Guide to the Galleries

When I was asked to take on the assignment of the gallery guide for this month’s issue of Uptown, I have to admit that I was hesitant. I have always had a great appreciation for the arts, but I’ve never quite considered myself the “gallery” type. It’s a world that I have yet to delve into and, no offense to those immersed in it, the cloud of “snootiness” that I perceived to envelope it seemed too thick to penetrate. But the opening of the Bechtler Museum and the general artsy buzz that has been circling around the QC lately has piqued my curiosity, and it suddenly seemed that the assignment was almost fitting. Although intimidating, in the end I’ve learned much more about the art world in general as well as the Charlotte art community.

After viewing the galleries and museums, I felt inspired, invigorated and much more connected, and it’s made me truly realize the beauty of art: It’s all in the interpretation. Anyone can purchase a pricey picture and hang it on the wall, but it’s when you find the ones that speak to you, that strike a chord somewhere deep inside you and make you feel something, well, then you can appreciate what you are seeing. All of the following galleries are unique in their own way. I’ve had the opportunity to chat with gallery owners, artists, patrons; I’ve seen things I never thought I’d see. When my tour was over, I was taken aback that all of this had been under my nose for a year and a half and I’d never experienced it.

When speaking to the gallery owners, I noticed that they share a common thread: They all want to be part of a larger community. We are fortunate to have a taste of everything here in Charlotte: Art that is strictly for viewing, art that is strictly for sale; galleries that offer works of all media to those that concentrate on one or two specific media; galleries meant to be entered with energy and frivolity to galleries meant to be entered with quiet contemplation – the list goes on and on. It shattered the image of the art world that was in my mind. Each gallery is a piece of a larger puzzle, fitting in with the next to create the big picture known as the Charlotte art scene.

Uptown
Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
551 S. Tryon St.
(704) 547-3700
Tuesday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 1-5
www.ganttcenter.org
The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (formerly the Afro-American Cultural Center) has found its home in Charlotte, and we are lucky it has chosen us. The center not only provides visual art, but also music, theater, dance, and arts and education programs. The massive 46,500-square-foot center sits in the heart of Charlotte’s central business district in the area once occupied by the historic Brooklyn neighborhood, which was at one time the thriving center of the black community and home to the Myers Street School. The school bore a prominent exterior stair configuration that was often referred to by the biblical term “Jacobs Ladder” and signified the importance of education and advancement of African-Americans. The Gantt Center has done a wonderful job to pay this structure homage through its modern interpretation in the form of the stairs and escalators that carry visitors up to the main second-floor lobby from both ends of the building while framing the central glass atrium. Coming soon is the exhibition “Evolution: Five Decades of Printmaking by David C. Driskell,” which opens on February 12. Driskell is a renowned Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of Maryland and is an artist, art historian, collector and curator, and is one of the most recognized and respected names in the world of African-American art and culture. You can meet Driskell at the center from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on February 12.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
420 S. Tryon St.
(704) 376-1101
Monday and Wednesday-Saturday, 10-5; Sunday 12-5; closed Tuesday
www.bechtler.org

It is no secret that the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art has generated quite the buzz in Charlotte, whether you consider yourself part of the art community or not. Having officially opened its doors to the public on January 2, it is only the second museum in this country designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta. It seems a perfect fit. The museum’s current collection includes works by the most important and influential artists of the mid-20th century including Miró, Giacometti, Picasso, Calder, Hepworth, Nicholson, Warhol, Tinguely, Ernst, Le Corbusier, Chillida and many others, and Charlotteans are privileged in that only a handful of these amazing artworks have been on public view in the United States. Between the magnificent architecture, the history, the sense of community the museum brings, the location, and of course, the artwork that is housed inside, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is something to be experienced by the local community as well as the global community. Expect big things from the Bechtler.

Hodges Taylor Gallery
401 N. Tryon St., Suite 108
(704) 334-3709
Tuesday through Saturday 11-3, Monday by appointment
www.hodgestaylor.com

Many readers may already be aware that Hodges Taylor Gallery is the oldest gallery in Charlotte, making its debut in uptown in 1981. While focusing on art and artists in the Southeast, Christie Taylor and Dorothy Hodges have educated Charlotteans on contemporary art through paintings and works on paper, sculpture and fiber, ceramics and photography, among others. The gallery also offers consulting to corporate clients as well as individuals. Coming soon is the exhibition “Wayne McDowell: The Artist’s Process,” February 2 – March 31, which will focus on the process of creating art and will show how the “thinking” changes through the process over the life of a career, even though the artist may use the same devices. The work featured in the exhibition will span the past decade (2000-2010). Bookmark February 17 when Wilmington native McDowell will discuss his own thinking process using his artwork and processes in conjunction with the exhibit.

Levine Museum of the New South
200 E. Seventh St.
(704) 333-1887
Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5
www.museumofthenewsouth.org
For newcomers to Charlotte, a visit to the Levine Museum of the New South should be a mandatory reward for the dreaded DMV visit for a new license and license plates. In the heart of uptown sits this hands-on educational museum full of interactive exhibits brimming with information about the New South, a term that refers to the post-Civil War period from 1865 to today. The end of slavery brought about a need for re-invention on all levels, and the Levine Museum captures these times beautifully. Comprehensive for all ages, this museum is a must for all residents new and native, along with those who are simply passing through. For a brief but thorough introduction, duck into the small theater showing the 10-minute video “Cotton Fields to Skyscrapers” to kick-start your tour. Enjoy the exhibit “Changing Places: From Black and White to Technicolor,” which focuses on culture, storytelling and exploring traditions of new and longtime residents. Within the exhibit, visitors will find a new technology known as “video-talkback,” where visitors can record their responses to questions and the exhibit’s themes. The exhibit will become an ongoing and ever-changing conversation – newcomers and longtime residents trading stories and perspectives.