NC Arts and Sciences Power to Give Program Approves Asheville Golden Threads Shindig Mural

 "Golden Threads" Shindig Mural, sponsored by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, has been approved by the Arts and Sciences Council program, Power to Give. The Charlotte-based Program assists North Carolina-based arts organizations that have received grants from the North Carolina Arts Council within the past three years, and now need funding for a specific project.

As of February 14, 2015 the Shindig Mural was opened to people and organizations that wish to fund arts projects. The general public may also be a part of the funding of the Shindig Mural Project, Just CLICK HERE to go to the Power to Give site and become a donor for this exciting Asheville arts project.

Building on a platform of previous WNC murals, the Golden Threads Mural celebrates the annual Asheville event, Shindig on the Green in Asheville, is another example of the vision and mission of Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Inc., the mission of "Planting seeds of heritage through the Arts."

Art Director and well-know mountain mural and fine artist, Doreyl Ammons Cain, will be researching, planning and executing the painting and completion of the "Golden Threads" Shindig Mural. Ammons Cain will also follow through with the evaluation procedures, marketing plan, research into other WNC mural sites and interviews with Shindig musicians.

Shindig on the Green takes place each  in the heart of downtown Asheville at Pack Square Park's Roger McGuire Green. The stage shows take place on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage, named for the founder of the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, the nation’s longest running folk festival.

The Folk Heritage Committee produces Shindig on the Green and its sister event, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, to support the preservation and continuation of the traditional music, dance and storytelling heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people attend the FREE Shindig on the Green evenings  throughout the summer. In addition to throngs of locals, visitors routinely travel from out of state, across the country, and even around the world to make their way to downtown Asheville for Shindig on the Green.

Shindig on the Green depends on the talent and generosity of its volunteer musicians and dancers who span several generations. From young children perfecting their square dance steps to great-grandmothers singing ballads passed down through the years, the region’s wealth of traditional talent takes center stage. Since the outdoor event’s inception in 1967, hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the region and throughout the world have shared and enjoyed the rich traditional music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in this outdoor setting. 

Cloth Fiber Workshop Begins 2015 Workshop Schedule

March 19, 20, 21, 2015 - Dyeing Primary and Secondary Colors Naturally with Catharine Ellis
. Using indigo blue and a selection of yellow and red dyes you'll achieve greens and violets.  The workshop will incorporate all of the skills needed by the natural dyer: fiber preparation, indigo vat use, mordanting, and dyeing with plant or insect dyes.

The workshop will begin with using an organic indigo vat, and then preparing both protein and cellulose fibers for dyeing. You'll use mordants specifically for immersion dyeing as well as mordant printing. A palette of greens and violets will be developed by over-dying indigo blue with yellow and red dyes. You'll learn how to finish naturally dyed fibers and investigate why the sequencing of color is so important in creating mixed colors. 

Each participant will complete a notebook of samples in wool, silk, cotton and linen. Level of Expertise: All levels
 Fee: $310 + materials fee.

Cloth Fiber Workshop is located at 122 Riverside Drive, Ste D in the River Arts District,  Asheville NC

Random Arts Begins 2015 Workshops this Month

February 13 and 20 at Random Arts, 481 Louisiana Ave in Saluda NC - local artist Miriam Hughes shares her one of kind watercolor techniques.

February 27, 28, March 1 -   Jodi Ohl from Aberdeen NC. 10 AM - 4 PM each day.
2/27 - "Grunge Ink"    During this action packed and fun filled class participants create a variety of Inked up abstracts on an amazing surface which will allow you to add, subtract, draw, drip and more as you create one of a kind grungy abstract mixed media art pieces.  Bring your fearless artistic self and come prepared for hours of grungy inky fun and creative experimentation.

This class is for those who love to experiment, or for those that want to be more adventurous in their art. Works will be done on Yupo paper,  incorporating a variety of acrylic inks, paints, India ink and tons of special effects to garner intriguing and luscious layers.  All skill levels are welcome. The process can be as simple or complex as you desire. Cost: $125 for a full day.

2/28, 3/1 -  Extreme Portraits  Learn ways to build more depth in your portrait painting with this newest portrait class offered by Jodi Ohl that will help you take your portrait work to the next level, even to a cutting edge extreme. In each of the lessons over the 2 day course, you will find easy to follow directions and content that is rich in information that you can use not just in your portrait work, but a variety of mixed media applications. The focus in this class will be more on painting and building up layers through glazing and underpainting techniques as well as much more. Cost: $230 for 2 full days of fun filled painting and collage

Random Arts will continue to guide your creative journey this year with 10 months of fabulous instructors including 2 full weeks with internationally known artist, Gillian Lee Smith (aka Gillian Cox) from England. This will be Gillian's first and only teaching venue in the US for 2015 and it is quite an opportunity to learn from this fine mixed media artist while enjoying the beautiful, historic town of Saluda nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina.

Along with mixed media art supplies, fine art supplies and basic craft items, you will find artsy clothing at Random Arts that completes your creative image and your "young at heart" spirit.

Winter hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM with Zen Doodle continuing every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 10 AM.

Scheduled for 2015 at Random Arts:

February: 
Miriam Hughes Feb. 13th - Watercolor Made Easy $40. 
Jodi Ohl Feb. 27th Grunge Ink (painting/collage) $125. \
Jodi Ohl Feb.28th and Mar.1st (painting/collage)$230.for 2 days 
March:
Leighanna Light Mar. 20th - "Guardians of the Discarded" (assemblage)$125 
Leighanna Light Mar.21st - "Let's Face It" (mixed Media) $125 
Leighanna Light Mar. 22nd - "Birds Gone Wild" (assemblage) $125. 
April:
Kim Wood Beller April 18th and 19th (Collage mixed media painting) $125 per day 
May:
Sunny Carvalho May 2nd and; 3rd (Acrylic Painting) $125 per day 
Art Supplies Flea Market Outdoor May 16 
Andrea deMeng - May 21st and 22nd (Collage/Mixed Media Painting)$125 per day 
Michael deMeng - May 23rd and 24th (Assemblage)$290 2 days 
June:
Seth Apter 26th - Dimensional Stenciling $125 
27th - Collage Camp $125 
28th - Picture Windows $125 per day - Check out Seth's blog for more info 
July:
Kass Hall July 25th "It's all in the Details" (Art Journaling) $125 per day 
Kass Hall July 26th - "Black and White Journal Pages) $125 per day 
August:
Wan Marsh Aug. 8th and 9th $125 per day 
Lesley Venable Aug. 29th and 30th $125 per day 
September:
Kate Thompson Sept. 12th and 13th (Mixed Media Painting) 
October:
Gillian Cox Oct. 8th through 12th (Mixed Media Painting) $750 for a 5 day workshop 
Gillian Cox Oct. 15th through 19th (Mixed Media Painting) $750 for a 5 day workshop 
November:
Melissa Manley - Nov 7th and 8th (Assemblage) $125 per day

February Sale at Heartwood Gallery

The February sale has begun at Saluda's Heartwood Gallery. There are two racks of pottery and glass and two cases of selected jewelry reduced by 25-40%. It's a great time to get gifts or something pretty to pick yourself up during the last of the grey winter days. The Gallery needs to make room for all the exciting new work that has been ordered and will be put onj display beginning in  in March.

Heartwood Gallery, located at 21 East Main Street in historic downtown Saluda NC,  offers handmade wearables, jewelry, paper, paintings, fine porcelain, stoneware, glass, metal and wood  - just a few of the crafts on display. The Gallery is a destination well worth considering when you're looking for a special art work or craft for yourself, your home or a friend. One of a kind describes not only the items found at Heartwood, but also the unique quality of the Gallery itself. 

aSHEville Museum Celebrates Valentines with Artist Meet and Greet

February 11, 2015   Valentine's Celebration with She Artristy at aSHEville Museum   Meet the women artists and artisans showcased at aSHEville Museum, including painters, jewelers, photographers, candle makers, and crafters. Support Asheville's women at this local artist meet and greet.

Get links for lodging, dining and area attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.
  aSHEville Museum is a women’s cultural museum with a mission to contribute to the creation of more just and equitable world through its collection of intimate exhibits which range from historic to contemporary in scope, and local to global. Core exhibits include: Appalachian Women, 100 Years of Sexism in Advertising, and A History of Hysteria. 

aSHEville Museum also houses a variety of rotating exhibits. The Museum gift shop offers art, crafts, and gift items made by talented local and regional women artists and fair-trade women-made items supporting women's organizations. The Museum is located at 35 Wall Street in downtown Asheville NC.