Guide to the Galleries

South End

Elder Gallery
1427 S. Blvd., Suite 101
(704) 370-6337
www.elderart.com

I picked this location at random as my first gallery to visit, and there couldn’t have been a better place to start. Larry Elder, gallery owner, was more than accommodating and generous with information on the works he carried as well as the art world in Charlotte. He welcomes his patrons with open arms and explained that his approach to art isn’t about social clicks or driving people away. He carries beautiful works of great value but conveys the message that they are, in fact, accessible and, if you fall in love with a particular piece, he will work to make it attainable. His goal is to carry art that will inspire people from all ages and all walks of life. It is worth mentioning that Elder Gallery is the exclusive retailer for Leon Makielski, an early-American Impressionist who was an accomplished portrait painter and painted many leaders of government and industry, among other works of art. Currently showing at Elder Gallery are the works of Martha Armstrong, a Massachusetts artist who creates serene paintings whose topics include the Mediterranean coast, indoor still life and woods. Stop in for a viewing and get the lowdown on Armstrong, as an artist and friend, from Elder himself. The exhibition will run through the month of February.

Hidell Brooks Gallery
1910 South Blvd.
(704) 334-7302
Tuesday-Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-3
www.hidellbrooks.com

While keeping up with the Charlotte scene by carrying works from regional artists, the women behind Hidell Brooks Gallery continue to stay true to their goal, which is to exhibit original works from American artists who have rarely been shown in the Southeast. Kathleen Hidell and Rebecca Brooks take great pride in not only the artists they carry, but also in the constant process of art education and the unique process of developing a client’s particular focus of interest. Among my favorite artists at HB are the graceful works of David Arms, featuring delicate birds and thought-provoking phrases; the perfectly messy still-life work from Katherine Ace, featuring crumpled newspapers and bold colors; and the peaceful, serene works of Tony Hernandez. The gallery rotates solo and group exhibitions every six to eight weeks.

McColl Fine Art
208 East Blvd.
(704) 333-5983
Tuesday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-3, and by appointment
www.mccollfineart.com

McColl Fine Art specializes in fine American and European paintings, with a primary focus on select works of art from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It offers works of exceptional quality from periods that include the Barbizon School, the Hudson River School, Academic painting, Impressionism, and Post-Impressionism in a very private and sophisticated setting. McColl Fine Art is certainly the place for the seasoned art connoisseur who has developed a mature taste.

Charlotte Art League
1517 Camden Road
(704) 376-2787
www.charlotteartleague.org

Charlotte Art League makes a big impression on its visitors as they walk in, and the interactive environment is both exciting and inviting. Robert, the man at the front door who I later learned is also a resident artist, filled me in on the nature of the gallery and encouraged me to check it out and enjoy myself. I tend to be partial to the galleries that are filled with studios where the artists work; where you are free to roam and come up with your own interpretations without feeling watched or pressured. The artists’ studios emanate a buzz of energy, even when they are still and the artists are nowhere near them. It is great to be able to peek inside their world and see their inspirations, and this makes the pieces they produce that much more intriguing. Among the several gorgeous works found here, I was drawn to the works of Stefan Duncan, who has created a collection of tree-inspired paintings that are fiery, elegant and wild. I also loved the mixed-media works from Sheila Carpenter. Be sure to check out the beautiful, intricate painting titled “Cherry Blossom” by Robert Bursik, and if you have a room large enough to house it you may want to scoop it up before someone else does. The Charlotte Art League is a part of the South End Gallery Crawls, which are on the first Friday evening of every month. Look out for the exciting “RHYTHM!” exhibition during the month of February, which will demonstrate the “explorations of pulse and motion in art.”

Ciel Gallery
1519 Camden Road
(704) 577-1254
www.cielcharlotte.com

After you’ve gotten your fix of art from the Charlotte Art League, pop into Ciel Gallery next door. Ciel is French for sky, and sky is certainly the limit here. Ciel opened its doors in the summer of 2008 thanks to mosaic artist Pam Pardue Goode as a venue for both the exhibition and creation of art without boundaries. Ciel offers a community feeling that will make both the least artistic and most artistic person feel at home and flourish. They offer classes to children and adults of all levels and all media, and coordinate shows that feature the works of the students. They even take suggestions for future classes, so get creative. Now’s your chance to have a shot at learning how to make couch pillowcases out of your 1980s hair band T-shirts, like you’ve always wanted. (Note: I said “shot.”) Also at Ciel is the Community Mosaic Project, founded by members of the Charlotte Art League, which is open to participation from any and all community members regardless of age or experience (upcoming open sessions will be listed on its Web site). Look out for its next exhibition, “Flights of Fancy,” which will run April 2-May 29, and it will put the emphasis on the “whimsy” of any medium. Join Ciel free of charge for the opening reception on April 2.

New South, a Joie Lassiter Gallery
1430 S. Mint St.
(704) 373-1464
Tuesday-Friday 10-5:30, Saturday 11-4
www.lassitergallery.com

Nestled in the upcoming art and design district of South End, the Joie Lassiter Gallery seems to have settled into its new home quite nicely. Having been in business for 14 years, the gallery brings together regional, national and international artists and offers a wide range of artwork that introduces new aesthetics to the Southeast. Among the featured works here are from artist Leslie Walker Noelle, from Asheville, who has created gorgeous, statement-making trees from steel, cut branches and graphite, which are clustered and kept at the artist’s height to give the effect of walking through a grove of young trees; and from Willie Little, a multimedia artist/storyteller originally from rural North Carolina who has created a grouping of 6-foot “walking sticks” that hang from the ceiling, hovering above the ground, and are wrapped, jeweled and adorned in prickly burs. Joie Lassiter Gallery participates in the First Friday SouthEnd Gallery Crawl; the next one takes place on Feb. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m.