Featured Craft Shop: Market on Main in Spruce Pine NC

Market on Oak  is more than a gallery and craft shop.  Market on Oak is a nonprofit entrepreneurial project to develop industry in Spruce Pine and Mitchell County, and provide the gifted, vibrant people of the region a venue to market their handmade goods. Online Shopping is also available.  

The Market began as "The Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree Store" in 2003, a non-profit organization supporting more than 120 local crafts people and small businesses while also providing scholarships for local high school students. The recently renovated and expanded shop offers handmade craft from pottery to hand-blown glass,  farmer’s market items including organic jams and jellies, raw mountain honey, and lavender-spiked vinegars. You can still find Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree specialty  products including licensed plates, ornaments, and art. Signed books by regional writers and music CDs featuring mountain artists are also available.

The Market on Oak is located 262 Oak Street, Spruce Pine North Carolina.

Featured Gallery: Grovewood Gallery

Enter the rustic iron gates of Grovewood Gallery and discover a magical experience of art, craft, history, and Old World charm. A visit to Grovewood can include a stroll through the beautifully landscaped sculpture gardens, or a visit tp working artists' studios. You will marvel at a fine collection of rare automobiles from yesteryear and discover a bit of Asheville’s early history. Grovewood offers an expansive collection of fine American craft and one of the nation’s premier galleries.
The current featured exhibit, Tradition Meets Innovation: Objects & Accents of the Arts & Crafts Home, continues through March 31. Grovewood Gallery is located at 111 Grovewood Road in Asheville NC.

Featured Gallery: The Artists' Theatre

The Artists' Theatre, located in the charming town of West Jefferson NC is owned and operated by Steve and Lisa Willingham. It is a unique gallery experience housed in an early 1900s building. Over the years the building was home to a variety of businesses including the first local Ford auto dealership in the 1920's; a movie theater in the 30's and 40's; a used furniture store in the 50's - 80's;  an office in the 90's.

Today the building is perhaps the most unusual gallery you'll find in the mountains, offering both beauty and an aesthetic environment. The art deco style structure needed extensive  restoration, the perfect project for the Willinghoams to let their creative juices flow, creating an unusual space people would love experience.

NC Artist Tonya Bottomley

The restoration created a stunning art and antique gallery which has helped to rejuvenate the small but active local art community. The mix of old and new, traditional and funky, past and unexpected artistic pleasures has created a real buzz and excitement in the high country.  A variety of artists and media are available for viewing and purchase at The Artists' Theatre, 8 East Main Street, West Jefferson NC.

Featured Gallery: Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville

Crimson Laurel Gallery has one of the largest selections of contempoarry studio ceramics in Western North Carolina, or anywhere else. In addition to ceramics, the Gallery offers fine jewelry, hand crafted furniture, glass, sculpture, and paintings.

Alex Matisse Ovoid Vase

Owned and operated by working artists John Lara and David Trophia the Gallery represents artists who have been recognized locally and nationally, from Bakersville Creek Walk Best in Show to the Smithsonian Collection.

The current featured exhibit is "Encore: New work by Alex Matisse", March 15 - April 7. The works are available for purchase online as well as in the Gallery.

Featured Gallery: Mountain Made Art Gallery

Mountain Made Art Gallery features the work of over 150 WNC artisans, in both contemporary and traditional mountain handcrafts. Media includes:  Handcrafted jewelry, beadwork, pottery, hand painted textiles, furniture, original oils-pastels-watercolors, stained glass, baskets, blown glass, Appalachian books, music and more.

Mountain Made is located in the Grove Arcade, 1 Page Avenue, Ste 123, Asheville, NC

Featured NC Gallery: Ariel Craft Gallery in downtown Asheville

Ariel Craft Gallery   In a city full of fine craft galleries and a region brimming with artisans, Ariel Gallery is a standout. Owned and operated by the exhibiting artists themselves, this unique gallery is a showcase for original works of handmade jewelry, sculpture, glass, fiber, clay, mixed media, and woodwork.

Since 2002, Ariel Gallery has represented some of Western North Carolina's finest artisans and given the public an opportunity to buy directly from local makers. 46 Haywood Avenue, Asheville

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with "green" Art

Featured Artist: Kelly Welch Phipps
a Signature Member of
Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters. 

Learn more about Kelly's Welch Phipps' work at
Skyuka Fine Art at 133 N Trade Street in  Tryon, NC

Asheville Art Museum Shop Artist of the Month

Museum Shop March Artist of the Month: Sondra Dorn

Sondra Dorn is a full time studio artist living in Asheville, North Carolina. She received her MFA from the University of Washington in 1996. Following graduate school, Dorn went on to a one year Artist in Residency at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and then a three-year Artist in residence at Penland School of Crafts in Penland, North Carolina. She was also a CORE fellowship student at Penland between the years 1992 through 1994.

Featured NC Mountain Gallery: Crimson Laurel Gallery

The Crimson Laurel Gallery  has one of the largest selection of studio ceramics in Western North Carolina, plus fine jewelry, hand crafted furniture, glass, sculpture, and paintings. Owned and operated by working artists John Lara and David Trophia the Gallery represents artists who have been recognized locally and nationally, from Bakersville Creek Walk Best in Show to the Smithsonian Collection.

Featured NC Art and Craft Galleries: The Folk Art Center

The Folk Art Center in Asheville NC is home base for the Southern Highland Craft Guild. the Center is the hub of traditional and contemporary mountain art and crafts for the Appalachian region. With changing exhibits in both the focus gallery and the main gallery and the permanent exhibit, all styles are displayed. Demonstrations and educational opportunities as well as special events are scheduled regularly. The members shop is visited by thousands of tourists and locals annually with very good reason. It is a remarkable place and an essential center for the heritage of mountain craft heritage. Visit the ONLINE SHOP or Asheville facility at Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway.

Featured Gallery: The Artists Theatre on East Main

The Artists Theatre on East Main is a stunning art and antique gallery helping rejuvenate the area's small but active art community. The mix of old and new, traditional and funky, past and unexpected artistic pleasures has created a real buzz and excitement in the high country.

The building, built around 1900 has housed a variety of businesses including the first Ford auto dealership in the 1920's, a movie theater in the 30's and 40's, used furniture store in the 50's, 60's 70's and 80's and an office in the 90's.  Now it is perhaps the most unusual gallery you will ever see. Patrons constantly comment on the beauty and aesthetic environment the gallery provides.  Owned and operated by artists Steve and Lisa Willingham the gallery is an experience you will remember and want to tell your friends about.

The Artists Theatre is located at 8 East Main St in West Jefferson, NC.