The Audiences May Be Quiet, But Creativity Goes On
Photographer Mitchell Kearney Shows Us Creatives in the Time of COVID-19
The Biscuit and The Charlotte Ledger have partnered up to present our photo series, “Visions of the Not Normal” — offering views of neighborhoods and communities across the city through the eyes (and lenses) of local photographers during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This week, we’re featuring photographer Mitchell Kearney. Mitchell has traveled the world over and photographed some of Rock’s biggest legends. But, for us, he used his lens to share portraits of other Queen City creatives — especially those living in the Oakdale area — during the impact of COVID-19 shutdowns and stay-at-home orders in Charlotte.
Lifting Up Communities Too Long Ignored
“…we want to teach financial responsibility – show our participants how the business world works.” – Manuel Campbell
Before Aspire Community Capital makes a loan, the nonprofit gives aspiring business owners the know-how and tools to realize their dream.
They do this by “teaching entrepreneurs how to build businesses within their own neighborhoods, using the skills they already have and the passion for success they already possess.”
Founder and CEO Manuel Campbell isn’t looking to train and fund just anyone with a good idea. He wants to provide, he said, “access, upward mobility and a means of creating wealth for people in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods – the communities that have been ignored for a long time.”
Read the full story from Page Leggett about how Manuel and his team help prepare entrepreneurs for success.
Jason Jet is “Numb”
Between COVID-19, the murder of George Floyd, the upcoming Presidential election and demonstrations, we’re all struggling with many emotions and foundational shifts underway across the country and the world. It’s difficult for many of us to put our thoughts and feelings into words.
Charlotte musician Jason Jet has put his to music. The image above is from the video for his newest single, “Numb,” which addresses much of what’s going on in his head as a Black man in American … and in Charlotte. The new video was filmed at the home of a friend of Jason’s on Lake Wylie earlier in June.
Biscuit Blitz: 5 Minutes with Armah Shiancoe
However you decide to pronounce his first name, one thing is crystal clear about Armah Shiancoe: he is preparing our young people to be of true value to our 21st Century communities.
In this Batch of the Biscuit Blitz, Matt Olin chats with Armah about the work his nonprofit, Give N Go, is doing to shift into the virtual world in order to continue empowering youth and tap into their strength to drive the change our society needs. They also discuss how the pandemic has served to finally demand our undivided attention on the Black Lives Matter movement.
Celebrating Father’s Day With One of the Founding Fathers … and Son
Charlottean Susan Tomkins exercised her creativity and entertained neighbors and passersby on Father’s Day by building statues of Benjamin Franklin and his son William, flying a kite together. (If only their IRL relationship was this sweet.) Susan constructed the sculptures out of household items, including plastic takeout drink caps, chocolate milk jugs, water bottles and more.
Susan created an Easter Bunny out of similar items earlier this year. We can’t wait to see what she does for Labor Day!
Saying Goodbye to Joel Schumacher
Charlotte actor, set designer, painter … whew! … Tim Parati posted the image above today to bid farewell to movie director Joel Schumacher, who passed away yesterday. Tim was a cast member of Schumacher’s 1996 film, A Time To Kill, which starred Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock and Samuel L. Jackson. Tim has a very robust IMDB profile, but says that he is still most recognized for this role.
Packard Place Public House with James & Miracle Yoder
Wednesday, June 24 – 4:30pm
This Wednesday, grab your favorite adult beverage and spend some time with the Packard Place Public House virtual event as Miracle and James Yoder of Not Just Coffee brew up a conversation during the keg-side chat with Dan Roselli. If you bring a friend to this week’s virtual event, you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to Not Just Coffee.
Another Round of Creative Conversations … on us!
Alphabet Cocktail, an online gathering of AAF Charlotte, AIGA Charlotte, AMA Charlotte, Social Media CLT and Charlotte Is Creative — (Is that enough letters for you?) — is meeting again this Thursday, June 25 from 5:30-6:30pm. Come take a sip or two and join other Queen City Creatives to laugh a lot and do a little business and networking, too.
Developing Creative Collaborations & Partnerships
Friday, June 26 at Noon
How are nonprofits making it in the throes of COVID-19? That’s exactly what Next Stage has been exploring in their lunchtime series, The New Normal. Each week, innovative nonprofit leaders share the trials, tribulations and effective strategies they’ve developed over the past few months.
This week, creative collaborations and partnerships are the focus. Tim Miner will join Josh Jacobson to explore the topic with Demi Clark of She Built this City and William McNeely (or “Coach,” as we like to call him) of Do Greater Charlotte.
Register here to join on June 26th at 12:00pm.
This is the final gathering of this first series. Beginning in July, Next Stage will begin a new, 10-episode series, What’s Next? – A Social Roundtable.
Built in 1927, the First National Bank Building (now known as Tryon Plaza) is covered inside and out with small craftsmanship details that will catch the eye of any visitor paying close enough attention, especially any mythology buffs.
The archways, the limestone balconies, the bronze doors, the elevators, and the facade with its gargoyles all feature different figures from Greek, Roman, and Chinese mythology and history. A keen eye will notice Zeus, Hermes, Mercury, and Confucious, just to name a few. Also included in the carvings and designs are different symbols from nature with double meanings. For example, owls represent wisdom, squirrels represent thriftiness, and eagles represent power.
Another symbol that is prominently found across the building is the beehive. The beehive represents industry. On one of the bronze doors headed into the building, you can see Aristaeus, the Greek god of beekeeping, protecting his bees and metaphorically protecting the building’s industry.
Fitting for a building where much business is conducted, but we also like to imagine that the beehives have a double-double meaning to pay homage to Charlotte’s “Hornet’s Nest” nickname from the Revolutionary War.
Directions: 112 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
This Queen City exploration was powered by OrthoCarolina.
Don’t go ’round hungry. If you missed the last batch of The Biscuit, don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you. This batch features:
- An interview with the three creatives behind @CLTBlackOwned
- A Biscuit Blitz with Queen City media strategist and coach, Melody Gross
- Opera Singer Jen Wiggins giving a window performance for her neighbors
- A “Where Are We in CLT?” post about a new mosaic on Park Road
Click here to dig in, y‘all.
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