USPS stamp honors work of local artist | People

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A special delivery order came to customers at local post offices.

Wednesday was the first day of sales honoring the creations of one of America's best known collage artists, Charlotte's own Romare Bearden.

Before buying the stamps Bobby Lowery of Charlotte said, "It makes me feel very proud. Number one we're Charlotteans. Number two we've got a black man who has reached that level of recognition.

Had he lived, the artist who was born in Third Ward would have turned 100 earlier this month.

It is a set of four stamps and two of the images are part of a current exhibit at Charlotte's Mint Museum.

Ruby Britt Height handles outreach for the Mint Museum and says the highlight of the 100 piece Bearden exhibit titled Southern Recollections is that every CMS fifth grader goes through the exhibit free of charge.

"So we're averaging about 230 students a day, and we'll be doing now through January."

It's not just grade school kids, but the lessons are being learned by college students.

Carolyn Jacobs is a CPCC Art Instructor taking students through the exhibit.

"They don't remember the civil rights movement. They don't have personal experience with some of he went through."

Back at the post office, Bobby Lowery is grateful for the hometown recognition.

"I am glad our government is taking notice and it may make us more aware of our own heritage."

It is heritage of Mecklenburg memories with access to a global audience.

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