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Two New Special Exhibits At The NC Museum of Art This Fall

Brooke Smallwood

RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) will present two new exhibits that introduce a modern take on traditional art this fall. One installation is titled Break the Mold and focuses on numerous social issues through embroidery, ceramics, quilting, and other traditional mediums. Featuring artists from around the state and around the world, the fall exhibitions titled NC Artists Connections explore themes related to the expansion of traditional museum collections and art-making. Both exhibits are free to visit.

“NC Artists Connections shows how deep the talent runs in our community, while Break the Mold presents fascinating new takes on traditional art-making,” said Valerie Hillings, Museum director. “Presented together, these exhibitions invite reflection and conversations around museums, community, and traditions.”

Break The Mold
exhibits
Elizabeth Alexander, The Great Enemy of Truth, 2019, hand-cut set of Confederate commemorative porcelain plates, paper packaging, glass, wood, and brass wall mounts, full set: H. 60 × W. 260 × D. 5 in., Courtesy of Hodges Taylor and the artist.

In Break The Mold, opening September 25, 2021, abstract collages that consist of ordinary disposable items line the walls, inviting guests to reflect on the effects of first-world consumerism on the world. For instance, Blacksmith Elizabeth Brim transforms scraps of metal, which is associated with masculinity, into feminine accessories with the intent to poke fun at gender roles. On one wall drapes a quilt of prison uniforms that represents prison industrial complexes and a justice system that wrongly condemns men of color.

Furthermore, on another wall hangs ceramic plates with oddly shaped holes cut out by Elizabeth Alexander. Her work symbolizes the glorification of the Confederacy’s role in the civil war. One piece consists of one hundred and forty-four pairs of shoe soles. The creator, Gabriel de la Mora claims “Art is not created or destroyed; it is just transformed.”

NC Artist Connections
Stephen Hayes, 5 lbs (detail), 2020–2021, Hydro-Stone, resin, brass, and plastic, dimensions variable, Courtesy of the artist.

Just down the hall, three artists introduce video presentations, collages, photography, and sculptures. Creative minds Stephen Hayes, Hong-An-Truong, and The Beautiful People Project have come together for an exhibit titled NC Artist Connections. Their exhibit, which opened Sept. 3rd, focuses on social justice and the struggle of minorities fighting for equality.

Stephen Hayes was born in Durham, North Carolina. He strives to communicate the unique struggle black people face today through symbolism. Hands protruding from brass shell casings cover an entire wall, and two statues of men with closed eyes face the entrance to the exhibit. His work is haunting and guaranteed to intrigue.

Hồng-Ân Trương, We are Beside Ourselves, 2018, installation including carbon single transfer prints on mirror, archival pigment print on Phototex, lithographs, and sound, dimensions variable, Courtesy of the artist.

Hong-An-Truong focuses on retelling stories about social justice movements from the 18th century. Her project is titled We Are Beside Ourselves. It consists of authentic newspaper clippings from the Black Panther Party.  Next to these, carbon prints portray acts of solidarity in the war on equality.

Winnie Okwakol, Self-Portrait, 2021, from Memory is Ritual: A Remembrance of Ourselves by The Beautiful Project, digital print, 24 × 36 in., Courtesy of Winnie Okwakol.

Memory Is A Ritual: A Remembrance of Ourselves is a three-act video presentation of spoken poetry. Produced by The Beautiful People Project, it covers ideas of memory and ritual. The beauty of Black women and their connection to divinity are key themes in this masterpiece. The visuals envelop the viewer in a mystical and fascinating world from beginning to end.

About the Exhibitions:

Break the Mold was conceived in collaboration with the Mint Museum in Charlotte, which provided critical loans and curatorial support. It is organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art. This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

NC Artist Connections is organized by the North Carolina Museum of Art and is generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. This exhibition is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

Conclusion

The NC Museum of Art, located at 2110 Blue Ridge Rd in Raleigh, NC,  is home to a diverse arrangement of exhibits. The museum’s walls have seen everything from Picasso to Egyptian masks. Now it’s home to revolutionary ideas and up-and-coming artists.