Toyota has announced that two nonprofit organizations in Charlotte are among the 500 finalists in 100 Cars for Good, a national philanthropic program in which the automaker is giving away 100 vehicles to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 days. Winners will be selected each day by the public through voting on Facebook, beginning on Monday, May 14.
100 Cars for Good finalists come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This year’s finalists from Charlotte include:
· A Child’s Place of Charlotte Inc.: Works to erase the impact of homelessness on children and their education by providing educational and emotional support services as well as medical referrals to keep children healthy and in the classroom.
· Project Hope Consulting Inc.: Mentors and tutors children in math, reading, science, computer technology and medicine.
A complete list of finalists is available at www.100carsforgood.com.
· See a short video about 100 Cars for Good
· Access the 100 Cars for Good logo and photos This is the second consecutive year for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, which is the first Toyota initiative to enlist the public’s help in determining how the company’s charitable contributions are awarded. The 500 finalists, selected from an extremely competitive pool, were certified by an independent panel of experts in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The finalists include nonprofits serving a broad range of community needs, including animal welfare, arts, education, environment, health, veterans’ affairs and safety. “Toyota congratulates all of this year’s finalists for 100 Cars for Good in Charlotte,” said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Sales. “We are grateful for the enormous impact that these nonprofits have each day and hope that 100 Cars for Good will play an important role in raising awareness of their work and helping these vital organizations make an even bigger difference in Charlotte. We wish each of the finalists the best of luck and thank all of the nonprofit groups from around the country that applied to participate.” 100 Cars for Good voting will begin May 14 and continue through August 21. Each day, five organizations will be profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page atwww.100carsforgood.com. Individuals will be able to vote once each day for the nonprofit they think is most deserving of a new car. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day will win the vehicle. The four runners-up each day will receive a $1,000 grant from Toyota. Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services. Toyota will be providing all 500 finalists with a digital video camera, training toolkit and free online advertising credits to support their 100 Cars for Goodcampaigns and to help them create or expand their presence in social media and other digital platforms. Each finalist will be asked to create a video showing how the organization plans to use a new vehicle to make an even bigger impact in the local community. The videos will be featured at www.100carsforgood.com. About Toyota Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion. Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S. For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com/community. About Toyota Financial Services (TFS) TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. 
· Access the 100 Cars for Good logo and photos This is the second consecutive year for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good, which is the first Toyota initiative to enlist the public’s help in determining how the company’s charitable contributions are awarded. The 500 finalists, selected from an extremely competitive pool, were certified by an independent panel of experts in philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The finalists include nonprofits serving a broad range of community needs, including animal welfare, arts, education, environment, health, veterans’ affairs and safety. “Toyota congratulates all of this year’s finalists for 100 Cars for Good in Charlotte,” said Jim Lentz, President and Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Motor Sales. “We are grateful for the enormous impact that these nonprofits have each day and hope that 100 Cars for Good will play an important role in raising awareness of their work and helping these vital organizations make an even bigger difference in Charlotte. We wish each of the finalists the best of luck and thank all of the nonprofit groups from around the country that applied to participate.” 100 Cars for Good voting will begin May 14 and continue through August 21. Each day, five organizations will be profiled on Toyota’s Facebook page atwww.100carsforgood.com. Individuals will be able to vote once each day for the nonprofit they think is most deserving of a new car. The organization with the most votes at the end of the day will win the vehicle. The four runners-up each day will receive a $1,000 grant from Toyota. Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services. Toyota will be providing all 500 finalists with a digital video camera, training toolkit and free online advertising credits to support their 100 Cars for Goodcampaigns and to help them create or expand their presence in social media and other digital platforms. Each finalist will be asked to create a video showing how the organization plans to use a new vehicle to make an even bigger impact in the local community. The videos will be featured at www.100carsforgood.com. About Toyota Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants in eight states. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design facilities. Toyota’s annual purchasing of parts, materials, goods and services from U.S. suppliers totals more than $23 billion. Toyota is deeply committed to being a great community partner and is focused on supporting programs in ways that achieve long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, with a particular concentration on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed more than half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs across the U.S. For more information on Toyota, please visit www.toyota.com/community. About Toyota Financial Services (TFS) TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota and Lexus in the U.S., offering retail auto financing and leasing through Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC) and Toyota Lease Trust and extended service contracts and other payment protection products through Toyota Motor Insurance Services (TMIS). TFS employs 3,300 associates nationwide, and has managed assets totaling more than $91 billion. It is part of a worldwide network of comprehensive financial services offered by Toyota Financial Services Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation.
Apr 27 12
Matthew Weinstein spotlight exhibition set to open April 28; artist, acclaimed author speak May 3
Fans of visual art, multimedia art, film, dance, and symphony will all find something to love when The Mint Museum unveils the spotlight exhibition Matthew Weinstein, featuring four paintings and a short film by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based multimedia artist Matthew Weinstein.
The exhibition opens Saturday, April 28 and remains on view through August 19. It runs concurrently with Colorbind: The Emily and Zach Smith Collection, another spotlight exhibition paying tribute to beloved local patrons of both the Mint and Charlotte Symphony, on view April 28 through August 12.
Weinstein has achieved notoriety in the art world as the first artist to focus exclusively on 3D animation. Beginning with a self-written dialogue or lyrics, Weinstein uses musical scores and written text to develop characters which he then renders by means of the animation program MAYA. Weinstein then casts actors to vocalize the dialogue, and musicians to create an auditory backdrop for the already visually-developed environments. Using precision airbrush techniques and single-hair paintbrushes, Weinstein also creates paintings, essentially abstractions of his animated worlds. These paintings accompany the digital installations and enable the artist to explore the often-tenuous boundary between the real and the virtual in contemporary culture.
The Mint-organized exhibition includes Weinstein’s short film Chariots of the Gods, which features a mechanized female koi, voiced by Tony Award-winning actress Natasha Richardson, who dangles from a golden chain in an empty restaurant. While she seems to carelessly meander through her environment with a smiling disposition, she offers discourse on such weighty subjects as the future, devolution, technology, aliens, and the impossibility of progress.
“Matthew Weinstein’s video invites the viewer to enter a mesmerizing environment, which is entirely manufactured through computer animation. His unique ability to combine his many talents as screenwriter, director, and digital animator results in a video that is visually stunning as the narrator lulls the viewer to follow her epic tale,” said Carla Hanzal, the Mint’s curator of contemporary art. “Weinstein’s paintings, often inspired by the digital environments he creates, are seamlessly rendered. Their refined surfaces and rich detail coax one to take a closer look at the worlds he brings to fruition.”
On Thursday, May 3, 2012, Weinstein will participate in a special dialogue with Robert Goolrick, acclaimed author of the novel A Reliable Wife, at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street. After a viewing of Weinstein’s short film The Childhood of Bertolt Brecht (recommended for ages 13 and up), the artist and the author will discuss the importance and the role of narrative in art. This event is a cultural partnership between The Mint Museum and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, which also celebrates the Symphony’s production of Bolero Comes Alive, featuring digital animation by Weinstein. After the lecture at 6:30 p.m., the museum will host a reception and opportunities to view both the Weinstein and Colorbind exhibitions (other galleries will be closed during the evening). The cost is $10 for Mint members and $20 for non-members. And in a recently-adopted policy, all college students with valid ID can be admitted free to this and all other lectures hosted by the Mint.
Any non-members who attend can receive a $10 discount off a new Mint membership. In addition, ticketholders to the Symphony’s May 4 Bolero Comes Alive performance can receive free admission and $10 off a new Mint Membership from May 3 through May 6, and Mint members can receive $10 off Bolero Comes Alive tickets by contacting the Charlotte Symphony Box Office at 704-972-2000. This cultural partnership is reminiscent of similar partnerships the Mint has joined in with Opera Carolina and North Carolina Dance Theatre. In January, the Mint unveiled a spotlight exhibition by artist Jun Kaneko, which remains on view through April 29, in conjunction with a Kaneko-designed production of the opera Madama Butterfly. And in March, the museum offered free admission toSleeping Beauty ticketholders and Mint members received a ticket purchase discount to NCDT’s Sleeping Beauty performance in conjunction with the museum’s Fairytales, Fantasy, & Fear exhibition, which remains on view through July 8.
“Exploring innovative ways to maximize opportunities for Charlotte audiences through cultural partnerships continues to be a core value of the Mint, and we’re pleased to be able to further this goal through the work of an artist as talented as Matthew Weinstein,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, president & CEO of The Mint Museum. “As we have said before, thanks to this deepening spirit of collaboration, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a follower of the arts in Charlotte.” Symphony premieres Bolero Comes Alive At Bolero Comes Alive, a KnightSounds performance on May 4, the Charlotte Symphony will feature the world premiere of Weinstein’s latest digitally animated work of art. Weinstein’s commissioned piece is a 16-minute original animated video to be displayed on a screen suspended above the orchestra. The audience will experience the brilliant animation in sync with the hypnotic music of Ravel’s Bolero. This is the first commissioned work under the leadership of Music Director Christopher Warren-Green. It will be performed during the Symphony’s new multi-sensory KnightSounds series, which is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and is becoming part of a new national model for the modern concert-going experience. Warren-Green will lead the Charlotte Symphony in this exciting venture that represents a marriage of classical music, digital art, and modern dance. In order to make his non-human characters live on screen and appeal to a human audience, Weinstein works with actors, dancers and choreographers to capture human movement which he then applies to his animations. For this piece, he worked closely with a choreographer to translate his ideas into a modern dance. “The application of digital animation to the frequently performed and well known Bolero exposes aspects of the work in a way that an aural performance alone cannot,” said Charlotte Symphony President and Executive Director Jonathan Martin. Commissioning a piece of multimedia artwork is representative of the forward-thinking vision of the orchestra. As the commissioning agency, the Charlotte Symphony aims to give the work a continued existence in the orchestra world beyond the premiere. The Charlotte Symphony will license the work to other orchestras to help offset the cost of the commission. A post-concert street festival will follow the May 4 performance, featuring local food vendors, artisans and continued entertainment from the high-octane PROJECT Trio. Since its inception in 2010, the KnightSounds series has been met with full houses and critical success. A tenet of the KnightSounds mission, multimedia is used to enhance and intensify the musical experience. The concerts are one hour in length and include a beverage and hors d’oeuvres in the ticket price, along with engaging pre- and post-concert activities. Event list: Saturday, April 28: Spotlight exhibitions Matthew Weinstein and Colorbind: The Emily and Zach Smith Collection go on public view at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street. Thursday, May 3: 6:30 p.m. Matthew Weinstein and author Robert Goolrick community discussion and reception at Mint Museum Uptown. Visitwww.mintmuseum.org for more information and to RSVP (required; hit “calendar”). $10 Mint members and Bolero Comes Alive ticket holders; $20 non-members; free to college students. Friday, May 4: 5 p.m. Free admission to Mint Museum Uptown begins for all concert ticket holders, continuing through Sunday, May 6.
6:30 p.m. Pre-concert reception with Dean & Deluca hors d’oeuvres at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 South Tryon Street.
7:30 p.m. Charlotte Symphony KnightSounds concert premieres Weinstein work. Tickets to the KnightSounds performance and premiere are $39, available at 704.972.2000 or www.charlottesymphony.org.
8:30 p.m. Post-concert street festival outside the Knight Theater featuring vendors, artists and musical entertainment. New college student ticket policy While The Mint Museum frequently has offered free or discounted admission to college students to lectures and other special events, museum officials recently decided to officially open all lectures to college students with a valid student ID. This includes the May 3 Weinstein/Goolrick event and the Mint’s Contemporary Architecture + Design (CAD) series, bringing a lecture from influential graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister at 7 p.m. on May 24 (cost is $5 to Mint members and $10 to non-members).
This admission policy reflects the museum’s recently adopted mission statement which includes “engaging and inspiring all members of our global community.”
“A major initiative of The Mint Museum is to create innovative and engaging public programs relevant to our various communities — and one of our large communities is college and university students,” said Laura Everett, adult programs coordinator for the Mint. “The Mint Museum’s programming consistently features nationally and internationally renowned experts — offering students perspectives on the world which will only enrich their education.”
For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit mintmuseum.org and click “Calendar.” Charlotte Symphony
Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony aspires to serve the whole community through classical music that educates, entertains and enriches. The orchestra’s recently launched New American Orchestra Campaign will provide the financial stability for the Symphony to build a renewed and sustainable funding model. A non-traditional venture, the New American Orchestra Campaign seeks to address the immediate nature of the need through community-wide operating support. Through education, innovation and relentless passion, the Charlotte Symphony has served the community for 80 years and is a vital organization that fervently believes in the artistic enrichment of the human spirit. Christopher Warren-Green
Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony and London Chamber orchestras, Christopher Warren-Green has formed an international career that has included appearances with the London Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Camerata Resident Orchestra of the Megaron Athens.Warren-Green has been personally invited to conduct on many occasions for the Royal Family in the last thirty years. In April 2011, Warren-Green conducted the London Chamber Orchestra during the marriage ceremony of HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge and HRH Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey, which was televised to millions worldwide. Warren-Green is a regular on television and radio, and in summer 2008, he featured on the BBC’s high-profile television series ‘Maestro’. He has recorded extensively for Sony, Philips, Virgin EMI, Chandos and Deutsche Grammophon. John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org. Levine Center for the Arts and Knight Theatre
The Levine Center for the Arts is one of Charlotte’s key cultural destinations, comprised of Bechtler Museum of Modern Arts, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, John S. and James L. Knight Theater and Mint Museum Uptown. The center was made possible through the Campaign for Cultural Facilities, the support of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and the generosity of the Leon Levine Foundation, one of the country’s largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations. Opened in 2010, the Knight Theater’s contemporary, flexible design of 1,150 seats provides for artistic grandeur in an intimate setting. The theater is the primary venue for the North Carolina Dance Theatre, and features performances by Opera Carolina and the Charlotte Symphony, as well as musical theater, popular music, touring productions, lectures and film. ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org. 
“Exploring innovative ways to maximize opportunities for Charlotte audiences through cultural partnerships continues to be a core value of the Mint, and we’re pleased to be able to further this goal through the work of an artist as talented as Matthew Weinstein,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, president & CEO of The Mint Museum. “As we have said before, thanks to this deepening spirit of collaboration, there’s never been a more exciting time to be a follower of the arts in Charlotte.” Symphony premieres Bolero Comes Alive At Bolero Comes Alive, a KnightSounds performance on May 4, the Charlotte Symphony will feature the world premiere of Weinstein’s latest digitally animated work of art. Weinstein’s commissioned piece is a 16-minute original animated video to be displayed on a screen suspended above the orchestra. The audience will experience the brilliant animation in sync with the hypnotic music of Ravel’s Bolero. This is the first commissioned work under the leadership of Music Director Christopher Warren-Green. It will be performed during the Symphony’s new multi-sensory KnightSounds series, which is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and is becoming part of a new national model for the modern concert-going experience. Warren-Green will lead the Charlotte Symphony in this exciting venture that represents a marriage of classical music, digital art, and modern dance. In order to make his non-human characters live on screen and appeal to a human audience, Weinstein works with actors, dancers and choreographers to capture human movement which he then applies to his animations. For this piece, he worked closely with a choreographer to translate his ideas into a modern dance. “The application of digital animation to the frequently performed and well known Bolero exposes aspects of the work in a way that an aural performance alone cannot,” said Charlotte Symphony President and Executive Director Jonathan Martin. Commissioning a piece of multimedia artwork is representative of the forward-thinking vision of the orchestra. As the commissioning agency, the Charlotte Symphony aims to give the work a continued existence in the orchestra world beyond the premiere. The Charlotte Symphony will license the work to other orchestras to help offset the cost of the commission. A post-concert street festival will follow the May 4 performance, featuring local food vendors, artisans and continued entertainment from the high-octane PROJECT Trio. Since its inception in 2010, the KnightSounds series has been met with full houses and critical success. A tenet of the KnightSounds mission, multimedia is used to enhance and intensify the musical experience. The concerts are one hour in length and include a beverage and hors d’oeuvres in the ticket price, along with engaging pre- and post-concert activities. Event list: Saturday, April 28: Spotlight exhibitions Matthew Weinstein and Colorbind: The Emily and Zach Smith Collection go on public view at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street. Thursday, May 3: 6:30 p.m. Matthew Weinstein and author Robert Goolrick community discussion and reception at Mint Museum Uptown. Visitwww.mintmuseum.org for more information and to RSVP (required; hit “calendar”). $10 Mint members and Bolero Comes Alive ticket holders; $20 non-members; free to college students. Friday, May 4: 5 p.m. Free admission to Mint Museum Uptown begins for all concert ticket holders, continuing through Sunday, May 6.
6:30 p.m. Pre-concert reception with Dean & Deluca hors d’oeuvres at the Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts, 430 South Tryon Street.
7:30 p.m. Charlotte Symphony KnightSounds concert premieres Weinstein work. Tickets to the KnightSounds performance and premiere are $39, available at 704.972.2000 or www.charlottesymphony.org.
8:30 p.m. Post-concert street festival outside the Knight Theater featuring vendors, artists and musical entertainment. New college student ticket policy While The Mint Museum frequently has offered free or discounted admission to college students to lectures and other special events, museum officials recently decided to officially open all lectures to college students with a valid student ID. This includes the May 3 Weinstein/Goolrick event and the Mint’s Contemporary Architecture + Design (CAD) series, bringing a lecture from influential graphic designer Stefan Sagmeister at 7 p.m. on May 24 (cost is $5 to Mint members and $10 to non-members).
This admission policy reflects the museum’s recently adopted mission statement which includes “engaging and inspiring all members of our global community.”
“A major initiative of The Mint Museum is to create innovative and engaging public programs relevant to our various communities — and one of our large communities is college and university students,” said Laura Everett, adult programs coordinator for the Mint. “The Mint Museum’s programming consistently features nationally and internationally renowned experts — offering students perspectives on the world which will only enrich their education.”
For more information on these and other upcoming events, visit mintmuseum.org and click “Calendar.” Charlotte Symphony
Founded in 1932, the Charlotte Symphony aspires to serve the whole community through classical music that educates, entertains and enriches. The orchestra’s recently launched New American Orchestra Campaign will provide the financial stability for the Symphony to build a renewed and sustainable funding model. A non-traditional venture, the New American Orchestra Campaign seeks to address the immediate nature of the need through community-wide operating support. Through education, innovation and relentless passion, the Charlotte Symphony has served the community for 80 years and is a vital organization that fervently believes in the artistic enrichment of the human spirit. Christopher Warren-Green
Music Director of the Charlotte Symphony and London Chamber orchestras, Christopher Warren-Green has formed an international career that has included appearances with the London Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Camerata Resident Orchestra of the Megaron Athens.Warren-Green has been personally invited to conduct on many occasions for the Royal Family in the last thirty years. In April 2011, Warren-Green conducted the London Chamber Orchestra during the marriage ceremony of HRH Prince William Duke of Cambridge and HRH Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey, which was televised to millions worldwide. Warren-Green is a regular on television and radio, and in summer 2008, he featured on the BBC’s high-profile television series ‘Maestro’. He has recorded extensively for Sony, Philips, Virgin EMI, Chandos and Deutsche Grammophon. John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit KnightFoundation.org. Levine Center for the Arts and Knight Theatre
The Levine Center for the Arts is one of Charlotte’s key cultural destinations, comprised of Bechtler Museum of Modern Arts, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, John S. and James L. Knight Theater and Mint Museum Uptown. The center was made possible through the Campaign for Cultural Facilities, the support of the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, and the generosity of the Leon Levine Foundation, one of the country’s largest and most impactful philanthropic organizations. Opened in 2010, the Knight Theater’s contemporary, flexible design of 1,150 seats provides for artistic grandeur in an intimate setting. The theater is the primary venue for the North Carolina Dance Theatre, and features performances by Opera Carolina and the Charlotte Symphony, as well as musical theater, popular music, touring productions, lectures and film. ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.
The Young Affiliates of the Mint (YAM), a group of diverse young professionals who promote and support The Mint Museum through social, educational, leadership, and fundraising activities, will host the annual Derby Days event on Saturday, May 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. on the lawn of Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road.
Named the “Best Party for Young Socials” by SouthPark Magazine, Derby Days brings together more than 300 of Charlotte’s young professionals to enjoy a day of live entertainment, lawn games, complimentary food and beverages, a silent auction, and a large-screen viewing of the Kentucky Derby, dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”
Tickets can be purchased through the YAM web site, www.derbydayscharlotte.com. Prices start at $38 for YAM members and $48 for non-members. Those who wish to attend must purchase their tickets in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door.
After Derby Days, the party will continue at Andrew Blair’s, 1600 Montford Drive. The sponsor of this year’s Derby Days after-party, Andrew Blair’s features a large patio area for young professionals to dine and socialize.
From July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, the Young Affiliates are focusing on Project FundaMINTal. Project FundaMINTal is our campaign to raise $20,000 that will help support the Mint’s Annual Fund. The Mint’s Annual Fund addresses the most critical needs of the museum. For more information about the 2012 Derby Days, visit www.derbydayscharlotte.com. ABOUT YOUNG AFFILIATES OF THE MINT The Young Affiliates of the Mint is a group of diverse young professionals who promote and support The Mint Museum through social, educational, leadership and fundraising activities. Founded in 1990, the Young Affiliates is the premier social arts organization for young professionals in the Charlotte area. For more information about the Young Affiliates of the Mint, visit www.youngaffiliates.org. The Mint Museum is funded, in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.; the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources; the City of Charlotte; and its members. ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org. 
From July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012, the Young Affiliates are focusing on Project FundaMINTal. Project FundaMINTal is our campaign to raise $20,000 that will help support the Mint’s Annual Fund. The Mint’s Annual Fund addresses the most critical needs of the museum. For more information about the 2012 Derby Days, visit www.derbydayscharlotte.com. ABOUT YOUNG AFFILIATES OF THE MINT The Young Affiliates of the Mint is a group of diverse young professionals who promote and support The Mint Museum through social, educational, leadership and fundraising activities. Founded in 1990, the Young Affiliates is the premier social arts organization for young professionals in the Charlotte area. For more information about the Young Affiliates of the Mint, visit www.youngaffiliates.org. The Mint Museum is funded, in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Inc.; the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources; the City of Charlotte; and its members. ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph. Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions. Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.
This summer, instead of building campfires, why not build on your creative potential at Summer Studio? Not your typical summer camp, Summer Studio puts students in a hands-on, collaborative environment, where they learn new skills in the fields of design, culinary, media arts or fashion.
This five – day summer program at The Art Institute of Charlotte is open to high school juniors and seniors and offers workshops in Design, Media Arts, Fashion Marketing, and Culinary Arts. Under the guidance of industry-savvy instructors, students will complete an awesome final project and have get the opportunity to see if a creative college like the one at The Art Institute of Charlotte is right for them.
“Summer Studio provides students the opportunity to grow as creative individuals, interact with like-minded peers and get a taste of what the college experience will be like,” said Maurice Lee, president of The Art Institute of Charlotte.
Summer Studio at The Art Institute of Charlotte runs June 17-21, 2012. To enroll or for more information, visit www.summerstudio.com/Charlotte or contact Debbie Herndon at (704) 357 – 5901 or dherndon@aii.edu. All workshops are non-credit bearing, and do not transfer into any of the programs offered at The Art Institute of Charlotte.
The Art Institute of Charlotte is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of more than 45 educational institutions located throughout North America. The Art Institutes schools provide an important source for design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. Several institutions included in The Art Institutes system are campuses of South University. See aiprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, and other important info.
The 2012 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers (CMSC) Golf Classic will take place on Monday, June 18th at Pine Island Country Club. Proceeds from the event will help CMSC meet their commitment to continue to provide quality programs and services to more than 4,000 older adults each year at their four locations in Mecklenburg County.
Registration and Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., a shot gun start at 9:00 a.m. and an awards luncheon following play. Entry fees are $100 per person if received on or before May 1st, and $125 per person after May 1st. Entry fees include; cart and green fees, use of locker room, practice facility & range balls, breakfast and lunch, awards and prizes, special drawing, and on-course contests. Corporate sponsorships opportunities are available.
Since its founding in 1983 as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Senior Centers, a United Way Agency, has provided a wide range of assistance and services to older adults in this community. CMSC exists to enrich and empower older adults in the Charlotte region through varied programs and services to meet their needs. CMSC provides multiple programs and services to older adults from four locations:
· The headquarters building at 2225 Tyvola Road
· The Senior Center on Shamrock located near the Aldersgate community at 3925 Willard Farrow Drive
· The Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center in the West part of Charlotte
· The North Mecklenburg Senior Center (formerly in Cornelius) now in Huntersville
Examples of CMSC programs that are making a positive difference in the lives of Charlotte/Mecklenburg seniors include:
• Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP): recruits and places volunteers
• Senior Employment Program: job counseling, training, and placement
• Senior Nutrition program: provides low-cost meals to seniors daily
• Multicultural program: outreach to Latin American, Chinese, Russian, and Asian immigrants
• Education: computer classes, lectures, drama and arts, and English and Spanish classes
• Health and Wellness: exercise classes, fitness suite, health screenings and workshops
For more information, contact CMSC at 704-522-6222, or visit its web site at www.cmcharlotteseniorcenters.org. 
• Senior Nutrition program: provides low-cost meals to seniors daily
• Multicultural program: outreach to Latin American, Chinese, Russian, and Asian immigrants
• Education: computer classes, lectures, drama and arts, and English and Spanish classes
• Health and Wellness: exercise classes, fitness suite, health screenings and workshops
For more information, contact CMSC at 704-522-6222, or visit its web site at www.cmcharlotteseniorcenters.org.
Apr 26 12
Mass Affluent Americans Push Back Retirement Date and Take Steps to Get on Track in Greater Numbers
Fifty-seven percent of working mass affluent Americans expect to retire later than they planned a year ago, according to the latest Merrill Edge Report. This shows a 36 percent increase from January 2011. The report, released today by Bank of America, is a semi-annual quantitative and qualitative study of the financial concerns and priorities of the mass affluent (consumers with $50,000-$250,000 in investable assets).
“While the economy is showing signs of a turnaround, our data indicates the outlook among the mass affluent is not quite as positive,” says Dean Athanasia, Preferred and Small Business executive at Bank of America. “In spite of their increased efforts to get on track, this group is pushing back their retirement in greater numbers than we’ve seen before.” Balancing short- and long-term finances Balancing their short- and long-term finances continues to be one of the greatest challenges for the mass affluent. The data shows an increase among those who admit to tapping into their long-term savings or investments to meet short-term financial needs (34 percent) than previously seen in November 2011 (27 percent). Additional findings include: • Long-term finances pose greatest concern: The greatest financial concerns among the mass affluent revolve around long-term issues, including the rising cost of health care (89 percent), ensuring retirement assets last throughout their lifetime (83 percent), and being able to afford the lifestyle they want in retirement (80 percent).
• Issues take precedence over candidate: While the mass affluent are concerned with the upcoming presidential election (71 percent), they show greater concern with the issues, such as health care legislation (80 percent), the future of Social Security benefits (77 percent) and the U.S. government’s budget deficit (77 percent).
• Parents paying more for child’s education: Fifty-six percent of mass affluent parents have paid or expect to pay more to send their first child to college than they had expected when the child was first born. When asked why, those who currently have a child in college or that has graduated, 64 percent say the college or university was more expensive, while 32 percent want to keep their child out of debt.
• Focusing on financial management: The mass affluent plan to focus on financial management tasks in the next six months more so than seen in the Fall Merrill Edge Report, such as: budgeting (85 percent), up from 67 percent in November; balancing short- and long-term finances (71 percent), up from 55 percent; and saving for retirement (68 percent), up from 49 percent. In addition to these efforts, 77 percent of respondents note mobile banking has helped improve how well they manage their finances. As one qualitative respondent acknowledges, “I just created a monthly budget, so I will be focusing on that in the next six months as a way to avoid overspending. Hopefully, I will be able to start putting away some money in savings again.” Making sacrifices to get on track As getting back on track is a high priority for mass affluent Americans, many are willing to make short-term sacrifices in order to get their finances in better shape. Some of the methods this group will utilize in order to meet financial obligations include cutting back on entertainment and personal luxuries (61 percent), trimming day-to-day expenses (56 percent) and keeping the same car longer than they’d like to (49 percent). “The mass affluent are taking more steps now than we saw just six months ago to improve their finances, but balancing their budget for today and saving for retirement continues to be their number one struggle,” says Alok Prasad, Merrill Edge executive at Bank of America. “We’re heartened to see so many in this group making additional strides, like cutting back on unnecessary purchases and taking on more DIY projects, to make those goals a reality. For most, starting the process is the hardest part, and this group has taken that first, crucial step.” In addition, signaling a commitment to their savings efforts, 70 percent of mass affluent Americans say they took on home improvement projects in the last year, such as plumbing, painting, and home cleaning, that they would normally hire someone else to do. Younger members of the mass affluent were more likely to embark on these home improvement projects than their older counterparts, as 84 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds took on a project, compared to 77 percent of 35- to 50-year-olds, 70 percent of 51- to 64-year-olds and 60 percent of those 65 and older. Generation Y proves to be “Generation Worry” Mass affluent aged 18-34 are much more worried about their financial future than older generations, but are less likely to take as many steps to get back on track. Interestingly, however, this group is also most likely to manage their investments on their own (63 percent). “The Merrill Edge Report shows that there are significant differences between the generations, with Gen Y particularly concerned with their financial future,” said Athanasia. “For Gen Y, this is their first investing experience, and the downturned economy has had a significant impact on their outlook and approach to risk. The data shows that Gen Y is proving to be ‘Generation Worry’ and we’ll see these concerns take their toll as they approach other life milestones like paying for college and retirement.” While the long-term poses the greatest concern for the mass affluent overall, Gen Y is worried about both the long- and the short-term equally. Seventy-nine percent of Gen Yers express apprehension about caring for an aging parent or adult child compared to 49 percent overall. In the short-term, 92 percent of younger mass affluent say financially supporting their family is a concern in contrast to 61 percent overall. The data also indicates this age group is most likely to tap into their long-term savings to pay for short-term expenses (41 percent). Yet, they are also less willing to make changes to meet their financial goals such as cutting back on entertainment and personal luxuries (57 percent) and keeping the same car longer (48 percent). As a result, 71 percent of Gen Y already expects to retire later than planned–a stark difference from those aged 35-50 (59 percent) and 51-64 (60 percent). For a complete, in-depth look at the mass affluent, read the entire Merrill Edge Report. Additional topics covered in the report include the level of financial responsibility mass affluent parents take for their adult children, paying for college and weddings, lifestyle trade-offs made to save money, important financial lessons they teach their children, and whether they believe their children will achieve greater financial success. Merrill Edge Report Methodology Ketchum Global Research & Analytics and Braun Research conducted the Bank of America Merrill Edge Report survey by phone between Feb. 13 and Feb. 29, 2012 on behalf of Bank of America. Braun contacted a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans in the United States with investable assets between $50,000 and $249,999, and oversampled 300 mass affluent in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent for the national sample and +/- 5.7 percent for the oversample markets, with both reported at a 95 percent confidence level. To help inform the Merrill Edge Report, Communispace conducted a series of qualitative studies including interactive conversations, surveys, and other dynamic and exploratory activities with its proprietary online community of 300 mass affluent consumers. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,250 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves customers through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 
“While the economy is showing signs of a turnaround, our data indicates the outlook among the mass affluent is not quite as positive,” says Dean Athanasia, Preferred and Small Business executive at Bank of America. “In spite of their increased efforts to get on track, this group is pushing back their retirement in greater numbers than we’ve seen before.” Balancing short- and long-term finances Balancing their short- and long-term finances continues to be one of the greatest challenges for the mass affluent. The data shows an increase among those who admit to tapping into their long-term savings or investments to meet short-term financial needs (34 percent) than previously seen in November 2011 (27 percent). Additional findings include: • Long-term finances pose greatest concern: The greatest financial concerns among the mass affluent revolve around long-term issues, including the rising cost of health care (89 percent), ensuring retirement assets last throughout their lifetime (83 percent), and being able to afford the lifestyle they want in retirement (80 percent).
• Issues take precedence over candidate: While the mass affluent are concerned with the upcoming presidential election (71 percent), they show greater concern with the issues, such as health care legislation (80 percent), the future of Social Security benefits (77 percent) and the U.S. government’s budget deficit (77 percent).
• Parents paying more for child’s education: Fifty-six percent of mass affluent parents have paid or expect to pay more to send their first child to college than they had expected when the child was first born. When asked why, those who currently have a child in college or that has graduated, 64 percent say the college or university was more expensive, while 32 percent want to keep their child out of debt.
• Focusing on financial management: The mass affluent plan to focus on financial management tasks in the next six months more so than seen in the Fall Merrill Edge Report, such as: budgeting (85 percent), up from 67 percent in November; balancing short- and long-term finances (71 percent), up from 55 percent; and saving for retirement (68 percent), up from 49 percent. In addition to these efforts, 77 percent of respondents note mobile banking has helped improve how well they manage their finances. As one qualitative respondent acknowledges, “I just created a monthly budget, so I will be focusing on that in the next six months as a way to avoid overspending. Hopefully, I will be able to start putting away some money in savings again.” Making sacrifices to get on track As getting back on track is a high priority for mass affluent Americans, many are willing to make short-term sacrifices in order to get their finances in better shape. Some of the methods this group will utilize in order to meet financial obligations include cutting back on entertainment and personal luxuries (61 percent), trimming day-to-day expenses (56 percent) and keeping the same car longer than they’d like to (49 percent). “The mass affluent are taking more steps now than we saw just six months ago to improve their finances, but balancing their budget for today and saving for retirement continues to be their number one struggle,” says Alok Prasad, Merrill Edge executive at Bank of America. “We’re heartened to see so many in this group making additional strides, like cutting back on unnecessary purchases and taking on more DIY projects, to make those goals a reality. For most, starting the process is the hardest part, and this group has taken that first, crucial step.” In addition, signaling a commitment to their savings efforts, 70 percent of mass affluent Americans say they took on home improvement projects in the last year, such as plumbing, painting, and home cleaning, that they would normally hire someone else to do. Younger members of the mass affluent were more likely to embark on these home improvement projects than their older counterparts, as 84 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds took on a project, compared to 77 percent of 35- to 50-year-olds, 70 percent of 51- to 64-year-olds and 60 percent of those 65 and older. Generation Y proves to be “Generation Worry” Mass affluent aged 18-34 are much more worried about their financial future than older generations, but are less likely to take as many steps to get back on track. Interestingly, however, this group is also most likely to manage their investments on their own (63 percent). “The Merrill Edge Report shows that there are significant differences between the generations, with Gen Y particularly concerned with their financial future,” said Athanasia. “For Gen Y, this is their first investing experience, and the downturned economy has had a significant impact on their outlook and approach to risk. The data shows that Gen Y is proving to be ‘Generation Worry’ and we’ll see these concerns take their toll as they approach other life milestones like paying for college and retirement.” While the long-term poses the greatest concern for the mass affluent overall, Gen Y is worried about both the long- and the short-term equally. Seventy-nine percent of Gen Yers express apprehension about caring for an aging parent or adult child compared to 49 percent overall. In the short-term, 92 percent of younger mass affluent say financially supporting their family is a concern in contrast to 61 percent overall. The data also indicates this age group is most likely to tap into their long-term savings to pay for short-term expenses (41 percent). Yet, they are also less willing to make changes to meet their financial goals such as cutting back on entertainment and personal luxuries (57 percent) and keeping the same car longer (48 percent). As a result, 71 percent of Gen Y already expects to retire later than planned–a stark difference from those aged 35-50 (59 percent) and 51-64 (60 percent). For a complete, in-depth look at the mass affluent, read the entire Merrill Edge Report. Additional topics covered in the report include the level of financial responsibility mass affluent parents take for their adult children, paying for college and weddings, lifestyle trade-offs made to save money, important financial lessons they teach their children, and whether they believe their children will achieve greater financial success. Merrill Edge Report Methodology Ketchum Global Research & Analytics and Braun Research conducted the Bank of America Merrill Edge Report survey by phone between Feb. 13 and Feb. 29, 2012 on behalf of Bank of America. Braun contacted a nationally representative sample of 1,000 Americans in the United States with investable assets between $50,000 and $249,999, and oversampled 300 mass affluent in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percent for the national sample and +/- 5.7 percent for the oversample markets, with both reported at a 95 percent confidence level. To help inform the Merrill Edge Report, Communispace conducted a series of qualitative studies including interactive conversations, surveys, and other dynamic and exploratory activities with its proprietary online community of 300 mass affluent consumers. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,250 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves customers through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Today the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County clarified plans for respecting and accommodating citizens’ and visitors’ First Amendment right to free speech and peaceable assembly during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) scheduled September 4-6, 2012.
The US Supreme Court has characterized public streets, sidewalks, and parks as “traditional public forum.” The use of traditional public forum property is not, however, free from all government regulation. Specifically, reasonable time, place, and manner regulations may be applied so long as they are content-neutral, narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest, and leave reasonable alternative avenues of communication. For example, one does not have a constitutional right to march through the intersection of Trade and Tryon Streets during the Monday morning rush hour. Instead, the City may restrict such a demonstration to other times or locations that are not disruptive to the necessary flow of rush hour traffic.
Under current City ordinances, individuals and groups may demonstrate on City sidewalks at any time anywhere within the City, without a permit. Except on sidewalks that may be closed for security, transportation, or logistical reasons, individuals and groups will be allowed to demonstrate on City sidewalks during the DNC, as they are today, without a permit. Similarly, County parks will be available for individuals and groups to demonstrate during the DNC without a permit. These properties will not be subject to reservation by anyone, including the DNC Committee and Host Committee; instead, they will be open to anyone and everyone, for peaceable assembly and expressive activity.
With regard to parades and marches in the streets, and consistent with the practice in previous convention cities, the City will establish a parade route during the DNC. The City will also establish a “speakers’ platform,” a location where City-provided microphones and amplification equipment will be provided to individuals and groups wishing to express their opinions. The City is developing an online application process for time slots for parades and access to the speakers’ platform. A random lottery will be used to allocate times. The online application process as well as parade route and speakers’ platform locations will be announced in early June and accessible at DNCinfo.charlottenc.gov. Applications will be taken for one month and the lottery will be held in early-July.
Again, it is important to note that the parade route and speakers’ platform are not the only locations where individuals and groups may exercise their First Amendment rights. Sidewalks and parks, unless closed for security or logistical reasons, will be open and available to everyone for expressive activity.
The City and County have two goals: (1) to respect and protect the First Amendment rights of our citizens and visitors; and (2) to preserve the peace, provide public safety, and ensure an enjoyable convention experience for all.
The Mint Museum has added four new exhibitions to its lineup for 2012, beginning with one opening this month that pays tribute to two treasured patrons of the local arts community, Emily and Zach Smith.
Colorbind: The Emily and Zach Smith Collection will be on view at Mint Museum Uptown from April 28 through August 12, and runs concurrently with the previously-announced multimedia Matthew Weinstein spotlight exhibition on view April 28-August 19. Colorbind consists of nearly two dozen paintings, lithographs, etchings, and drawings collected by the Smiths.
“Colorbind offers our visitors the opportunity to experience a selection of works by some of the most important modern and contemporary artists of the 20th and 21st centuries,” said Brad Thomas, the Mint’s curator of contemporary art. “More importantly, it offers an intimate glimpse into a private collection that informs and enlivens the everyday lives of Emily and Zach Smith, two of our region’s most important cultural supporters. We are extremely grateful to the Smiths for making this work available for display at the Mint for the benefit of our community.”
For over three decades, the Smiths have tirelessly dedicated themselves to improving the cultural infrastructure of this region. Through their patronage and extensive service on various boards including the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, The Mint Museum, Opera Carolina, and Penland School of Crafts, to name a few, their community investment has touched the lives of countless individuals.
This intimate display of works illuminates a decidedly more personal side of the couple’s relationship to art. One small landscape painting on view by North Carolina artist Claude Howell (1915 - 1997) was selected jointly even before their marriage. It was an auspicious beginning for lives that would be bound by a devotion to family, community, and the arts.
As for their own personal taste in visual art, the Smiths confess a shared love of color. Works by Pop artists Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Wayne Thiebaud play alongside geometric abstractions by Peter Halley, Sol Lewitt, and Sean Scully –– vibrant color binding each creative voice into the collectors’ unified vision. This exhibition is organized by The Mint Museum.
“Colorbind and the other three exhibitions we are announcing today further the Mint’s role of serving the increasingly global community of Charlotte and beyond,” said Dr. Kathleen V. Jameson, President & CEO of the Mint. “From celebrating treasured local art collectors in the Smiths to tapping the unparalleled scope of our Fashion Collection to showcasing the unique and diverse viewpoints of renowned artists Vik Muniz and Beverly McIver, the Mint offers depth and range that is unmatched.”
Both Colorbind and Matthew Weinstein will be celebrated at a special event at 6:30 p.m. May 3 at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street. Weinstein, a multimedia artist, will appear with Robert Goolrick, acclaimed author of A Reliable Wife. After a viewing of Weinstein’s short film “The Childhood of Bertolt Brecht,” the artist and the author will discuss the importance of the role of narrative in art. The event costs $10 for Mint members; $20 for non-members; free to students with valid ID; and includes a reception immediately following. Pre-registration is required; visit mintmuseum.org and click “Calendar.”
And the Bead Goes On
26 May 2012 – 17 February 2013
Mint Museum Randolph
May brings the opening of the next exciting exhibition from the Mint’s nationally-renowned collection of fashion. The Mint has recently renamed its Historic Costume & Fashionable Dress collection the Fashion Collection.
And the Bead Goes On pays tribute to a form of ornamentation that has been used to enliven fashion designs since ancient times. Originally restricted to the wardrobes of aristocrats and made of precious materials, beads indicated wealth and status in numerous cultures throughout the globe. Sometimes beadwork was employed on garments to convey rank, spiritual significance, or protection of the wearer. Colorful and sparkling beads appeared on articles of clothing, ceremonial dress, ritual masks, and everyday objects.
And the Bead Goes On features 20th- and 21st-century women’s fashions, which display inventive beadwork embroidery. This seemingly modern surface decoration, the variety of bead materials and shapes, and the basic sewing techniques used to embellish the works on view were developed in Paris workshops in the 18th century. Talented designers and skillful artisans collaborate to achieve dazzling fashions that are comfortable and durable. Glass beads, metallic sequins, metal filigree beads, faux pearls, and faceted crystal rhinestones hand-sewn onto the cloth impart beauty, opulence, and artful originality.
Fashion was democratized in the 1960s, and previously exclusive beaded style became available to all. The fashion industry today, while still centered in Paris, includes major designers from India, Lebanon, and Nigeria, and elsewhere. And the Bead Goes On presents evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and ensembles from the museum’s Fashion Collection, complemented with exciting new works on loan from contemporary designers. Designer names featured in the exhibition include Halston, Bob Mackie, Giorgio Armani, Oscar de la Renta, and Alber Elbaz for Lanvin.
This exhibition, organized by The Mint Museum, will open at Mint Museum Randolph concurrently with the previously-announced Heritage Gallery, a look through the Mint’s 75-year history as the oldest art museum in North Carolina.
VantagePoint X: Vik Muniz
25 August – 4 November 2012
Mint Museum Uptown
Although Vik Muniz was born into poverty in Rio de Janeiro in 1961, he has arguably become the most famous contemporary Brazilian artist. His conceptual photographs are exhibited internationally, and he is represented in significant museum collections throughout the world. Beginning his art career in the mid-1980s after relocating to the U.S., Muniz established a studio in Brooklyn, where he creates large photographs that mimic recognizable images borrowed from the media or historical paintings.
Muniz’s recreations of famous paintings are notable for their uncanny attention to detail and the non-traditional nature of the media he chooses. Muniz painstakingly gathers such discarded objects as tires, bolts, coils of wire, broken appliances, and soda cans, arranging them on a warehouse floor in piles and layers to create representations of iconic paintings by historical artists. After this labor-intensive process is complete, Muniz photographs the massive creation from a balcony above, thereby preserving the final appearance before the image is disassembled.
Collectively, Muniz’s photographs bring to mind ideas of ecology, impermanence, and mortality. Muniz’s photographs, which intentionally incorporate discarded materials, implicate the viewer in a consumerist, transitory culture. His photographs fuse two important strands of postmodern photography—staging and appropriation. Staging, which is the creation of an image through choreographing all visual components of the photograph; and appropriation, which is borrowing imagery from a source of reference, in this case historically significant paintings from the Western tradition. The resulting photographs are both fascinating and disarming, and probe the function and traditions of visual representation. This exhibition is organized by The Mint Museum.
Reflections: Portraits by Beverly McIver
20 October 2012 – 6 January 2013
Mint Museum Uptown
McIver, a native of North Carolina, is renowned for her expression-filled, emotive canvases that commemorate her life and the lives of those closest to her — in particular, her mother, Ethel, who passed away in 2004, and her sister, Renee, who is mentally disabled. The exhibition celebrates the last decade of her work and highlights these two subjects, focusing solely on her self-portraits and on portraits of Renee and other family members.
McIver is widely acknowledged as a significant presence in contemporary American art, examining racial, gender, and social identities through the lens of her own experiences as an African American female artist. The history of her family allows McIver to contemplate and illustrate the complicated emotions that arise from these situations, including depression, frustration, tender compassion, and innocent joy.
Accompanied by an exhibition catalogue, Reflections includes numerous loans from the artist, private collections, and select museums. Organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art, this exhibition is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions.
ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.
Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.
Early voting is under way in Mecklenburg County for the May 8 Primary Election. The primary location for early voting is the first floor of the Hal Marshall Annex at 618 North College St. and additional locations will open April 30.
Dates and times for Hall Marshall are as follows:
April 19 – April 27 (Weekdays) 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
April 30 – May 4 (Weekdays) 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 5 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Dates, times and additional Locations:
Beatties Ford Road Library 2412 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte
Cornelius Town Hall 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
Hayes Building (Ballantyne) 11405 N. Community House Rd., Charlotte
Independence Regional Library 6000 Conference Dr., Charlotte
Main Branch Library (Downtown) 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Marion Diehl Rec. Center 2219 Tyvola Rd., Charlotte
Matthews Branch Library 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews
Morrison Regional Library 7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte
Mountain Island Library 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte
North County Regional Library 16500 Holly Crest Ln., Huntersville
South County Regional Library 5801 Rea Rd., Charlotte
Steele Creek Library 13620 Steele Creek Rd., Charlotte
University City Regional Library 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte
West Boulevard Library 2157 West Blvd., Charlotte Hours of Operation:
April 30 – May 4 (Weekdays) 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 5 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Final Day) Important: There will be NO Early Voting at the Board of Elections Office. For directions and further election related information visit the Board of Elections web site. 
April 19 – April 27 (Weekdays) 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
April 30 – May 4 (Weekdays) 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 5 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Dates, times and additional Locations:
Beatties Ford Road Library 2412 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte
Cornelius Town Hall 21445 Catawba Ave., Cornelius
Hayes Building (Ballantyne) 11405 N. Community House Rd., Charlotte
Independence Regional Library 6000 Conference Dr., Charlotte
Main Branch Library (Downtown) 310 N. Tryon St., Charlotte
Marion Diehl Rec. Center 2219 Tyvola Rd., Charlotte
Matthews Branch Library 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews
Morrison Regional Library 7015 Morrison Blvd., Charlotte
Mountain Island Library 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte
North County Regional Library 16500 Holly Crest Ln., Huntersville
South County Regional Library 5801 Rea Rd., Charlotte
Steele Creek Library 13620 Steele Creek Rd., Charlotte
University City Regional Library 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte
West Boulevard Library 2157 West Blvd., Charlotte Hours of Operation:
April 30 – May 4 (Weekdays) 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
May 5 (Saturday) 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Final Day) Important: There will be NO Early Voting at the Board of Elections Office. For directions and further election related information visit the Board of Elections web site.
Hunting for a memorable gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day this year is easy – just stop at one of the two convenient locations of the Mint Museum Shops for some gorgeous finds: at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street, or at Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road.
“Shoppers may sometimes forget how many one-of-a-kind gifts are available at the Mint Museum Shops, and how convenient the two shop locations are for Charlotteans,” said Sandy Fisher, Museum Shops Manager. “Shoppers can have the double reward of purchasing gifts their loved ones will appreciate and supporting a treasured cultural institution.”
Here are some of Fisher’s recommendations for this season’s finds. High-res images of all items are available, and Fisher is available for interviews on request.
For Mom:
Hamilton Williams – Berry Bowl: Nestled in the foothills of the western North Carolina town of Valdese, Hamilton Williams creates a wide range of functional stoneware pieces. The Berry Bowl has been one of his most popular pieces for both its usability and beauty of design. ($48)
Kathleen Horner – Dogwood flower pins: Horner began as a water color artist in 1980, but her love of flowers and concern for the environment inspired her to start her Flower Sculptures business. Each flower is sculpted and hand painted with acrylics on extra-heavy watercolor paper (and for an added touch, remind Mom that the dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina!). ($22)
African Paper Beaded Bracelets: These colorful bracelets are made in Uganda by BeadforLife, a nonprofit organization providing women an opportunity to lift their families out of poverty by making these wonderful bracelets out of recycled paper. ($8.50)
For Dad (all items available at Mint Museum Uptown only):
Bryan Parks – Chopstick Bowls: In 2000, Bryan was traveling in China and over lunch started to think about the huge number of disposable chopsticks. After collecting chopsticks he began to use them to make larger items, and that’s how Chopstick Art was born. Bowls fold for easy storage. ($14.50 to $30)
Davin & Kesler –business card holders and letter openers: Thomas Davin and Mary Kesler have been woodworking together since 1979. They work out of a 19th century mill overlooking Dorset Mill Pond in Exeter, Rhode Island. ($39.95 to $42)
Steve Noogle – bowls: Noogle received a degree in forestry from Louisiana State University in 1978 and after working as a timber cruiser in the Pacific Northwest, he returned to North Carolina to work in the furniture industry. This led him to find pieces of wood to make his handsome bowls on his family farm in Burke County. ($110 and up)
Perry Holbrook – boxes: Holbrook is educated as an engineer, but “downsized” to become a full-time craftsman in 2002. Each piece is hand carved or turned on a lathe and then finished with a colorful glass tile on the lid. ($58 to $85)
Items can be browsed at www.mintmuseum.org/shop and phone orders can be placed by calling 704.337.2061.
ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.
Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org. 
Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.
