The Arts & Science Council (ASC) will hold a community meeting in Cornelius Wednesday night to get citizens involved in defining a cultural vision for Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Community members are invited to attend the meeting and share ideas and opinions for ASC’s next “cultural action plan.” Read the full story

Art prof. Shaw Smith tells visitors about Magdalena Abakanowicz's "The Group of 10" at Wednesday's opening. More photos below. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Brad Thomas with a Roualt donated to the college collection. (Bill Giduz photo)

Brad Thomas, Davidson College’s art gallery director since 1999, has found a new perch: As curator of contemporary art at the Mint Museum in Charlotte. Mint officials announced Thursday that he will start the new job Monday, Jan 23, at the museum in downtown Charlotte.

On Wednesday night, Mr. Thomas was at the college’s Van Every/Smith Galleries, saying farewells and accepting pats on the back from friends during an opening for a show of recent acquisitions that shows the stamp he has put on Davidson’s permanent collection. Read the full story

The Community Arts Project plans three events in the coming months for community members, including its “Have a Heart” Valentine’s party, summer camp crawl and “Taste of Art” fundraiser. Read below for details. Read the full story

Some of the many ceramics projects made by students at CAP. (Christina Ritchie Rogers / DavidsonNews.net)

The Community Arts Project (CAP), a nonprofit visual arts organization in Cornelius, is working to raise $3,900 for a new electric kiln through the Arts and Science Council’s “Power 2 Give” website. The site allows organizations to post specific needs and requests for donations, and allows donors to easily contribute to those projects online. CAP has raised 23 percent of its goal thus far, and must raise the remaining 77 percent by mid-January. Read the full story

People admire the work in the "Teaching Talents" exhibit. (CAP photo)

CORNELIUS - The Cornelius Arts Center in the Oak Street Mill on Wednesday held an opening reception for its “Teaching Talents” exhibit, featuring art made by the instructors and staff of the Community Arts Project. Also below, a note about a search for new board members at the organization. Want to help? Read the full story

Paul Studtmann with the damaged "Falling Down Man" by Charlie Spear. (Bill Giduz photo)

Can damage actually increase the value of a piece of art? A Davidson College philosophy professor thinks so, and he’ll test the theory in a benefit auction this Friday, Dec. 9., at Summit Coffee in Davidson. The event begins at 8 p.m.

Philosophy professor Paul Studtmann will auction a 2-foot by 3-foot painting complete with its badly bowed steel frame. The painting was damaged in transit from the studio of artist Charlie Spear of Indianapolis to Prof. Studtmann in Davidson.

The acrylic-on-wood image titled “Falling Down Man” depicts a marionette heaped on the ground, which Mr. Spear intended as a statement about the plight of the homeless. Read the full story