Guild of Charlotte Artists

(Featured art above) Marsh Wonder by Connie Winters. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

Guild Of Charlotte Artists: 75 Years Of Promoting Local Art And Still Looking Forward

Text by Susan Moore

Southend After The Rain by Anand Wakankar. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

1945 brought the end of WWII, and with it, unprecedented enthusiasm and growth as soldiers returned home to their sweethearts, wives, or families. Life had come to a standstill for the first half of the 1940s as resources of labor and materials went towards the war effort. But by 1948, things began to change drastically and a never-before-seen boom occurred. Young couples, who had put off marriage and families during the war, were having children - thus the “baby boom” was born! Veterans were able to own homes thanks to the new VA mortgage and FHA loan programs. In Charlotte and cities across the nation, there was a housing boom as the new “suburbia” dream was realized when affordable neighborhoods sprang up.

As this post-war lifestyle was bringing growth and change to where and how people lived, there were changes in the Charlotte business world as well. Young men returning from the war were able to go to college on the GI bill to better their education, Charlotte was becoming an important financial hub in the nation, and jobs abounded as the city grew.

Things were changing in the art world as well. With new life, new prosperity, and a return to a new and better life than before the war, there was an emerging excitement in art and “finer things”.

Taking Care Of Bunnies by E.W. Harvey. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

Prior to the war, a group of Charlotteans led by Mary Myers Dwelle, “Recogniz(ed) the need to give the arts a permanent Charlotte home, (so) sights were set on the historic-but-condemned U.S. Mint building on Tryon Street. The task of transforming the Mint into an art museum was daunting until a passionate speech for saving the U.S. Mint building was presented in February 1933 at a luncheon hosted by Dwelle. The speech inspired a spontaneous donation, and a significant sum was given toward the purchase of the building—that was already in demolition—for rebuilding on another site. The generosity was contagious. Within two days, the required funds were raised and paid to the demolition contractor.” (Spring 2020 article from Mint Museum Members Magazine). A year before the opening of the Mint Museum, a group of local artists formed the Society of Charlotte Artists in order to provide a place to display and sell their art. The downtown gallery opened in February in Efird’s Department Store in 1935. The next year, The Mint Museum of Art - the first Art Museum in North Carolina- opened in 1936 on its current site.

The Robin Nest V by Torrie Smiley. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

After the war in 1947, Mrs. A.T. Hanes had the idea of a traveling show for local artists to give their work more exposure in a larger area. This led to the formation of the Guild of Charlotte Artists in 1948 (Charlotte Observer, December 6, 1948). The seven founding members were led by Paul Bartlett, who served as the first President. Their works were traditional portraitures, still life, landscapes, and sculptures. Sponsored by the Mint Museum, the Guild’s traveling exhibitions were held in cities and towns throughout the Carolinas and as far away as the High Museum in Atlanta and the University of Georgia in Athens.

The fundamental purpose of the Guild was to promote the arts in Charlotte by giving artists an opportunity to meet, encourage each other, and display and sell their art in a variety of settings. The Mint Museum provided a room for the Guild to meet monthly and display their work for the public to see. From the beginning, membership grew quickly, but the process to join was not an easy one. Artists who wanted to become part of the Guild had to submit an application complete with 5 examples of their work to be juried in order to become an exhibiting member.

Throughout the ’50s, the Guild grew to include prominent local artists. With that growth, the members continued to add more exhibits and shows at the Mint Museum as well as multiple venues in the Charlotte and surrounding area. Each spring, the Guild held an outdoor “Fence” show on a fence in Myers Park. Members’ art was regularly exhibited in the North Carolina National Bank and First Union Bank lobbies, Charlotte College (now UNCC), Queens College, The Charlotte Observer Building lobby, and local hospitals. In 1963, Dr. Bonnie Cone from Charlotte College asked the Guild artists to have a permanent display in their new library. Eventually, the Mint Museum, in a decision to focus more on national and international art, no longer displayed art from the Guild - but continued to provide meeting space for the members.

Until 1965, when another arts group was formed in Charlotte, the Guild stood alone. However, the stringent membership requirements of being “juried” continued until the 1980s. The elimination of that opened the group up to a wonderfully diverse group of artists from seasoned professionals to hobbyists and even those who just love and appreciate art.

Wind River by Michele Morrice. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

As Charlotte continued to grow and prosper through the ’70s, ‘80s, and ’90s, so did the interest in creativity and art. The Guild’s membership grew to 200 members. Monthly meetings brought in artists and lecturers from around the country. Demonstrations and workshops were held for anyone interested in learning how to draw, paint and create. Auctions of members’ art and fundraisers were held. Scholarships were given to budding young artists.

The past 25 years have brought new challenges with technology, and ways of communicating and interacting with others - making the world “smaller” through access to more than could ever have been imagined prior to the internet and social media. For the art world, cuttingedge techniques, materials, and even the ways in which art can be viewed across the globe have happened at hyper speed. Keeping up is a daunting task to which the Guild has been adjusting. Adding to the changes, of course, have been the events of the past few years as the world went into “pandemic” mode. Technology became a friend and ally as monthly meetings continued to be held via zoom through the leadership of past President Mary Kamerer. It was not without its struggles. “Like many organizations, things slowed a lot during covid,” said Kamerer. There were times when only 6-7 members joined the zoom meetings, and there was concern that the Guild would not survive. But, with public gatherings canceled, venturing into the world of “Virtual” art shows was new territory that proved successful for the Guild.

Not only did the Guild survive, but is thriving! In-person meetings began again a year ago and membership has increased to 135. Monthly meetings showcase members’ art, visiting artists, and lecturers demonstrate and share new, exciting methods. The Guild currently has two juried member shows a year - a spring show at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, NC, and a Fall show at the McDowell Arts Center in Matthews, NC.

Regal Reflection by Martha Manco. Photo courtesy of Guild Of Charlotte Artists.

Looking forward as the Guild reaches its 75th anniversary, current president Shefalee Patel is excited to see where the next few years will take the Guild. She loves working with the Board and learning from a great group of veteran and accomplished artists. "We plan to focus this year on refreshing and collaborating.” She feels the Guild is ready to “expand our organization and enhance our experiences.”

Plans are in the works for a celebration in May of the Guild’s 75 years as Charlotte’s oldest continuous arts group. To learn more, go to guildofcharlotteartists.online.