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Best in the Nest 2024 – Arts & Entertainment Critics’ Picks

Table of Contents

Best in the Nest 2024 – Arts & Entertainment Critics’ Picks

Best in the Nest 2024 – Arts & Entertainment Critics’ Picks

Artistic Genres and Mediums

The arts and entertainment landscape in Charlotte continues to evolve, with creators across disciplines pushing boundaries and elevating their crafts. From visually stunning murals and sculptures to thought-provoking theatrical productions and literary works, the Queen City has proven itself a hub for diverse artistic expression.

Visual Arts

Best Muralist: Georgie Nakima – Georgie Nakima’s vibrant public art fuses representations of Black women with geometric shapes and natural elements. Her colorful murals, such as “Earth Keeper” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, have gained her national recognition. Nakima also expanded into sculptures, digital art and interactive pieces in 2022, demonstrating her versatility. “I considered myself very analog, but I think it’s important to break out of molds that we hold for ourselves, and to continue learning,” she told Queen City Nerve.

Best Fiber Artist: Katrina Sanchez Standfield – Katrina Sánchez Standfield takes an intricate, multilayered approach to fiber arts, creating tactile objects that examine the “weaved net that keeps everyone together.” By pairing traditional techniques like weaving and knitting with experimental textures and scale, she explores contemporary social issues through an intersectional lens. Standfield’s work has been exhibited across the country.

Best Avant-Garde Artist: Edelweiss Vogel – Edelweiss Vogel’s cross-disciplinary background in painting, digital media and garment design informs her innovative, thought-provoking art. As an educator at The Brawley IB World School, Vogel incorporates diverse cultural influences into her lessons, encouraging students to use art as a medium for addressing real-world problems. Her recent digital work, “T’nalak,” features the dreamweaving traditions of the T’boli people.

Performing Arts

Best Spoken Word Performance: Kia Flow & Jerm 747, ‘Flow Town’ – Husband-and-wife duo Kia Flow and Jerm 747 wowed audiences at BOOM Charlotte’s 2022 festival with their collaborative piece “Flow Town.” The semi-autobiographical spoken word performance tells the story of an artist balancing her creative dreams with the realities of daily life, set to Jerm’s emotive musical production.

Best Local Theatre Production: ‘The Maids,’ XOXO – Experimental theatre troupe XOXO delivered a chilling, provocative take on Jean Genet’s absurdist masterpiece “The Maids” under the direction of founder Matt Cosper. Actors Kadey Ballard and Kate McCracken captivated audiences as the sisters/servants who roleplay as imperious mistress and groveling lackey.

Best Actor/Actress: Nasha Shandri – Nasha Shandri had a standout year on Charlotte stages, delivering powerful performances in three vastly different productions. Her intense, nuanced portrayal of the title role in Three Bone Theatre’s “Toni Stone” solidified Shandri’s status as the city’s top acting talent of 2022.

Literary Arts

Best Fiction Book: ‘Poster Girls’ by Meredith Ritchie – Meredith Ritchie’s debut novel “Poster Girls” explored a little-known chapter of Charlotte’s history, following two women who worked at the Shell Assembly Plant during World War II. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Ritchie’s work acknowledged themes of white guilt and racial equality.

Best Poetry Book: ‘The Other Woman’ by Rosebud Turner – Rosebud Turner’s poetry collection “The Other Woman” served as a poetic memoir of a woman’s emotional journey, as she grappled with putting others’ needs before her own. The story resonated with readers through its personal reflections on self-discovery.

Best Children’s Book: ‘All the Places We Call Home’ by Patrice Gopo – Building on the themes of identity and belonging from her 2018 adult short story collection, Charlotte-based author Patrice Gopo crafted the children’s book “All the Places We Call Home.” The beautifully illustrated work celebrates a child’s deep ties to diverse cultures and communities.

Award Categories and Criteria

The annual “Best in the Nest” awards honor the most impactful, innovative and audience-beloved artistic achievements in Charlotte. Our esteemed panel of critics evaluated submissions across a variety of genres, considering factors such as technical mastery, conceptual depth, community engagement and overall cultural significance.

Best in Category

These awards recognize the top artists and works within their respective mediums, as determined by our panel of experts.

  • Best Muralist: Georgie Nakima
  • Best Fiber Artist: Katrina Sanchez Standfield
  • Best Avant-Garde Artist: Edelweiss Vogel
  • Best Sculptor: Stuart Peterman
  • Best Installation Artist: Meredith Connelly

Critics’ Choices

Our critics selected these standout works and performances that demonstrated exceptional artistry and originality.

  • Best Spoken Word Performance: Kia Flow & Jerm 747, “Flow Town”
  • Best Local Theatre Production: “The Maids,” XOXO
  • Best Actor/Actress: Nasha Shandri
  • Best Fiction Book: “Poster Girls” by Meredith Ritchie
  • Best Poetry Book: “The Other Woman” by Rosebud Turner
  • Best Children’s Book: “All the Places We Call Home” by Patrice Gopo

Audience Favorites

In addition to the critics’ picks, we recognized the most popular and beloved artistic works, as voted on by the Charlotte community.

  • Best Arts Organization: Shelves Bookstore
  • Best New Arts Event: Public Art Walks for the Blind
  • Best New Arts Space: VAPA Center
  • Best Artistic Fashion Statement: Bonito’s Hats

Emerging Talents and Trends

The Charlotte arts scene continues to evolve, with a fresh generation of creators making their mark and pioneering new approaches to visual, performing and literary expression.

Up-and-Coming Artists

While the “Best in Category” winners represent established talents, our awards also highlighted several rising stars poised to make waves in the years ahead.

Experimental Artist: Veda Seravanan – Based in Charlotte for nearly three decades, Veda Seravanan has developed a unique style of mask-making inspired by her global travels and fascination with human facial expressions. Her abstract, color-drenched paintings and sculptures also demonstrate a bold, improvisational approach.

Installation Artist: Meredith Connelly – Multidisciplinary artist Meredith Connelly utilizes site-specific installations to shed new light on everyday materials, drawing out their organic qualities. Her work has been featured in public art initiatives across the region, including the 2019 “Lights” trail at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

Innovative Approaches

The arts in Charlotte are not merely preserving tradition, but actively evolving to meet the demands of contemporary culture. Several artists and organizations have pioneered fresh techniques and conceptual frameworks.

Amplify Workshops at We Rock Charlotte – Formerly known as Girls Rock Charlotte, the organization rebranded in 2022 to better reflect its increasingly diverse, LGBTQ+-inclusive clientele. Its year-round Amplify workshops empower young people to use creative outlets like music, visual art and filmmaking as tools for self-expression and social justice.

Immersive Art Experiences – Exhibits like the “Mental Health: MIND MATTERS” show at Discovery Place went beyond traditional displays, incorporating hands-on activities and “empathy-building” multimedia elements to give visitors a more embodied understanding of mental health challenges.

Changing Landscapes

The arts landscape in Charlotte has undergone significant shifts in recent years, driven by factors like pandemic impacts, rising costs and social movements.

Gentrification and Displacement – The America Gentrified exhibit at Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery, curated by Joanne Rogers, used a 50-piece collage series to document the effects of gentrification on local communities. Meanwhile, the closure of Tough Ass Crew’s NoDa gallery due to rent hikes highlighted broader concerns around the displacement of independent arts spaces.

Expanding Accessibility – Initiatives like the Public Art Walks for the Blind, a collaboration between Metrolina Association for the Blind, Artwalks CLT and Disability Rights & Resources, have made Charlotte’s public art more inclusive for residents with visual impairments. The descriptive tours allow participants to physically engage with sculptures and murals.

Broader Cultural Impacts

The arts in Charlotte do more than entertain – they also drive important dialogues around identity, social justice and the human experience.

Social Relevance

Many of the award-winning works grappled with pressing societal issues, from racial equity to mental health awareness.

The MÔR: A Collective Exhibition of Black Lesbian Thought, curated by Alexandra Jane and Briona Simone Jones at Goodyear Arts, created a much-needed space for Black LGBTQ+ artists to share their perspectives. Jamel Shabazz’s “Reflections of a People” photo exhibit at the Gantt Center celebrated the pride, dignity and community he documented in Black New Yorkers.

Global Perspectives

Charlotte’s artists are expanding horizons, drawing inspiration from diverse cultural traditions around the world. Edelweiss Vogel’s digital work “T’nalak” honored the dreamweaving practices of the T’boli people in her native Philippines, while Katrina Sanchez Standfield’s fiber arts explored ideas of community and healing through an intersectional lens.

Technological Influences

The arts are also evolving alongside emerging technologies. Meredith Connelly’s site-specific installations leverage both natural and manufactured materials, while Edelweiss Vogel integrates digital media into her multidisciplinary practice. The Independent Picture House, Charlotte’s first nonprofit community cinema, leveraged virtual and hybrid programming models to engage audiences during the pandemic.

Conclusion

The vibrant, ever-changing arts and entertainment landscape in Charlotte is a testament to the city’s creative spirit. Whether through bold public murals, immersive theatrical productions or thought-provoking literary works, the Queen City’s artists continue to push boundaries, elevate diverse voices and foster essential cultural dialogues. As we look ahead to 2024 and beyond, the future of Charlotte’s arts scene remains bright, brimming with innovative talents and fresh perspectives.

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