The Biscuit: The Official Newsletter of Charlotte is Creative

𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗟𝗧 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗛𝗨𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗬⁣
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To help nudge new artist ideas and events forward, we give local creatives $250 and $1,000 HUG (Helpful Unfettered Gift) micro-grants. Financial support for the HUG program comes from the LendingTree Foundation, Google Fiber and NoDa Brewing. ⁣
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This month, Blumenthal Performing Arts and WBTV’s Kristen Miranda contributed resources to the HUG program. Below are four creatives awarded with a HUG:⁣
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1️⃣ 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗶 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼⁣
IG: @thelittlestudioclt ⁣
WEB: thelittlestudioclt.com⁣
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James Carlevatti was one of the earliest HUG grantees. He received $250 in 2018 to purchase more pottery wheels to create more products and teach more hands-on classes at The Little Studio.⁣
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Four years later, Carlevatti got a Bear HUG grant of $1,000 powered by The LendingTree Foundation to expand again – building a Raku kiln and offering Raku firing workshops, classes & other experiences.⁣
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2️⃣ 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗹 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻⁣
IG: @cltjuneteenth ⁣
WEB: juneteenthclt.info⁣
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Darryl Johnson is using his HUG grant to help fund a Juneteenth celebration he’s producing June 17-19 at 619 Anderson St. The three-day community arts & educational festival will feature music, youth activities, art and fashion.⁣
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3️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲 - 𝗖𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗟𝗧⁣
IG: @cakeable_charlotte ⁣
WEB: cakeableshop.org⁣
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Cakeable Charlotte “equips people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities with specific and transferable job skills to enhance their employability and empower their inclusion.” They'll use their HUG to rent space to host eight teaching sessions on candle making to sell product at a farmers market this summer.⁣
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4️⃣ 𝗗𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 - 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿⁣
IG: @dionna_bright ⁣
WEB: dionnabrightphotography.com⁣
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Photographer Dionna Bright is using her $250 HUG to produce a 2023 calendar. The funds will help her with styling costs for 20 models. ⁣
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This project will enable her to learn more about planning and directing a large photoshoot in collaboration with make-up artists and other fashion creatives.⁣ ...

𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗠𝗨𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧! ⁣
“We are SO grateful that Charlotte is Creative introduced us to Rosalia, a powerful force for beauty and storytelling in our community.” - Liz Clasen-Kelly, CEO of Roof Above⁣
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You never know how your work will affect other people. In late 2020, we shared a story about Liz Clasen-Kelly and the work she and Roof Above (@roofabove) were doing to convert an 88-room hotel on Clanton Road into fully-furnished apartments. ⁣
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These apartments would serve as permanent supportive housing (as well as on-site support services) for people experiencing chronic homelessness in Charlotte. ⁣
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𝗔𝗥𝗧 + 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗠⁣
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Local artist and activist (she calls herself an “art-ivist”), Rosalia Torres-Weiner (@redcalacastudio), read the story and asked us to connect her to Roof Above. She wanted to paint a mural to add beauty and vibrance to the lives of those who would make their home at the new facility. ⁣
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In response, Charlotte Is Creativeintroduced Torres-Weiner to Clasen-Kelly and helped seed the project with a $1,000 Bear HUG provided by The LendingTree Foundation and additional support from Lowe’s.⁣
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𝗛𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗕𝗜𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧⁣
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Over a year later the former hotel, now called Rise, is preparing to open and an incredible, three-story mural from Torres-Weiner will be there to greet them.⁣
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“Rosalia’s mural speaks to the hope and dignity we believe SECU will provide to those who will become tenants,” said Clasen-Kelly.⁣
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The work took over two weeks to complete. Torres-Weiner was assisted by a team of helpers (her “hummingbirds”):⁣
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▶️ Felicia Sutton @ragtagqueen ⁣
▶️ Carol Sawyer - CMS Board of Education⁣
▶️ Keudi Sanchez - @keudisanchz⁣
▶️ Milagros Sanchez - A teacher at Olympic High School⁣
▶️ Elle Walsh - @ellestudioarts⁣
▶️ Ben Weiner - @modclassiccars ⁣
▶️ Elisa Lopez Trejo - @elisalopeztrejoart⁣
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"I want people to take their selfies in front of this path because this is what it is -- a new place, a new beginning," said Torres-Weiner. ⁣
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Torres-Weiner wants people to note that the top of the mural was designed to blend into the sky above because, "I want people to know the sky is not the limit." ...