Hunting for a memorable gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day this year is easy – just stop at one of the two convenient locations of the Mint Museum Shops for some gorgeous finds: at Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts, 500 South Tryon Street, or at Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road.
“Shoppers may sometimes forget how many one-of-a-kind gifts are available at the Mint Museum Shops, and how convenient the two shop locations are for Charlotteans,” said Sandy Fisher, Museum Shops Manager. “Shoppers can have the double reward of purchasing gifts their loved ones will appreciate and supporting a treasured cultural institution.”
Here are some of Fisher’s recommendations for this season’s finds. High-res images of all items are available, and Fisher is available for interviews on request.
For Mom:
Hamilton Williams – Berry Bowl: Nestled in the foothills of the western North Carolina town of Valdese, Hamilton Williams creates a wide range of functional stoneware pieces. The Berry Bowl has been one of his most popular pieces for both its usability and beauty of design. ($48)
Kathleen Horner – Dogwood flower pins: Horner began as a water color artist in 1980, but her love of flowers and concern for the environment inspired her to start her Flower Sculptures business. Each flower is sculpted and hand painted with acrylics on extra-heavy watercolor paper (and for an added touch, remind Mom that the dogwood is the state flower of North Carolina!). ($22)
African Paper Beaded Bracelets: These colorful bracelets are made in Uganda by BeadforLife, a nonprofit organization providing women an opportunity to lift their families out of poverty by making these wonderful bracelets out of recycled paper. ($8.50)
For Dad (all items available at Mint Museum Uptown only):
Bryan Parks – Chopstick Bowls: In 2000, Bryan was traveling in China and over lunch started to think about the huge number of disposable chopsticks. After collecting chopsticks he began to use them to make larger items, and that’s how Chopstick Art was born. Bowls fold for easy storage. ($14.50 to $30)
Davin & Kesler –business card holders and letter openers: Thomas Davin and Mary Kesler have been woodworking together since 1979. They work out of a 19th century mill overlooking Dorset Mill Pond in Exeter, Rhode Island. ($39.95 to $42)
Steve Noogle – bowls: Noogle received a degree in forestry from Louisiana State University in 1978 and after working as a timber cruiser in the Pacific Northwest, he returned to North Carolina to work in the furniture industry. This led him to find pieces of wood to make his handsome bowls on his family farm in Burke County. ($110 and up)
Perry Holbrook – boxes: Holbrook is educated as an engineer, but “downsized” to become a full-time craftsman in 2002. Each piece is hand carved or turned on a lathe and then finished with a colorful glass tile on the lid. ($58 to $85)
Items can be browsed at www.mintmuseum.org/shop and phone orders can be placed by calling 704.337.2061.
ABOUT THE MINT MUSEUM
As the oldest art museum in North Carolina, and the art museum with one of the largest collections in the Southeast, The Mint Museum offers its visitors inspiring and transformative experiences through art from around the world via innovative collections, ground-breaking exhibitions, riveting educational programs, and profound scholarship. The Mint Museum is a non-profit, visual arts institution comprised of two dynamic facilities: Mint Museum Uptown and Mint Museum Randolph.
Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org. 
Located in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood as the state’s first art museum. Today, in a beautiful park setting, intimate galleries invite visitors to engage with the art of the ancient Americas, ceramics and decorative arts, fashion, European and African art, among other collections. Resources include a reference library with over 18,000 volumes, a theater featuring lectures and performances, and a museum shop offering merchandise that complements both the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
Mint Museum Uptown houses the internationally renowned Craft + Design collection, as well as outstanding collections of American, contemporary, and European art. Designed by Machado and Silvetti Associates of Boston, the five-story, 145,000-square-foot facility combines inspiring architecture with cutting-edge exhibitions to provide visitors with unparalleled educational and cultural experiences. Located in the heart of Charlotte’s burgeoning center city, Mint Museum Uptown is an integral part of the Levine Center for the Arts, a cultural campus that includes the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture, the Knight Theater, and the Duke Energy Center. Mint Museum Uptown also features a wide range of visitor amenities, including the 240-seat James B. Duke Auditorium, the Lewis Family Gallery, art studios, a restaurant, and a museum shop. For more information, check out mintmuseum.org.
