The Mint’s Mega Musical Chairs

Join the one or two rousing rounds of musical chairs as part of the opening celebration for the exhibition The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design.

Game times: Noon and 2:15 PM

The event is hosted by Miguel of Miguel and Holly from 96.1 FM. Prizes include a $100 gift card to Little Mama’s Italian restaurant and the brand-new Chapter 6 restaurant, or any Rare Roots Hospitality-owned restaurant in Charlotte, plus a Contributor Level membership to the Mint for you or a friend. Participation is limited and registration is first come, first served.

Participation is limited. Registration is encouraged. Register here.

More about The Art of Seating Opening Celebration

The public opening celebration takes place 11 AM–6 PM September 16 and 1-5 PM September 17. Museum admission will be free both Saturday and Sunday of the opening weekend. 

Other special programming for the opening celebration includes:

1 PM: Curator-Collector Chat: Diane DeMell Jacobsen, Ph.D., chair of the Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, joins Senior Curator of American Art Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, to discuss the collection of chairs featured in the exhibition. 

4 PM: Three 20-minute sessions of chair yoga led by Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts. 

About the exhibition

The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design, on view September 16, 2023–February 25, 2024 at Mint Museum Uptown, features chairs sat on by presidents, chairs that were thrown from skyscrapers and chairs designed by renowned makers — and a few that visitors can sit on themselves.

The 52 chairs on view exemplify that a chair can be much more than just a place to sit. The exhibition reveals chairs as works of art that tell stories of United States history spanning from the early 19th century to the early 21st century.

These stories range from the contributions of immigrants to changing tastes in style and aesthetics to new innovations in technology and materials. Visitors can admire the works of esteemed makers and designers, including George Hunzinger, the Stickley Brothers, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Charles and Ray Eames, whose work has left an indelible mark on American design and continues to inspire contemporary artists and designers.

The Art of Seating: 200 Years of American Design is made possible through the generous support of PNC. Additional individual support is provided by Mary and Walt Beaver, Sarah G. Cooper, Lucy and Hooper Hardison, and Kati and Chris Small. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated 248-page scholarly catalogue that is available in The Mint Museum Store.