Carroll Cloar (1913-93).A Story Told by My Mother, 1955, casein tempera onMasonite. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis, TN. Bequest of Mrs.C.M. Gooch. 80.3.16© Estate of Carroll Cloar

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | IMAGES HERE

The Mint Museum announces Southern/Modern, the first exhibition to present a comprehensive survey of works by artists working in the American South in the first half of the 20th century

Charlotte, North Carolina (June 25, 2024) — The Mint Museum is proud to present the exhibition Southern/Modern, opening October 26 at Mint Museum Uptown. The exhibition is the first to provide a comprehensive survey of progressive art created in the American South during the first half of the 20th century.

Created in collaboration with Georgia Museum of Art, the exhibition includes more than 100 paintings and works on paper by artists working in states below the Mason-Dixon line and as far west as those bordering the Mississippi River, as well as some artists living outside of the region who made significant bodies of work during visits.

Curated by the Mint’s Senior Curator of American Art Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, and independent scholar Martha Severens, Southern/Modern takes a broad view of the South and is structured around key themes that traverse geographic regions, including time and place, race, family ties, and social struggles. It also takes a broad, inclusive view of the art of the region, incorporating the creativity and talent of women artists and artists of color across its various thematic sections to provide a fuller, richer, and more accurate overview of the artistic activity in the American South at the time.

“The vision for Southern/Modern to include works by artists working in the South in the early 20th century, including works by women and artists of color, opens the door for honest conversation about Southern culture during this period of time,” says Todd Herman, president and CEO at The Mint Museum. “This exhibition is a continuation of the Mint’s commitment to give space to artists with diverse backgrounds, stories, and talent that have been overshadowed in the past.”

Artists in the exhibition include Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Dusti Bonge, Carroll Cloar, Marie Hull, Jacob Lawrence, Blanche Lazzell, John McCrady, Will Henry Stevens, Hale Woodruff, “among many others both well-known and awaiting further discovery,” Stuhlman says.

“Southern/Modern began as an idea over a decade ago as I came to know our collection and other collections in the region and gained a deep appreciation for the art that I was discovering. It has truly been a pleasure and an enriching journey of discovery to bring this exhibition to life and I am both excited to share it with the public and deeply appreciative of all the private collectors and museums who generously lent their works to us,” Stuhlman says. “It was also a pleasure to work with the scholars who lent their time, talent, and insight to the informative and beautifully designed publication accompanying the show.”

Southern/Modern debuted at Georgia Museum of Art June 17-December 10, 2023 and traveled to the Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee in January 2024, then to Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Tennessee in July 2024 before opening October 26 at The Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue, published by the University of North Carolina Press, containing more than 175 rich illustrations and a dozen essays by contributing curators and leading art scholars.

Southern/Modern in Charlotte is generously presented by Wells Fargo, with additional support from the Dowd Foundation. Lead grant support for the exhibition is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation with additional funding from the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Andrew Wyeth Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Betsy and Alfred Brand Fund at The Mint Museum.

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The Mint Museum

Established in 1936 as North Carolina’s first art museum, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design. With two locations — Mint Museum Randolph in the heart of Eastover and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts — the Mint boasts one of the largest collections in the Southeast and is committed to engaging and inspiring members of the global community.

 

Contacts:
Clayton Sealey, senior director of marketing and communications
clayton.sealey@mintmuseum.org | 704.534.0186 (c)

Michele Huggins, associate director of marketing and communications
michele.huggins@mintmuseum.org | 704.564.0826 (c)