“FOR THE LOVE OF ART” 

By Keudis Sanchez

"For the Love of Art" offers wonderful experiences both on and off stage, in the studio or workshop; for the love of art, it brings laughter, tears, moments of confusion, and all kinds of emotions. For the love of art, we can forge bonds with wonderful people, create stories, and live them out.

I write this column for the love of art because, as a lover of the arts in all their forms, I want you to join me on this journey and delight in what is fleeting and ephemeral; in what is lasting and enduring; and in what makes for a fond memory and leaves us with a sense of pleasure.

Because as an artist, I do this—and will continue to do so—with complete hedonism; I will share my personal vision of the artistic world around us through an emotional and fantastical lens. To inspire you to go out and explore our surroundings, to delight in breaking away from the ordinary, and to overflow with joy—let your surroundings bring a smile to your face and make you feel something different. Let’s walk through the city and explore its many hidden corners. 

This is an invitation to step outside your comfort zone, explore new places, and break away from your routine. I invite you to join me on this adventure for the love of art.

Here's the first of many:

A Time Machine Called a Museum

I currently live in Charlotte, a wonderful, cutting-edge city with many spectacular places and hidden gems to visit and enjoy. 

Art in all its forms plays a major role in this city: galleries, museums, theaters, and various other venues offer entertainment and recreation for residents. 

On my last visit to a museum, I felt as if I were stepping into a time machine when I began the tour in a room where the Renaissance dominated the space. Seeing works from that era, whose details, colors, and features were crafted with spectacular technical skill. Artists who worked in the time of da Vinci, Raphael, and Caravaggio. In that room, you can admire works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical periods.

In the next room, we were greeted by a “tondo” painting—a type of artwork created on round canvases or panels. This style is known as altar painting, used in churches in the space bearing that name, also known as an altarpiece. This particular painting depicted the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus and, at her side, the infant John (the Baptist).

As we made our way through the galleries of this time machine, we found ourselves in Mesoamerica. My wife and I were able to enjoy sculptures, pottery, and other types of Mayan, Aztec, and local indigenous art; it was a delight to view each piece and examine its features. In the next room, we found tableware and other utensils from the first Europeans who settled in these lands; there we saw portraits and complete tea sets with beautiful decorations and ornaments; The next room featured glasswork—a rather delicate and attractive art form—where we also lingered for quite some time to appreciate the craftsmanship. 

We went up a flight of stairs to another level and, back in the present, we found a contemporary exhibition featuring works by local artists across a wide range of genres. We were able to admire photographs, graffiti, drawings, paintings, and both abstract and figurative works, all of which were beautifully presented and executed.

From this room, our journey took us back in time once again, specifically to the founding of the city of Charlotte, where we learned the reason behind the name of this wonderful museum: the Mint Museum (2730 Randolph St.). We also read a bit about its history; We saw tools used for gold mining, as well as some of the designs and examples of the first coins minted in this country, and we saw and read about the evolution of the city of Charlotte. 

Traveling through time and exploring the city is a wonderful experience. I invite you to set aside a few hours to enjoy visiting the city’s museums—I promise it will be a fantastic experience.

P.S.: On Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the city's museums offer free admission. 

KeudiSanchz