By: Lauren Hodges

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that the French language has been popping up in the art community a lot lately as a gathering incentive. Last week it appeared in the Bijou Art and Music Festival. Before, it was “art en masse” at Hanover Center. For whatever reason the French have a strong hold on the local art scene. This week a contradictory phrase of two very different things is bringing local talent together again.

“The word ‘charv’ is defined as something [that] is pathologically criminal...frighteningly immoral…usually found on street corners...they typically spend their time beating up people weaker than themselves or hurling abuse at passers by...it is our duty as citizens to administer their mass extermination,” Darren Mulvenna of Façade Design Studio says. “Salon is a gathering of stimulating people of quality under the roof of an inspiring hostess or host, partly to amuse one another, and partly to refine their taste and increase their knowledge through conversation and readings.”

For the Francias-inspired Wilmington art scene, Charv Salon is an upcoming event of “free wine and beer, live music, a literary reading, an art opening and what’s hoped will be an unpredictable pair of evenings (free to be challenged or manipulated by the uninvited) from the expansive sampling of emerging local talent,” according to Mulvenna.

Mulvenna and his friend Ryan Bates conceived the event after some hefty thought and collaboration. “Ryan and I have been thinking about a large show for a while,” Mulvenna says. “We talked about it before I went to grab a beer [one night]. I talked to Joel Finsel and Jaimen Belmont at [Caffé] Phoenix. Joel gave me the word ‘salon’ and some advice. Jaimen talked to me about the lack of a music scene in this town, and he said he would play at the event. I went home with a band to play and the beginning of a name. I talked again to Ryan. Ryan came up with the rest of the name Charv, and I didn’t even have to twist Teri’s [from shoe store, 008] arm. She is a big supporter of the arts.”

Façade Design Studio is located above 008 on Market Street. As “Charv Salon” began to build upstairs, the community on the street was getting excited. “The list keeps getting bigger; we may need to stop adding artists. Any talented artist is welcome. Yesterday, I added painter Jay Edge to the roster. I have one or two inquiries a day. If they don’t live here in some capacity, then they won’t be included. This is definitely a showcase of Wilmington talent.”

As for the concept itself, Mulvenna believes that no matter how original the event, it ultimately comes down to the aptitude of the artists. “It’s about the art—it’s always about the art! Charv Salon is a contradicting name, and I think the art at this show contradicts the normal Wilmington art scene. There are a lot of fantastic young artists out there, not doing generic beach scenes in this town. It is my hope that this will bring them together to talk and spark some progress. Plus, it’s going to be a lot of fun with performance art, as well.”

The roster of participating artists and writers includes Mulvenna himself, Ryan Bates, Joel Finsel, Nikki and Michal Wisniowski, Laura Venters, Alisha Payne, Jay Edge and Kristin Wood. Though the event has already motivated the masses within the art circle, Mulvenna is unsure about the public response.

“Impact, I don’t know,” he says. “I hope it will bring together a lot of people to talk about art and spark some sort of flame. The importance of this is to get such a young, talented group together. Young artists sometimes fade away, unnoticed, even though some of them could be the next Picasso. This city is small but that doesn’t mean the art shouldn’t be big!”

Charv Salon will be on December 5th and 6th, beginning at 10pm each night. The event will be held at Façade Design Studio on the 2nd floor of 107 Market Street (above 008 and the cigar store). “We envision an event where young and old, white collar and blue, can feel welcome in a completely non-threatening and unpretentious environment, and come together and discuss art with the young working-class artist who is trying to make an impact in the American art scene,” Mulvenna says. “This will not be your ordinary art show.”

Call 910-232-4568 for details.