From Black ‘Men of Change’ to American-made art, many must-sees in Charlotte museums

Across Charlotte, drawing audiences back into museums after 2 1/2 years of pandemic living continues to be a challenge.

The Charlotte Observer recently spoke to local museum leaders about their plans for the new season, some hidden gems they have and the ways they hope to engage the public on matters both local and global in scope.

This season, you can expect exhibits celebrating some of the most influential figures in art and culture, works by emerging artists, a push to explore new frontiers in science and history, and American paintings and sculpture that cover over two centuries.

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Todd Smith, executive director

What exhibit are you most looking forward to in the new season and why?

“Pop to Now,” (which) explores the legacy of Andy Warhol during his moment but also in the subsequent 50 years. It begins with the iconic portraits of the Bechtler family that Warhol did in 1973. We realized these portraits that we hold so dear and that are such fan favorites are turning 50 next year. We’re including three contemporary artists, who are creating work now — inspired by, or in honor of, or in deference to Warhol and his moment. (The exhibit runs from Sept. 10-Jan. 2, 2023.)

What is something at your site that’s a hidden gem?

Currently, our third floor looks at the work of Jean Tinguely, the sculptor who created the “Cascade” at the Carillon Building, that large-scale installation the Bechtler family commissioned. He was also the life-partner of Niki de Saint Phalle, the artist who created the “Firebird” sculpture in front of the museum. A lot of people don’t recognize the connection between those two artists.

What’s the biggest challenge you are facing now?

We’ve all gone through a few years of uncertainty around people being in civic spaces, and a lot of businesses are not requiring people to be at their desks in the uptown area every day. Our challenge is to continue to encourage people to come uptown and take advantage of all that exists, not just with us, but with all of our colleagues. For generations, we’ve spent a lot of energy and resources to make uptown a great cultural destination and I think our opportunity is to continue to build on that.

What’s a can’t-miss thing to do or see at your site?

Our building. A lot of times we don’t take stock of the architectural gem that we have. We’re walking around and sometimes we don’t look around. We don’t look up. But I think it’s a good thing to remind ourselves to appreciate the built environment. We’re very proud of the building, proud of the architect, Mario Botta.

The Charlotte Museum of History

President and CEO Terri White

What exhibit are you most looking forward to in the new season and why?

Our “Pride in the Piedmont’‘ exhibit (beginning early 2023). We’re entering a new era and a new mindset about who is included in history studies and history exhibitions. For us, this is a new and exciting thing. But for that (LGBTQ+) community, this is finally giving them the chance to partner with us and be seen in the spotlight. I think it will answer a lot of questions and, hopefully, expose a lot of people to new information and give us insight into our friends and neighbors who are a part of that community.

What’s something at your site that is a hidden gem?

Our Catawba pottery exhibit (“The Language of Clay,”) which is actually closing soon (on view through November). It is a physical embodiment of the partnership that we have with the Catawba Nation, where we do not interpret or tell their story. They are involved and engaged with how they want to be represented. It is a collection of pottery, history and photographs.

What’s the biggest challenge you are facing now?

There are two major challenges. One is getting people in the door because they don’t know we’re here. And two, dispelling the myth that we only speak on one small part of history.

What is a can’t-miss thing to do or see at your site?

The Rock House — the oldest home in Mecklenburg County, soon to be 250 years old. There’s also an 18th century kitchen and Spring House to take people back to what life was like more than 200 years ago. We tell that story from the perspective, not just of the settlers who colonized the area, but from the people who were impacted either through enslavement or as indigenous people during that process.

Discovery Place

Chief Science Officer Heather Norton

What exhibit or event are you most looking forward to in the new season and why?

We’re celebrating 75 years this year and so we’re starting to look at opportunities to have these celebratory moments throughout the season.

One thing we’ve been silently planning throughout the pandemic is reintroducing our adult programming. We are an institution that is for lifelong learners. We’re bringing back adult evening hours and looking at some amazing new content that we’ll be able to leverage out of our Accenture IMAX Dome Theatre, which was newly renovated, and our new Digistar 7 planetarium system, which is state-of-the-art.

What’s something at your site that is a hidden gem?

This summer we were gifted an incredible work of art by a local artist, Kelly Rose Zimmerman, called “The Great Barrier Reef.” It’s a crocheted coral reef display that (inspires) conversation about the impacts of pollution on our oceans. It’s a really great blend of art and science.

What’s the biggest challenge you are facing now?

Coming out of (the) pandemic into an operating schedule that was something we would have seen in 2019 — or right before the pandemic — is something that we are continuing to work on. This summer was a great milestone for us. We were able to open seven days a week for the first time since March of 2020.

What’s a can’t miss thing to do or see at your site?

This November, we have our new traveling exhibition coming, “Science Fiction Science Future.” We’re really excited because it weaves the story between the imagination and the storytelling that has been available to us in the science fiction genre, and how that has transpired into real science and technology innovations that we have today.

Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture

David Taylor, president and CEO

What exhibit are you most looking forward to in the new season and why?

“Men of Change: Power, Triumph. Truth,” organized by the Smithsonian Institution (Oct. 8-March 12, 2023). This is an interactive exhibition (about) Black men that have helped change the landscape of America in different ways, from historically iconic people, like W.E.B. Du Bois, all the way to individuals like Alvin Ailey, LeBron James and Kehinde Wiley.

We’re doing this in collaboration with the Levine Museum of the New South. Admission won’t be a barrier. It will be free access to the public at both institutions by the generosity of our local sponsor, Wells Fargo. (Half of the exhibit will be at the Gantt, and half will be at the Levine.)

What’s something at your site now that is a hidden gem?

People really have been intrigued by “FuturePresent” and the acquisition highlights from the Gantt’s permanent collection. It gives them the chance to see some really extraordinary contemporary artists, such as Mario Moore and Radcliffe Bailey.

There’s a new gem in the space, a mural we’ve just had commissioned by Georgie Nakima, a local artist. It’s an absolutely gorgeous piece (called “Earth Keeper”) that sits above our grand lobby.

What is the biggest challenge you are facing now?

To navigate through — hopefully the tail end of — COVID and build an audience back. We see it growing every week.

What’s a can’t miss thing to do or see at your site?

I think “Men of Change” is going to be that kind of exhibition. Again, we wanted it to be where access would not be a problem. This is something for all ages and races to be able to come in and share, and really have that conversation about these impactful men that helped shape America in many ways.

The Mint Museum

Todd Herman, president and CEO

What exhibit are you most looking forward to in the new season, and why?

Two of them. One is “Diedrick Brackens: ark of bulrushes” (July 16-Dec. 11). Brackens is a young, gay, African American artist from Los Angeles who produces textile work based on traditions such as basket weaving and quilt making. People have had quite emotional reactions to that.

The other is “American Made” (Sept. 10-Dec. 24). It’s American paintings and sculpture that span the 18th century through the mid-20th century and has both big names and artists that you might not have heard of before.

Is there a performance to watch for in the new season?

Our free “Wednesday Night Live” series has lots of great performers, from symphony to spoken word.

What is the biggest challenge you are facing now?

Understanding how we’re going to come out of COVID and where the COVID situation is taking us. What do we need to look for going forward that will become more permanent than temporary? How do we need to pivot to meet the needs of our audience?

What is a can’t-miss event in the new season?

“Fashion Reimagined,” (Dec. 10-July 2, 2023) which is from our own fashion collection. It’s going to be tremendously beautiful. But everything is can’t miss — it could be different for every person because we have such a variety that they will find something that speaks to them.

Reporter Gabe Castro-Root contributed to this report

This story is part of an Observer underwriting project with the Thrive Campaign for the Arts, supporting arts journalism in Charlotte.

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This story was originally published September 7, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "From Black ‘Men of Change’ to American-made art, many must-sees in Charlotte museums."