Artful: What to do and see in Charlotte
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).
What to do
Printmaking is a widely misunderstood medium of fine art, often mistaken as just a way to reproduce or document paintings and sculpture. But developments in the field have inspired modern artists to manipulate the medium, creating a new genre of work. Visit the Bechtler Museum’s “Art of the Print,” not only to see little-known works by key artists in the medium, but also to learn the differences between processes they used.
Who to meet
Ahmad Sabha, UNC Charlotte graduate and CPCC instructor: Sabha currently has a solo exhibition of ceramics and photography, entitled “Vespers,” that opened Feb. 3 at his alma mater, in the UNC Charlotte Student Union Gallery. Sabha’s work is diverse, ranging from intricately textured vessels to large-scale sculpture reflective of his civil engineering background.
Where to go
The Light Factory’s opening reception for “Poses and Projections,” 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 12. See selections from the Davidson College photography collection, featuring work by notables including Andy Warhol, Diane Arbus, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Robert Mapplethorpe, Mary Ellen Mark, Duane Michals, Philippe Halsman, Harry Callahan and more.