Gantt Center: Family First – R&B Tech

 

 

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, at 551 South Tryon Street at Levine Center for the Arts, has a number of free and low-cost events coming up for the community.

Charlotte Black Restaurant Week Food Truck Friday At The Gantt Center
Friday, October 19, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
All ages
Free

Wrap up a week of community support for Black-owned dining establishments with a special edition of Black Food Truck Fridays. We have partnered with Black Business Owners of Charlotte to provide art-filled afternoon and evening of creative programming and tours to accompany your delicious dishes from Charlotte’s favorite food trucks. Bring the entire family for a taste of cuisines that will leave you craving more!

Family First Presented by Novant Health: R&B Tech
Saturday, October 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Age 7-12
$5 (free for Gantt Center members)
Follow above link to register.

Our musical workshop is back, this time with an R&B twist. Participants will gain first-hand experience with song structure, elements of a hit song and an intro to song writing under the direction of musical sensation Jason Jet. By the end of the workshop attendees should have a verse and chorus to their own R&B ballad which will be recorded using the Audacity app.

The Art of R&B: An Interactive Experience
Saturday, October 20, 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Age 12+
$5 (free for Gantt Center members)
Follow above link to register.

Get ready to learn the ins and outs of making music in two interactive sessions. Spend an afternoon immersed in the technical aspects of R&B music with artists who are making their mark on the industry. Join us for an interactive panel on songwriting, performance, music production and the business of Charlotte’s music scene. Then discover what it takes to write, record, perform and brand yourself as an artist.

SCHEDULE

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Interactive panel and Q&A about songwriting, performance, music production, and doing business in Charlotte. Panelists will share examples of their work. Featuring DJ SPK, Jessica Macks, Krystle Baller, producers 88 Meech and Master Kie, and Cyanca

1:35 PM – 3:00 PM

Following the interactive panel participants are invited to rotate through mini workshops:

Intro to Production – Meech and Master Kie
Performance 101 – Krystle Baller from Girls Rock CLT
Intro to Writing and Recording – Cyanca
Business & Social Media Tips for Artists – DJ SPK and J Macks

Family First Presented by Novant Health: Intro to Photography
Saturday, November 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Age 12+
$5 (free for Gantt Center members)
Follow above link to register.

Learn about the art of photography and the groundbreaking impact of African-American photographers in a new workshop with noted photographer Chris Charles.

The session includes a show and tell about gear and lighting, a discussion about types of photography and an opportunity for participants to get behind the lens. Please note: attendees should bring their own camera or smart phone.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Chris CharlesBorn and raised in Brooklyn, NY with dreams of becoming an architect, Chris Charles studied Architectural Engineering at SUNY Farmingdale College of Technology prior to a “short” 12-year stint as a US Army Paratrooper (random, but true)… all the while honing his skills in coffee making and chocolate cake eating. After some years in the private sector as an IT professional, Charles then earned a degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham and has been able to use his technical training and natural ability to successfully carve a niche for himself in the local and national markets.

His client list includes Red Bull, Spike Lee, Moleskine, Durham County, renowned architect Phil Freelon (Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture), The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Toyota, and Grammy Nominated artists such as The Foreign Exchange, Rapsody, and Nnenna Freelon. Learn more at christophercharlesphotography.com.

Working The Lens – A Q&A Session for Photographers
Saturday, November 3rd, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
$5 (free for Gantt Center members)
Follow above link to register

ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Calling all professional photographers. Take a closer look at what is needed to build your photography business. Renowned photographer Chris Charles shares his tools of the trade in this “talk and teach” workshop.

Find out the answers to your burning questions about how to build your portfolio and land that major client. A Q&A session will follow the talk.

Civics 101: Interrupting the Cradle to Prison Pipeline
Thursday, November 8, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 18+
Cost: Free

We have partnered with the Social Justice Ministry of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church to present an informative session on the increasing jail and prison population of young, African-American men and women and its effects on the community.

What are some of the strategies needed to interrupt this system? What is the impact of the lack of education among this population?

Civics 101 is an outreach program of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Social Justice Ministry.

Talk About it Tuesday — Charlotte’s Affordable Housing Conversation: Where Do We Go From Here?
Tuesday, November 13, 6:30 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
Ages: 18+
Cost: Free

In connection with our Welcome to Brookhill exhibition we will have a series of conversations about the themes in the work.

Our next community conversation will examine various plans and attitudes that impact Charlotte’s need to address and provide more affordable housing options for residents.

Share your thoughts and perspectives in a stimulating dialogue about a critical part of the economic landscape in our city. Join panelists James E. Ford, Principal Consultant of Filling the Gap Educational Consultants and co-chair of the Opportunity Task Force; Greg Jarrell, co-founder of QC Family Tree and co-chair of the Westside Community Land Trust; Taiwo “Tai” Jaiyeoba, Charlotte’s Director of Planning, Design and Development and Dionne Nelson, President & CEO of Laurel Street Residential as we take a closer look at Charlotte’s growth.

Art After Dark
Thursday, November 15, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Ages: 18+
Cost: Free

Jumpstart your weekend at Art After Dark, with an evening of music, conversation and creative expression. Our doors are open and the art is free.

Listen in as creatives from around the region – John Love Jr, de’angelo Dia, Cedric Umoja and Chadwick – share their views on being a black male artist during the Question Bridge: Black Male Artists Roundtable; join a community dialogue about unconscious bias, freedom and gentrification as we connect over Ted Talks & Chill; relax, meditate and create a unique, abstract art piece in our Vibes and Light session; immerse yourself in our art with a guided tour; and get ready for a spirited discussion on today’s current topics from a roundtable of millennial voices during another live-streamed edition of The Situationship Circle talk show.

End the evening with a little dancing and cocktails as we celebrate our common humanity through the arts.

Family First Presented by Novant Health: Paper Weaving Workshop
Saturday, December 1, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Ages: All Ages
Cost: $5 (free for Gantt Center members)
Follow above link to register

Teaching artist Natalie Chanel leads an introductory class on the basic techniques of paper weaving.

Drawing on inspiration from the Kente cloths of Ghana and the weaving techniques found in the Carolinas and throughout the African diaspora, participants will learn to choose and create intricate patterns that are both pleasing to the eye and culturally significant as they craft a beautiful piece of art to take home.

Talk About it Tuesday — A Kwanzaa-Inspired Conversation on Cooperative Economics
Tuesday, December 11, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 18+
Cost: Free

Join us as we celebrate the third principle of Kwanzaa, Ujamaa, with an evening of networking and conversation around shared work and wealth. Participants will discuss the importance of small business and entrepreneurship within in Charlotte communities and next steps to expand opportunities throughout the city.