HICKORY, NC – Hickory Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, “Charles White: A Little Higher” will examine the ongoing relevance of Charles White’s [1918–1979] artistic achievement today. This exhibition weaves together the complex threads of White’s compelling life and work, providing a thorough overview of his oeuvre, including the twelve paintings commissioned by the Johnson Publishing Company to illustrate Lerone Bennett, Jr.’s “The Shaping of Black America” (1975); a suite that has not been publicly exhibited in our region before.

A series of collaborative events will run throughout the duration of the exhibition. Hickory Museum of Art is working with various community organizations to educate and enhance the gallery experience for HMA guests of all ages.

Executive Director Clarissa Starnes commented “The partnerships and collaborations during this exhibition are a true fulfillment of the museum’s mission to bring people together and inspire creativity through the power of art. Each one presents the opportunity for our audiences to engage with the artwork of Charles White and one can’t help but leave the experience inspired as they are so incredibly impactful.”

Hickory Public Library will take monthly field trips to HMA’s Coe Gallery for “Expressive Arts Story Time”. Pre-Kindergarten to Early Elementary youth and their caregivers will act out, art out, and use music and motion to share stories, songs, and more. Their adult programming features a series of TED Talks and discussions at HMA’s bi-weekly Coffee in the Coe art discussion for adults as well as a L.A.T.E. Night Thursday gallery talk, “All Together Tales at HMA”. Additional L.A.T.E. Night events include programming from the Historical Association of Catawba County, CVCC Art Instructor Kendall Martin, and nationally- acclaimed artist, Frank Morrison. Please visit www.hickoryart.org for complete event details.

HMA will host “An Evening with Charles White” on Friday, March 31 from 7 to 9 PM. The performance will begin in the SALT Block’s Drendel Auditorium at 7 PM and conclude with time to view White’s artworks in the Coe Gallery. Actor Jordan Randall of Hickory Community Theatre brings Charles White to life through the artist’s own words as penned in an essay from 1955, “The Path of a Negro Artist.” White wrote that music “has remained one of the most important influences on my work.” Tiffany Napier, musical director of the Hickory Area Community Choir, is producing musical interludes featuring the choir highlighting some of the artists who inspired White: Mahalia Jackson, Harry Belafonte, and Paul Robeson.

Admission is FREE however seating is limited. Doors open at 6:15 PM.

“Charles White: A Little Higher” was made possible by the Primas Family Collection. Exhibition catalogs are available in shopHMA for $35.

The exhibition is sponsored by the City of Hickory, Sandra Pait & George Clay III, Dixon Endowment Fund for Innovation in Lifelong Learning, Spark the Arts (This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. The arts are back in North Carolina. The Spark the Arts grant promotes audience inclusion and re-engagement in the arts.); United Arts Council of Catawba County with funding from the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, Linda and John Greenwell, Lynn and Leroy Lail, Kenneth K. Millholland and Suzanne G. Millholland Endowment Fund, a component of the North Carolina Community Foundation, Resource Partners; Carolina Anesthesia Associates, PA, Contributions in Honor of Kevin Sparks’ Retirement: Corning Incorporated, and Corning Foundation., along with annual sponsors Shurtape Technologies, Alex Lee, Inc. Deal Financial Group, Thayer Financial, and Vanguard Furniture

Hickory Museum of Art was founded in 1944 to collect, care for, and exhibit American art. Today, more than 75 years later, the Museum has evolved into an arts center featuring an extensive permanent collection of art objects across all mediums as well as education classes for all ages. Hickory Museum of Art is located on the SALT Block, 243 3rd Avenue NE, Hickory. Admission is free. For more information about museum exhibitions, art classes, field trips, and events visit www.HickoryArt.org or call the Museum at 828-327-8576, ext 201. Business sponsorship information is also available at the same telephone number.