What’s up this week in Charlotte’s visual arts?
Each week, Grace Cote, Lia Newman, and Kati Stegall offer Observer readers a to-do list on immersing yourself in visual arts around town. Newman is director/curator of the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College, Cote is senior coordinator at Jerald Melberg Gallery, Stegall is Art-in-Transit program administrator at the Charlotte Area Transit System, and they collaborate on the blog HappeningsCLT (happeningsCLT.com).
For a seasonlong visual arts calendar, go to: www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article100517602.html.
What to do
The 34th Annual Light Factory Art Auction is set for Nov. 5. With more than 50 photographs from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists up for grabs in both live and silent auctions, the event is a great opportunity to add to your personal or business art collection! Reservations recommended.
Clayworks will host An Evening of Earth and Fire on Nov. 12. The event, held at Elder Gallery, is free, so you can afford to bid often on silent auction items – all works from some of North Carolina’s best ceramic artists. The event begins at 5 p.m., silent auction will close at 7 p.m., and event continues until 8 p.m.
The 36th annual Jazzy Holiday Gala benefiting the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture will take be Dec. 3. The black-tie event at the Charlotte Convention Center features cocktails, dinner, awards, entertainment and dancing. Tickets are $250 for individuals.
Join the Young Affiliates of the Mint for their Fall Ball from 8 to midnight Nov. 19. “Join the Madness” is a Mad Hatter-themed black-tie event featuring petit fours, heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, a DJ and, of course, galleries filled with art! All proceeds help offset the cost of student tours. Regular tickets ($100-$120) are available beginning Oct. 10.
Who to meet
Mario Marzan, a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, will open an exhibition entitled “FLUX” in the Rutledge Gallery at Winthrop on Oct. 10. It reflects on cultural duality, and was inspired by his growing up in Puerto Rico, where the landscape is constantly changing because of weather and environmental degradation, as well as political and economic upheaval. Meet Marzan at 7 p.m. Oct. 27, during an artist talk and walk-through. We’re huge fans of Marzan – he’s smart and engaging, and his work is fascinating – so we suggest making the trip to Rock Hill for this event!
Where to go
On Oct. 15, grab the kids and head to Family Day at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, where families can explore and find hands-on activities – such as creating a glitter-glue mosaic inspired by the Bechtler’s iconic “Firebird,” and jewelry-making. Admission is free for kids under 18; $8 for adults.
Also Oct. 15, the Mint Museum on Randolph will also offer a family-friendly tour and a Pastel Pumpkin Painting class, in which your child will learn the basics of color mixing, using pastels and paints, to create a fall artwork. The workshop, for ages 6 and up, costs $16 ($12 for members) and requires advanced registration.
This story was originally published October 6, 2016 at 6:20 PM with the headline "What’s up this week in Charlotte’s visual arts?."