Witching you a Happy Halloween

Waynesville After Dark Art Walk this Weekend

November 2  Art After Dark   Downtown galleries and studios remain open until 9 PM. The evening features special openings, demonstrations, artist receptions, and music. 

Learn more about Waynesville Lodging, events and attractions on the Waynesville NC Visitor Guide.

Handmade in America Sponsors Asheville Cinema Festival

November 1- 4  The Asheville Cinema Festival (ACF) is the annual independent film festival produced by the Asheville Cinema Society the first weekend of every November. Handmade in America is a co-sponsor along with several local businesses. Filmmakers from around the country will be on hand to do Q&As for their films.

Filmmaker workshops will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Historic Masonic Lodge in Downtown Asheville (80 Broadway Street). Subjects include: YouHollywood: Creating and Marketing Films for Viral Audiences;   Editing Your Film: Beginnings, Endings, and Engaging the Audience; and,  Sexy Lighting Using What You’ve Got: A Minimalists’ Approach to Cinematography. 

The Opening Night film, Silver Linings Playbook, and the Closing Night film, Quartet, will play at the Regal Biltmore Grande in Biltmore Park.  Additional venues will host a variety of Festival events including a competition, awards ceremony and local independent films.


Find additional details and a schedule for the Asheville Cinema Festival HERE.

Asheville Art Museum Sponsors Dog House competition and Fundraiser

November 10 - The Asheville Art Museum along with AIA Asheville, Fine Arts Theatre, Aloft Downtown Asheville and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is sponsoring a design/build competition of doghouses to be auctioned as part of The Asheville Bow-Wowhaus

This event will also include a screening of Michael Miner's movie "Romanza, the California Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright", at the Fine Arts Theatre. The screening will be followed by a reception, gala and auction at the Asheville Art Museum.

Proceeds from Bow-Wowhaus support your Asheville Art Museum and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

Handemade in America Launches "Building Economies Through Craft"

The Friday night kick-off party at Handmade in America began their Indiegogo Campaign, Building Economies Through Craft. The event raised $375 toward the 60 day  $5,000 goal and recruited Ambassadors who will help promote the campaign.

The HandMade  Ambassadors will get posters, stickers, and information on how to help recruit and spread the word about the amazing work done by Handmade in America. The Ambassadors will also host a special thank you party at the conclusion of the campaign, so if YOU are interested in becoming an Ambassador, please contact Helene Herbert at hherbert@handmadeinamerica.org (Ambassador spaces are limited.  PS -  there are some speacial gifts reserved for Ambassadors as well).

You can watch the new video on the Indiegogo website and donate today. Why not become one of the first members? Contributors to the IndieGoGo Campaign (October 26-December 25, 2012) at the $25 level and above, automatically receive 2013 Membership (becoming our first members) IN ADDITION to the fabulous campaign perks.  Learn more HERE...

Crafts Show at the Fall Harvest Days 27th Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show

October 25-27   Fall Harvest Days 27th Annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show   Held at the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center. This is the largest show in Western NC featuring crafters, demonstrations, farm tools, antique engines, antique tractor pulls & swap meet. The event will be held rain or shine, 8:00AM-5:00PM, Admission $8/day, Children under 12 free with paid adult.

Leaf Lookers Gemboree in Franklin this weekend

October 26-28  23rd Annual Leaf Lookers Gemboree  The mountains of southwestern North Carolina are alive with more than autumn color during the annual Leaf Lookers Gemboree. Choose from rough & cut gemstones, fine jewelry, minerals and more. The event is held at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin NC. 

Ooh La La Curiosity Market this Saturday in Asheville

October 27   Ooh La La Curiosity Market   An outdoor market in Pritchard Park featuring works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters ,up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with up three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic, and jazz acts.

Weaverville Art Safari

October 26 and 27-28   Weaverville Art Safari   A self-guided driving tour of the various local artists' studios. The fall tour includes 44 artists working in many fine art mediums including Jewelry, Glass Art, Paintings, Garden Art, Sculpture, Pottery, Furniture, Fiber Arts and more.

The Friday night (Oct 26) Gala Preview Party allows visitors to meet participating artists and preview their work – and to make some decisions re what studios they want to visit over the weekend. It’s also a fundraiser for the Art Safari. The party includes a silent auction of works donated by each artist, lots of great door prizes, heavy hors d’ouevres, music and a cash bar.

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair this Weekend in Asheville

October 26-28  Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair    Hosted by the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, in the McGough Arena, The event includes 100’s of animals, crafters, workshops and demonstrations, See spinning, knitting, weaving, felting and much more. 

Join a workshop class to improve your skills or just enjoy browsing and shopping the beautiful and unique apparel and wearable art at SAFF.  Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Sunday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, Admission $3/person, Youth under 13 yrs. old free,

20th Annual Smoky Mountain Fall Art and Craft Fest

October 26-27   20th Annual Smoky Mountain Fall Art and Craft Fest  100 of the most unique, skilled artisans in Western North Carolina. Enjoy great good and the opportunity to win100 free hand-crafted door prizes. There will also be alpacas and an animal rescue petting zoo.  Franklin hosts the event at the Macon County Fair Grounds.

Last Week for Penland's Focus Gallery Exhibition by Jerilyn Virden

October 5 to October 28 - The Penland Gallery presents its seventh Focus exhibition of the year, a new body of  work in ceramics by Jerilyn Virden.

Artist's Statement:Using the vernacular of the vessel and working within a narrow range of forms, I use the power of subtlety to create intimate spaces. Each form employs a language that reveals its intentions. My interest lies in the slight shifts within the arc of a bowl that determine the nature of the containment. Looking to primitive objects that have a contemporary relevance, I pare down forms and exaggerate isolated elements accentuating their sense of generosity and strength. Hollow construction allows for exaggeration of features, contributing a visual weight that floats above the table. A bowl that curls back on itself may seem shy and protective, while the force of a gentle upward turn of its lip invites a more active investigation of the object. Formed through repeated scraping and pinching, building up and finally excavating the appropriate curve, each piece retains the history of its making. Layers of glaze soften these individual marks, bringing more clarity to the form. The surface becomes a way to manipulate scale, moving from intimacy to expansion, in the way one understands a landscape by knowing both the small stone at one’s feet and the bulk of the mountain far away.

New Exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum

Robert Morris Blind Time III,

October 19 - Jan 27, 2013 at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square in Asheville NC:  Robert Morris: Mind/Body/Earth   The exhibit is free with Membership or Museum Admission.

Robert Morris is one of the most influential artists of the post-World War II generation. His writings and art have inspired many artists over the past 50 years. In his art he explores the nexus between the mind, body and world.

Involved in many contemporary art movements, Morris has had particular influence in Minimalism and Post-Minimalism. In the 1960s, Morris developed a large body of work, ranging from monochrome, Minimalist pieces often made of plywood, to a combination of original performance productions, to works of industrial felt. Read more...


Learn more about Asheville art exhibits and art galleries on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)

October 18-21   Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF)   Camp Rockmont hosts a weekend of art, music, and outdoor fun. The annual event offers music and art shows, Kids Village, healing workshops, and lots of food and local beer. Enjoy dancing (Contra, Salsa, Swing, Waltz), poetry & puppetry slams, folk art & craft exhibitions, outdoor adventure, and the LEAFlet Kid’s Village, a festival in and of itself, LEAF never ceases to offer new and exciting cultural connections. Tickets start at $25

Learn more about Black Mountain NC HERE.

Smoky Mountains Fall Art and Craft Fest

October 19-20  20th Annual Smoky Mountain Fall Art and Craft Fest   100 of the most unique, skilled artisans in Western North Carolina. Enjoy great good and the opportunity to win100 free hand-crafted door prizes. There will also be alpacas and an animal rescue petting zoo. Also held on Oct 25-26.

Apple Harvest Festival in Waynesville

October 20   Apple Harvest Festival  Savor the sights, sounds and food sensations of the 24th Annual Celebration of the Apple Harvest in Haywood County. Downtown Waynesville's Main Street is lined with Arts, Crafts and Food booths, complete with authentic mountain music and dance to delight you on a crisp fall day.

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands this Week in Asheville

October 18-21   Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands   This 65th annual event includes over 200 exhibitors, craft demonstrations, and live regional music and entertainment. Both levels of the Civic Center are filled with artisans selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry.

The Fair showcases the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and includes craft demonstrations and, beginning on Friday, local musicians performing traditional and bluegrass mountain music live on the arena stage.

Learn more about local lodging, events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest includes over 40 artisans

October  13-14    Sugar Mountain Oktoberfest    Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and a panoramic view of the surrounding area from the mile and a half long chairlift ride to Sugar's 5,300 ft peak. Everyone, even mountain bikers, are welcome to ride the lift.

Enjoy Oom Pah Band, Bavarian cuisine, including Bratwurst, Knackwurst, German Potato Salad, Sauerkraut and pretzels.  Over 40 artisans and crafters will be exhibiting and selling their work plus there will be a childrens activity center. 10 AM - 5 PM each day.

Learn more about Sugar Mountain NC HERE.

West Jefferson Best of the Blue Ridge Exhibit opens today

October 12 - November 15  Best of the Blue Ridge   An annual juried exhibit including artists from six counties opens today in West Jefferson. The exhibit is held at the Ashe Arts Center. 336-846-ARTS. The opening is held in conjunction with American Crafts week and as a part of the West Jefferson Gallery Crawl .

Stroll the streets of this historic mountain town, enjoy the cool mountain breeze while listening to the sounds of street musicians and "popping" in and out of West Jefferson's many galleries. There will be an Open House in more than 15 art galleries and studios.

Asheville Art in the Park this Saturday

October 13   Art in the Park  Artisans working in Glass, Ceramics, Wood, Jewelry, and metal show and sell in a public market setting in the center of Asheville in Pack Square Park. The event takes place on three consecutive Saturdays each June and October. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local. 10% of the proceeds from the event will be donated to a local art non-profit organization.

American Craft Week Event: Tryon Fall Arts and Crafts Festival

October 13-14   5th Annual Tryon Arts and Crafts Fall Festival  Celebrate the artists of the region at an annual event better than ever in 2012. Explore and enjoy juried arts and crafts, craft demonstrations, silent auction, food vendors and a children's craft corner. The festival is free and open to the public. Saturday, 10/13 10am-5pm, Sunday, 10/14 11am-5pm.

Annual Festival of the Frescoes

October 13    Festival of the Frescoes   Holy Trinity Church in Glendale is home to the famous "Last Supper" fresco while St. Mary's Church in West Jefferson is home to the famous "Mary Great with Child," "The Mystery of Faith" and "John the Baptist" frescoes. This festival has everything one could look for... live music, artisans, craftsmen, homemade baked goods and so much more.

American Craft Week Event: River Arts District Second Saturday

October 13    River Arts District Second Saturday   Asheville’s River Arts District Artists open their studios for a day of family friendly fun, educational experiences, live demonstrations and to share their creations. Visit dozens of artists working in all types of media, available for viewing or purchase.

Asheville Art Museum Urban Loft Tour 2012

October 11, 4:30 - 9:30 PM: Asheville Urban Loft Tour benefit for the Asheville Art Museum. Tour some of Asheville's most stunning downtown lofts, filled with original art and upscale furnishings and help support the Asheville Art Museum.

The Tour is followed by a reception, "Art for Art's Sake",  6 PM - 9:30 PM, hosted by the Cotton Mill Studios.  For tickets check in at the Art Museum's front desk or call 828-253-3227.  Artists of The Historic Cotton Mill Studios, located in the River Arts District at 122 Riverside Drive, are generously hosting a reception following the Urban Loft and Art Tour. 40% of art sales during the reception directly benefit the continued growth of the Asheville Art Museum and its capital campaign, Art WORKS for Asheville.  Free admission; participation on the Tour not required to attend reception.

Transportation to the Reception:  The event sponsor, the White Trolley Line (Asheville's Historic White Trolley Tours), will shuttle guests from the final stop on the walking tour to the benefit reception at The Historic Cotton Mill Studios, and back to the Museum throughout the evening.

For tickets check in at the Art Museum's front desk or call 828-253-3227. $50 for Members, $55 for non-Members  Tickets are timed (various start times for tours; spaces fill up quickly so please reserve your preferred spot early).

Fall Heritage Festival features Old-time Crafts

October 6    Mars Hill Fall Heritage Festival    Traditional mountain music and old-time craft demonstrations, local arts and crafts fill the town of Mars Hill and the Mars Hill College campus at this family-friendly festival. Food available from local vendors.
For eighteen years the Town of Mars Hill has sponsored the Annual Heritage Festival, an event Madison County Residents, mountain visitors and folks from surrounding counties look forward to every year. More than 70 local arts and crafts vendors will be participating. Enjoy homemade lunches and baked goods. A shuttle will be available for easy access.

American Craft Week Kick-off Tonight

October 5, 6 PM - The American Craft Week WNC celebration kicks off tonight at the Haywood Park hotel Atrium in downtown Asheville. Jan Davidson, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, begins the evening with thoughts on the role of craft in Western NC and the significance of celebrating American Craft Week in WNC.

There will be craft demonstrations at both the Haywood Park Hotel and the Asheville Visitor's Center.  Visit with artists and see them at work during the national celebration of the ingenuity and creativity of American artisans.

Haywood Park Hotel demonstrators: Kim Attwooll - original art greeting cards; Yvonne Engler- weaver; Barbara McGuire - polymer clay jewelry; Shannon Norris - lampworked glass; Charlie Patricolo- doll maker; Mary Timmer - jeweler. Asheville Visitors Center demonstrators: David Alberts - chainmail jewelry; Irene Semanchuk - polymer clay jewelry & sculpture; Peter Werner - broom maker.

The Kick-off coincides with the first Friday Asheville Downtown Gallery Stroll.

American Craft Week Event: ColorFest in Dillsboro

October 6   ColorFest, Art and Taste of Appalachia   Autumn's colors and flavors take center stage Saturday, Oct. 6, during this fourth annual festival. This arts and food event fills the sidewalks of Dillsboro with a variety of mountain artisans demonstrating their skills, plus food vendors serving up a taste of the North Carolina mountains. Local musicians and street entertainers add music to festivities, while restaurants and shops are open to serve the crowds throughout the day. 10 AM - 4 PM.

Leisurely stroll through the town encountering fine artists painting at easels under colorful umbrellas, hear strands of music blossoming through the doorways and experience a delicious taste of NC foods and wines ...all the time surrounded by the spectacular fall beauty of the mountains.

Talk with local artists, authors, growers, wine makers and musicians as you wander through the picturesque town, unique shops and choice restaurants. Works from participating artists have been on display in the windows of shops in Dillsboro since September 6.

Get a link for ColorFest and other Dillsboro events and attractions on the Dillsboro NC Visitor Guide.

American Craft Week Event: Blowing Rock Art in the Park

October 6   Art in the Park   A juried arts & craft show featuring 90 artists held in the picturesque downtown park once a month from May to October. Some of the best local and regional artists and craftspeople showcase their handcrafted jewelry, pottery, fiber, glass, photography, painting and more. Prices for objects, from a handmade postcard to a large piece of furniture, range from $5 to $5,000.

American Craft Week Event: Asheville Art Museum opens new exhibit

Madeleine d’Ivry Lord Rooster, Mixed Media Sculptur

October 5, 5 - 7 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC -  New Exhibition Opens: Chasing the Image: Madeleine Lord and Sally Massengale   The opening reception will be held from  5:00 - 7:00  PM with a Gallery Talk  beginning at 5:00 PM.  Both are free with Art Museum Membership or Museum Admission.

This exhibition brings together the work of two artists who both first became involved with the Asheville Art Museum in the 1990s. Madeleine Lord’s Rooster (ca. 1990) and Sally Massengale’s Kitchen Sink (1992) were acquired for the Museum’s Permanent Collection separately but both have won the ongoing affection of the Museum’s public. For the first time, the public now has an opportunity to see a range of works by these two prolific artists. Read more...

American Craft Week Celebrated in Western North Carolina

October 5-14  American Craft Week   A celebration of the wonders of American craft and its contribution to the culture and economy of the country. Dozens of participants in Western North Carolina host special events from open studios to major gallery exhibits.

The celebration begins at 6 PM with a presentation by Jan Davidson, Executive Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, sharing thoughts on the role of craft in Western NC and the significance of celebrating American Craft Week in WNC. Get a complete list of participants and events on the website.

Asheville Downtown Art Walk

October 5    Asheville Downtown Gallery Association Art Walk    Enjoy the fine art and craft of the Asheville Downtown Gallery Association and see on of the reasons Asheville has been voted #1 small city in the country by the readers of American Style Magazine 2 years running.

25 downtown venues participate with a complete Downtown Gallery Guide and a map available at any participating downtown gallery, the Chamber of Commerce, or Pack Place.