A Second Helping of Some of Our Favorite (and Most Relevant) Stories Read more about this weekend’s Culture Cypher event below. Whew! There’s a lot of creative development popping up in the Queen City these days … and much more ahead this fall. We cover news about creative initiatives and the individuals behind them every day on our Instagram feed and every week right here in The Biscuit newsletter. [PS. If you’re not subscribed, you can fix that here.] So, to catch our breath for some busy weeks ahead, we’re looking back on a few recent stories that have bearing on what’s going on right now in the Queen City.
 Matt Alvis of TAC Gallery Our New Best Friend: Matt Alvis
By Tim MinerA few months ago, we introduced you to Matt Alvis (a.k.a. @StencilSpray on Instagram), the founder of the TAC Gallery — which offers work for sale from more than 100 local artists — in NoDa. But, he’s always up to something. This Saturday (Aug. 21), Alvis is organizing the Culture Cypher event at the Neighborhood Theatre from 4 to 8 p.m. The event features hip-hop music, comedy performances, live mural painting, local art for sale, vegan snacks and a special appearance from artist “The Funky Geezer.” Tickets are $10. The venue is requiring attendees to present proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours of the event. Learn more here. NOTE: The moss art bolt in Alvis’ hand above was made by The Savage Way.
 L to R: Will Jenkins, Carla Aaron-Lopez, Carey King & Dammit Wesley of BLKMRKTCLT. It Takes a (Creative) Village to Make an Impact
By Amanda LeaYou’ve only got three weeks left to see the “It Takes a Village” exhibition at the Mint Museum on Randolph Rd. Offering three rooms of original work curated by BLKMKTCLT and Brand the Moth (co-organizers of Charlotte’s Black Lives Matter mural along with Charlotte Is Creative and the City of Charlotte) along with Goodyear Arts, this temporary installation presents a vibrant snapshot of the current state (and talent) of Queen City’s creative community. It features work from 25 local creatives across a broad spectrum of demographics — economic, racial, ethnic, age and education.
Every Tattoo Tells a Story in the “Behind the Ink” Documentary
By Page LeggettCharlotte SHOUT! hits the streets of uptown in just four short weeks (Sept. 17). For 17 days, you can dive into a host of free and ticketed creative experiences ranging from the return of Parer Studio’s “Intrude” (the giant inflatable bunnies) in Romare Bearden Park to a host of “Made in CLT” events curated by Charlotte-based creatives. One of the “can’t-miss” events will be daily showings of the “Behind the Ink” documentary, a labor of love years in the making by local nonprofit, Creating Exposure Through the Arts.
Charlotte Queen: What’s in a Name?
By Andrea LongIf you’ve been to Immersive Van Gogh at Camp North End, you’ve probably seen many custom portraits of our own Queen Charlotte on display in the artists-in-residence area and the local artist gift shop just outside the exhibit. (If you haven’t been … you should. Access to the areas outside the main exhibit is free and open to the public.) We Charlotteans love our queen. And, images of her are everywhere. But, who was she? And, how has the way she is represented in art changed over time? Those are questions writer Andrea Long asked herself earlier this year.
 IMAGE CREDIT: LaBella Associates Remembering Park-N-Shop
By Page LeggettLast week, Axios Charlotte published a small item about the status of the former Park-N-Shop on Wilkinson Blvd. (the original location of many that followed), currently being renovated into office space by Red Hill Ventures and the Roby Family of Companies (along with LaBella Associates). Here at The Biscuit, we love to see clever adaptive reuse projects, preserving Charlotte’s history, and we have an insatiable curiosity to know more about the stories that lie within the structures. That’s why writer Page Leggett and Biscuit editor Tim Miner teamed up to interview Charles Reid, whose father and mother opened the Park-N-Shop on Wilkinson in the 1940s and expanded it across Charlotte. And, there’s a little bit about how Mr. Reid employed former vaudeville stars and conjoined twins, Violet and Daisy Hilton, after they were stranded in Charlotte. It’s a fascinating story of a family-run business, a vision of Charlotte that’s hard to see these days and the work of three Charlotte companies giving a classic building new life.
Last week’s batch of The Biscuit featured a look at five new Bear HUG grant recipients, the four Greek statues perched above N. Tryon St. and more. We also shared a link to applications for the City of Charlotte’s new board, which will work with a yet-to-be-named arts and culture officer to direct City and private arts funds and develop a long-term cultural plan. Click here to catch up! | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |  |
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