Please join the artists and owners for the Grand Opening of Evergreen Studio & Gallery! The Opening Reception event will be on Thursday, Nov. 12th from 5:30pm—9pm. They will be showcasing two exhibits: Last Days of Summer and Calendar Girls. Both exhibits place the personal projects of local commercial photographers in the spotlight.
Last Days of Summer
Andy Chen and Virginia Dunn’s celebratory photographs in their exhibit Last Days of Summer aim to conjure up feelings of youth by chronicling the Matthews County fair on Labor Day weekend. By observing the precious last hours of summer, each photographer was reminded of the indestructible quality of youth. Their work is reminiscent of the endless possibilities of coming days, the sweetness of living only for the present and the intensity of friendships that seem they will last forever. These days bring easy enthusiasm, and joy is born of simple things. In those afternoons characterized by funnel cake and lemonade, by Ferris wheel, face paint and stuffed animals, new friends and old soak up these golden moments before one more year is behind them. Before the calendar page turns and the cool breezes of fall settle in, we hold on as best we can to the Last Days of Summer.
Calendar Girls
In 2004 Mr. Bruce Hazel brought together local artists and musicians to answer the call for help made by the thousands of fellow North Carolinians affected by the largest mass layoff in our state’s history when the Pillowtex Factory was closed down. Held around April 1st, the concert, now an annual event, was named the Fool’s Brigade. Subsequent shows have benefited other charities such as: Crisis Assistance Ministry, Hospice of Charlotte, The Charlotte Community Charter School, The Metrolina AIDS Project, and Jacob’s Ladder Job Center. Choice musicians paid tribute to the likes of Tom Waits, The Kinks, the world famous rock-club CBGBs, David Bowie and The Rolling Stones.
Since the first show, Hazel’s creative direction has pulled together hundreds of local musicians, artists and business owners to volunteer their time and services for an event that raises money for local causes. Hazel, Creative Loafing’s “Champion of the Scene 2009,”established his project “to provide assistance to a worthy cause and to shine a spotlight on the talented group of local artists who help make Charlotte a thriving and vibrant place to live.” From tee shirt design to donating rehearsal space, Hazel, together with organizers Phil Southerland and Shane Cudahy, have inspired people to use their talents to help those in need.
This year, in a continuing effort to unite the artistic community, the first Fool’s Brigade calendar was produced. Local photographers Shane Cudahy, Scott Forrester and Buck Rackley, collectively with other local artists, compiled a calendar of the female musicians who performed in this year’s Fool’s Brigade benefit concert. Selling these saucy pinups at the 2009 Fool’s Brigade concert increased the total contribution to Jacob’s ladder. Calendar Girls showcases photographs from this project and gives viewers a look at some of the sexy girl rockers of Charlotte, posing for a pertinent cause.