Vik Muniz's "The Birth of Venus II" is one of three pieces the Mint Museum recently bought for its permanent collection. The piece, like others by the artist, was meticulously created by arranging repurposed materials and garbage into colorful scenes photographed at a distance.

Muniz, the renowned Brazilian artist behind that work (as well as those currently on showcase in the exhibit Vik Muniz: Garbage Matters, through Feb. 24 at Mint Museum Uptown), visits the museum on Tuesday, Jan. 8, to talk about his art process and how those who participated in the constructions were affected. Waste Land, a documentary that follows Muniz and his assigned garbage pickers in a Rio de Janeiro landfill, will also be screened. The film - directed by Lucy Walker - picked up an Audience Award for Best World Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival and an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature.

For more on the exhibit, check out this story by CL arts writer Scott Lucas.

Free admission to the entire museum from Jan. 8, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Meet the Artist: Vik Muniz, from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; Screening of Waste Land at 7 p.m. To register, click here. Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St. 704-337-2000. www.mintmuseum.org.