Cherokee Basketry Book Signing

March 3, Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe, 55 Haywood Street Asheville North Carolina. Anna Fariello   is Associate Research Professor at Western Carolina University, will be doing a book signing for her new book, Cherokee Basketry: From the Hands of our Elders at Malaprop's Bookstore/Cafe. The book describes the craft's forms, functions and methods and records the tradition s celebrated makers.

Annual Art Front Exhibit

March 5 - 29, Highsmith Union Gallery, University of North Carolina at Asheville. The UNC Asheville Art Department student organization, Art Front, is essential in the daily functioning of the Highsmith Union Gallery. Their exhibit celebrates Art Front's commitment to art and to the Gallery. Highsmith Union Gallery lower level Highsmith Union UNC Asheville M-F 9-9/Sat 9-6/Sun 12-6 when classes are in session unca.edu/highsmith/gallery.

Limners to Facebook: Portraiture from the 19th to the 21st Century

Feb 27, Appleby Foundation Gallery, Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Sqaure,  Asheville North Carolina. This exhibition explores the persistence of the desire to capture images of self and others as it has changed over time, as well as its continuing importance in contemporary American art and popular culture. Limners were typically untrained and unnamed painters in America during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The exhibition includes formal portraits, self-portraits, portraits of animals and portraits of friends or models in a variety of media and range of styles: painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture and new media.

New Exhibit at the Ashe Arts Center

February 24 - April 10  - Across County Lines at the  Ashe Arts Center 303 School Avenue West Jefferson North Carolina. exhibit will feature artists from the counties surrounding Ashe County. Painters, sculptors, fiber artists and potters will be featured working in oil,watercolor, acrylic and more.   Opening reception for the exhibit will be Thursday, February 25 from 5-7 pm in the Gallery of the Ashe Arts Center in West Jefferson.

John C. Campbell Spring Classes

March 14, John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown North Carolina. The 8-week classes begin. There are still spaces in all of the eight-week classes except for glass. The first set of one-weekers runs March 28-April 3.  The books class is full, but there are still spaces in these excellent offerings:
A-line Improvisations with Wendi Gratz:
Students in this sewing/dressmaking class will draft an A-line skirt pattern and then spend the rest of the week improvising around that pattern, changing silhouette, fabric, and decoration. Details here.

Shoestring Digital Collaboratory with Mark Boyd:
Penland's impresario of improvisation will lead a class in which each student will create at least six short digital videos. The class will culminate with a theatrical presentation of the results. Details here. You can see a bunch of Mark's videos on his page at blip.tv. There's a fun promotional video for the class here. And it's usually worth looking at Mark's blog. This class is going to be fun!

Handemade in America offers tech classes in Andrews

March 15, Andrews Valley Initiative, 985 Main Street, Andrews North Carolina. NC HandMade in America will offer a class for craft artists and entrepreneurs in Andrews which will teach craft artists how to use technology tools to market and expand their businesses. The classes are free and open to the public, but participants must sign up in advance. The classes are made possible in part by a grant from The AT&T Foundation. This class will also be available on May 17.

Class will begin at 6:00pm and last between 1 and 1.5 hours and will focus on using technology and the web to improve your business and market your work. They are independent from each other - you do not have to attend both.  Questions/reservations may be directed to Megan Williams: mwilliams@handmadeinamerica.org, 828-252-0121.

Meet the Maker at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville

Feb 19-21, 11AM-4PM, Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Rd, Asheville North Carolina. Meet the Maker - Lee Badger, owner and chief talent of Anvil Works. He specializes in decorative and functional metal design and the creation of hand-crafted metal work for the home and garden. During the 23rd annual Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, Quadrat-Motif tables and other Arts & Crafts inspired designs by Lee Badger will be featured in the second floor studio furniture galleries, Free event.

2nd Annual ArtSpace Charter School Benefit

Feb 20, 7PM-9PM, ArtSpace Charter Scool, 2030 US Highway 70, Swannanoa (between Asheville and Black Mountain) North Carolina. A night of music, laughter, good food and wonderful Silent Auction items to benefit ArtSpace Charter School - Josh Batenhorst will serve as emcee "Tongue and Groove", Valorie Miller, the LYLAS and Laura Blackley with other entertaining surprises! Heavy hor'dearves and delicious desserts are included in the ticket price. Among the silent auction items; a Trip for 4 to Orlando with tickets to Disney, local art work, gift certificates to area businesses and beautiful pottery and jewelry. (828) 298-2787 http://www.artspacecharter.org/

Illustrated Books of the Arts and Crafts Era

Feb 20, 5PM-7PM, Asheville Art Museum, 2 So. Pack Square, Asheville North Carolina. The Forum in Pack Place and the Asheville Art Museum's Dr. Andre Chaves will present an illustrated talk about book illustrations from the 1920s and 1930s. The talk features special emphasis on renowned illustrators such as N.C. Wyeth. After the talk, enjoy a reception and tour of Nouns: Children’s Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things.

Learn Slippery Moves on Clay date

February 19, 6PM-9PM, Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, 236 Clingman Avenue, Asheville North Carolina. Clay Date Night. You are sure to have a great night learning some slippery moves at this monthly event. Bring a date, come with friends, or meet someone new on a Friday night! Our instructors will walk you through a few simple projects, or you can impress your date with your own creations. $25 per person, $45 for two people. Pots will be ready for pick-up approximately two weeks later. Bring your own refreshments or light fare.

Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree, 262 Oak Street, Spruce Pine North Carolina. Valentine's Day is upon us and we hope that as you search for that last minute gift you will think of our artists and their beautiful products! There are hundreds of products to choose from and your Valentine gift from The Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree also has an added gift...your purchase supports over 100 local craftsmen/entrepreneurs as well as our Foundation's scholarship fund for local students.

Henderson County Art League Opening Reception

Feb 14- March 11, Grace Etheridge Room at the Opportunity House, 1411 Asheville Road (HWY 25 N), Hendersonville North Carolina. Beverly Bowden Pickard's paintings will be on display to March 11, 2010. Her style which she describes as "Painterly realism with Oils" has been displayed in local galleries, corporations, museums and private collections. The Art League of Henderson County  will hold an opening reception on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, from 1:30 - 2:30 pm. Following the reception, Pickard will present a program entitled "Einstein and Art". The public is invited.

Asheville Art Museum Opening Exhibit

February 13 - July 11, Gallery 6, Asheville Art Museum, 2, S. Pack Square, Asheville North Carolina.  Nouns: Children's Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things  examines original book illustrations from artists who are committed to the genre of children's books. The exhibition includes working drawings, finished paintings, collages, molded paper, woodcuts and digitally produced illustrations from well-known as well as emerging artists. Artists in this exhibition include Erin Bennett Banks, Eric Carle, Remy Charlip, Leo Espinosa, Gail Haley, Gordon C. James, Leo Monahan, Robert Quackenbush, Faith Ringgold, Edel Rodriguez, Art Spiegelman, Vera Baker Williams and others. This exhibition is sponsored by Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, The Captain's Bookshelf, Mr. Lester Laminack and The Toy Box. 

Up to 70% off Retail Art Supplies from Dick Blick

FREE SHIPPING on orders totaling $200 or more

Save up to 70% off retail prices on  art supplies like: Daler Rowney Georgian Oil Colors, Fredrix Gallerywrap Canvas, Prisma Premier Markers, Da Vinci Cosmotop Spin Brushes, Gamblin Artists Oil Colors, Liquitex Heavybody Acrylics, Silver Brush Short Handle Red Sables, Rembrandt Soft Pastels and MORE...

Free 624-page Art Supply Catalog!

Random Arts Stamp, Scrap & Art Tour

Feb 13-14. Join Random Arts in Columbia, SC at the Jamil Center for the Stamp Scrap Art Tour and  3 fascinating & fun-filled days of creative bliss! It all starts with Friday night "Make & Take" (Feb 12th) from 7:00 till 10:00pm. You will be able to participate in several "Make & Take" sessions throughout the night including a "Fun-Tastic Fabric Artist Trading Card & Photo Transfer with us. The excitement continues from 10am - 5pm on Saturday where you will find Random Arts, along with a room full of other lively vendors with the latest & greatest ideas, techniques & products to nurture your creativity. Sunday hours 10 am till 3pm.

Save 25%	Bring this coupon to any of our upcoming shows and receive a 25% discount on your entire order.  Random Arts - www.randomartsnow.com
This offer not valid with other discount coupons or offers. Valid on regularly priced items only.

The Art of Love: Body and Soul Art Show

February 12, 4PM-7PM, Transylvania Community Arts Council, 349 South Caldwell Street
Brevard North Carolina. Meet the artists at the opening reception. True love is both physical and emotional. It requires body and soul, material and spiritual. Local and regional artists interpret these timeless and endearing themes in an open show hosted by the Transylvania County Arts Council and sponsored by Brevard's Center for Perfect Balance. Make plans to explore this eclectic show -- and be sure to drop in and meet the artists at the opening reception, from 4-7 p.m. on February 12th.

HandMade Creative Lab & Social Mixer

Feb 8, 5:15pm-6:45pm, 125 S. Lexington Ave., Suite 102 (corner of S. Lexington & Hilliard Ave.), Asheville North Carolina. Every 2nd Monday of the Month (January - May, 2010) at HandMade in America Design Lab. Topic: Social Collaborations What are the possibilities for:
- outsourcing the things you can't/don't want to do
- getting constructive critique and support from colleagues
- establishing accountability buddies
- sharing resources, info about shows, clients, and exhibits

Social Mixer afterwards at Asheville Brewing Company at 77 Coxe Ave.

Call for Artists

TC Arts Council in Brevard is looking for artwork that fits the theme "Body & Soul." Artwork and application due on Feb. 9 & 10. Exhibit runs February 12 - March 12. Email tcarts@citcom.net to get an application. 828-884-2787  - Transylvania Community Arts Council, 349 S. Caldwell Street Brevard North Carolina.

Annual Art Alumni Exhibit

Feb 5 - Mar 1, Highsmith Union Gallery, UNC Asheville Asheville North Carolina. Annual Art Alumni Exhibit 1972-2009. Art majors show various mediums. Reception Feb 26 6-8pm M-F 9-9/Sat 9-6/Sun 12-6 .