If you only read ONE MORE email before Labor Day…
The events of the last year have given all of us a lot to process. Many of us are looking for creative outlets to share our feelings and show support to our community. Charlotte creative, Irene Nguyen — AKA Lil Bit Design — defines herself as an “amateur ‘craftsperson’” and she’s putting her newfound love for woodworking to good use, fighting for equity with power tools and passion. After seeing one of Irene’s yard signs with a “Resist Fist” over gay and trans pride colors, Tip Top Market commissioned her to make one for the so big she had to build it in her backyard.
 Bree Stallings received a Cultural Vision Grant ASC Supports 24 Groups with Cultural Vision Grants“What stands out to me is the reminder that constraints can inspire creativity. Each organization that received funding in this latest round has created a Plan A, as well as Plans B, C and D to ensure that we will have rich programming available to us throughout the waves of infection we may be seeing.” – Liz Fitzgerald, ASC Last week, the Arts and Science Council injected $148,700 in funding to 24 different creatives and creative groups through its Cultural Vision Awards initiative. Half of those are “led by and/or serve communities that the philanthropic community has historically under-resourced” and a full third of those funded were first time recipients. This funding supports individuals and nonprofit groups in executing programming at work in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community.
Get Out There! Yard Art Day is Back on Monday“Everyone’s itching for something to be a part of. Yard art allows everyone a chance to create and view creations while practicing social distancing.” – Tom Pettacia, Yard Art Day When COVID-19 struck, Yard Art Day organizers Deborah Triplett and Tom Pettacia were worried it would hit their annual event — which encourages creatives of all skill levels to build installations in their front yards on Labor Day — hard. And, it sure did. With 110 households participating, 2020 will be the biggest Yard Art Day, yet.
WHO BUILT ME: Sarah Deliah Was Shaped by the Power of PresenceWhen getting started in any field, particularly one as unforgiving as journalism, having a mentor is essential. On today’s episode of the Biscuit CLT Podcast’s “Who Built Me” series, we talk to Sarah Delia, the host and lead reporter of “She Says” and “The List” podcasts and arts and crime reporter at Charlotte’s public radio station, WFAE. Sarah was lucky enough to have a mentor help her grow. Now, she feels the drive to do that for others. 
The “Who Built Me” podcast series is sponsored by Foundation for the Carolinas.
BISCUIT BLITZ: Chris Cureton Fights for Humanity with MediaOn the latest Biscuit Blitz, Matt Olin has a quick chat with Chris Cureton, Creative Director at BOLTGROUP, about ways that the Black Lives Matter movement has added a “refreshed level of social consciousness” into the business world — and the responsibility his field has in seizing this opportunity for real change. Chris shares how the fight for humanity will occur largely on the media and communications battlefield — wielding the power of images, words and design. 
Comedian Sinbad Helping Local Creative Get to His Dream SchoolWe’ve written about young Charlotte entrepreneur and HUG grantee, Aaron Anderson of AnderBerry Bracelets, before. In the days of large local festivals, Aaron was an ever-present sight, selling bracelets, making friends and supporting his family. Now, Aaron has been accepted into a prestigious military academy, but he needs to raise funds to pay tuition. And, famous comedian, Sinbad, is lending a hand. Kristen Miranda of QC Life spoke to them about their unlikely friendship started and how to help Aaron get to school.
Mural Artist Georgie Nakima Interviewed on CBS This MorningYesterday, CBS This Morning aired a story entitled “The Art of Protest,” about how art and artists are igniting activism and giving voice to racial injustice. The piece featured Charlotte’s Black Lives Matter mural on S. Tryon Street and an interview with Queen City mural artist Georgie Nakima about her efforts to embrace cultural diversity and give it representation through her work. Watch this national story below.
GUEST EDITORIAL: Why Our Grief is Loud When Black Heroes Die
By Jonathan McFadden“No one’s saying Chadwick Boseman was a (panther) god. He wasn’t the Second Coming of Christ. He wasn’t the preeminent civil rights leader of our era. He wasn’t the be-all and end-all of Black excellence. But, he was a symbol. He was an icon. He was a hero.”
These words form the beginning of Jonathan McFadden’s powerful essay “Why our grief is loud when Black heroes die” reacting to the death of Chadwick Boseman. We are proud to share them. His words inspired us to commission Charlotte artist Marcus Kiser to create the image above. And we hope his words leave you inspired, too.
CreativeMornings/Charlotte: Frankie Zombie Talks about “Spectrum”
Online Friday, Sept. 11 – 8:15-9:45AMCreativeMornings/Charlotte wants YOU to be in the Zoom (or YouTube Live) where it happens on September 11. They’ll be celebrating Charlotte’s creativity with artist Frankie Zombie and addressing the global theme of “Spectrum,” selected by the Creative Mornings’ Las Vegas chapter. The event is BYOC (bring your own coffee). But, CMCLT will bring the creativity! Registration for the event goes live Monday, September 7 at 9:00am. Click here on Monday to register. In the meantime, check out Frankie’s work over on Instagram.
Let’s face it. Most of 2020 has sucked. Most of the news circulating these past 8 months hasn’t been great, but we think that all changed last week when the Charlotte Hornets announced that they are taking us back to the 90s! Finally, we can escape this wretched year… oh wait what’s that? They don’t have a time machine? They’re just bringing back the iconic double pinstripe from their late 90s uniforms? Well, that’s pretty phenomenal news, too! Let’s check in with our favorite totally fake, stock image Charlotteans to hear their thoughts on the design.
Usually, we think PDA is a little icky. (Come on people, get a room.) Especially now that we are supposed to be social distancing. (Seeing people hold hands in the produce section raises our anxiety level now.) But there is one Public Display of Affection that warms our hearts every time we see it. This metal sculpture found in the heart of Stumptown Park in Downtown Matthews titled “Public Display of Affection” was created by philanthropist/skateboarder/sculptor Tom Risser. (How do we get that job?). Tom is also the owner of the Charlotte-based US Bottlers Machinery Company, a specialized packaging company that has been in the Risser family since 1906. The materials used for his PDA sculpture and other artworks are leftover metal scraps from the machinery company. We might not be into PDA but we will publicly display our affection for “Public Display of Affection” any day of the week. Directions: 120 South Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105
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 stories about: - A look at 15 street murals commission by the City of Charlotte Placemaking department
- A “Who Built Me” Podcast with Meredith Dean
- Two fiber artists Jillian Mueller and Kat Sánchez Standfield link up for a project
- Seven businesses highlighted by @CLTBlackOwned
- A look back at ads for RNCialis and RNCelexa
- A “Where Are We In CLT” trip to the Home of the 90s
Click here to dig in, y‘all. | The Biscuit is proudly sponsored by: |
 |
 |
 |
| 
