Guide to the Galleries

McColl Center for Visual Art
721 N. Tryon St.
(704) 332-5535
Tuesday-Saturday 11-4
www.mccollcenter.org

I walked right past the McColl Center for Visual Art before I realized I had gone too far on Tryon. That can’t be, I thought. All that’s here is that big beautiful church. And then I realized that’s exactly where I needed to be. I probably didn’t choose the best time to stop by, considering it was switching out the exhibitions and what art it did have out wasn’t exactly displayed for viewing. Leave it to me to have the best timing. But I sauntered in anyway and was told I was free to roam, and that I could make my way up to the second and third floors to check things out. The vibe of what feels like (and is essentially) a near-empty church with little to no movement or sound was slightly creepy, so I tiptoed up to the second floor to poke around, treading ever so lightly. Suddenly the door to a studio flung open and an artist poked his head out, spilling light and life into the desolate hallway. “Hey! I wasn’t expecting visitors, but come on in!” The artist was Shaun El C. Leonardo, from Queens, N.Y., who is at the McColl Center for a residency along with several other artists. Shaun’s mixed-media works blend personal narrative and pop-cultural iconography from his childhood within self-portraiture. He has received several grants and accolades both nationally and internationally, and after seeing a piece of his work – a superhero crafted out of plywood with intricate detail and design – his success is no surprise. Check out Leonardo’s work, as well as other artists at the McColl on residency, from now through March 20 on the second and third floors.

Bank of America Galleries
114 N. Tryon (Hearst Tower)
100 N. Tryon (Bank of America Building)
Monday-Friday 9-8, Saturday 10-5

The Bank of America Collection of art is one of the largest and most important corporate art collections in the world, and we are very fortunate to be able to experience the works from this collection here in Charlotte. Upon arriving at the Bank of America Building exhibit, I began wondering why I couldn’t remember seeing the art here when I’ve walked through in the past. I entered the building and was directed by the security guard toward a small nook near an entrance. The nook is home to the “Holy Cow” exhibit, a small selection of artwork featuring animals in various settings. It is so small that it is easy to walk right by without noticing, though once you’ve entered the nook you’ll be happy you ducked in. As with all art, the exhibit can be interpreted several ways, but the main focus of the works is our relationships with our pets as well as capturing images of wild animals in several settings. Being an animal lover, I was excited that this was the main focus for the current exhibit, and between here and the Hearst Tower selection I was not disappointed. One of my favorite pictures was titled “Soldier’s Leisure, Murmansk,” 1944, taken by Evgeny Khaldey, and was of a group of soldiers playing and sharing their food with a tiny dog. The Hearst Tower has a more extensive collection to view, and the largest piece here is “Bas Met Dekonijnenpootjes (II),” by Maarten Wetsema, whose subjects are dogs (and one cat), all photographed separately on different pieces of furniture.

Ross Gallery
Elizabeth Avenue & Kings Drive (Overcash Performing Arts Center)
(704) 330-6211
Monday-Thursday 10-2
www.cpcc.edu/arts_gallery
I went into the Overcash Performing Arts Center searching for the Ross Gallery and was instantly inspired by the hustle and bustle of students. It was just after 2 p.m. and the gallery was closed, so I was directed to the visual arts instructor, Peggy Rivers. I found Rivers totally in her element: in the painting studio, interacting with her students, exuding light and encouragement. She was 100 percent in the moment and having a blast, and even so, she was quick to accommodate me and offer a tour. We headed over to the Ross Gallery first. The current exhibit here is called “Installation Work,” and it forces the viewer to take an entirely different approach to art. This is not the kind of work that you stand back and admire from afar, like a photo or painting on the wall, or even a sculpture. Instead, the work here is meant to be very minimalist, yet it lures you into it so that you become a part of the work. Much of it consists of everyday, “familiar” objects arranged and constructed in a way that is unfamiliar to us, encouraging different angles of perception of objects. It is also meant to bring about awareness in the viewer. The artists are Austin Ballard and Josiah Blevins, who have had the assistance of artist Paige Cochran. While the art here is a must-see, I have to warn those of you who have a sensitive gag reflex: Several pieces of art are crafted out of a giant collection of human hair.

Pease Gallery
Central Piedmont Community College
Elizabeth Avenue and Pease Lane
(704) 330-6237
Monday-Thursday 10-2
www.cpcc.edu/arts_gallery

Once finished with the Ross Gallery, Rivers brought me over to the Pease Gallery to view its current exhibit titled “Silent Songs.” The collection was much larger and showcased the work of several artists, and the Summer Arts program they attended at Airy Knoll in Virginia inspired much of the work. Here you can expect to find work of all different media, colorful and eccentric, featuring a wide variety of subject matter. Come celebrate with the artists at the closing reception for this exhibit, which will be February 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and look out for the “Sensoria” celebration of the arts at CPCC April 12-17. CPCC is excited to host an art exhibition juried by Barbara Schreiber, which will be at 10 a.m. on April 12. Schreiber is a well-known and respected artist who has had her works featured in numerous collections both private and public, and has been exhibited at several galleries and museums.

Picture House Gallery
1520 E. Fourth St.
(704) 333-8235
Monday-Friday 10-4, Saturday 10-3
www.picturehousegallery.com
While gallery-hopping uptown, be sure to stop over at Picture House Gallery. It’s an intimate gallery chock-full of art and is a great place for someone who enjoys several styles of work. Among the artists’ work displayed here is that of Frederick Hart, who has created stunning sculptures of busts out of acrylic and bronze; Dennis Campay, who has crafted intricate mixed-media work on panel; and Jamali, the internationally renowned artist whose style fuses contemporary and ancient, the end result often being creations that possess an almost mystical air.