Media Alert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2026

Charlotte Studio Artists
Contact: CharlotteStudioArtists@gmail.com​

250 YEARS OF BECOMING: THE AMERICAN JOURNEY

Charlotte Studio Artists’ latest exhibit opens May 21st

Charlotte Studio Artists (CSA) announces the opening of a new exhibit featuring work reflecting on the first 250 years of the United States: “250 Years of Becoming: The American Journey.”

The theme is broad and welcomes a wide range of interpretations including the evolution of the American identity, how immigration and expansion have impacted our culture, and how social and political movements have re-woven the ever changing fabric of our nation.

The show runs from May 21 through July 11 and is viewable by the public on Saturdays from 10 AM until 4 PM and May 21 and June 18 from 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM. The public is invited to join the participating artists for the opening reception Thursday, May 21 between 5:00PM and 8:30PM.

Of special note during the run of the show is a Juneteenth celebration on June 18, 2026 during CSA’s Third Thursday NoDa Culture Crawl CSA will welcome Jay Ward, the Emmy-nominated poet and the first Poet Laureate of Charlotte, who will do a reading. He is the author of Sing Me A Lesser Wound (Bull City Press 2020) and Composition (Button Poetry 2023). Jay is a national Slam champion (2018) and an Individual World Poetry Slam champion (2019) and current Writer in Residence for the Charlotte Center for Literary Arts.

About Charlotte Studio Artists

Charlotte Studio Artists is a collective of 35 local artists who create, exhibit, teach, and sell art at the site. The group works in collaboration with the Johnston YMCA to use art as a powerful tool to engage with the community by fostering creativity and artistic inclusion. To learn more visit us at www.charlottestudioartists.com and follow us on Instagram.