Wish You Were Here! We’re Sending You Love With a CLT Postcard. “Charlotte Has My Heart” by Amber Thompson Works from Six Local Artists on Display Outside 7th Street Public MarketValentine’s Day may be in the rear-view mirror, but the love lives on. To celebrate their affection for Charlotte, six local artists painted giant, love-themed postcards along the light rail line at 7th Street Station. Titled, “Love, Charlotte,” the exhibition features new work from local artists — 1) Amber Thompson, 2) Tim Parati 3) KiiK Create 4) Sana Nisar 5) Eulises Orellana and 6) Garrison Gist. Five of the six postcards are eight-feet wide. A sixth, rendered in the 5,000-year-old art of henna, is four-feet wide and features tiny, intricate designs that draw the viewer into experience the story behind them. The postcards are on display outside 7th Street Public Market until March 15 and are a short light rail trip away from the “I HEART Rail Trail” light sculptures in South End. See a photo gallery of the “Love, Charlotte” postcards and learn more about the local artists who made them. 
The installation was co-curated by Charlotte Center City Partners and Charlotte Is Creative, publisher of The Biscuit. Photo Credit (Above): Ernesto Moreno
Community Leader Darryl Gaston Dies at 59All of us at The Biscuit are saddened over the sudden passing of our friend, Darryl Gaston, this past weekend. The Charlotte native was a self-described “pastor, teacher, neighborhood advocate and connector of people.” He was perhaps best known as the “Mayor of North End.” He was a frequent collaborator on Charlotte Is Creative projects, competing in Queen City Quiz Show and speaking at CreativeMornings/Charlotte. Watch his talk here. Gaston was a man who put his creative talents to the service of his neighbors. He impacted all around him. In the meantime, we urge you to read this story about him written by David Boraks of our media partner, WFAE. Photo Credit (Above): Heather Liebler
Knitting the Community Together with LoveIn conjunction with Art Walks CLT’s “Lover’s Art Trail,” 12 members of CRAFT CLT “yarn-bombed” Community Matters Cafe for Valentine’s Day, creating a large garland of hearts and knit flowers. See the final piece here. Above is a sped-up video of Ashley Jane McIntyre creating a flower for the installation.
ASC Releases Inaugural Cultural Equity ReportIn June 2019, the Arts & Science Council (ASC) Board of Directors adopted a Cultural Equity Statement. The opening paragraph states: “To truly achieve ASC’s vision of ‘Culture for All,’ all Charlotte-Mecklenburg residents must have equitable opportunity to participate in the cultural life of our region as audiences, volunteers, artists, administrators, board members and donors.” Yesterday, the ASC released its inaugural “Cultural Equity Report,” outlining their progress to date on the “We Will” commitments expressed in the Equity Statement. They also issued the statement, “It is important to apologize, acknowledge and accept accountability for the role ASC has played in creating and perpetuating systems and structures that have exacerbated inequities in our cultural community and beyond and publicly assess the steps we have taken to dismantle inequitable systems and policies within ASC,” from acting ASC president, Krista Terrell. The report also outlines efforts ASC has implemented to support Charlotte’s diverse creative community.
Meet Lucas Ayres of CLT Shooters.When you can’t find your tribe, sometimes the best course of action is to start one yourself. After leaving college and returning home to his native Charlotte, Lucas Ayres wanted to indulge in and hone his love of photography and make friends. He created an Instagram account — @CLTShooters — with the hopes of meeting three or four local photographers. To date, more than 600 have participated in events Ayres has organized. For his work, The Savage Way and OrthoCarolina honored Ayres with a Bolt of Inspiration Award at the February meeting of CreativeMornings/Charlotte. But, that’s just part of his story. The Bolt of Inspiration award is sponsored by The Savage Way, OrthoCarolina and Charlotte Is Creative.
February HUG Spotlight
Kurma Murrian and Greg Russell Get PublishedToo often, imaginative and creative projects are held back by reality — lack of funds, lack of awareness or lack of encouragement. Little obstacles can keep big ideas from moving forward. That’s why Charlotte Is Creative, publisher of The Biscuit, awards Queen City creatives with $250 HUG (“Helpful Unfettered Gift”) micro-grants to help remove one or two of these obstacles to help move these passions and projects along. In February, two local creatives — author Karma Murrain and publisher Greg Russell of .in* — each received a $250 HUG grant to help them realize their creative dreams.
Tasty Tracks: Kat Holland’s ImaginationThe COVID-19 pandemic may have silenced stages across the Queen City … but it hasn’t silenced musicians. Charlotte-based songwriters and performers have been busy over the last year. They’re eager to share their work. And, we’re ready to help them. To celebrate Charlotte’s music, we’re bringing back a regular feature from the early days of The Biscuit — Tasty Tracks. Each month, we’ll share a new, original song from a local musician and introduce you to the artist behind the work. Up first is singer/songwriter, Kat Holland and her newest track, Imagination. 
The local media community is working incredibly hard to provide accurate, uplifting and useful information to assist with the new realities we face. Here are some stories about Charlotte’s creativity we think are worth a read. Who Does What in the Charlotte Area?
From addressing the pothole in the street to decisions made about “Tent City,” it can be difficult to keep track of which municipal body is responsible for various services. Thankfully, Amplify Charlotte posted this “City Vs. County” chart to help us all keep track. 
Cranking the Charlotte Music Scene to 11
With a special essay in Charlotte Magazine, Rick Thurmond, coordinator of Music Everywhere CLT, shares stories of 2020 and why he’s bullish about what lies ahead for the Queen City’s music community. OWN Puts Charlotte Creatives to Work
Local crews were employed last fall on a Warner Brothers series set to premiere on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network on March 9. “Delilah” is executive produced by Winfrey and York, South Carolina native Charles Randolph-Wright. The Charlotte Post reports the production is tapping into Charlotte talent on both sides of the camera to get it done. 28 Black Leaders You Should Know
In celebration of Black History Month, QCity Metro is sharing stories of 28 Black Charlotteans shaping the future of our city.
Sit. Stay. Now, run. This Tuesday, Feb. 23 was International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day. (But, you dog lovers probably already knew that.) One of our favorite spots to gather provisions for the occasion is Canine Café Charlotte, a fixture in South End for 16 years. Café Founder Barbara Burg began baking for dogs in 1995 when her pup, TJ, developed allergies to commercial treats. Two years later, she opened a natural pet treat bakery in Pineville. “[My business partner and I] had to move to a larger store with retail so we could sell more all-natural treats and products made in the U.S. which is very important to us,” Burg said, which is the reason they opened their Charlotte store. In 2004, the first Canine Café location opened at the intersection of Camden Road and South Tryon Street, where it had a larger bakery than Burg’s previous shop and a retail store. Six years later, Burg and her business partner and spouse, Meredith Thompson, needed even more space and moved their cafe and onsite bakery to their current location at the intersection of Remount Road and South Boulevard. All treats are made from the same ingredients used in human bakeries and kitchens: flour, 100% natural peanut butter, bananas, cream cheese, pureed pumpkin, unsweetened apple sauce, cinnamon and more. Homemade doggie treats include “pawty cakes” (a 4-inch round cake), cannolis, brownies, tarts, frozen and chilled doggie daiquiris and more. What’s the hottest treat flying out of the oven these days? Burg says it’s the peanut butter cream cheese tart and recommends pairing it with a doggie daiquiri for a special treat. Directions: 125 Remount Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203
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 featured: - A flower-power filled look at Mashal Fatima Valam and her handmade floral jewelry
- A sassy, savage, singing steak sandwich from Sub One Hoagie House (Yes, you read that correctly.)
Click here to dig in, y‘all. | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |
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