Two Creatives. Six News Bites. And, Four Things to SHOUT! About.
Charlotte creative Amelia Boys
OUR NEW BEST FRIEND: CREATOR AMELIA BOYS
“My dream has always been to find a mix between science, art, design and entrepreneurship. I believe that fashion and textiles have a versatile balance of these characteristics.” – Amelia Boys
Before she’s even left home for college, Mallard Creek High School senior, Amelia Boys, has enjoyed experiences in her creative career that many artists spend a lifetime trying to attain. A few weeks ago, she received a Gold Key award for her portfolio work in the Mid-Carolinas Region Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, overseen by UNC Charlotte’s College of Arts + Architecture. That’s how we at The Biscuit got to know her.
Boys is headed to N.C. State University in the fall with plans to study fashion and textile design. But, before she packs up for Raleigh, we caught up with her to delve into what’s already an impressive creative career.
Here’s a sneak peek at our full Q & A with Boys.
What do you think of the creative community in Charlotte?
I love the encouragement of creativity in Charlotte! I have been involved with the Charlotte Art League (CAL), Upcycle Arts and Craft Clt. The Green Recycled Runway show with CAL was a super cool opportunity to showcase my outfit made entirely out of grocery bags!
Click the link below to see photos of Boys’ work and learn more about her creative path in Charlotte.
Charlotte creative Tony Bravado
CREATIVE PROFILE: Tony Bravado/@NFLTCLT
NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are capturing the attention of creatives and investors. A group of Charlotte creatives is looking to lead the charge in the Queen City, bringing awareness to these one-of-a-kind digital assets.
Co-founded by Tony Bravado, NFT CLT aims to not only build community but to educate. The local community for NFT enthusiasts educates and onboards people on blockchain technology, NFTs and Web 3.0. A recent collaboration with Charlotte Business Group creates an opportunity to further expand reach and increase impact. To understand more about NFTs and their future in Charlotte, we asked Bravado to put us (and you) in the picture through a special Q & A profile.
The next meeting of NFTCLT is Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at Summit Seltzer. We recommend you read more of Tony’s interview by clicking the button below to brush up before you go.
Calls for Art
CALL TO CLT ARTISTS FOR ACTOR’S THEATRE AND CHARLOTTE ART LEAGUE
DEADLINE: April 4
Charlotte Art League (CAL) and Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte (ATC) are partnering on an art auction fundraiser inspired by ATC’s upcoming performance of Hype Man (a “breakbeat play” running April 14 – May 7, which is also how long the auction will run). They are seeking 5 to 10 pieces of artwork. There’s no entry fee, the artist sets the minimum bid and receives 40 percent of the winning bid, with the rest going to support CAL and ATC. They’ve also provided some themes and inspiration topics to get you started. LEARN MORE AND APPLY.
ART CALL: BOOM CHARLOTTE NEW VOICES SHOWCASE
DEADLINE: March 14 by 11:59 p.m.
If you are an immigrant or refugee artist, you are invited to share your work at the BOOM Charlotte Festival (returning April 22-23 after a two-year, COVID-forced hiatus) through their New Voices Showcase. All art disciplines are welcome to submit work including theater, poetry, dance, music, visual art, film or any other art forms. BOOM will highlight this work while helping to amplify and connect the artists to Charlotte’s arts and culture community. LEARN MORE AND APPLY.
ART CALL: McDOWELL ARTS CENTER SEEKS FEMALE ARTISTS
DEADLINE: April 5
If you are an emerging or professional woman artist looking for a space to exhibit your artwork, this one’s for you. McDowell Arts Center Gallery and CLT artist LaDara McKinnon have teamed up on the “Power in Your Presence” art show, which will run July 8 – Aug. 13 in the McDowell Arts Center Gallery in the center of Matthews. They’re looking for diverse original art for this juried show that will be displaying women-identifying artists, age 18 or older. LEARN MORE AND APPLY.
Creative Events
GRAND OPENING OF FIVE POINTS PLAZA
DATE: March 12 (10 a.m. – 7 p.m.)
Mark your calendar to attend a community celebration of Five Points Plaza, located in Historic West End and designed by the city of Charlotte using input from residents. Just steps away from the Gold Line streetcar and Johnson C. Smith University, it will feature an amphitheater, public Wi-Fi, artwork, outdoor space and more. On Saturday, March 12, you’ll be able to experience this hub of community gatherings for yourself. Swing by the intersection of West Trade, State Street, 5th Street and Beatties Ford Road to check out this community-led initiative. MORE ON FIVE POINTS PLAZA HERE.
ART WALK ON UNION
DATE: April 2 & June 25 (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Make plans to enjoy this all-day arts festival created for artists and makers to sell their handmade artwork. An expansion of the Cabarrus Arts Council’s Art Walks, Art Walk on Union features live music, food trucks, local breweries/wineries vendors and has the participation of local galleries, shops and restaurants throughout downtown Concord, N.C. If you’re a regional artist who makes handcrafted art and would like to become a vendor at the event (including a 10×10 foot vendor space), you can register for April 2 HERE and June 25 HERE.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION WORKSHOPS
DATES: Various
Our friends at Queen City Comedy, Blumenthal Performing Arts and the Metrolina Theatre Association have joined forces to offer virtual training sessions on working with performers from underrepresented communities. Currently planned workshops are focused on working with people who are neurodivergent, chronically Ill, disabled, transgender and/or non-binary. While available to everyone, some course content has been created with arts organization leaders in mind. Blumenthal has also generously agreed to cover workshop attendance costs for all who need it, so cost isn’t a barrier. LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH SESSION AND REGISTER HERE.
“Impulse” by Lateral Office and CS Design in 2019
With only four more weeks to go until Charlotte SHOUT! comes roaring back to the streets of Uptown Charlotte, it’s time to start getting your plan together. Here are four events and installations we’re excited to experience when the festival returns April 1-17. Click here for more events.
ONE: “Impulse” See-Saws (April 1-17)
One of the breakout hits of SHOUT! 2019 will be back on the Levine Avenue of the Arts every day, all day during the festival. Created by Lateral Office and CS Design, “Impulse” is a collection of gigantic seesaws that light up and play sounds while in motion. MORE.
TWO: Queen City Jam Clash (April 9)
Which decade of Hip Hop and R&B music reigns supreme? The ‘80s? The ‘90s? The 2000s or the 2010s? Find out when four bands battle it out at the Gateway Village Promenade. MORE.
THREE: Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 (April 1-17)
The streets are going to be bursting with activity during SHOUT! This installation of hammocks and swings suspended from bright red frames in The Green invite you to sit down, slow down and connect with friends (old and new). Developed by artists Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena, Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 is inspired by Latin American public markets. MORE.
FOUR: Page & Stage Open Mic featuring Mahogany L. Browne (April 9)
Poets and spoken word artists are invited to submit to share the mic and their work with Mahogany L. Browne, author of Black Girl Magic. MORE.
This news item was sponsored by Charlotte Center City Partners.
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