Things to do in Charlotte, NC, this week: Find out in Charlotte Art Weekly #63

This week in Charlotte, find out how author Kathy Izard built a home for the homeless in Charlotte, or watch a slew of films made in only 48 hours. Discuss Charlotte’s burgeoning literary scene with a panel of women writers or revisit the Jim Crow era through a new documentary. 

Art-lovers of Charlotte have much to check out this week. Attend the group exhibition Realism and Beyond, featuring by three women artists known for their realistic works. Or share your thoughts with the artists of the exhibition Black Blooded as their show comes to a close. Artist Jan Schopen, meanwhile, is set to narrate why she loves pencil colors through a hands-on presentation.

Literature enthusiasts can attend a discussion with a panel of notable women writers as they talk about Charlotte’s burgeoning literary scene. Or hear inspirational author Kathy Izard talk about how she quite her job and followed her calling to build a home for homeless people.

For movie buffs, there is a screening of Frederick Murphy’s documentary about life during the racial segregation, called The American South As We Know It. And The Charlotte 48 Hour Film Project promises to be an intriguing spectacle, with its screening of 25 films, all of which have been made in 48 hours!

Music-lovers, look out for some “American Reggae Jam Rock” tunes with the band ‘TreeHouse!’, or catch an evening of jazz with the Dapper Street Jazz Band.

Our 63rd Charlotte Art Weekly pays tribute to the four-time Grammy Award winning musician Earl Eugene Scruggs. Scruggs was a maestro of the three-finger banjo picking style of bluegrass music, a style that’s now named ‘Scruggs style’ after him. He gave the banjo, which was previously only used for background rhythm, a solo status. Born in Flint Hill, NC, in 1924, the first hit single by him and mandolinist Lester Flatt was called Foggy Mountain Breakdown. The duo made 50 albums and 75 singles together. Scruggs is counted among CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. He has won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a National Medal of Arts. Today, the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby serves as an educational centre.

Charlotteans, look out for these events this week:

Realism and Beyond

Be enthralled by the realistic depictions in these paintings. Though these three women painters, Princess Cureton, Barbara Jimison and Pat Kempisty, are known for their aesthetic realism, their art is also rich with emotional narrative.

August 24 to September 21

Mint Hill Town Hall

Open for all

Charlotte’s Growing Literary Scene: At The Southern Women’s Show

Discover Charlotte’s literary landscape at this panel discussion between  the writer of Queen of Hearts, Kimmery Martin, writer of The Hundred Story Home, Kathy Izard, author and publisher of children’s books, Helen Kimbrough, and poet and co-founder of Charlotte Lit, Kathie Collins.

August 24

Charlotte Convention Center

With tickets ($8-$50)

Tree House!

Listen to some “American Reggae Jam Rock” by the band TreeHouse!, which produced the popular single Blessings.

August 24

Visulite Theatre

With tickets ($10)

The Charlotte 48 Hour Film Project: General Screenings

This is going to be a curious screening of 25 films that have been created in only 48 hours!

August 25

Knight Gallery at Spirit Square

With tickets ($15)

THE REUNION! BLACK BLOODED Closing Reception

Meet and interact with a slew of exhibiting artists as the art exhibition Black Blooded comes to a close.

August 26

New Gallery of Modern Art

Open for all

Screening – The American South As We Know It

Watch the screening of documentarian Frederick Murphy’s film The American South As We Know It (2018). The film depicts the lives of African American people during the racial divides of the Jim Crow era.

August 28

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture at Levine Center for the Arts

With tickets ($5)

The Beauty of Colored Pencils

Artist Jan Schopen’s work Tomatoes recently won the ‘Best in Show’ award at Mint Hill Arts’ show. In her hands-on presentation, she’ll discuss her affinity for using colored pencils to depict nature and still life.

August 28

Mint Hill Arts Center

Open for all

An Evening with Kathy Izard, moderated by Sonja Gantt

Kathy Izard heard a whisper to leave her job and build a home for Charlotte’s homeless people. Through her inspirational memoir, she discusses how she found herself by believing in her calling to change the world.

August 29

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Morrison Regional Branch

Free registration

Jazzin’ & Bluzin’ with the Seniors

Catch an evening of live jazz, blues and storytelling by the Dapper Street Jazz Band, formerly known as the NC Jazz Orchestra.

September 6

Grier Heights Community Center

Open for all

It’s set to be an inspiring week in Charlotte NC, between 24th to 31st August. Be sure not to miss out on these creative happenings!

Illustration: Nilesh Ramani