Wait… It’s July 2nd? We Thought It Was March 123rd!
 PHOTO CREDIT: Julia Fay WET PAINT – Meet Jen Hill: 2Hills
by Matt Morrison
When Matt Morrison wants to introduce you to an artist, you better pay attention. As the man behind the @CLTGraffiti Instagram account, he has his ears (and camera lens) to the ground — or should we say walls — uncovering the insanely talented artists of the Queen City. He’s gotten to know a lot of artists in our city through his art hunting escapades, and he wants you to know them, too!
On the second edition of his series “Wet Paint” — where Matt gives us an inside look to Charlotte’s booming public art scene — he introduces us to Jen Hill AKA @2Hills. The two take a dive into her work, her opinions on the local art scene, her passion for glitter and Matt asks the hard-hitting question — why art?
Enough with the introductions! It’s time to meet this amazing artist. Read Matt’s interview with 2Hills before the paint starts to dry.
A Look Back at June
by Matt Olin
Welcome to July 2020. On more than one occasion this year, we’ve wondered what day it is. Time is so fuzzy these days, it feels nearly irrelevant. But here we are, moving headlong into July. Has it already been six months? Has it only been six months? Still, we want to take a moment here to acknowledge one of the gifts of June 2020.
Read as Matt Olin reflects on the powers of creativity, collaboration and perspective that were each on full display during one of June’s shining moments — the creation of Charlotte’s Black Lives Matter mural.
 
Green Shoots Through Concrete: Henry Rock Changes the Narrative
by Page Leggett
“I’ve seen this movie before. I’ve been involved in Black Power and civil rights for a long time. But we’ll see. This time does feel different.” – Henry Rock
Henry Rock has been anticipating this moment – when the white establishment finally understood that Black Lives Matter – for years.
Rock started City Startup Labs in 2014 as a collaboration with the Urban League of Central Carolinas. It’s an academy of instruction, training, mentoring and coaching designed to prepare young men of color to become their own bosses. The first cohort included 25 students engaged in an intensive, 15-week program that stresses character development as much as business fundamentals.
Read the ways that Henry Rock is breaking down barriers to help young Black men achieve success in the business world.
META Mural Residency Applications are Live!
It’s official! The application for Brand the Moth’s 2020 META Mural Residency is open! This is a great opportunity for any artist who is interested in diving into the world of mural making for the first time. Three talented artists will be selected to participate in the 2nd annual semester of the residency. Applications are due by July 19, 2020.
Head to their website to learn more and see the awesome lineup of pro muralists that will teach you the ropes!
Eric Ndelo Shares His “Who Built Me” Story
In the latest edition of The Biscuit CLT Podcast’s “Who Built Me” series, Andy Goh talks to artist and entrepreneur Eric Ndelo. Eric is co-founder of screen printing company MacFly Fresh, located in Camp North End and known for their colorful and interactive pop-up screen printing booths.
Eric talks about a friend of his named Adam Peele, who helped teach him screen printing before a trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo several years ago. Click the button below to listen to Andy and Eric’s conversation.
Every Day Is An Adventure with Jen Sudul Edwards
In this edition of the Biscuit Blitz, Jen Sudul Edwards raps with Matt Olin about her roles as chief curator for the Mint Museum and board chair for Goodyear Arts (among others roles), and how the pandemic has forced her to embrace the mantra, “Every day is a new adventure!” Jen discusses the Mint’s next show (when they do re-open) called “New Days/New Works,” focused on the museum’s collection and the donors who helped build it.
And before the blitz is over, they’ll also touch on commissioning work from local artists, pivoting in partnership, and playing Quarantine Croquet to stay sane at home. Jen is a true champion of creativity in the Queen City, so dig in, y’all!
Erinn Frechette Flutes from the Rooftops
The Charlotte Symphony may not be playing large performance halls at the moment, nevertheless, their passion lives on. And as the saying goes, you can take the music out of the hall, but you can’t take the music out of the musician. Proof of this comes from flutist, Erinn Frechette, who regaled her street with a solo performance of “August Idyll,” a composition from her friend, composer Daniel Dorff.
CreativeMornings/Charlotte July Virtual Gathering
Friday, July 10 at 8:15am
On July 10, who will you be rooting for at CreativeMornings? We’ll be rooting for the underdog! That’s right, this month Brian Baltosiewich will be speaking about our global theme of “Underdog.” While Brian might be best known for leading Balto Creative Media and The Queen City Podcast Network, he spent 28 years in broadcast television before going off on his own. Oh, and he’s also an Emmy-nominated writer/producer/director, stand-up comedian and HUG Grant recipient!
So mark your calendar: free tickets will be available HERE this coming Monday, July 6 at 9 a.m. We hope you can join us on the morning of July 10 for live music, virtual mingling, and an exciting array of talks, performances, awards and announcements. Everyone is welcome!
We The People – Truth Power and Love
Sunday, July 5 at 7pm
In our time for needed change and social justice, various Charlotte artists are coming together to inspire the Queen City community through their poetry, comedy and music. The Evening Muse along with Jameka S. Whitten will be live streaming “We The People – Hope Power and Love” this Sunday at 7pm. Donations for this event will benefit Restorative Justice CLT and Fair Vote NC.
For more information and to see a full line up of performers, click here. The event will be live-streamed through The Evening Muse’s Facebook page on Sunday night at 7pm.
Many summer travel plans have been canceled this year, but there is still a way you can go on a globetrotting adventure right here in the Queen City. 35 globes are calling the streets of Charlotte home for the remainder of the year and they are definitely worth making the trip to see.
The spherical art installations are a part of Cool Globes, a public art exhibition created to draw attention to climate change and search for solutions. In their words, they are creating “Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet.”
31 of the globes can be found Uptown on North Tryon Street between Trade Street and E 11th Street. The other 4 globes can be found at Camp North End, the US National Whitewater Center, Truist Field (Charlotte Knight’s Stadium), and the Charlotte Airport.
Each globe has a different design created by a different artist, including 7 created by Charlotte artists. One of our favorites globes, titled “Listen to the Children,” was made by a group of talented students from the Trinity Episcopal School Climate Justice Group (click here for a close up).
Directions: 310 N 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:
- A gallery of images from last Saturday’s Beatties Ford Strong mural project
- Information on 3 funds available to Queen City Creatives
- The ASC’s Studio 345 moving to Arts+
- A “Where Are We In CLT” featuring “The Matts” of the Queen City
Click here to dig in, y‘all.
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