Mint Museum reopens its doors post-pandemic with new art installation

CHARLOTTE — The Mint Museum has reopened after closing its doors and going virtual during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President and CEO Todd Herman said it is crucial to incorporate in-person interaction with art, and that’s something that’s clear when stepping into the museum.

The newest installation, “Foragers,” by Brooklyn-based artist Summer Wheat, debuted when the museum reopened.

“This was another sort of welcome back Charlotte, welcome back to the Mint.” said Herman. “It sort of reads like stained glass ... and it’s the same kind of feeling, as the sun comes through. It envelopes you in the imagery, it envelops you in the color. It wraps all around.”

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According to Herman, The Mint Museum was the first art museum in North Carolina, and it has quite the history.

The museum takes its name from the original building, which was a United States Mint where coins were made. Gold was discovered in Charlotte and a Mint was built. It was the first one built after the original in Philadelphia.

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“When that Mint closed, the building was going to be torn down, and some local people got together and said here’s this great building,” said Herman.

That building was moved to where The Mint Museum Randolph is now and The Mint Museum of Art was founded.

Mint Museum Randolph Housed in what was the original branch of the United States Mint, Mint Museum Randolph opened in 1936 in Charlotte’s historic Eastover neighborhood as the first art museum in North Carolina. (Courtesy Mint Museum)

Ten years ago, the uptown Charlotte location was constructed.

If you’re interested in checking out the museums, a ticket gets you in at both locations within a 48- hour period.

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Herman said both collections have something different to offer.

“I love it when people come to the city and they kind of discover us for the first time, because we’re kind of a hidden gem because we’re in such a big city with so much going on -- here are these two art museums which have completely different collections,” said Herman.

The Mint Museum Randolph is at 2730 Randolph Road. The Mint Museum Uptown is at 500 South Tryon Street. For more information, go to mintmuseum.org.

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