# Should We Get A "We ❤️ CLT" Tattoo? - Charlotte is Creative > Source: https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/custom-email/the-biscuit-april-28-2021/ > Updated: 2021-04-28T03:42:16+00:00 > Type: Email Newsletter “It’s amazing that something we’ve been doing for 10 years as a curriculum – taking pictures, learning photography, interviewing people – has become a --- [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Behind-the-Ink-600.jpg)](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/behind-the-ink-tattoo-story/) ### Every tattoo tells a story ‘Behind The Ink’ examines body art and the reasons people choose to get inked > “It’s amazing that something we’ve been doing for 10 years as a curriculum – taking pictures, learning photography, interviewing people – has become a living documentary … The people in the book and film are a diverse group. We are sharing stories of people who don’t look like each other but have that one thing in common.” **– Mark Pendergrass, *Behind The Ink*** It started with kids taunting a student in class for having a rose tattoo. **Mark Pendergrass**, founder and executive director of **Creating Exposure Through the Arts**, turned the incident into a teaching moment and a conversation. And, that turned into a movement. A decade later, *Behind The Ink* is a program, an exhibition, a documentary, a coffee table book. It’s all about sharing the stories behind tattoos, and it’s been a student-run effort since the beginning. #### [Read on to find out how *Behind the Ink* sheds light on the sometimes profound reasons people choose to ink themselves.](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/behind-the-ink-tattoo-story/) --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/New-Best-Friend-1-2-1-2-2-2-1-1-2.jpg) [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Naji-Newsletter-600.jpg)](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/our-new-best-friend-naji-al-ali/) > “I was raised to live up to a name — and I wanted to live up to the potential that the name could take me.” **– Naji Al-Ali** ### Meet Naji Al-Ali. Being named after a famous Palestinian cartoonist is a lot to live up to. But **Naji Al-Ali** isn’t just living up to a legacy; he’s creating his own. We talked with Al-Ali about building a personal and professional brand based on the abstract reflections of his environment and how he discovered a creative community in the midst of a global pandemic. #### [Al-Ali’s persistence and passion are exactly what we’re looking for in a new best friend. Read more about Al-Ali here.](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/our-new-best-friend-naji-al-ali/) --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/CreativeNews.jpg) [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Good-Times-600.jpg)](https://goodtimescharlotte.com/) ### Enjoy the “Good Times” at The Underground this Weekend With support from Pabst Blue Ribbon’s 1,000 Creators initiative and **IMEK Studios**, the work of more than a dozen Queen City creatives — including **Kat Sanchez**, **Cheeks**, **Rebecca Lipps**, **Georgie Nakima** and **Brett Twokatly** — is on display at **The Underground** from April 30 through May 3. The event is free and in-person. Guests must sign up for a designated viewing time due to COVID-19 restrictions. Featuring a wide array of styles, perspectives, mediums and experiences, the event offers guests a walkthrough floral installation, a wooden sculpture garden, a “Taxidermy Wall” with 20 to 30 hand-painted animal heads and more. #### [Secure your viewing time and get directions here.](https://goodtimescharlotte.com/) --- [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Jazz-Arts.jpg)](https://www.thejazzarts.org/event/jazz-at-victoria-yards-for-charlotte-jazz-appreciation-day/) ### Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Day at Victoria Yards Friday Night In honor of the City of Charlotte’s declared “Jazz Appreciation Day,” **Charlotte Center City Partners** and **JazzArts Charlotte** have organized a free, outdoor concert this Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy beer from **Resident Culture** and nosh from food trucks while enjoying a show featuring jazz standards from the **Reggie Sullivan Trio**, progressive jazz from **Al Strong**, fusion jazz with **Ryan Saranich** and **Adrian Crutchfield** and more. #### [More percussive notes about this event right here.](https://www.thejazzarts.org/event/jazz-at-victoria-yards-for-charlotte-jazz-appreciation-day/) --- [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Savage-Way-600.jpg)](https://www.instagram.com/p/COITivLpL-4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link) ### Inspiration Under Your Feet **\#TheSavageWay**, a Charlotte-based creative business and inventors of clean graffiti, frequently take to the streets with stencils and pressure washers in hand to leave inspirational messages behind on dirty sidewalks. Most recently, they’re sharing kind words — and a challenge — from **HEAL Charlotte**. **[Learn more here.](https://www.instagram.com/p/COKxUdhJSCM/)** --- ### [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Krista-Terrell-600.jpg)](https://www.artsandscience.org/krista-terrell-named-president-of-the-arts-science-council/) ### New President at the Arts & Science Council Is a Very Familiar Face **Krista Terrell**, who has served as ASC’s interim leader since the departure of **Jeep Bryant** earlier this year, has been promoted to president. Terrell has been with the ASC for 19 years, most recently as vice president of marketing and communications. **[Read the full news release from the ASC.](https://www.artsandscience.org/krista-terrell-named-president-of-the-arts-science-council/)** --- ### [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Deans-List-600.jpg)](https://www.thedeanslist.me/20under20) ### Dean’s List Launches 20 Under 20 While creatives, business leaders and entrepreneurs over the age of 20 are often lauded for their work by the media and community awards, stand-outs under the age of 20 rarely are. That’s why **Meredith Dean** and **The Dean’s List** has launched “20 Under 20,” a recognition program for Queen City leaders between the ages of 14 and 19, members of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Nominations are open now through June 15. Winners will be announced in September in the following categories: - Artistic/educational endeavors ⁣ - Community involvement & volunteerism ⁣ - Professional & personal achievements⁣ - Leadership skills & roles - Commitment to making a long-term positive impact in the community #### [To nominate someone for 20 Under 20, click here.](https://www.thedeanslist.me/20under20) *This program was funded, in part, by a $1,000 BEAR HUG, provided by **Charlotte Is Creative**.* --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Podcasts-and-Videos.jpg) [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Eriaklis-600.jpg)](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/equal-time-eraklis-petmezas-superhuman-sketching-speed/) ### EQUAL TIME: Eraklis Petmezas’ Superhuman Sketching Speed Great Scott! It’s Superhero Day! And, in honor of The Flash, Quicksilver and A-Train (to appease fans of DC, Marvel and The Boys), we thought we’d see just how fast Charlotte comics artist **Eraklis Petmezas** could sketch a hero. And, he attacked it with blazing speed. “I tend to draw pretty quickly,” he said. “Keeping it at five minutes and trying to create something decent was challenging, but fun.” Over the past four months, we’ve had a ball with our “Equal Time” series, sponsored by**OrthoCarolina** and inspired by their new online system that takes just five minutes to make an appointment. Five minutes is just how much time we gave Petmezas to create his superheroic masterpiece … and he proved up to the task, drawing the Greek hero Heracles, the star of a comic Petmezas has self-published. Click the button below to watch Petmezas work and [**read his origin story**](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/equal-time-eraklis-petmezas-superhuman-sketching-speed/). [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Watch-The-Video-1-1-1-3-1-2-2-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-1-1-2-2-1-2-1-1-1-2-6-7.jpg)](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/equal-time-eraklis-petmezas-superhuman-sketching-speed/) *This creative sprint was powered by content sponsor **OrthoCarolina**. Use their **[new online appointment system here](https://www.orthocarolina.com/contact-us)**.* --- [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/QC-Life-600.jpg)](https://qclife.wbtv.com/honoring-three-creative-mentors-on-national-thank-you-day/) ### Four of Charlotte’s Most Creative Mentors Last Thursday was “Thank You Thursday.” In preparation for that, we reached out on Instagram to ask our followers to name Charlotte’s most creative mentors — people they wanted to thank for their support. And, [**as you can see here**](https://www.instagram.com/p/CN3ER1oJn13/), the floodgates opened. Thanks to **WBTV**, we were able to go on air to say “thank you” to four of the creative mentors named – **Charlie Elberson**, **Kenn Compton**, **Sydney Duarte** and **Corey Mitchell**. Click the button below to **[watch the segment](https://qclife.wbtv.com/honoring-three-creative-mentors-on-national-thank-you-day/)**. [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Watch-The-Video-1-1-1-3-1-2-2-1-1-2-1-1-1-1-1-2-2-1-1-2-2-1-2-1-1-1-2-6-7.jpg)](https://qclife.wbtv.com/honoring-three-creative-mentors-on-national-thank-you-day/) *Who would you have thanked for being your creative mentor in Charlotte? **[Tell us here.](mailto:hello@charlotteiscreative.com)*** --- ### [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Amplifier-600.jpg)](https://www.wfae.org/podcast/amplifier/2021-04-22/viva-la-musica-tony-arreaza-on-30-years-of-latin-music-in-charlotte) ### So Much More than Mariachi or Santana Tony Arreaza Amplifies Charlotte’s Latin Music Scene **Tony Arreaza**, a 2021 ASC Creative Renewal Fellowship recipient, was recently interviewed by our friend, **Joni Deutsch**, for **WFAE’s** podcast, *Amplifier*. Arreaza, a curator and cultivator in Charlotte’s Latin music community, talks about his new song, “*Esperanza*,” which he wrote as an anthem of hope and a tribute to the Afro-Latinx community and the Black Lives Matter movement as well as his work planning music events and festivals. Click the button below to listen to [**WFAE’s** ***Amplifier***](https://www.wfae.org/podcast/amplifier/2021-04-22/viva-la-musica-tony-arreaza-on-30-years-of-latin-music-in-charlotte). [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Podcast-Button.jpg)](https://www.wfae.org/podcast/amplifier/2021-04-22/viva-la-musica-tony-arreaza-on-30-years-of-latin-music-in-charlotte) --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/WhereAreWeInCLT.jpg) [![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WRW-The-Shop-600.jpg)](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/where-are-we-in-clt-the-shop-in-north-end/) > “The sign is a piece of history and preserving it symbolizes what this project means to the North Graham corridor.” **– Brent Cobb, Modulex Carolinas** Built in the early 1950s, **The Shop** in Charlotte’s North End was originally used as a restaurant and blacksmith shop. By the 1960s, Big Bertha Service Station, a memorably named auto repair facility, had opened, and it would operate in various forms for decades. When **Ascent Real Estate Capital** first heard about the site, one small auto repair shop was still in service. Ascent’s vision was to refurbish the three buildings and keep the 1950s-era service station aesthetic that had come to define the property. The Shop’s iconic rotating sign is the finishing touch on the project and a nod to the buildings’ storied past. Ascent partnered with **Modulex Carolinas**, the company that restored the vintage Park Road Shopping Center sign last year, to refurbish the face of the sign and install a new motor so it could rotate once again. #### [Read more about The Shop’s revitalization and the iconic spinning sign.](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/where-are-we-in-clt-the-shop-in-north-end/) **Directions: [1100 North Graham Street, Charlotte, NC 28206](https://www.google.com/maps/place/1100+N+Graham+St,+Charlotte,+NC+28206/@35.2389695,-80.836289,15z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x8856a03f6c9cc497:0x310a6975060aec0b!2s1100+N+Graham+St,+Charlotte,+NC+28206!3b1!8m2!3d35.238848!4d-80.836035!3m4!1s0x8856a03f6c9cc497:0x310a6975060aec0b!8m2!3d35.238848!4d-80.836035)** --- ![](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Last-Batch.jpg) Don’t go ’round hungry. If you missed the [**last batch of *The Biscuit***](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/custom-email/the-biscuit-april-21-2021/), don’t worry. We’ve kept it warm for you. This batch featured: - An editorial on the **Business of Creativity from Caro Diaz** - A trip down memory lane**(and a glimpse of the future) with Park-N-Shop** - A tea party **with The Pauline Tea Bar Apothecary** [**Click here to dig in, y****‘****all**.](https://www.charlotteiscreative.com/custom-email/the-biscuit-april-21-2021/)