Upcoming Workshop from Random Arts

June 4 - 5   Random Arts offers Resist Dye and bookbinding with fiber artist Chad Alice Hagen. Three spaces are available for this very interactive and hands on class for both beginners and advanced alike.

Chad teaches all over the world and of course here in the US from Washington State to Minnesota to Maine and everywhere in between including John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. The workshopwill make use of the Random Arts 8 foot stainless steel sink in the studio, along with the outdoor workspace.

To learn more about Chad and her work, click here. $210. includes 2 days of instruction and 2 catered lunches.

In Memorial

Frederic Remington Western Soldiers

Washington at the Battle of Princeton by Don Troiana

Marc Chagall, "Soldiers"

Soldier-artist John Wehrle

18th Annual Garden Jubilee Festival continues today

May 28 - 29   Hendersonville hosts the 18th Annual Garden Jubilee Festival  offers over 200 vendors selling thousands of plants, arts and crafts along with  garden talks,  clinics, garden accessories, and food. The festival covers 8 blocks of Main Street. 10:00am-6:00pm both days. The festival is always held during the Memorial Day weekend.

NC Arboretum Begins New Exhibitis Today

May 28 - Sept 6  Botanical Chords and The Fine Art of Wood   Two new exhibits at the NC Arboretum:

Botanical Chords by Terry Ashley blurs the line between science and art. A former research scientist at Yale University School of Medicine, Ashley developed her technique while pursuing her hobby of photographing plant parts under the light microscope. Ashley termed her art “chords” because they connect two separate images, one traditional plant photograph and one image taken at a cellular level.

The Fine Art of Wood  is an International Invitational Exhibition of Woodturning featuring the work of more than 40 artists from across the country and around the world. The exhibit will showcase a wide variety of style and presentation, from pedestal and tabletop pieces to wall hangings.

17th Annual Twin Rivers Media Festival begins in Asheville tonight

May 27 - 29  17th Annual Twin Rivers Media Festival. Courtyard Gallery presents the 17th Annual Twin Rivers Media Festival at several venues in the fast-growing River Arts District. The main events will be held at the Phil Mechanic Studios. Official Selections and past favorites will be shown throughout the weekend.

Asheville Number One "Art" City Again

American Style Magazine recently featured Asheville as the number one small city for art, the ranking a result of the magazine's annual poll.  According to the Style Magazine writer Caitlin  Fultz,  "Asheville offers the best of both worlds: breathtaking scenic beauty and a population that values creativity and work made by hand.  Asheville is funky, eclectic and rooted in generations of homespun crafts inspired by the surrounding mountain beauty".

Second ranked in the poll was Sante Fe New Mexico. The annual poll has seen Asheville rise from number 5 in 2007 to number one for both 2010 and 2011.

Art at the Farm in Hendersonville

May 26  from 7:00PM-9:00PM  Hendersonville NC is the location for  Art at the Farm,  the Historic Johnson Farm  Art  Show and Sale. Find work for sale sale by local artists and photographers of buildings, animals and sites found at the Historic Johnson Farm. The event is free and open to the public

Brevard's 4th Friday Gallery Walk during White Squirrel Festival Weekend

May 27 from 5 PM -9 PM  4th Friday Gallery Walks  is part of White Squirrel Weekend in downtown Brevard NC. Enjoy an evening of Art, Wine and Food  every 4th Friday of the month, from May through December. The Gallery Walk joins a stellar line-up of events for the renowned White Squirrel festival, featuring over a dozen live music performances throughout the weekend. 

Summer Skies Raffle and Party from The Asheville Art Museum

The Summer Skies Party will be held Thursday, June 30, 2011 at the Pack Plaza Parking Deck in Downtown Asheville NC from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Admission is free with a raffle ticket purchase.

Everyone who purchases a raffle ticket will be invited to attend the fabulous Summer Skies Party! The exciting live drawing for the Summer Skies Raffle will be held at the party! Come in your festive summer attire - think Hawaiian shirts, sandals and sundresses - for a luau-style evening soiree to celebrate the Asheville Art Museum and our fantastic supporters. Winners need not be present to win.

The Asheville Art Museum's  Summer Skies Raffle  benefits the Museum's vibrant exhibitions and educational programming. The Summer Skies Raffle offers seven fabulous raffle packages to excite and entice, while also offering a fantastic way to support the Museum. Follow the links below for complete raffle package details and to purchase your tickets today!

Longing for white sands, blue skies and tropical beauty? The Summer Skies Raffle offers not one, but two packages for week-long Caribbean getaways: St. Maarten Skies or St. Thomas Skies - or why not try for both?

Insprired by the region's thriving arts scene and want to get hands-on? Craft Horizons includes classes and workshops at John C. Campbell Folk School, Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts, Cloth Fiber Workshop, Asheville Bookwooks and DIY Woodworking Shop.

Building a collection of fine art? Add a stunning work of art by renowned Studio Glass artist Richard Ritter to your collection with Studio Skies.

Dreaming of a long weekend on the coast? Coastal Skies offers two separate three-night stays in Murrell's Inlet, SC and Historic Downtown Savannah, GA. Enjoy a private flight for two to one of these lovely coastal destinations.

Fascinated by the night skies? Explore the wonders of the cosmos, both here in Western North Carolina and with a week vacation in the dark-sky country of Ft. Davis, TX with Starry Skies.

Looking to show off your hometown to visiting friends and family, or simply to enjoy all that the Land of the Sky offers for yourself? Mountain Skies provides outdoor adventures, arts and culture, shopping, dining, spa relaxation and more!

The Raffle drawing will be held June 30, 2011. Proceeds from the Summer Skies Raffle will support the Asheville Art Museum's mission to engage, enlighten and inspire individuals and enrich community through dynamic experiences in American Art. The Asheville Art Museum is Western North Carolina's premier visual arts institution and its collections a unique resource in the city and the region. The Museum's programs engage diverse audiences of all ages in active exploration of themselves - their past and future - and their communities, through interpretation of American art since the beginning of the 20th century. Committed to being a vital force in the community and individual development, the Museum's focus is on lifelong learning through the visual arts for all audiences from pre-school children to senior citizens.

Asheville's 8th Annual Monford Arts and Music Festival this weekend

May 21 -  8th Annual Monford Arts and Music Festival offers two stages filled with continuous live music and entertainment from featured local and national artists, all with a tie to Asheville's historic Monford District. Over 100 vendors with Art, food, crafts and native garden plants will be packed into two streets with something for everyone from a special children's area, a traveling Art Van, to strolling Shakespearian actors and even a Chinese Dancing Lion. Handicap accessible. Asheville NC.

Annual Open Studio Tour in Asheville's Kenilworth Neighborhood

Kenilworth potter Kathie Kline

May 21 - 22   Kenilworth Artists Association Open Studio Tour    Artists in Asheville's Kenilworth neighborhood open their doors to the public every third weekend in May.  Find glass, fabric, wood, paper, pottery, painting, mixed media and photography.

Kenilworth is one of Asheville, North Carolina’s oldest neighborhoods with a  mix of grand homes, modest bungalows and mature gardens.  Over forty artists live in the four square mile neighborhood just east of downtown Asheville. The mission of the Kenilworth Artists Association is creating art, promoting greater visibility and sales of our artwork through studio tours, and to encouraging  Kenilworth residents to develop and share artistic interests of all kinds

John C Campbell Folk School Gala and Benefit Auction

June 11 at 5 PM,   the Annual Gala & Benefit Auction at the John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown NC. Find handmade craft and art of the highest quality and enjoy a lively and  entertaining auction.

This event is not only a great opportunity to purchase art and other items, it is a time of togetherness and camaraderie that helps the Folk School grow and thrive. The Annual Gala will take place in the Community Room of the Keith House where there will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and wonderful live music. During this time bidders can socialize and enjoy the Folk School atmosphere while they peruse the wide array of silent auction items. The  live auction will take place at the culmination of the event, with spirited bidding led by local auctioneer, Bob Grove. 

Visit the Auction page for more information about the artists and the items available to bidders.

Ticket prices: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $15 for "Friends of the Folk School" (donors who have donated over $500 to the school in 2011) Tickets include admission, food and two drink tickets. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine/beer will be served at this event. Tickets may be purchased online and in our Craft Shop.

Joe Miller Presents " With a Warm Handshake"

This Thursday (May 19) is a Blowing Rock Art & History Museum

THIRD THURSDAY

Joe Miller (of Cheap Joe's Art Stuff) will present his one-man show"With a Warm Handshake"
at 4 PM, BRAHM Office, (Martin House, 1098 Main Street)

~ a reception and refreshments will follow ~

Miller is an entrepreneur, artist and author. He holds the Dolphin Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the American Watercolor Society, and is a lifetime member of the Florida Watercolor Society, the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and the High Country Watermedia Society. He has taught watercolor workshops across the country and is the author of two books: Joe's Journal, The Art and Tales of a Sojourner and Old Watercolorists Never Die, They Just Wet Their Sheets  -   Joe also is the illustrator for the book, Thrice Told Tales.

♦  ♦  ♦

 Third Thursdays are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For more information, contact the Museum at 828.295.9099

Saluda's 8th Annual Arts and Music Festival this weekend

May 21  -  8th Annual Arts and Music Festival.   The town of Saluda celebrates the talent of more than 45 outstanding local artists and craftspeople from Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina. Exhibits include paintings and drawings in oil, water colors, acrylic; wood working; photography; pottery; jewelry; sculptures; stained glass and metal working. Watch live demonstrations of landscape painting, weaving, pottery and blacksmithing.

This year's festival will offer even more Saluda NC celebrates its 130th birthday!

Asheville Art Museum Partners with "You Get We Give" Deals

The Asheville Art Museum has announced a partnership with Asheville-based You Get We Give, a local alternative to online deal sites. Find fun and affordable ways to enjoy some of Asheville's hottest dining, retail offers and a variety of attractions at 50% off or better, while also supporting local non-profits, including the Museum.

Sign up now to take advantage of the first deal OR if you don't select the first deal below, register for free on www.yougetwegive.com to continue receiving special Asheville deals as they are sent several times each week.

When buying a deal, select the Asheville Art Museum at checkout and 10% of your order comes back to the Museum to support our vibrant exhibitions and educational programming. Through these deals, you continue to support the Museum and the community while getting fantastic bargains from a variety of Asheville's best restaurants, spas, shops, hotels and more. See the offer below and feel free to share it with your family, friends and colleagues. Thank you so much for your continued support and we hope you enjoy some of the benefits You Get We Give has to offer!

2011 Craft Research Fund

The Center for Craft Creativity and Design awards over $95,000 annually for research and critical writing on U.S. craft through project awards to curators, academics, and scholars, as well as graduate research awards for thesis or dissertation research. Since 2004, the Center has supported 34 project awards and 25 graduate research awards.  APPLICATION DEADLINE - July 1, 2011

THE MISSION of the Craft Research Fund is to advance, expand and support research about craft in the United States.

GOALS

• To support innovative research on artistic and critical issues in craft theory and history
• To explore the inter-relationship among craft, art, design and contemporary culture
• To foster new cross-disciplinary approaches to scholarship in the craft field in America
• To advance investigation of neglected questions in U.S. craft history and criticism

2011 Craft Research Fund – PROJECT GRANT Guidelines & Application
2011 Craft Research Fund – GRADUATE RESEARCH Guidelines & Application

Art in the Park this weekend in Blowing Rock

May 14   Art in the Park  A  juried arts & craft show featuring 90+ regional artists and craftspeople with handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more. Downtown Blowing Rock NC.

Fanaticon2 at the Asheville Art Museum

May 20 from 8:02 PM to 11:02 PM F.A.D. hosts FANATICON2, Asheville Art Museum. Dancin' on the Deck. Grab your mask, take the Batmobile in for a tune-up and start practicing your high kicks! Join  F.A.D. and  POW! ZAP! and WHAM! your way through a fabulous party in celebration of FANATICON2. Music, drinks, performance artists and more will turn the top level of the Pack Plaza Parking Deck into an explosion of superhero fun! Costumes not required, but encouraged!

Pack Plaza Parking Deck Adjacent to Pack Place - $25 Admission. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! PURCHASE HERE  For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 828.253.3227. To join the League of Volunteers for F.A.D., contact Hillary Frye at 828.253.3227, ext. 110 or email hfrye@ashevilleart.org.

Asheville's River Arts District Second Saturday this Weekend

The River Arts District will be participating in the region-wide Second Saturday Initiative, Collect Art Asheville. Artists and art organizations throughout Western North Carolina open their doors and host openings, events classes and workshops on the second weekend of each month. Head down to the River Arts District this Saturday to explore what local artists are creating & sharing!

Quilt Retreats in the Smoky Mountains

Back by popular demand at Quilter's Quarters is "Batik Quilt for 2".  Grab a friend and have a fun weekend sewing this quilt.  It is a quilt designed to be worked in pairs.  Each of you will end up with a quilt.

Dates:  June 24-26, July 8-10 or August 5-7. You can also book your own retreat to work on your projects or just to sew/quilt with friends.  Click here for details.

Happy Mother's Day

Woodturning Classes at John C Campbell

From functional bowls and turned table legs, to decorative, bulbous ornaments, woodturning is a magical process that transforms a chunk of wood into a desired, precise object. Much like a potter shaping clay on the wheel, a woodturner uncovers a form in the moving block of wood on the lathe. Make a table, box or simple ornament and learn finishing, surface decoration and more.

John C Campbell Folk School offers 60 weeklong and weekend classes each year in woodturning for those who have never touched a lathe, to advanced classes for professional turners looking for a challenge. With the help of talented instructors and a spacious, well-equipped studio, you're sure to be "turning out" beautiful pieces in no time!

Asheville Art Mesuem Work of the Week

Betty Parsons (1900-1982)  Untitled, 1978. 

Color lithograph. 29.63 x 21.13 inches.   

Collection of the Asheville Art Museum. Gift of Brian E. Butler. 2007.24.01.61.

Betty Parsons, Untitled 1978

Betty Parsons (1900-1982) was born Betty Bierne Pierson. She grew up in New York City in an upper class family. At age 13 Parsons attended the 1913 Armory Show, the exhibition that introduced America to European avant-garde art. Many people found the work shocking, but Parsons embraced the work because it showed a "new spirit." This event instilled in Parsons a lifelong passion for modern art. In 1917, she even turned down a position on the U.S. Olympic tennis team to pursue her interest in art.

While Parsons never showed her own work at the Betty Parsons Gallery, she remained committed to her artistry. She began painting in the 1930s, later working in the Abstract Expressionist manner. 

 

Learn more about Betty Parsons...

Art Safari this Weekend in Weaverville

May 7-8   Weaverville Art Safari   The Spring Weaverville Art Safari features self-guided tours of various artists' studios, tucked away in the countryside communities of Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Alexander. The tours are free and open to the public, and some artists' studios are open year-round by appointment.

The 2011 Tour is the largest yet with 46 artists and a wide range of artwork on display and available for purchase at the various studios: Jewelry, Glass Art, Paintings, Garden Art, Sculpture, Pottery, Furniture, Fiber Arts, and more! Search the individual artist pages to get information about the artisans who participate in the Art Safari, see additional images of their works and find out which studios will be offering artist demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Show Features Local Photographer and Vintner

May 20 - 22 The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum and Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery will celebrate the tradition of “May flowers” with “Cork and Canvas", which will feature the photography of Freda Wilkins, who captures the exquisite beauty of flowers in her art. A public reception at the Gallery on Friday, May 20 will include a tasting of wines from Spencer Mountain Vineyards, which Freda and her husband Lucien Wilkins own. The reception will begin at 6 PM. The exhibition will be open to the public during the Gallery's regular business hours: 9 AM - 5 PM, closed on Sunday.

AB Tech Offers Summer Series Visiting Artist Workshops

Asheville - Buncome Technical Community College (A-B Tech) is offering Adult Art workshops as a part of its "Destination Exploriation" summer classes:

• Landscape & Nature Photography Workshop with Tim Barnwell - June 7-9
• Voice! Combat! Shakespeare! Workshop with Michael MacCauley - June 7-9
• Intermediate/Advanced Watercolor Workshop with Ann Vasilik - July 12-14

Enrollment in the Summer Visiting Artist Workshops is limited and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Cash, personal checks, money orders, traveler's checks, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. A $75 registration deposit is required to hold participant's space and full payment should be received 30 days prior to date of workshop.  Get Registration Information.

Waynesville Art After Dark this Friday

May 6  Head for Art After Dark  and stroll downtown Waynesville's numerous galleries and studios the first Friday of each month, May through December.  The evening includes demonstrations, artist receptions, music and refreshments. What better way to spend a Friday night?