers from the ’60s

May 10-11, 2013 The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art offers “Giacometti: Memory And Presence” through Feb. 8, 2013.

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Invest in Your Home with Dramatic Heirloom Quality Rugs, Expertly Hand Crafted.

Tiempo Libre performs with the Charlotte Symphony at Belk Theater Feb. 22-23, 2013.

Central Piedmont Community College

Nautical Ball Aboard The Queen Charlotte

arts.cpcc.edu/performing-arts/theatre 704/330-6534

Gala To Benefit Charlotte Concerts’ Education Programs April 20, 2013

CPCC Theatre Shows Godspell

Sept. 28-Oct. 7, 2012 Sylvia

Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2012 Big River

Feb. 15-24, 2013 Fences Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 32

April 12-21, 2013

Charlotte Concerts charlotteconcerts.org 704/527-6680 The Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center

Oct. 11, 2012

Charlotte Folk Society folksociety.org 704/372-3655 Riley Baugus & Kirk Sutphin

Oct. 12, 2012 Outward Bound

Nov. 9, 2012 Jamie Laval, National Scottish Fiddle Champion

Feb. 8, 2013 Rhiannon Giddens Laffan & Justin Robinson

March 8, 2013

Ray Chen

Nov. 2, 2012

May 10, 2013

Jan. 20, 2013

Charlotte Symphony

Charlotte Youth Ballet

charlottesymphony.org 704/972-2000

charlotteyouthballet.org 980/322-5522

Classics Firebird!

Scott Freeman, Jeanette Williams & Johnny Williams

China National Symphony Orchestra

PHOTO BY DANIEL AZOULAY

Oct. 5-6, 2012

The Nutcracker

Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2012 The Wizard Of Oz

March 22-24, 2013

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

With Rebekah Newman, Viola Feb. 8-9, 2013 Brahms Symphony No. 3

Children’s Theatre Of Charlotte

With Susan Lorette Dunn, Soprano March 1-2, 2013

ctcharlotte.org 704/973-2828

Pops The Music Of Billy Joel

Featuring Michael Cavanaugh Sept. 14-15, 2012 America

Oct. 26-27, 2012

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Nov. 30-Dec. 23, 2012 The Secret Garden

Jan. 18-Feb. 10, 2013 Pinkalicious: The Musical

April 12-May 5, 2013

Winter Dance Party

Tribute To Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & The Big Bopper Jan. 11-12, 2013

Davidson Community Players

Tiempo Libre

Baby: The Musical

Feb. 22-23, 2013 Natalie Merchant

March 23, 2013

davidsoncommunityplayers.org 704/892-7953 Oct. 4-21, 2012 Into The Woods, Jr.

Nov. 10-18, 2012

Harvey B. Gantt Center For African-American Arts+Culture

Matthews Playhouse

ganttcenter.org 704/547-3700

The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow

America I AM: The African American Imprint

White Christmas

matthewsplayhouse.com 704/846-8343

Levine Museum Of The New South museumofthenewsouth.org 704/337-1887 Families Of Abraham

The McColl Center For Visual Art mccollcenter.org 704/332-5535 Channeling The USA

Silent Heroes

Featuring Randy Shull Nov. 16, 2012 through Jan. 12, 2013

Through Dec. 31, 2012

All The Time In The World

The Light Factory

Featuring Gail Wight and Mary Tsiongas Jan. 25-March 23, 2013

Through Sept. 9, 2012

lightfactory.org 704/333-9755 We Are Charlotte

Through Oct. 14, 2012 Out In The Streets

Through Jan. 21, 2013

“The Lion King” comes to the Belk Theater Aug. 6 through Sept. 1, 2013.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROLINA VOICES

Nov. 30-Dec. 16, 2012

Through Jan. 1, 2013

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Oct. 19-21; 26-28, 2012

Carolina Voices offers the 58th annual Singing Christmas Tree Dec. 8, 2012.

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Over 5,000 patients trust the knowledge and experience of Charlotte’s leading BHRT specialist. author of

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Susan Lorette Dunn performs Brahms Symphony No. 3 with the Charlotte Symphony March 1-2, 2013.

Mint Museum Of Art

Jekyll & Hyde

mintmuseum.org 704/337-2000

Nov. 6-11, 2012

Aug. 9-Oct. 28, 2012 Against The Grain: Wood In Contemporary Art, Craft, & Design

Sept. 1, 2012 through Jan. 27, 2013 Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 34

Vote For Art: Your View, Your Vote

Oct. 1-Nov. 9, 2012 Note: The Mint is inviting the public to participate in a one-of-a-kind, artbased election within the walls of Mint Museum Uptown. Reflections: Portraits By Beverly McIver

Oct. 20, 2012 through Jan. 6, 2013

North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Blumenthalcenter.org 704/372-1000

Dec. 18-23, 2012 Wicked

March 13-31, 2013 War Horse

May 28-June 2, 2013 Catch Me If You Can

June 7-9, 2013 The Lion King

Aug. 6-Sept. 1, 2013

North Carolina Dance Theatre ncdance.org 704/372-0101 Limitless

Oct. 25-27, 2012 Nutcracker

Dec. 8-9; 14-16; 21-23, 2012

PHOTO BY JEFF CRAVOTTA

Randolph Celebrating Queen Charlotte’s Coronation

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

PHOTO COURTESY OF OPERA CAROLINA

PHOTO BY PETER ZAY

Innovative Works

Jan. 24-26 & 31; February 1-2; 8-9; 15-16, 2013 Peter Pan

March 7-10; 15-17, 2013

Opera Carolina operacarolina.org 704/332-7177

NC Dance Theatre performs Nutcracker Dec. 8-9; 14-16; 21-23, 2012.

Theatre Charlotte theatrecharlotte.org 704/376-3777 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

Sept. 7-23, 2012

Tosca

Oct. 13, 18 & 21, 2012 The Magic Flute

Jan. 19, 24 & 27, 2013 The Pearl Fishers

April 13, 18 & 21, 2013

In The Heat Of The Night

Oct. 26-Nov. 11, 2012 A Christmas Carol

Dec. 7-16, 2012 Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

March 22-April 7, 2013

[TCW]

Yunah Lee performs in Opera Carolina’s performance of "The Magic Flute" Jan. 19, 24, & 27, 2013.

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

exp. Octob

Charlotte’s Got

art Explore Galleries Around The Queen City Allison Sprock Fine Art

FABO

Specializes in art that is an eclectic mix of sophisticated expression 600 Queens Road 704/705-2000 allisonsprockfineart.com

This locally owned coffee shop doubles as an art gallery, offering work from over 50 local artists 2820 Selwyn Ave., Suite 180 704/900-2430 fabocafe.com

Charlotte Fine Art

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 36

Specializes in a diverse mix of work from artists throughout the United States Carmel Village, 7510 Pineville-Matthews Road, 12A 704/541-0741 charlottefineart.com

Harris Holt Picture Framing & Art Consultating Specializes in framing designs and an extensive selection

Hart Witzen Gallery Specializes in being a self-sustaining arts venue through the rental of gallery and studio space 136 E. 36th St. 704/334-1177 hartwitzengallery.com

Hidell Brooks Gallery Specializes in the work of well-established contemporary narrative and figurative artists 1910 South Blvd., Suite 130 704/334-7302 hidellbrooks.com

Clayworks Studio & Gallery Specializes in the promotion and development of ceramic arts 4506 Monroe Road 704/344-0795 clayworksinc.org

Hodges Taylor Art Gallery & Consultancy

Elder Art Gallery Specializes in original and affordable artwork in a variety of styles 1520 S. Tryon St. 704/370-6337 elderart.com

1717 Kenilworth Ave. 704/373-9090 harrisholt.com

“Evening Echoes,” by Duy Huynh; at Lark & Key.

Specializes in art consultation for corporations and private collectors Transamerica Square 401 N. Tryon St. 704/334-3799 hodgestaylor.com

Providence Gallery Specializes in a combination of fine art and custom framing 601-A Providence Road 704/333-4535 providencegallery.net

Pura Vida Worldly Art Specializes in strengthening the community by offering art and crafts from around the world 3202-A N. Davidson St. 704/335-8587 puravidaart.com

The Queen’s Gallery & Art Center

“Love Blends, Love Separates,” by Alexandra Nechita; at Wentworth Gallery.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Specializes in classic contemporary American art by a diverse group of nationally and internationally known artists 625 S. Sharon Amity Road 704/365-3000 jeraldmelberg.com

Specializes in providing aspiring artists a place to create and display work 1212 The Plaza 704/372-2993 thequeensgallery.com

RedSky Gallery Specializes in original paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures, plus works in the fine-craft media of glass, ceramics, fiber, metal, wood, and jewelry Dilworth: 1523 Elizabeth Ave., Suite 120 704/377-6400

EpiCentre: 210 E. Trade St., Suite B-134 704/971-7552 redskygallery.com

Renee George Gallery Specializes in contemporary abstract and realistic fine art and sculpture 225 E. Worthington Ave., Suite 100 704/332-3278 reneegeorgegallery.com

Shain Gallery Specializes in consulting and acquisition assistance 2823 Selwyn Ave. 704/334-7744 shaingallery.com

Wentworth Gallery Specializes in a wide selection of originals, limited-edition prints, and sculptures from acclaimed artists SouthPark mall, 4400 Sharon Road 704/365-2733 wentworthgallery.com Note: This is not an exhaustive list of galleries in the area. To have a gallery added to next year’s list, please email karsenprice@hotmail.com. [TCW]

Lark & Key Gallery Specializes in accessible work by emerging artists and artisans 128 E. Park Ave., Suite B 704/334-4616 larkandkey.com

Maddi’s Gallery Specializes in fun, eclectic American craft, jewelry, and Southern Folk art 1530 East Blvd. 704/332-0007 maddisgallery.com “Girl In Red,” by Constantin Chatov; at Allison Sprock Fine Art.

Specializes in advancing creativity for artists and the public 721 N. Tryon St. 704/332-5535 mccollcenter.org

New Gallery Of Modern Art Specializes in artwork that supports local endeavor and introduces the Southeast to new aesthetics 435 S. Tryon St., Suite 110 704/373-1464 newgalleryofmodernart.com “River,” by Brian Rutenberg; at Jerald Melberg Gallery.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

McColl Center For Visual Art

AtHome AtHome

Gabrielle Bryson says people often are concerned that the chandelier “blocks” the view of a painting (this one by Kim Schuessler); Bryson uses this dining room (above), designed by Nancy Maloney, as proof that isn’t a problem. Right, an example of homeowners designing a room around a colorful piece of art. Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 38

! e n i F u o Y t n e r A ’ Tips For Decorating With Art

Gabrielle Bryson, owner of Shain Gallery, offers the following tips for those who are wanting to use fine art as focal pieces throughout the home:

Decorating Your Abode The Artist’s Way By Karsen Price

touchy-feeling — in fact, for those who are design-challenged, decorating is,as Mike Rowe would say,a dirty job, and one they’d rather avoid. The trepidation of decorating overrides the response the art elicits from you in the first place. The Art Of Letting Go Gabrielle Bryson, owner of Shain Gallery,is quite familiar with the hesitant art buyer. As owner of Shain Gallery for 14 years and counting, she’s heard all of the excuses people use to talk themselves out of buying that perfect piece of artwork. Bryson says that those who are considering art for their home shouldn’t get too wrapped up in pre-

• “If money is an issue, check out student art shows and art fairs — you might find something fun and wonderful.Your children might also produce something that is frame worthy! But be sure to visit galleries and museums as well, so you’ll be able to make sophisticated comparisons.” • When it comes to the hard part — hanging the art in the home — Bryson says she could write a book about the experience. “The most frequent ‘no no’ is hanging artwork too high,” she says. “Also, people rarely hang the entire house on a 59- or 60inch center (so that the center of every painting is at 59 to 60 inches on the wall). If everything is hung at a 59 or 60 inch center,then the entire house looks refreshed and perfect.” She notes that there are exceptions, like the painting over the mantle or a small painting hung low over a table next to a lamp, to form a grouping. “But basically, everything should be hung in relation to everything else that’s on the walls in the entire house.” • Lastly, she notes that if you can afford to have your entire home “re-hung”by a pro it’s well-worth the expense. “I’ve seen homes transformed just by a re-hang,” she says. “I often conference with the homeowner and our pro, Eric Olsen, to get perfect results.” Visit shaingallery.com for information on Shain Gallery.

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

ots of folks enjoy fine art, but when it comes to decorating your home with the stuff, it can be a bit daunting. That’s because many people forget to focus on what they love about the artwork, and instead lock themselves into a list of confining, designing rules — many of which aren’t true in the first place. Decorating with art is confusing for a good reason. Fine art is meant to be experienced and enjoyed; when you let your eyes linger on a piece of art, it’s all about how the work makes you feel — how the colors and lines and imagery resonate inside you. In short, it’s a warm and fuzzy experience. But for many people, decorating is not quite so

• “People are often advised to start small, but sometimes you can start big — say, if the painting over the mantle is perfect, then it’s easy to go from there.”

“Don’t be scared! One good painting can positively make a room, so it’s worth the effort.” — Gabrielle Bryson, Shain Gallery conceived notions and rules. “People often wonder if the colors should ‘match’ the room, and they tend to worry about how big a painting should be over the sofa, for instance,”she says. “They also wonder if they shouldn’t worry too much about placement and should just focus on buying what they truly love. “The best way to hash all of that out is to take paintings home and play with them,” she says. “Move them around, try different sizes. Keep them overnight and test your reaction to the piece when you first see it in the room again first thing in the morning.” In fact, Bryson suggests that hesitant art buyers borrow all of the art — from paintings to sculpture to pottery —

that interests them in a gallery, instead of making a hasty purchase. “You can speculate all day long, but you won’t know until you see it in your space — because your space is you,” she says. “Don’t feel pressured to purchase anything … its all just part of the process.”

DREAM SWEETER

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 40

When she is working with a client who is having a hard time making a decision,Bryson likes to remind them that there is no rush. “A good gallery is a patient gallery and truly wants to help in the process!” she says. Lastly, Bryson is a firm believer that your home is your castle. She says that each and every home has a unique and separate personality — and that personality should match the personality of its owners. She suggests a bit of reading — “Art and the Power of Placement”— to help those who are unsure about how to best demonstrate their personality with art throughout the home. Bryson adds, “Don’t be scared! One good painting can positively make a room, so it’s worth the effort.” [TCW]

Enjoy special anniversary savings on fine furniture from Stickley, John Widdicomb, Lexington, Marge Carson, Nichols & Stone, Massoud, Hancock & Moore and other famous names.

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Ponytail Glitz

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Snazzy Soles Perch your favorite vino in these fun and flirty wine bottle holders. They make every vintage fabulous! Le Cookery Blakeney • 9844 Rea Road, Suite B • 704.542.5558

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

The ponytail becomes evening-appropriate! These easy to use stretchy hair bands come in a variety of colors, with or without the bejeweled beads. They also look fabulous worn on the wrist!

PHOTO BY BRISTOW PHOTOGRAPHY

This spring’s Passport For Fashion — a sister show to Charlotte Fashion Week — revealed some stunning “repurposed” outfits, including this one made out of phone books.

Charlotte Fashion Week Schedule

Thu., Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Bridal & Couture Evening Reelworks Studios, NC Music Factory Fri., Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. Emerging & Fashion Designers Reelworks Studios, NC Music Factory Sat., Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Recyclable & Re-Model Talent Reelworks Studios, NC Music Factory

PHOTO BY BRISTOW PHOTOGRAPHY

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 42

Wed., Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Gentleman’s Swank Night The Residence at Southpark, 4300 Sharon Road

PHOTO BY BRISTOW PHOTOGRAPHY

Everything Old Is New Again Fashion, With A (Re)Purpose By Fiona Harmon

t first glance, you might not see what recyclables and fashion have in common.

But if you attend Charlotte Fashion Week this month — specifically, the “Recyclable and Re-Model Talent” night, held Sat., Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Reelworks Studios — you will experience firsthand the beauty in repurposed, recycled outfits.

Charlotte Fashion Week is Miles’ baby, but she admits that this specific night is a fan favorite. “This part of the show is so exciting,” she says. “There will be 50 recyclable artists showing their designs this year. Some of the materials that the artists will use on the models include NASCAR parts, Aldo shopping bags, fresh flowers, magazines, photographs, Little Black Dress Vodka promotional items, and much, much more.” Miles says the reaction of the crowd to each handcrafted outfit is priceless. In fact, the night is a win-win for everyone involved. “Sponsors love this part because companies get a chance to market their company in a different way. The models love

the fact that this part creates lots of pictures and lots of conversation, and is great for their portfolio. The attendees love it because each piece is a masterpiece and art in its own way. The artists love it because it is an expression of them.” She adds, “The city of Charlotte loves it because Charlotte, N.C., is gaining momentum as an arts destination and a place that understands the connection between business and the arts, industry, and innovation. This show connects them all.”

ToLearnMore For information on Charlotte Fashion Week,visit charlottefashionweek.com,or email info@charlotteseen.com. [TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

The event is the brainchild of Rita Miles, and hosted by her event-planning company, Charlotte Seen. The first Charlotte Fashion Week,held in 2011,featured 6,000 attendees. Miles hopes the second-annual, weeklong event will equally dazzle Charlotteans. “There are so many great artists in the city, and to show their talent and creativity on the runway is very important,” Miles says. “Design is not always what you find in a dress or in fabric, but the beauty of finding it in other items and other ways. I like the quote by Rachel Zoe, ‘Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.’ If it were up to me, I would change that to be, ‘Art and style are a way to show who you are without having to speak.’ ”

“Design is not always what you find in a dress or in fabric, but the beauty of finding it in other items and other ways.” — Rita Miles

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 44

Phillip harness tall boot with zipper in red, $328; Cameron small leather satchel in red, $398. Frye â&#x20AC;˘ Belk & Belk.com

Make A Statement Usher In Cooler Weather With

Suede hobo in chestnut, $335. Ugg • Belk & Belk.com

By Karsen Price

here’s just something about this time of year, when summer fades to fall, that conjures the smell of well-oiled saddles, the creak of supple boots, and the sleek feel of that favorite leather jacket on your shoulders.

Truth be told, here in the Carolinas, it’s probably too hot to wear much leather until October rolls around. Nevertheless, a girl can dream of cooler days! From boots to bags to skirts and shirts, usher in cooler weather with the luxurious feel of leather. >

Tweed jacket, $225; black legging, $99.50; sleeveless knit tank, $39.50; boot info unavailable. Michael Kors • Belk & Belk.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Despite the old saying “tough as shoe leather,” you don’t actually have to be hell-bent to incorporate the smooth, statement-making material into your wardrobe. Whether it’s a wide belt, a skinny wrap bracelet, or a to-die-for “it” bag, when you add the element of leather to your wardrobe, you take the idea of “tough” to a whole different — i.e., sexier — level.

Milo large shoulder tote in snake-print leather and dark sand, $548. Michael Kors • Belk & Belk.com

Suede Melissa in rust with hand-painted leather straps, $250; suede Sadie in jade with hand-painted leather straps, $215. Katie Kalsi • Belk & Belk.com

NO HELMET,BAD

HELMET,GOOD

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 46

U E YOUR USE O R BRAIN AND A D ALWAYS A S W WEAR A PROPER P O E HEAD H AD GEAR. A FOR O MORE OR M R SPORTS T SAFETY SAFE F TY T TIPS PS,VISIT: VISI S T: In partnership partner p ship with

KOHLS O LS HEAL H A THY H KIDS HY D CAMPAIGN A P G

Stevie two-tone bootie in snake, $199. Sam Edelman â&#x20AC;˘ Belk & Belk.com

Lambskin peplum top, $128; color-blocked pencil skirt in purple nectar/black, $69. Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

From top left, Aldo Fastrost bootie, $130; Steve Madden Bankker riding boot in cognac, $210; Steve Madden Judgemint motorcycle boot, $250; Steve Madden granny boot, $170; Report Woods moto boot in dark brown, $170. Aldo, Steve Madden, Report • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com

Leather motorcycle jacket, $198; lace shift dress in ivory, $48. Rubbish/Fire • Nordstrom & Nordstrom.com [TCW]

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 48

Fun, Lightweight & Ready For Fall!

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Michael C. Hernandez Happy-Go-Lucky, Photographer 704.737.1737 | capturehappy.com

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

TA NGIBL E

Make waves BENEFIT CRUISE AND SILENT AUCTION Proceeds benefit United Family Services in the Lake Norman community.

Saturday, October 6, 2012 • 6:30 - 10:30 p.m. Cruise ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, one-hour open bar, dancing and a spectacular silent auction. Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 50

Enter our raffle for a chance to win an iPad3! Queen’s Landing, Mooresville • $60 per person • 704.367.2799 • www.unitedfamilyservices.org

Please follow us on Facebook: Cruise for Change, United Family Services

AskTheExpert

The Truth About Direct Veneers Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS Dr. Ross W. Nash, DDS, is one of only 46 Accredited Fellows in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry,meaning he has acquired extraordinary skills in the area of esthetic and cosmetic dentistry. Founder of the Nash Institute for Dental Learning,Dr.Nash is the epitome of “expert.” Here, he answers questions about direct veneers. Q: What are direct veneers? A: Direct veneers are restorations made of composite resin materials that are part glass and part plastic. Often called composite bonding, these restorations are built directly on the tooth by the dentist. The adhesive process used by the dentist provides a strong bond, especially if there is a high percentage of enamel left on the tooth.

woman with Young adult g due to the in natural spac f small teeth o t en developm

Placement o f on her rightcomposite resin front tooth

Q: What problems can be solved with direct veneers? A: Teeth that are dark in color or have spaces are candidates for direct veneers. Crowded,worn or chipped teeth can be corrected with composite bonding. Teeth that are broken or have natural defects that affect their appearance or function are also candidates. Direct veneers can be the treatment of choice for all ages. Q: Do the teeth have to be cut down for direct veneers? A: Sometimes no tooth removal is needed. Slight contouring before application of the composite resin material is often desired to achieve optimum esthetic results and insure proper alignment.

Smile after direct veneers were placed on the six front teeth

Q: What is the cost of a direct veneer? A: Direct veneers can often be delivered at lower a fee than indirect veneers because there is only one appointment instead of two and there is no laboratory cost for fabrication of the veneer.

403 Gilead Road, Suite E • Huntersville 704/895-7660 CosmeticDentistryofthe Carolinas.com

Portrait after direct composite veneer application

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Q: How long do they last? A: Ten years is not unreasonable to expect for a well placed direct veneer in a healthy environment.

HealthFlash W H A T

Y O U

N E E D

T O K N O W T O S T A Y COMPILED BY DANA DURHAM

F I T

A N D

W E L L

Cheers To Healthy Bones Alcohol May Help Prevent Osteoporosis omen everywhere, get out your wine glass. According to the journal Menopause, post-menopausal women may improve bone health and decrease their risk for osteoporosis by drinking moderate amounts of alcoholic beverages — the equivalent of one to two glasses a day. Hormonal changes during and after menopause can contribute to an increase in bone loss. Postmenopausal women in particular experience reduced estrogen,which is needed for bone strength. In a process called remodeling, old bone tissues are continually removed and replaced with new bone,and in people with osteoporosis,more bone is lost than replaced. “This study clearly demonstrates that even small amounts of alcohol have potent actions and can rapidly impact bone metabolism,” says lead researcher Dr. Urszula Iwaniec, an associate professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. She notes that moderate alcohol consumption, along with a healthy lifestyle,“may slow bone loss by lowering bone turnover.” Previous studies have found moderate drinkers have higher bone density than nondrinkers or heavy drinkers, but the reasons why were unclear. The study shows that the moderate consumption of alcohol seems to act like estrogen in reducing bone turnover. Although the majority of the women in the study were wine drinkers, Dr. Iwaniec says the alcohol source doesn’t seem to matter. Dr. Iwaniec’s team studied 40 postmenopausal women, average age 56, who drank moderately and were not using hormone replacement therapy. Moderate drinking was defined as one-half to two standard drinks a day — 8 to 10 grams of alcohol — in the year before the study’s start. When the women stopped drinking for two weeks, researchers found increased evidence in their blood of bone turnover. In less than a day after the women resumed drinking, these markers of bone turnover returned to previous levels. Alcohol abuse is a serious medical and public health problem,and perhaps that is why the effects of moderate drinking on health have not received a lot of attention. Additionally, younger adults don’t want to try and reduce bone turnover. “Reducing bone turnover,however,while beneficial to the aging skeleton,may be detrimental to young adults who are still building bone,”Dr. Iwaniec says.

The Price Of Your Smile Cost Drives Many To Take Dental Vacations new poll reveals that although most Americans say their teeth are in relatively good shape, many aren’t getting routine dental checkups. In fact, only six in 10 had paid a visit to the dentist in the previous year. Cost seems to be the largest reason for going on a dental hiatus, with the expense of a dental visit named as the main reason for not seeing a dentist in the prior six months. The findings stem from the responses of more than 17,000 men and women, aged 18 to 64,across the United States,by the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. The results of the survey were published in Vital and Health Statistics. The 2008 survey found that roughly 75 percent of participants said their oral health was either good or very good, while 17 percent said their dental health was fair and 7 percent

described it as poor. Oral health seemed to differ by the type of insurance people had. Medicaid recipients had a five times greater risk for poorer dental health than those with private coverage. Adults on Medicaid were two times more likely than other adults not to have visited a dentist in more than a half-decade. Education also played a role in dental health. College graduates were significantly more likely to be in good dental shape than those with less than a high school diploma. In addition, race seemed to be a factor. Caucasians and Asians were more likely to have good oral health (37 percent) than Hispanics or African-Americans (25 percent and 26 percent, respectively). A whopping 42 percent of survey participants said they either did not have dental insurance, or they couldn’t afford to visit a dentist. Another 10 percent said fear was the primary reason they didn’t go to the dentist.

Hello, Sugar Mama Men With Traditional Values Stress Over Earning The Most hile some men are perfectly comfortable with their female partner bringing home the biggest slice of bacon, “macho” men — that is, men who have more traditional views of masculinity — can view the situation as a cause for stress. According to a small study, this stress can lead to problems in their romantic relationships. The study was based on an online survey of men who were involved with women who earned higher incomes. Men who participated were asked about their views on masculinity, the quality of their relationships,and the importance of who earned the most income, the woman or the man. According to researchers Patrick Coughlin and Jay Wade at Fordham University in New York City, the more a man believed in traditional masculinity, the more likely he was to report that his relationship suffered because the woman earned more than he did. Men with less traditional views of masculinity were more likely to say the difference in income was not all that important and were more likely to have satisfying relationships. The study appeared online in the journal Sex Roles. Researchers noted,“Our results demonstrate the importance of masculinity ideology in understanding how and why men with higher-earning partners will have low- or high-quality romantic relationships. The findings are relevant to men who are married,as well as non-married men in a romantic relationship.”

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Putting you at ease makes all the difference in your care. We want you to be comfortable talking about your expectations, needs and medical history. Just as important, you need to be comfortable with our expertise. Get to know us at midtown-obgyn.com or 704.316.5270. Because when it comes to your health, the care is more important than the clothes.

HealthFlash

Namaste Yoga Can Improve Balance In Stroke Survivors

Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012 54

troke survivors may want to incorporate yoga into their post-rehabilitative routine. According to a study published in the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke, group yoga offers stroke survivors — who often have a long-term problem with balance — improved balance and a greater sense of independence. Balance issues are related to greater disability and an increased risk of falls. The benefits of yoga were tested on stroke survivors whose stroke occurred more than six months earlier and who no longer received rehabilitative care. In order to participate, patients had to be capable of standing on their own at the beginning of the study. The oldest patient was in his 90s. “For people with chronic stroke, something like yoga in a group environment is cost effective and appears to improve motor function and balance,” says Dr. Arlene Schmid, O.T.R., lead researcher and a rehabilitation research scientist at Roudebush Veterans AdministrationMedical Center and Indiana University, Department of Occupational Therapy in Indianapolis. The study’s 47 participants were divided into three groups:twice-weekly group yoga for eight weeks;a“yoga-

plus”group,which met twice weekly and had a relaxation recording to use at least three times a week; and a usual medical care group that did no rehabilitation. Yoga classes were taught by a registered yoga therapist and included modified yoga postures, relaxation, and meditation. Compared with patients in the usual-care group,those who completed yoga or yoga-plus significantly improved their balance; they also reported improved scores for independence and quality of life. “For chronic stroke patients, even if they remain disabled, natural recovery and acute rehabilitation therapy typically ends after six months, or maybe a year,” says Dr. Schmid. Improvements after the six-month window can take longer to occur,she says. “But we know for a fact that the brain still can change. The problem is the healthcare system is not necessarily willing to pay for that change. The study demonstrated that with some assistance, even chronic stroke patients with significant paralysis on one side can manage to do modified yoga poses.” According to researchers, yoga may be more therapeutic than traditional exercise because the combination of postures, breathing, and meditation may produce different effects than simple exercise.

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Dental Problems May Cause Head Pain ot a headache? You might want to schedule a trip to the … dentist. Malocclusion, or the misalignment of teeth, is a common and oftenoverlooked contributor to headaches. Many people don’t realize it, but when biting or chewing, the teeth exert tremendous pressure on their opposing counterparts, and if the bite pattern is disturbed, this pressure can result in radiant pain throughout the head. Dr. Rob Harrell, of the Charlotte Headache Center, notes that dental-related issues cause an estimated 80 percent of headaches. “The head and mouth are home to a myriad of nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, and bones, which affect not only your teeth, but your overall health and well-being,” Dr. Harrell says.“When not properly balanced, the forces created by these elements can result in symptoms including chronic headaches and migraines, TMJ pain, neck and jaw pain, earaches, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and sleep apnea.” A diagnostic and treatment system developed by TruDenta helps painlessly measure bite force and jaw positioning while in motion, creating a movie of the bite in action. In less than five minutes,the resulting digital report reveals exactly where a patient may be suffering from abnormal forces or imbalances in the nerves, muscles, and ligaments. The technology can determine and calculate the bite force and motion on a tooth-bytooth basis, which helps professionals diagnose dental force abnormalities and alleviate the resulting pain. After diagnosis,treatment can begin immediately,and relief is often enjoyed with the first appointment. Therapy sessions are painless and noninvasive, last about 50 minutes, and include the use of several FDA-approved technologies. Depending on the severity of the diagnosis, patients typically require from one to 12 weekly treatments. Dr.Harrell has found theTruDenta program to be extremely beneficial to patients.In fact,he enjoyed such success with the program at his practice, Adult Dentistry of Ballantyne, that he opened the Charlotte Headache Center to focus exclusively on treating patients with chronic headaches and migraines,TMJ disorder, and other dental-force related problems. For information, visit charlotteheadachecenter.com. [TCW]

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Today’s Charlotte Woman | September 2012

Enjoy our relaxed, personalized, stress-free atmosphere.

join us onSeptember ... 21 4th Annual

A Breakfast with

Friday, September 21, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 7:30 A.M. To 10:00 A.M. The Park Expo & Conference Center, 2500 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205 --------

A rich dialogue about beyond surviving, on to thriving and really living. Panelists include . . . Paula Guilfoyle - President, Claim Your Best Life Ramona Holloway - Co Host, The Matt and Ramona Show Reza Nazemzadeh, MD - The Levine Cancer Institute -------Tickets available at www.belvascancerfoundation.org All proceeds benefit the Belva Wallace Greenage Cancer Foundation.