Charlotte Viewpoint - Archive No. 20 - August 10 2024 - Politics

Image: Evan Santiago Letter from the Founder Next week Chicago will host the Democratic National Convention. It was twelve years ago later this month when Charlotte did the same. Thousands of delegates, journalists, office-holders and celebrity personalities crashed the Queen City. It was our moment in the sun for a convention in which the stakes were weighty then. In 2012, we published 'It's a Wrap: Observations from the DNC' by Michael J. Solender, our City Life editor at the time. Solender captured six days in the Center City he found "exhilarating, informative, eye-opening, entertaining, and just plain fun." His column is a reminder that politics is spectacle, stirring our emotions as we seek to win.      That same summer, we published "Part From Parties - Focus on What is Right For All' by Mark Erwin, former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Mauritius, the Republic of the Seychelles and the Federal Islamic Republic of Comoros. Erwin argued against party loyalty, writing, "No single issue should define any of us. No political party should own our vote. No party has all of the answers. We must each vote for the best person possible to serve America first and their constituents next."   We include a review of Hip Hop Nutcracker by the Charlotte Ballet by Kimberly Lawson, a poem about love and alchemy by Justin Meghan Barnes, and an artist gallery by Pamela Winegard.  You'll also see links to two of our PDF magazines, one with a lead column from Bruce Nofsinger, who we miss dearly, about symbols and reputation. And one from Pamela Davies about remaining curious and participating in the intellectual life of the city. We couldn't agree more.  To our democracy,  Mark Peres Charlotte Viewpoint Founder The Charlotte Center Founder & Executive Director From the Archive It's a Wrap: Observations from the DNC September 7, 2012 by Michael J. Solender Whew, I’m glad that’s over. My feet couldn’t take another day or another 5-block circular detour around the county courthouse. One more hour in the rain, only to surrender my umbrella at the door of Time Warner Cable Arena would just add insult to injury. Another carb-loaded breakfast buffet in an artist-studio-turned-media-lounge would be oh-so unkind to my waistline. And to overhear another cop from Wilmington, Richmond, or Raleigh – anywhere but Charlotte - tell a befuddled delegate from New Jersey he “has no idea” where the Westin on Stonewall is, would simply push me over the top. When can I do it again? Keep Reading City Life From 2012: Part from Parties by Mark Erwin Later this year the Charlotte region will host the 2012 Democratic National Convention. As a member of the Host Committee and a registered unaffiliated voter, I am excited about the prospects of our city and state as we shine under the spotlight of extensive international media coverage. It is projected there will be more than ten thousand members of the worldwide media converging on our city. The long term impact of this once-in-a-lifetime event will be tremendous.  Read the Story Arts & Culture From 2015: Hip Hop Nutcracker by Kimberly Lawson For some, the first notes of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”—imagine someone trying to creep into a dark room with bells on their shoes, and you’ll know which piece I’m talking about—is the traditional sign the holidays have arrived. Tchaikovsky wrote the score for the 1892 ballet The Nutcracker, now an annual holiday program for many dance companies, including the Queen City’s own Charlotte Ballet.  Read the Story Fiction & Poetry From 2012: The Woman of Midas by Justin Lafreniere I had decided—days before he entered the vestibule naked, except a diadem and golden blemishes where aurulent fingers scratched barely-human skin—that this is how I wanted to die. Before the evening feast, I walked the grounds in his footsteps, the gilded traces leading from the castle to a garden filled with saffron petals drooping under their filigreed weight. Read the Poem Artist Gallery From 2015: Pamela Winegard by Pamela Winegard Pam Winegard is a practicing mixed-media artist and art educator.  Primarily working in encaustic, her work was selected for the Spring 2013 Studio Visit Magazine and the upcoming 3rd Edition of Embracing Encaustic by Linda Womack. Pam was a Summer 2012 Affiliate Artist-In-Residence at the McColl Center for Visual Art. In addition, she received a fellowship and grant funded residency to attend a four-week residency Fall 2012 at the Vermont Studio Center.   View the Gallery Read Past Issues November 2009 Issue May 2006 Issue About Charlotte Viewpoint Charlotte Viewpoint is a magazine about the city and culture of the Charlotte region that ran from 2003-2016. Charlotte Viewpoint published civic and cultural commentary and programmed events about Charlotte for engaged citizens to nurture creative capital, elevate civic discourse and promote intellectual and artistic excellence in the Charlotte region. charlotteviewpoint.org Read More brought to you by: View Past Archive Newsletters You’re receiving this e-mail because you signed up for the The Charlotte Center newsletter. Thanks for reading. Let us know your thoughts about today’s edition. We invite you to share this newsletter with a friend. Sign up for this newsletter here. Design by Maddy Stevens Charlotte Viewpoint has been archived by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room for its historical significance.