Blumenthal Arts Announces 2024 Class of Fellows

(April 24, 2024) Charlotte, NC – The third annual Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF), a Blumenthal Arts Original, will return to Charlotte September 13–29, 2024. The annual celebration of creativity and international cultures attracts renowned artists from all over the world to display their work in Charlotte. It is also an incredible opportunity for local artists to shine. Blumenthal announced today that nine local artists have been selected for the 2024 class of Blumenthal Arts Fellows. More information can be found at charlotteartsfest.com.

 

“We are pleased to announce our third cohort of Blumenthal Fellows in conjunction with the third annual Charlotte International Arts Festival,” said Bree Stallings, Blumenthal’s Director of Artistic Experiences. “Each year, the applicant pool gets stronger as the local artists' talents continue to grow. The 9 projects chosen this year embody the principals of this program and our larger festival: art pieces that are interactive, joyful, and elicit a sense of awe. This cohort will bring the total number of Blumenthal Fellows projects to 41 with a total funded amount of $415,000 since the start of the program in 2021. We can't wait to see what these innovative artists create and how audiences enjoy their work during CIAF this year.”

 

Blumenthal is dedicated to supporting local artists by amplifying their work and providing employment opportunities through initiatives such as CIAF, Blume Studios immersive programs, Artist in Residency programs, and more. In 2023, Blumenthal Arts paid $505,000 to local CIAF artists, including Blumenthal Fellows.  

 

The work of this year’s talented Blumenthal Fellows inspires awe, innovation, and creative placemaking. Thanks to a generous gift from sponsor Wells Fargo, nine grants have been awarded in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. The artists’ visually inspiring, thought-provoking, interactive projects will be displayed alongside visiting national and international artists and seen by thousands of festivalgoers.  

 

Projects by the 2024 Blumenthal Fellows include:

 

Laura Sexton

Is This Love?

A crocheted 6-foot teddy bear using plarn (plastic bags as yarn). This project will be filled with plastic bags on the inside and crocheted with them on the outside.

 

 

Heather Kostell

Planet Pretend

Planet Pretend fosters a sense of play by inviting visitors to experience an imaginary world using ordinary objects.

 

 

Kortney Paloalto

Entrando en mi Expresión

A walkway that features large papel picado—cutouts made with tinted vinyl.

 

 

Eliza Dunaway

Moire Movers

An interactive installation that visitors can rotate to make a moving illusion. 3 7-foot-tall posts patterned with notes of the history, commerce, and culture of Charlotte.

 

 

Lori Schember

Nebula Bloom

A large sculpture carved out of EPS foam—an interactive piece allowing patrons to play, sit, and crawl through it.

 

 

Cat Babbie

Interlude

A free-standing, cocoon-like sculpture that curves and curls around itself and the viewer. Patrons are encouraged to walk through and around the entirety of the piece.

 

 

Aguinaldo Santos

Leaf of Light

An interactive solar charging hub. Integrated solar panels capture sunlight, storing energy, which powers the sculptures embedded lighting and provides charging stations for visitors’ mobile devices.

 

 

Paige Reitterer & Will Rudolph

A Gathering While Everything Flows

A hangout spot that is beautifully designed to be in direct opposition to “hostile architecture.” This piece creates a communal space to encourage engagement amongst festival patrons and illustrates the interconnectedness of our Charlotte community.

 

 

Emily Nuñez

Echoes of Thought: Constructing Spaces for Reflection

An open concept greenhouse, designed to emulate the aesthetics of stained glass. Inside will feature crafted flowers made from recycled materials, thought-provoking questions, and portraits.

 

 

Photos and headshots of the 2024 Blumenthal Fellows can be found here.

 

A full festival lineup announcement is coming soon. For more information, keep an eye on charlotteartsfest.com.

 

Follow CIAF on social for updates, location details, and surprises! 

@cltartsfest          #cltartsfest

 

ABOUT CIAF

The Charlotte International Arts Festival (CIAF), a Blumenthal Arts Original, uniquely brings together Charlotte's local and international communities with global artists in a cultural celebration filled with live performances, art installations, food from around the world, and more.  

 

ABOUT BLUMENTHAL ARTS

Blumenthal Arts serves the Carolinas as a leading cultural, entertainment and education not-for-profit. For more information, call (704) 372-1000 or visit BlumenthalArts.org. Blumenthal Arts receives support from the Infusion Fund and the North Carolina Arts Council. Generous support is also provided by PNC Bank, sponsor of the PNC Broadway Lights series, and Equitable, sponsor of the Equitable Bravo Series.

 

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