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August Issue 2005
Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC, Features Ancient Egyptian Art and Children's Book Illustrations
The Mint Museum of Art in Charlotte, NC, is presenting two new exhibitions to bring visitors in from the summer heat, including: Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife, offering a selection of over 90 ancient artifacts from a local private collection, on view through Dec. 4, 2005, and The Land of Make-Believe - Original Children's Book Illustrations, 40 artworks from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County's collection, on view from Aug. 9 through Feb. 26, 2006.
Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife, provides a unique opportunity to explore this fascinating early culture, as The Mint Museum does not have its own Egyptian collection. The exhibit is the first Ancient Egyptian exhibition at the Mint since the Ramesses made a debut in 1988.
The Mummy Board of Khaemipet, which means one who frequents the temple, and a mummified falcon in its ornate linen wrap are included in the exhibit as well as cosmetic dishes, tiny scarab amulets, and shabtis. The exhibition covers the pre-Dynastic Period (4000-3000 BC), Old Kingdom (3000-2100 BC), and the Ptolemaic Period (200-30 BC).
While most known objects from Ancient Egypt were recovered from tombs, a common misconception holds that the culture was obsessed with death. In truth these items shed light on the day-to-day lives of Ancient Egyptians, as well as their religious and funerary practices and beliefs. For example, the shabti, meaning "I am here," was a funerary figurine from the Middle Kingdom, 2000-1800 BC, buried alongside the master it would serve in the afterlife. Tools were buried with the shabti to enable his work in the hereafter. Additionally, tombs were filled with items used and enjoyed by the deceased person in their life. Ancient Egyptians thus prepared for the afterlife which they saw as a mirror of their present life.
One of the shabtis on display in the exhibition was the initial acquisition made by an anonymous Charlotte collector, eight years ago. After an inspiring trip to Egypt in 1983, the collector became engrossed in studying the Ancient Egyptians and has since amassed a collection of over 150 pieces. Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife marks the largest loan given for public display from this collection.
The collector is mesmerized with the extremely
advanced culture maintained by Ancient Egyptians. "They had
the have and have nots," said the collector. "People
were treated well, especially from the Middle Kingdom onward.
Their belief in the after life, according to the collector, required
them to live a moral life." Furthermore, according to the
collector, women had the highest status of any ancient culture.
Emphasis was placed on leading a "just" life. The rich
were expected to share their wealth with the rest of society.
Images of gods, pharaohs, brewers and servants, and the objects
they used are portrayed in various materials including stone,
bronze and painted wood. Egyptian philosophy influenced the exquisite
craftsmanship of the pieces. The Egyptians had no word for "art"
and crafted these magnificent treasures for functional purposes.
Objects were used for fulfilling desires or maintaining "ma'
at" their cosmic order. Craftsmanship was regarded with utmost
importance since the quality of the object was thought to reflect
its efficiency. Funerary items were integral to their belief system.
Ancient Egyptians believed that these pieces would follow them
in death spiritually and symbolically rather than physically.
There are a variety of objects in Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife exhibiting the belief system of this culture. A Coffin Panel from the Middle Kingdom, 2055-1773 BC, is decorated with a frieze of objects including a bird's extended wing symbolizing "ma' at". The Mummy Board of Khaemipet, from Dynasty 19, 1292-1186 BC, was meant to provide additional physical and magical protection for the mummy. Its decoration includes an open lotus flower draped over Khaemipet's forehead and winged scarab beetles pushing the sun disk, each are symbols of regeneration and rebirth. Hieroglyphic symbols were used to portray wholeness, perfection, protection, and permanence. Bronze statues from the Saite Period/Dynasty 26, 664-525 BC, were made in multitudes and donated to temples by ordinary worshippers demonstrating their devotion.
Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife is a great opportunity to explore a culture that has had great influence on modern and western culture. The local flavor of this exhibit also makes it a special , warm event for Charlotte.
Supplementing the Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife exhibition is a brochure of roughly 1000 words, including 8-10 color illustrations and graphics, authored by the guest curator Dr. Peter Lacovara from the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University.
Illustrations from children's books are a very special art form, and the only area of artistic expression created specifically with children in mind. The Land of Make-Believe - Original Children's Book Illustrations celebrates the "land of make-believe," the imaginative and accomplished works of art that have been created for the best children's literature.
The Land of Make-Believe exhibition features roughly 40 artworks from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County's collection, including works by some of the most respected and accomplished children's illustrators in the United States, Tomie de Paola, David Wisniewski, James Ransome, Gail Haley and Peter Catalamotto. Only a handful of the illustrations have been publicly displayed before now.
This exhibition coincides with the Oct., 2005, opening of ImaginOn, the Joe and Joan Martin Center, the new home of the youth and children's Public Library as well as Children's Theatre of Charlotte. The exhibit is also a visual acknowledgment of the wonderful two-year collaboration between The Mint Museums and the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County called Smart Connections.
The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County has amassed a collection of almost 100 original illustrations for children's books. This collection is a treasure now and for the future, as more and more illustrations for publishing is being done on computer.
The collection spans the decades from the early 1960s until the mid-1990s and includes an impressive number of Caldecott Award winning artists and illustrations. Many of the artworks are in watercolor, some enhanced with pen and ink or collage, and there are prints, and an example of cut paper that is the trademark of Wisniewski. One of the earliest works is a pencil sketch by Garth Williams for the cover of one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie series. Gail Haley, who now resides in Boone, NC, gave some of her original woodblocks and tools to the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County and examples will be included in the exhibition in one case. The exhibit will be enhanced with the addition of a small table and chair in the Williamson Gallery with access to copies of the books for which the illustrations were created from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County. A comment book will be provided for museum visitors' reminiscences of favorite books and stories.
For further information check our NC Institutional
Gallery listings, call the Mint at 704/337-2009 or at (www.mintmuseum.org).
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