1. Cuisine of the Arts
The timing could not be more perfect. The soft light cast shadows creating a silhouette of the Mint
Museum. Its elegance was on display as an early evening portrait, painted with warm hues of orange,
yellows and a tinge of violet. I approached with great anticipation and was drawn in by the tug of
intrigue.
The first design sets the tone. Blue and yellow accented with magenta and a splash of green, have a
cooling effect on a warm eve. The waves give motion to stillness, and flavor to visual art. Its aura made
my mouth water while simultaneously quenching my thirst. It was like a cool, crisp, beverage with a hint
of mint that one would enjoy while dining on a terrace.
From molten glass to eucalyptus wood and earthenware to mild steel, every masterpiece is its own
cuisine, able to appeal to senses beyond the eye. The variety of art offers the zest of modernity and the
tradition of colonial history. It can excite the pickiest palate and satisfy the most extravagant appetite.
Chairs upon which we’ll never sit; furniture we could only hope to own and décor that would pepper a
home with savor are brilliantly positioned to engage its patrons. A glass bowl, a wooden chair, a metal
figurine, and a clay pot are common labels turned to fragrant works at the Mint. Fiber baskets, silver
jewelry and handcrafted porcelain, reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno, find unity in their untamed
expression.
Like dinner to dessert, the modern designs transition into works of the Colonial Era and WWII.
Represented through drawings, paintings, and prints, life and culture are preserved. A mahogany and
pine slant-top desk and a vintage costume preserved in its elegance, gave me a delightful taste of the
past.
Aromatic, refreshing, pleasantly soothing yet stimulating, it is brilliance with flavor. A thought of fresh
mint complementing a warm or cool beverage led me to question, what is its savor? I sought taste and
smell in the visual realm at the Mint Museum Uptown, and returned with an eclectic cuisine of
international artistry.
Mint Museum Uptown
500 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
(704) 337-2000
http://www.mintmuseum.org/
