Mural artists event March 22

In the spring of 2022, Central Piedmont Community College selected two former students and local artists, Rosalia Torres-Weiner and Felicia Sky Sutton, to create a large-scale mural honoring the past history of the college, documenting the present, and reflecting the aspirations of Central Piedmont students for the future.

In celebration of the completion of the mural project, Central Piedmont will host a panel discussion March 22 with the muralists and technical executive, to share their experience, inspiration, and process creating the mural.

The panel discussion is open to all Central Piedmont students, employees, and members of the community. We invite all attendees to join us after the discussion for a reception in the lobby of the Parr Center Theater.

  • March 22 at 3 p.m.
  • Central Piedmont Central Campus, Parr Center Theater
  • Reception to follow in the lobby of the Parr Center Theater, immediately after the discussion

Visitors to the mural can enjoy the added element of augmented reality (AR) built into the murals metadata. The RedCalacAR app, available for IOS and Android devices, allows the viewer interact with the mural through the power of technology. The AR design provides the viewer with the opportunity to enjoy various animations, listen to student stories, songs and poetry and learn more about the history of Central Piedmont.

Torres-Weiner and Sutton are both former Central Piedmont students, and were chosen from a highly skilled pool of applicants to work collaboratively with current students, faculty, and staff to create an interactive mural. Learn more about the artists.

For more information about the mural or the event, please contact Amelia Zytka at amelia.zytka@cpcc.edu. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook at Central Piedmont Arts and the Central Piedmont Arts blog.

Dove art gallery dedicated

Large group of people standing in front of the Dove art gallery in Parr Center

Pauline Dove Art Gallery Dedication, September 8, 2022

Central Piedmont dedicated the Pauline Dove Gallery, located in the college’s new Parr Center, on September 8.

Pauline, affectionately known as “Polly,” taught art at the college for 30 years, before retiring in 2000. Read more about her work and recent installation honoring her sister, Selma.

A world-renowned artist, Dove’s work has been exhibited across the globe, including in Canada, India, Germany, Finland, Kenya, and Peru. Today, her paintings can be viewed on billboards across the Queen City, promoting ARTPop, an Arts & Science Council initiative that showcases local artists’ work in public places to make art accessible to all people in the Charlotte community.

Meet the Parr Center muralists

Colorful wall mural of faces and icons of Central Piedmont

A portion of the Parr Center mural

Central Piedmont recently unveiled “Conquer Possibility,” a large-scale mural in the Parr Center. The mural honors the past history of the college, documents the present, and reflects the aspirations of Central Piedmont students for the future. Meet the artists who created this piece and stop by the Parr Center for the full interactive mural experience.

Woman leaning against a wall

Rosalia Weiner

Meet Rosalia Weiner:

When did you realize that you wanted to tap into your passion and talent of being an artist?
I have wanted to be an artist since I was a small child, my earlies memory is when I was 5. Unfortunately, my parents discouraged me from a career in the arts and guided me towards other studies. A large factor in me immigrating to the US was the pursuit of my dreams including becoming an artist. Thank you America!!!

Who/what has been your biggest artistic influence?
“Los Tres Grandes” The leaders of the muralist movement in Mexico! David Alfaro Siqueiros, Jose Clemente Orozco and Diego Rivera, and of course – Frida Kahlo and my native town “Xochimilco” where we grow flowers!

What inspired you to participate in this project?
The rich history of Central Piedmont Community College and the amazing work they do to prepare the next workforce and help others achieve their dreams (like me a former CPCC student).

What is your favorite part of the mural?
The students portraits we selected from the FB Student Stories and the inspiring stories behind them.

Meet Felicia Sutton:

Woman smiling, standing with her arms crossed

Felicia Sutton

What are your personal favorite colors to work with?
My color palette changes, but recently I have been using a lot of gold and pastels in my work.

What inspired you to participate in this project?
As a first generation college student who attended Central Piedmont who went on to teach art classes myself, I really felt I could relate to the students, faculty, and staff. I wanted to create something beautiful to represent them.

What is your favorite part of the mural?
Choosing a favorite part is so hard, but I am really excited about the element of augmented reality we have incorporated into our design. I love the fusion of technology and art.

Fun fact about yourself/ other passions/hobbies?
I love to travel, and have been to many different countries all over the world. This is another big inspiration for my work.

 

Central Piedmont Overcash Art Gallery presents ‘A Fall From Grace,’ an exhibition beginning Jan. 11

Zaire McPhearson brings “A Fall From GraceNorth Carolina artist Zaire McPhearson brings “A Fall From Grace,’” to Central Piedmont Community College’s Overcash Art Gallery, located on the college’s Central Campus. The  exhibition tells the story of a charismatic movement known as the “Prayer Band,” through the voices of the African American women who experienced it firsthand. This movement evolved from a traditional Christian-based organization, The First Church of God in Christ, but soon the woman leading a noonday prayer meeting reshaped the group and formed her own ministry, calling herself the Queen of the South. She considered herself to be the voice of God and a direct intermediary between God and the women in the “Prayer Band.”

McPhearson’s exhibition gives a voice to the women silenced by mental, physical, and emotional abuse and tells of their long recovery back to their faith. McPhearson, who has a personal relationship with these incredible women, expertly portrays their complex stories through her photography, painting, sculptures, and stained glass works.

  • WHEN: Jan. 11 – March 10, 2022; Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., or by appointment
  • Opening Reception: Feb. 23; 5 p.m.
  •  WHERE: Central Piedmont Central Campus, Overcash Center, Overcash Art Gallery, 1206 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204
  •  Artist Lecture: Feb. 23; 3 p.m. (Virtual and In Person), Central Campus, North Classroom Building, Auditorium 1123, 1320 Sam Ryburn Walk, Charlotte, NC 28204
  • For more information, please contact Amelia Zytka at amelia.zytka@cpcc.edu. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Central Piedmont Arts and our blog at http://blogs.cpcc.edu/cpccartgalleries/

College Receives $10-Million Gift Commitment

visual arts studentA donor who wishes to remain anonymous has made a $10-million gift commitment to Central Piedmont Community College. The gift is the single-largest individual donation in Central Piedmont’s 58-year history and among the largest gifts ever made to a community college nationwide.

Central Piedmont will use the gift to transform its role as a community resource for arts and humanities programming and learning.

Read the complete story.

Central Piedmont’s Overcash Art Gallery to present ‘The Faculty Art Show’ beginning August 10

Central Piedmont’s Overcash Art Gallery is pleased to present “The Faculty Art Show,” August 10 – October 2. This group show features Central Piedmont’s talented art staff and is curated by Amelia Zytka.

“The Faculty Art Show” incorporates artwork from multiple disciplines, including drawing, painting, photography and ceramics. While the college’s art instructors excel at helping students succeed in their budding art careers, many of them are accomplished artists as well.

This exhibition not only gives Central Piedmont’s Overcash Art Gallery an opportunity to display faculty work, but also affords students the chance to see their instructors’ artwork in a gallery setting. This show is a must-see for anyone on campus and provides an enjoyable diversion. Central Piedmont’s Overcash Art Gallery is enthusiastic about the opportunity to kick start the college’s fall semester with this exciting, new exhibition.

Music Department Presents Mozart’s Classic Comic Opera, “Cosi Fan Tutte”

Central Piedmont’s Music Department is excited to present Mozart’s classic comic opera, “Cosi Fan Tutte.” In this modern interpretation, the opera is set in the present day on Central Piedmont’s Central Campus, and will be sung in English. Hilarity ensues as our two heroes make a wager that their girlfriends will be faithful to them no matter what the circumstance.  Mozart’s beautiful melodies and timeless topics give us no choice but to look and laugh at ourselves honestly. You’ll want to find out who wins this wager.

Performances are March 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m., and March 29 at 2:30 p.m. in the Halton Theater.

For tickets, visit tix.cpcc.edu or call the SunTrust box office at ext. 6534. Central Piedmont students with a valid Central Piedmont ID will get FREE admission. Non-Central Piedmont student tickets are $5 with a valid student ID.

Central Piedmont Theatre presents ‘Chess the Musical’

Chess the Musical “Chess the Musical” is coming to the Halton Theater Stage!

Chess is a rock musical with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus of the pop group ABBA, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Richard Nelson based on an idea by Rice. The story involves a politically driven, Cold War-era chess tournament between two grandmasters from America and the USSR and their fight over a woman who manages one and falls in love with the other.

From Bangkok to Budapest the players, lovers, politicians, and spies manipulate and are manipulated to the pulse of a monumental rock score that includes “One Night in Bangkok” and “Heaven Help My Heart.”

Revered as “one of the best rock scores ever produced”, by TIME Magazine, make sure you check out “this  “angry, difficult, demanding and rewarding show” which is sure to entertain.

Central Piedmont students with a valid Central Piedmont ID will receive FREE admission. Tickets are $5 for all non-Central Piedmont students with a valid student ID.  Visit tix.cpcc.edu or call the SunTrust Box Office at ext. 6534 for more information.

Central Piedmont Theatre Wins 10 Metrolina Theatre Awards

On Sunday, Sept. 29, at the MTA Awards, Central Piedmont Theatre and Central Piedmont Summer Theatre were awarded in 10 categories:

Stephen Lancaster- Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical for Gentleman’s Guide
Emily Witte- Outstanding Female Supporting Actor(Musical) for Gentleman’s Guide
Bob Croghan- Outstanding Musical Set Design for Gentleman’s Guide
Bob Croghan for Outstanding Musical Set Design for Gentleman’s Guide
Ron Chisholm- Outstanding Musical Choreography for Show Boat
Lisa Bradley- Outstanding Lead Actor Female for Gypsy
Kevin Roberge- Outstanding Lead Actor Male for Gentleman’s Guide
Payton Dills- William Rackley Award for Technical Excellence
Central Piedmont Summer Theatre – Outstanding Musical Production for Gentleman’s Guide
Tom Hollis – Theatre Person of the Year.

Congrats to all of our award recipients and to all of our students, staff, and faculty who were nominated.

In addition Dr, Corlis Hayes received the award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for Two Trains Running at BNS Productions and James Duke was awarded Outstanding Set Design Play for Two Trains Running.

Central Piedmont Drama Alum Rory Sheriff’s BNS Productions won several awards for his work on Two Trains and Be a Lion. He is a credit to our program.

Participate in ‘Blur: A Community Portrait Project’

Blur artworkBlur: A Community Portrait Project

Click dates to register for photo sessions in Ross Gallery on August 26 and August 27.

Atlanta-based photographer Melissa Alexander uses her camera to create a space of respite and self-rediscovery. Join her at Central Piedmont Community College’s Ross Art Gallery on August 26 and 27 from 3 – 7 p.m. for “Blur,” a special community portrait project that reclaims not only our time, but ourselves. Participate in a fun and affirming photo session where your self will be uncovered, your bravery rewarded, and your vulnerability empowered.

Melissa Alexander’s photography sessions are a part of the larger exhibition, “Blur: A Community Portrait Project” on view in Ross Gallery on October 16.

Photographs completed during these portrait sessions will be exhibited at the Ross Art Gallery, October 16 – December 12, 2019.