HeroesCon staple and recent Charlotte MiniCon guest Sanford Greene always has many diverse projects in the works.  One of the most interesting is a Gallery exhibit of his art coming up later this month.  If you’re in or around the Columbia, SC area, make it a point to stop by and check out some of Sanford’s energetic originals.  The event takes place on Thursday, February 24 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Ponder Art Gallery at Benedict College in Columbia, SC.  In addition to seeing Sanford’s art, the event will also feature music from DayClean (www.daycleanduo.com) and soul singer Fayth Hope (www.faythhope.com).  The event is being hosted by Preach Jacobs (www.mobettasoul.com).  For more information about the event, check out Sanford’s website (www.sanfordgreene.com).  Don’t  miss this opportunity to support a  talented artist and longtime friend of Heroes.

We love to brag about our customers especially when they are as cool as Joe Keller! Keller is the writer and director of the new short film Artifacts which is premiering at the Neighborhood Theater Saturday, January 15 at 2 pm. Special guests Bat Regurgitator will be on hand to perform Soul, the theme song from the film.

Here is the synopsis for the film direct from Keller himself:

“Photographer Clayton Ardubon leads a life of indulgence comprised of women and success. But no amount of either can satisfy the hole at the center of his life. That is, until Marion, an ex-lover from his youth, shows up unexpectedly at a showing. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity and a longing for days gone by, Clayton tracks down Marion. But his search leads to Marion’s daughter, Paige; a rebellious youth who opens the door to an unexpected love affair as dangerous as it is sincere.”

Check out the trailer for Artifacts on YouTube to get you pumped to see the short film! For more information visit the Artifacts website. It is full of behind the scenes info, cast and crew listings and trailers! I highly recommend that you make it out to support this wonderful up-and-coming filmmaker!

Artifacts Short Film Premiere with live performance from Bat Regurgitator
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Doors open at 2 pm
Neighborhood Theater
511 E 36th St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

The Mint Museum Uptown will open its doors to the general public October 1, 2010 with a ribbon cutting at 5 pm. Events start Friday at 5:30 pm and end Saturday at 5:30 pm. That’s right, the uptown location will celebrate its grand opening for 24-hours! Admission on Friday is only $10 to non-members while members get in free. Starting at 2 am on Saturday admission is free to everyone! They have a wide array of events to keep everyone entertained, from Curator’s Spotlights to music to live demonstrations. You can view the full list here! Plus, you get to be one of the first to view the new location and their new exhibitions including Contemporary British Studio Ceramics: The Grainer Collection and New Visions: Contemporary Masterworks from the Bank of America Collection.

The Mint Museum Randolf location remains open with a primary focus on Ancient and Native American Art, Decorative Arts and Historic Costumes. The Uptown location will have the American Art, Craft + Design and Contemporary Art collections. Please see The Mint Museum website for more information about exhibitions, directions and parking.

Mint Museum Uptown Grand Opening Celebration
Friday, October 1 at 5:30 pm thru Saturday, October 2 at 5:30 pm
500 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

One of the best artists working in Charlotte right now is John Hairston, Jr. His work reminds me of John-Michel Basquiat but more dynamic and accessible. They have similar aesthetic sensibilities particularly with their graffiti elements and paint drips. Basquiat explored themes of iconography and race using imagery from literature and high art. Hairston explores similar themes but uses images from popular culture. Same ideas, different lens.

Hairston’s new art show, Children of the Atom, opens tonight at the Baku Gallery. It is superhero themed and features all new works. If you bring school supplies you get a limited edition Children of the Atom print. Hairston deserves a lot more press than he gets, but I was glad to see that Creative Loafing did an article about this show. He seriously deserves a lot more attention and praise. His work is amazing. Do yourself a favor and spend an evening in NoDa admiring the art work of John Hairston, Jr. That way when he blows up, and he will, you can say that you knew him way back when.

Children of the Atom
Art Show Opening Reception
Friday, September 3 from 6 to 10 pm
Art on display until October 3

Baku Gallery
3200 North Davidson St
Charlotte, NC 28205

De’Angelo Dia will perform at the McColl Center Friday, August 20 as part of the Closing Reception for current Artists in Residence. Dia’s work explores stereotypes of race and gender using photography and performance. It is difficult to describe his complex body of work. I highly recommended you go and see his work for yourself and draw your own conclusions about what his work means. I must admit, we have some incredibly talented customers.

The McColl Center
721 N. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

The Closing Reception will be from 6 to 9 pm and Dia’s performance, Negritude Movement, will begin at 7:15 pm.

There are two gallery show openings going on tonight featuring HeroesCon regulars. First up is Elf‘s One-Man Art Show at the Baku Gallery at Fu’s Custom Tattoo. Elf is a fantasy and tattoo artist and super nice guy! The gallery closes tonight at 10 pm. If you can’t make it tonight then don’t sweat it, the show will be up all month.

Baku Gallery
3200 North Davidson St.
Charlotte, NC 28205

The Art House will host wOlly Vinyl tonight until 10:30 pm. wOlly is part of the God City art collective whose members are some of the most talented and innovative artists in Charlotte. His solo show, The Lost Art Form of Artistic Artistry will be on display until August 20.

The Art House
3103 Cullman Ave
Charlotte, NC 28206

I have heard nothing but good things about the play The Drowsy Chaperone. It basically is a play within a play as a man’s favorite musical comes to life. It sounds like the perfect summer escape! Shows start tonight at 8 pm at the Pease Auditorium and the run will last until July 24. Tickets are only $17. Please go to the CPCC Summer Theater website for more info including show dates and times, cast list and a more detailed synopsis!