Gantt Center: Opening celebration for Visual Vanguard (and more)

Schedule:

• Sunday: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Monday: Closed
• Tuesday – Friday: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission

• Adults: $9
• College/educator/military/senior: $7
• Youth age 6-17: $7
• Youth 5 and under: Free
• Members: Free

Haute Asiko Fashion Show
Friday, August 27th, 2021
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
General admission: $10

This event highlights the art of fashion and design, while simultaneously blending music, culinary, and signature cocktails.

The Haute Asiko Fashion Show is curated by Davita Galloway, co-founder and owner of DUPP&SWAT, and will feature a range of local designers from very diverse aesthetics. This arts and fashion event fuses together sustainable materials merging contemporary urban culture with varying sewing and appliqué techniques. Asiko is a Yourba term that means “fashionable” and guests are encouraged to arrive in style!

After the show, guests will have an opportunity to shop directly with a variety of local artists and artisans. In addition to shopping local, guests can enjoy music, photography, art, and curated cocktails.

Visual Vanguard Opening Celebration
Saturday, August 28th, 2021
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Free

This all-day event celebrates the opening of Visual Vanguard: An Exhibition of Contemporary Black Carolina Artists.

This exhibition surveys the struggles, strengths, and celebrations of Black creativity in the Carolinas by twenty-five artists who create in a variety of vibrant and versatile media including visual and performance art, video and poetry. Each artist amplifies the ideals of racial pride, social power, identity, and the importance of heritage and culture.

Activities include:

Morning Schedule (10 am – 4 pm)

• 10 am: Drop-in and make your own African mask
• 11 am: Live art demonstration
• 12 noon: Curator-led exhibition tour
• 1:30 pm: Curator talk

Evening Schedule (6 pm – 10 pm)

• 6 pm: Live music
• 7 pm: Curators’ remarks
• 7 pm: Exhibiting artist performance
• 8 pm: Meet exhibiting artists in the galleries
• 8 pm: Rooftop musical performance + more

Classic Black Cinema Series: Greased Lightning
Sunday, September 12th, 2021
2 p.m.
Included in museum admission

(1977) This is the true story of Wendell Scott, America’s first African American NASCAR driver. Wendell returns home from WWII and finds his hometown the way he left it. Beginning a taxicab business, through which he learns all the county roads, the opportunity of his life presents itself. After an invitation to the local race track, a race car driver is born, unbelievably fast and talented, defying expectations, and pushing boundaries in a racist 1950’s America. The track and moment is his.

Family First: In Style Jewelry Making — Earrings
Saturday, September 18th, 2021
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
$5 per participant

Learn how to make your own, unique pieces that have your individual stamp on them. In this workshop, learn techniques to help you create a pair of earrings from start to finish; from designing to painting and assembling! Create your own patterns and designs or use stencils for your pieces. Participants will walk away with at least one completed piece of wearable art.

This workshop is open to all ages and experience levels. All that is needed is your imagination.

Family First: In Style Jewelry Making — Necklaces
Saturday, September 18th, 2021
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$5 per participant

As an encore of our earring workshop, learn how to make your own necklaces! In this workshop, learn techniques to help you create a necklace from start to finish; from designing to painting and assembling! Create your own patterns and designs or use stencils for your pieces. Participants will walk away with at least one completed piece of wearable art.

Family First: Poetry Writing and Performance with Boris “Bluz” Rodgers
Saturday, October 2nd, 2021
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
$10 per participant

Participants will be lead through a creative writing journey led by Emmy Award winner Boris “Bluz” Rodgers. During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to write and perform a poetry piece that incorporates various writing techniques. The workshop is targeted for ages 12 and older and adults.

Family First: Poetry Writing and Performance with Boris “Bluz” Rodgers
Saturday, October 2nd, 2021
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
$10 per participant

Participants will be lead through a creative writing journey led by Emmy Award winner Boris “Bluz” Rodgers. During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to write and perform a poetry piece that incorporates various writing techniques. The workshop is targeted for ages 12 and older and adults.

Classic Black Cinema Series: Nothing But a Man
Sunday, October 10th, 2021
2 p.m.
Included in museum admission

(1964) Born in Birmingham, Duff Anderson, the father of a male toddler, who lives with a nanny, re-locates to a small town to work on the railroad. He meets with and is attracted to Josie much to the chagrin of her preacher father. The marriage takes place, nevertheless, both re-locate to live in their own house, and he gets a job in a mill. He decides not to bring his son to live with them. Challenges arise when the Mill Foreman finds out that Duff is attempting to unionize the workers, forcing Duff to quit and seek work elsewhere. Unable to reconcile himself to working on a daily wage of $2.50 picking cotton nor even as a waiter, he gets a job at a garage. He is enraged at a customer for belittling him and Josie and is let go. Unemployed, unable to support his wife and son, he gets abusive and leaves—perhaps never to return.

Family First: 3D Architecture Construction Workshop
Saturday, November 6th, 2021
12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
$10 per participant

Pulling inspiration from the exhibition Container/Contained, participants will create 3D building-like structures while learning about construction, design, color and patterns from the organizers of the exhibition. The exhibition features designs from Phil Freelon, architect and designer of the Harvey B. Gantt Center. Participants will have an up-close experience with a 3D printer and will have an opportunity to work with professors and graduate students from the Department of Architecture at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The workshop is focused towards a younger audience.

Family First: 3D Architecture Construction Workshop
Saturday, November 6th, 2021
2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
$10 per participant

Pulling inspiration from the exhibition Container/Contained, participants will create 3D building-like structures while learning about construction, design, color and patterns from the organizers of the exhibition. The exhibition features designs from Phil Freelon, architect and designer of the Harvey B. Gantt Center. Participants will have an up-close experience with a 3D printer and will have an opportunity to work with professors and graduate students from the Department of Architecture at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The workshop is focused towards a younger audience.

Classic Black Cinema Series: Foxy Brown
Sunday, November 14th, 2021
2 p.m.
Included in museum admission

(1974) A sexy, voluptuous, black woman named Foxy Brown is on a rampage when her boyfriend is killed by a government agent. Using her body as a tool of attraction and her afro and gun as a deadly weapon, it’s up to Foxy to avenge her boyfriend’s murder.

Family First: African Dance Experience
December 4th, 2021
2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Take a journey through the history of African dance, particularly how we moved our bodies in celebration and healing. Accompanied by the sounds of drums, we focus on freedom in movement! Elsie will guide participants through simple but expressive dance choreography, after which all can perform as a collective. Please be sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes for the experience, with enough water for the family to stay hydrated.

This workshop is open to all ages and all levels.

Classic Black Cinema: Sounder
Sunday, December 12th, 2021
2 p.m.
Included in museum admission

(1972) The Morgans, a loving and strong family of Black sharecroppers in Louisiana in 1933, face a serious family crisis when the husband and father, Nathan Lee Morgan, is convicted of a petty crime and sent to a prison camp. After some weeks or months, the wife and mother, Rebecca Morgan, sends the oldest son, who is about 11 years old, to visit his father at the camp. The journey becomes something of an odyssey for the boy. During the journey, he stays a little while with a dedicated Black schoolteacher.