BEST ART GALLERY
(tie) Joie Lassiter Gallery and Elder Art Gallery
Joie Lassiter’s gallery gets the nod this year for two reasons. One, she consistently brings to Charlotte high quality, difficult, challenging, uncompromising work, and in so doing refuses to cater to the (often loathsome) tastes of this city. And two, she has survived doing so. Larry Elder shares the honor for his advance guard and standard setting appearance in Southend, the future number one arts district of Charlotte (apologies to NoDa). Elder has discovered strange and wonderful things in his travels, and has the grace and good business sense to share.
Joie Lassiter Gallery, 515 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464. Elder Art Gallery, 1427 South Boulevard. 704-370-6337.
BEST LOCAL ARTIST
Phil Moody
Moody wins this on the strength of his show eulogizing the work lives of denizens in South Carolina’s textile industry. Moody’s electrifying, large-scale quilted photos narrate the dissolution of a silent minority who helped clothe an entire country in the 20th century. If you missed the Light Factory show, see Moody’s work again at the Dalton Gallery on Main Street in Rock Hill coming up this November.
BEST NEW ARTISTS
Entire Graduating Class Of UNCC Studio Art Department
This is a heads-up for anyone out there clever or crazy enough to start collecting the artwork of the young and the restless. This crew of undergraduates will produce a handful of keepers (i.e., those still making art in their 30s). Brandon Boan, Jason Mullis and Charlotte Zweber are just three names in this class to stick on your cultural antennae.
BEST PUBLIC ART WORK
Light Rail Artwork Selections At Spirit Square
This was an exhibition of work slated for assembly in concert with, or following, Charlotte’s light rail construction. I saw the same displays the Mayor saw: maquettes, mockups and displays; the novel, irksome, inventive and outrageous. This work alone is enough to provoke man, woman and child, alien or local, to hazard a ride on the rails. These works help Charlotte morph from layover to destination. For more on “art critic” McCrory’s opinion of these works, see “Best Impersonation of a Hick” in the City Life section.
BEST NEWS FOR A FUTURE WORLD-CLASS CHARLOTTE
Arts Funding Considered!
Thumbs up to the once snarling, now mollified boo-hoos on City Council for looking at the feasibility of funding proposed arts projects. Hold your breath until we can drop in on the Council to see what really will take place.
BEST THEATER COMPANY
Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
Actors Theatre had already wrested leadership of the local scene from Charlotte Rep before Rep folded, programming cutting edge works like Take Me Out, The Laramie Project, Bat Boy and Wonder of the World while Rep was serving up Barefoot in the Park and re-re-reruns of A Tuna Christmas. Production values are still a bit seedy sometimes, as you’d expect from a company with a resolutely avant-garde attitude, but this is a company with a clear idea of what they’re about. They know their audience to the bone. The fine acting and committed directing shows no signs of devolving into slickness. Check out their 2005-06 season, including Bug, Johnny Guitar, The Goat and All the Great Books (abridged).
650 East Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.
BEST ACTOR
Brian Robinson
Charlotte has a fine roster of actors and actresses, some of whom can actually stick around much of the year and make a living. Robinson does it the hard way, freelancing with all the best pro companies in town — and around the state. In town, he’s worked for Actor’s Theatre, Rep and Children’s Theatre over the past year-and-a-half, fronting Take Me Out, Barefoot in the Park and Prince Brat. He’s also hovered nearby in recent years, surfacing prominently at Flat Rock and the NC Shakespeare Festival. We sometimes forget the breadth of this triple threat’s singing, acting and dancing talents. All of Robinson’s gifts are still in their prime.
BEST ACTRESS
Nicia Carla
We mostly see Carla (who also won this award last year) on the mainstage at Children’s Theatre, but her comical forays have spiced numerous excellent productions on Charlotte’s fringe scene. You’ll likely remember Carla if you saw her as The Witch in Children’s Theatre’s Hansel & Gretel, but she doesn’t have to be among the leading players to leave a lasting impression — as her work in the 2003 BareBones production of The Underpants attests. Panelists for the Metrolina Theatre Awards not only recognized Carla’s acting talent as the cannibalistic Witch, they also named her Best Dramatic Director for her work in BareBones’ Lonely Planet. And that was her directorial debut!
BEST PERFORMING ARTS GROUP
NC Dance Theatre
Celebrating their 35th anniversary season in 2005-06, North Carolina Dance Theatre is still the fairest of them all. Yes, they’ve lost their most charismatic dancer with the departure of Uri Sands, our 2004 Critics’ Choice for Sexiest Man in Charlotte. But there’s plenty budding glamour left in the troupe with Traci Gilchrest, Daniel Wiley and Nicholle Rochelle. And Sands has promised to write — or better still, to choreograph one of NCDT’s Innovative Works in November. Gilchrest finally gets a showcase next February in resident genius Mark Diamond’s newest work, Snow White. Traci can bite our apples anytime.
704-335-1010.
BEST HATCHET JOB
The Charlotte Observer
It was bad enough that the Observer took aim at the running time of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, a family musical that’s still going strong on Broadway after 11 years. No, they had to cap off their review by stating that most families would be “happier at home… piled on the couch with a good book.” When phones stopped ringing for B&B tickets at the fledgling Charlotte Summer Theatre, critic Julie York Coppens acted as if there couldn’t be any possible connection between what she advised and what actually happened. To demonstrate their full support of Coppens’ stance, the Observer quickly yanked the link to the controversial review from among the links to past Coppens columns at their website. Weasels.
BEST ABORTIVE COMEBACK
Tom Vance
OK, so Vance didn’t get the greatest support from our esteemed daily for his sterling production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He sure drew admirable artistic support from some of the finest actors who worked for him over the past 31 seasons at CPCC Summer Theatre, the company he founded — and was unceremoniously dismissed from last December. It’s easy enough to believe that Vance had the heart to build a new company, Charlotte Summer Theatre, after being trashed at CP. What’s hard to believe is that he didn’t have enough fight to soldier on after the damaging Observer review. Next time, Tom needs to find financial backing that won’t buckle.
BEST DISAPPEARING ACT
Charlotte Rep Board Members
Who else but the delusional power-hungry board members at Charlotte Repertory Theatre? Arrogantly, they set their company’s visionary founder packing. Cluelessly, they lost touch with their subscriber base. Then in an endgame scenario that would make the Keystone Kops look organized, they folded after announcing an attendance triumph, launching a new program and omitting to make desperate pleas to either their audience or corporate donors for a financial life-raft. As the company they wrecked capsized, Rep’s board bowed out by blaming the city for not being hospitable to quality Equity theater. Amazing hubris — even for leaders in Charlotte.
BEST MOVIE THEATER (QUALITY OF PRESENTATION)
AMC Carolina Pavilion
We almost always seem to go back and forth between Phillips Place and this exemplary theater. And why not? Both offer comfortable seating, up-to-date equipment, and experienced managers to guarantee patrons a top-flight viewing experience. The intangibles shift the balance in the Pavilion’s favor this year — that, plus they have more parking.
9541 South Boulevard. 704-643-4AMC.
BEST MOVIE THEATER (QUALITY OF FILMS)
The Manor Theatre
Other movie theaters flirt with offering alternative fare, but this is the only venue fiercely committed to providing it on a daily basis. What the Regal chain’s recent buyout of Eastern Federal Corporation (which previously owned the Manor) means for this theater is anybody’s guess, but if, come this Friday, the Manor is playing The Dukes of Hazzard on both screens, then we’ll know bad times are ahead.
607 Providence Road. 704-334-2727.
BEST FILM SERIES
Charlotte Film Society’s “Second Week” Series
Speaking of the Regal’s acquisition of the Manor, that changing of the guard may also decide the fate of this long-running series dedicated to foreign and independent fare. Let’s hope cool heads prevail: The city needs the Charlotte Film Society. Period.
704-414-2355.
BEST VIDEO/DVD RENTAL SELECTION
VisArt
We see that in this category, the readers went with Blockbuster for the zillionth time. Certainly, if your example of daring cinema is watching three Rob Schneider comedies back to back, then that selection makes sense. But VisArt goes waaay beyond the usual choices. Where else in town can you find shelves labeled “Troma” (as in the cult studio), “Fassbinder” (as in German writer-director Rainer Werner) and “Farsi” (as in the language)? Here, there aren’t just “Comedies” — management gets nitpicky for the customers’ benefit, offering subsections titled (among others) “Dark Humor” and “British Comedies.” Leave Blockbuster to the unwashed masses; true movie fans shop here.
1945 East Seventh Street. 704-343-3031.
BEST LOCAL AUTHOR
Frye Gaillard
Gaillard, a longtime, respected voice in Charlotte, published one of his best books during the past year: Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement That Changed America (University Alabama Press). This was accomplished while he was also co-director of Novello Festival Press, the nation’s only publishing house directly affiliated with a public library. Frye has been a steady journalistic presence in Charlotte over the years, promoting local writers while producing his own exceptionally well-researched, understated and graceful work. He is moving back to Alabama soon and will be sorely missed.
BEST BOOK BY A LOCAL AUTHOR
Portisville By Steve Cushman (Novello Festival Press)
BEST SELF-IMPOSED SLAVERY IN THE SERVICE OF POETRY
M. Scott Douglass, Publisher Of Main Street Rag
BEST INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Park Road Books
The level of service and the dedication of the owner and staff at Park Road Books are a delight for lovers of the written word.
4139 Park Road Shopping Center. 704-525-9239.
BEST USED BOOKSTORE
Book Buyers
And the selection just keeps on growing at this large, friendly source of carefully picked, previously owned tomes.
1308 The Plaza. 704-344-8611.
BEST CHAIN BOOKSTORE
Borders Morrocroft
Yes, we really like the new Joseph-Beth store in SouthPark, but it hasn’t been open long and we’d like to see how it develops in the next year. Which takes nothing away from our winner — the Morrocroft Borders combines a large, quality chain’s enormous selection with a level of service rarely seen in bigger stores.
3900 Colony Road. 704-365-6261.
BEST NEW BAND (FORMED IN LAST 12 MONTHS)
Calabi Yau
A few years ago, the idea of a hardcore, math-rock act with avant-garde edges making their home in Charlotte would have been unthinkable. Go figure that they also picked up fans every single time they played live, which is plenty. Of course, their now-infamous parties at the “Yauhaus” didn’t hurt — all-night shindigs featuring the Yau and some of the finest regional noise-rock talent.
BEST LOCAL BAND/ARTIST
Pyramid
The local octet finally put out their long-rumored (and awaited) full-length, The First American, and rest assured it was well worth the wait. Perhaps the most intricate and nuanced record ever by a Charlotte band, it’d sound equally at home on Touch and Go, Thrill Jockey or SubPop. Let’s hope the suits are listening in those towns — they sure seem to be here.
BEST LIVE BAND
La Rúa
A former opening act for break-out Latin rockers Los Lonely Boys, the Charlotte-by-way-of-Ecuador quintet La Rúa have started their own Latin Rock festival in Charlotte, opened for Los Amigos Invisibles on their Southeastern tour, and, most importantly, bring the (full) house down every time they take to a stage. Can VH1 and radio play be far behind?
BEST LOCAL SONGWRITER
David Childers
If this award were hockey’s Stanley Cup, you’d see an awful lot of “David Childers” etched into the side of it. That said, you’re still champ until someone knocks you off, and the old heavyweight is still besting all comers. Look for a new album, Jailhouse Religion, to come out soon, the latest in the prolific storyteller’s vast songbook.
BEST LOCAL MALE VOCALIST
Bruce Hazel
Best vocalist doesn’t always mean “most octaves hit,” and that’s why the pick here is Hazel: Whether with his band, Some Volunteers, solo, leading a Tom Waits tribute night, or with his old band the noise, Hazel belts it with the best of them, marking the stage as his from the beginning of the first song.
BEST LOCAL FEMALE VOCALIST
Lindsay Horne
Horne, a classically trained musician, has a style that’s equal parts k.d. lang, Fiona Apple and Kate Bush: subtle, sexy, energetic and literate all at once. Add in the sheer, delicate beauty of her voice, equal parts whisper and howl, and you’ve got a musician to watch.
BEST CLUB/PARTY DJ
Ja’Maul Redmond
A dance floor devastator, Redmond’s take on minimalist techno spiced with electro and avant-garde elements means you can see one of his shows and free your ass and mind at the same time. At a time when many Charlotte DJs trade grimy for glitz and glamour, Redmond keeps it real. And real loud.
This article appears in Aug 3-9, 2005.
