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.
