The dictionary defines ephemera as “items designed to be useful or important for only a short time, especially pamphlets, notices, tickets, etc.”

As a matter of fact, without realizing it, my most treasured collection is a grouping of colorful menus that were collected by my grandmother when she was a passenger aboard the SS Ile de France ocean liner. The ship subsequently sank (my grandmother not aboard, thankfully!) which increased the value of the collection tremendously.

Old postcards.

During my weekly jaunt to Oak Street Mill, I came across a basket filled with old sheet music and Life Magazines. The sheet music was selling for $3.00 and the Life Magazine was $8.00. Each item held an interesting significance for me. The sheet music was titled “A Little Bit of Sunshine from Home.” The cover features a sailor from the USS Michigan on it. I hail from the Great Lake state! The other item, a Life Magazine from 1941 features the headline “Southern Sand Styles” with a beautiful Southern Bell stretched out on a floaty. Guess who vacations on the sands of Charleston and Hilton Head! What a find and what a steal!

Sheet music.

During MLK weekend I went back to Michigan for my niece’s Bat Mitzvah in Ann Arbor. After the shindig came to an end, before we made our way to the airport, we had a few hours to stroll our favorite part of town called, Kerrytown. The area is spearheaded by my favorite restaurant called “Zingermann’s” where we could grab a coffee and shop. Now as luck would have it, I wandered into a boutique called “Found.” (How ironic!) There, casually atop a display case was a vintage postcard set. This was not a reproduction, because I could see the real ink lettering and a postmark. In it was a pack of mint condition postcards from Charlotte, North Carolina! The scenes were remarkable. I could hardly recognize Tryon Street and the Court House. The pack is rather difficult to frame. So I am thinking of gifting it to The Levine Museum of The New South. For just a few bucks I found a little charm and a whole lot of history.

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

Painting by Elie Bou Zeidan

I stopped at La Parisienne Fine Chocolates on North Main Street in Cornelius on Christmas Eve. It’s in a row of shops down the way from Weight Watchers – a seeming contradiction in retail planning. Nonetheless, I needed a last-minute gift. I brought my daughter, who in her charming, Pavlovian way salivates at Lindt commercials on TV. I knew I was doomed to step up for a treat for her, too.

When I entered the shop, I found a fine combination of French charm (Toile curtains) and Southern simplicity (sturdy wood tables where you can set up a laptop). There was a single display cabinet full of fine chocolates, a small but costly espresso maker and a small selection of pastries. The chocolates were exquisite. Glossy and colorful, in interesting shapes and sizes.

But what really caught my eye was the artwork on the walls – paintings by the shop owner Elie Bou Zeidan. He was behind the counter, speaking in a deep accent. Most of the paintings were of still life and scenery. My favorite was the work titled “Lunch.” I liked the casual ease of the diner and the look of patience on the dogs face. Eventually, a scrap will fall!

Painting by Elie Bou Zeidan

Mr. Bou Zeidan is originally from Lebanon and lived in France for years where he honed his skills. He offers classes in fine art, right in the cafe. Sitting with a espresso, charcoal in hand and a chocolate (or two or three) on my plate sounds exquisite. After I snapped a few photos, he gave my daughter a free chocolate of her choice. She was hooked from first bite! We’ll be returning soon to enjoy the perfect pairing of chocolate and art.

For more information on Eli or his classes go to: eliezeidan.net.

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

Bracelet - Carolina Art Garden

First, for the fashionable teen girl is this great half grunge/half earth fairy bracelet that can be found at Oak Street Mill’s, Carolina Art Garden. It’s just $42. It’s very “in.” Your daughter will believe that your the “Cool Dad.”

Peter Chapman Polar Bear Puzzle, Wooden Stone

Next, from Wooden Stone for your six year old son is this unbelievable Polar Bear Puzzle. It’s handcrafted by artist Peter Chapman out of a single piece of wood. When you are able to open it, it reveals a baby polar bear cub! I know it’s pricey, at $220. But believe me, your wife will display it with her Christmas decorations, long after your son tires of playing with it. It’s almost like buying both of them a present!

Gingerbread house classes coming at Sanctuary.

Now, for your wife. I’ve been reading a lot lately about how experiences make us ultimately more happy. When I stroll into The Sanctuary on Main Street, I keep looking at the list of art classes offered. There are lots! Both day and evening classes. A perfect one for the holiday season is the Gingerbread House class. It’s $35 and is on December 11th from 10-12noon. By the way, they also offer a children’s version of this class on Saturday, December 18th from 10-11:30a.m. for just $25. No supplies needed for either class. (See more in our Dec. 8 food notes item.)

Happy Holidays from Art Around Town!

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

See Lisa’s gallery below.

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

CHARLESTON GALLERY

A colorful sculpture by Kevin Cole.

Last week, I attended a charity event at The Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture in Charlotte. This “Lunch With A Legend” starred Mr. Gantt, Charlotte’s first African-American mayor. It was hosted in the rooftop atrium of the architecturally significant building that he lent his name to. The room’s view and ambiance was perfect for the small gathering of about 50 people and let us get to know Mr. Gantt in a more intimate atmosphere. I was impressed by his charm, warmth and political adeptness. I received a great history lesson on Charlotte politics and social issues.

After the event I walked two of the new museum’s galleries, where you’ll find everything from mixed-media to photography. But it was the work of Kevin Cole that caught my eye. Mr. Cole’s sculpture was bright, colorful and peaceful in its own way.

A docent told us, “Mr. Cole uses the long neck-tie shapes as a reminder of what happened to him when he was 18 years old. His grandfather stressed the importance of voting by taking him to a tree where he was told that African-Americans were lynched by their neckties on their way to vote.”

That experience obviously left a deep impression on Mr. Cole, although not one of defeat, but of celebrating how far his family has come and the joy (and sorrows) of being American and the rights and privileges that come with it.

More information about The Gantt Center is at www.ganttcenter.org

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category

Kevin Cole's colorful sculptures are at the Gantt Center.

While working at the department store, I laid eyes on a bottle of exquisite perfume. There were two colorful intertwined snakes on the cap. The bottle was cobalt blue. The smell was exotic and mysterious with notes of amber, musk, jasmine and vetyver. The scent was called Niki de Staint Phalle. It was named after the French artist who created it. Of course, I had to have it. It was expensive and more than I should have spent, but with my employee discount, I managed the purchase. I felt very sophisticated in this perfume. It seemed to have a history that I clearly did not have yet and was sexy in a way that I could hardly understand. I thought that the snakes were some sort of biblical reference. I thought I was bold and daring in this perfume, but I could hardly live up to the artists talents and inspiration. It was only years later that I began to learn about de Saint Phalle and her exploration into feminism.

Niki de Staint Phalle

De Saint Phalle is a woman who grappled with her own life choices and societies roles for her. Much of her work deals with the beauty and conflicts of being a woman, a mother and an independent life force. Her works include, painting, sculpture, film and literature. Imagine my delight just a few months ago, while driving through uptown Charlotte, I see a gigantic sculpture by de Saint Phalle in front of the new Bechtler Museum. There it stands in all of it’s sparkly and bold glory, “The Firebird” (l’Oiseau de Feu Sur l’Arch). I love how patrons need to touch it’s mirrored surface and pose coquettishly next to it to have their pictures taken. Everybody loves this sculpture. Men, women and children. It has an earthiness with its wide firm legs, open wings and a blazing sun heart. The sculpture was completed in 1991 towards the end of her life, as she died in 2002. It seems that De Saint Phalle found a spiritual inner peace with who she was and confidence to share it with us.

"The Firebird" (l'Oiseau de Feu Sur l'Arch)

If you’d like to visit the statue and museum go to: bechtler.org

Art Around Town,” by Lisa Jewel, appears Fridays on DavidsonNews.net’s Guide page. Lisa is keeping a sort of “visual journal” of interesting objects she finds in the area. Some are items for sale at local galleries, others prized possessions in our homes. Have an object to share? Email Lisa, lskjewel@aol.com. See her previous columns in the Art Around Town category