"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." -Edgar Degas
Welcome back my friends! Today I have a fun post to share with you. I have been excited to share it with you since I went to it last Thursday!
The Charlotte International Art Festival!
It was a two-week festival which featured curated visual and immersive experiences from local artists to artists around the world!
Uptown Charlotte and Ballatyne were taken over by art installations, luminariums, and live performances. There was something for everyone. Even Hurricane Ian could not stop the festivities -though he did alter them a bit.
I had been hearing about it and I finally had to go see it for myself. The main attraction for me was an installation called 'Man,' by Amanda Parer. Presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts, Man is a contemporized version of another piece from 1880 called 'Thinker,' by Auguste Rodin. I read about it before I actually walked up to it, and Rodin's version is actually more positive than Parer's. While Rodin's 'Thinker' represents man's pursuit of philosophy, Parer's 'Man' the man is holding his head in search of answers, or "in search, perhaps, of what went wrong."
Welcome back my friends! Today I have a fun post to share with you. I have been excited to share it with you since I went to it last Thursday!
The Charlotte International Art Festival!
It was a two-week festival which featured curated visual and immersive experiences from local artists to artists around the world!
Uptown Charlotte and Ballatyne were taken over by art installations, luminariums, and live performances. There was something for everyone. Even Hurricane Ian could not stop the festivities -though he did alter them a bit.
I had been hearing about it and I finally had to go see it for myself. The main attraction for me was an installation called 'Man,' by Amanda Parer. Presented by Blumenthal Performing Arts, Man is a contemporized version of another piece from 1880 called 'Thinker,' by Auguste Rodin. I read about it before I actually walked up to it, and Rodin's version is actually more positive than Parer's. While Rodin's 'Thinker' represents man's pursuit of philosophy, Parer's 'Man' the man is holding his head in search of answers, or "in search, perhaps, of what went wrong."
The luminaria, presented by Architects of Air, was another very fascinating installation to experience! Truly I had no idea what to expect when I got in line. Upon entering, you are basically in a maze of beautiful colors and lights! It is accompanied by soft music and is really very soothing! There is no set path once inside, you are free to wander around or even sit down and "contemplate life" as the guide told me right before I went in. It is a mesmerizing experience!
Interestingly, all of the light and color is created from natural light, shining through individual cut and colored plastic.
I added some pictures down below to hopefully give you a better idea of what it was like inside!
Interestingly, all of the light and color is created from natural light, shining through individual cut and colored plastic.
I added some pictures down below to hopefully give you a better idea of what it was like inside!
While you meandered around the park you may find yourself running into 'The Birdmen!' This was one of the live art shows that had many of the kiddos in the park excited. Men on stilts with what looked to be bird skeletons on their shoulders! They would parade around the park from time to time -which I imagine was no easy feat with all of the hills! Although I am not sure of the story behind 'The Birdmen,' they were still very impressive to witness all the same!
And finally, throughout the park there were enormous balloon-like pieces stationed with people's faces on them. Most of them were making some kind of funny face. It was a delight to watch people taking pictures beside of them and trying to recreate the facial expressions! I even found myself doing it a time or too! xD I have no idea who the people on the balloon pieces are, I can only assume that they somehow affiliated with Charlotte International Art Festival or perhaps involved in the creation of all of the displays! Either way they were very much enjoyed!
It was a picture-perfect afternoon and I had such a great time! I am so glad I made it! My only regret is that I did not make it back later on in the evening to see everything lit up! I also did not get to see the Lapis performance! I saw them online and really wished I could have seen them live. Maybe next year?!
I'm already looking forward to it! ;)
And finally, throughout the park there were enormous balloon-like pieces stationed with people's faces on them. Most of them were making some kind of funny face. It was a delight to watch people taking pictures beside of them and trying to recreate the facial expressions! I even found myself doing it a time or too! xD I have no idea who the people on the balloon pieces are, I can only assume that they somehow affiliated with Charlotte International Art Festival or perhaps involved in the creation of all of the displays! Either way they were very much enjoyed!
It was a picture-perfect afternoon and I had such a great time! I am so glad I made it! My only regret is that I did not make it back later on in the evening to see everything lit up! I also did not get to see the Lapis performance! I saw them online and really wished I could have seen them live. Maybe next year?!
I'm already looking forward to it! ;)
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