Begin the night by exploring the museum's Art of the Ancient Americas collection, which includes many rare Mayan art items on view. Then, enjoy free chocolate tastings with chocolatiers from Davidson Chocolate Co. Afterward, get ready for a lecture on Mayan mythology (and its fabled "doomsday" implications) with Dr. Dorie Reents-Budet, Consulting Curator of Ancient American Art. And finally, end the night by stargazing and learning about the night sky with Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club. A cash bar will be offered.
"We are extremely excited for this wonderful event showcasing the Mint's Art of the Ancient Americas Collection," said Reents-Budet. "The Mint's collection is nationally acclaimed, and we are thrilled to share the collection with guests through this event-filled evening."
One of The Mint Museum's painted Mayan pottery vessels was recently loaned to the Princeton Art Museum's exhibition Dancing into Dreams: Maya Vase Painting of the Ik' Kingdom, which is on view through February 17, 2013. This exquisite exhibition is the first ever presentation of many works by two of the finest painters in the Classic Period, the pieces not having been together since around the year 760 in northern Guatemala. Dr. Reents-Budet was recognized in the dedications of the exhibition's accompanying catalogue for her contributions to the field.
"The catalogue is a tour de force of scholarship and design, and like the exhibition, is the first publication to explore the works of two master Mayan painters in the same light as is traditionally done for other areas of the world," said Reents-Budet. "In all, The Mint Museum is in good company in this exhibition and publication, both of which will be seen widely and for many years to come."
The ArtFusion: Maya event will bring new opportunities for interaction with Latino artists. Ana Lucia Divins, the Mint's newly hired Latino Community Education Liaison, has invited a group of artists from Art Sí, a community initiative supporting Latino arts, to attend the event. "It is exciting to be able to offer this opportunity to the community. This is an interesting inter-cultural event and we are looking forward to welcoming a diverse group of people for this special night," Divins said. And in a further illustration of the Mint's increased bilingual outreach efforts, Mint Museum Randolph will host a free children's story time featuring the bilingual duo Criss, Cross Mangosauce (of which Divins is a member) at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday, November 10.
More information about Princeton University Art Museum's exhibition is available at www.princetonartmuseum.org. Images of the Mint's loaned item and interviews with Dr. Reents-Budet are available on request. Information about ArtFusion: Maya, upcoming performances by Criss, Cross Mangosauce and more events is available at www.mintmuseum.org/happenings.
ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, 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, groundbreaking exhibitions, and riveting educational programs. 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.
