Annual Madison County Arts Council Moved to this Weekend

Due to the significant snowfall, the Madison County Arts Council's Annual Holiday Sale will be held on December 15 and 16, 2017 at 31 N Main Street in Marshall NC.

Find additional Mountain Christmas Crafts 

on our NC Mountains Craft Guide

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Presents Scholars and Scones: Cecil and Maud in the Laurel Valley

December 7, 2017 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM -  Scholars and Scones: Cecil and Maud in the Laurel Valley. Join ballad singer and storyteller Joe Penland as he discusses the journey of song collectors Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles, who collected ballads in western North Carolina in 1916.

This talk will complement BRAHM's exhibition of the historic photographs taken by Sharp on his journey through Appalachia.Complimentary breakfast goods and locally-brewed coffee will be served.  Free for members, $5 for non-members.

Joe Penland has appeared at numerous festivals, toured Great Britain eight times, and has been awarded the coveted Bascom Lunsford Award, named for his cousin, the founder of the longest running folk festival in America, for his “significant contribution to preserving our mountain music."

photo courtesy of The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Cecil Sharp in Appalachia Exhibition - This is the first US exhibit of rare, century-old photos taken by British song collector Cecil Sharp. The photographs feature some of the singers Sharp visited during his travels. Cecil Sharp and his assistant Maud Karpeles collected variants of English bal-lads between 1916-1918; their collecting work began in Hot Springs, NC, with the help of Olive Campbell, founder of the John C. Campbell Folk School. By the end of their 46-week travels through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ten-nessee, the pair had collected more than 1600 variants of English ballads collected from 281 singers.  Photos are on loan from the Country Dance and Song Society, with permission of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, Cecil Sharp House, London.

BRAHM (The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum) is located at  159 Chestnut Sreet in Blowing Rock NC.

Christina Shmigel Returns to Penland School of Crafts for Spring Workshop

This spring, Christina Shmigel will bring her keen observations and relentless inquiry back to Penland School of Crafts, where she will teach the eight-week concentration Sculpture with Fierce Intention. The workshop is for students with an ongoing studio practice who are eager to uncover the “why?” behind the work they make. It will take place in the Penland iron studio but will welcome a wide range of media based on student interest. Guest instructors Mike Rossi and John Watson will each join the workshop for a week to teach their specialties of steel and wood/plaster.

Sculpture with Fierce Intention will run March 11 – May 4, 2018. Registration is open now for all spring workshops.

 

Christina Shmigel, “The View in Fragments: Demolish” (left), 

“The View in Fragments: Nouveau Riche” (middle), 

“The View in Fragments: Green Sheath” (right) 

There’s a certain fearlessness to Christina Shmigel’s sculpture. Her pieces include traditional materials such as steel, wood, and paint, but they don’t stop there. From bright plastic pinwheels and cardboard to plumbing parts and found furniture, everything is fair game as a building block in her thoughtful, observant tableaus and constructions. Each finished piece is like a reflection of the world around her filtered through her keen eyes, skilled hands, and the particular quirks of her attention. There’s a fearlessness in that attention, too.

Christina comes to her sculpture practice with a particularly broad base of experience to draw on. Her BFA from RISD is in painting, and she followed it with an MFA from Brooklyn College that she describes as “more conceptual.” Later, she returned to school for a second MFA at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, this time with an emphasis on technical skills like blacksmithing and casting.

 

Christina Shmigel, “The City in Which I Love You: Da Shi Jie (Great World Sheathed)”

REGISTER FOR SPRING CONCENTRATIONS AT PENLAND
clay  |  letterpress  |  painting  |  metals  |  textiles  |  wood  |  sculpture
March 11 – May 4, 2018 

Penland School of Crafts is located at  67 Doras Trail, Penland, NC near Spruce Pine NC.  All information and photos provided by The Penland Sketchbook.

Southeast Animal Fiber Fair in Asheville NC

October 27 - 29, 2017   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.

Free demonstrations take place all the time at the Fair. Watch as vendors and other festival-goers spin, knit, weave, crochet and felt throughout the event. At particular times, vendors will demonstrate a special technique.

Throughout the weekend you can try your hand at weaving with the WNC Fiber Handweavers Guild. They’ll have looms set up near the main entrance of the Davis, In the long hall that runs from the atrium area near the information desk. Experienced weavers will be on hand to answer your questions as you try out the fascinating transformation from yarn to cloth. 

Fri. and Sat. 9:00AM-6:00PM, Sun. 9:00AM-4:00PM, Admission $5 per day10 for all 3 days, Youth under 13 yrs. old free.

Get more information about Asheville events and festivals

 on our Asheville NC Visitor Guide

 

Ooh La La Curiosity Market Open 4th Of July Weekend

July 1, 2017   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. 

Learn more about Asheville 

Arts and Crafts Markets and Festivals

 on our Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Forging Futures exhibition opens Thursday

News from the Center for Crafts, Creativity and Design 

Current Exhibit:

Tie Up, Draw Down

On view: June 2 - September 2, 2017

 

Tie Up, Draw Down explores weaving as a source for experimentation across media, genres, concept, and scale. Of the fifteen contemporary artists included in this exhibition, many hybridize weaving technologies, weave "the wrong way," or adapt and innovate weaving processes to encompass new media. Others do not weave at all, but find a rich avenue of inquiry within aspects or stages of weaving's complex field.

Artists include: Polly Apfelbaum, Joell Baxter, Jen Bervin, Francesca Capone, Liz Collins, Marianne Fairbanks, Del Harrow, Sheila Hicks, LoVid, John Paul Morabito, Danielle Mysliwiec, Meghan Price, Molly Smith, Laurel Sparks, and Margo Wolowiec.

 

 

 

Forging Futures

On view at Blue Spiral 1 (38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801)

June 29 - August 25, 2017

Forging Futures surveys 24 emerging and established artists shaping the future of studio craft in this region. Their work represents the range of forms, techniques and materials employed to create handmade works of art, including functional and sculptural works in wood, metal, clay, glass, and fiber. 

Forging Futures was curated and organized by Blue Spiral 1 and The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Pursuing Excellence, the first survey documenting the rise and prominence of studio craft in the region. 

Artists include: Dean Allison, Alex Bernstein, Brian Boggs, Elizabeth Brim, Lisa Clague, Josh Copus, Heather Mae Erickson, Dustin Farnsworth, Jessica Green, Hoss Haley, Andrew Hayes, Eric Knoche, Stoney Lamar, Rachel Meginnes, Jaydan Moore, Zack Noble, Mark Peiser, George Peterson, Amy Putansu, Michael Sherrill, Tom Shields, Pablo Soto, Kathy Triplett, Hayden Wilson

10% of artwork sales will be donated to CCCD

 

Upcoming Events:

Free and open to the public, unless noted. $3-5 suggested donation. 

RSVP and share on Facebook

 

 

Spectacular Failure Panel Discussion

Thursday, June 29, 4 - 5 pm

Fine Arts Theatre
36 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC

Free and open to the public

REGISTER NOW

Three successful, highly regarded artists tell us about their biggest failures and how they use these setbacks as a tool to continue their work. Lisa Clague, Andrew Hayes, and Jaydan Moore provide information and inspiration for creative types everywhere. Exhibition opening reception to follow from 5-8 pm at Blue Spiral 1, 38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC.

 

 

 

 

Why Craft, Why WNC? Lecture with Anna Fariello

Thursday, July 20, 6:30 pm

Blue Spiral 1
38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC

Free and open to the public

REGISTER NOW

Anna Fariello, Research Associate Professor at Hunter Library at Western North Carolina University and Craft Revival Project Director, will reveal why craft has thrived in our region.

Teaching Craft Panel Discussion

Thursday, August 17, 6:30 pm

Blue Spiral 1
38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC

Free and open to the public

REGISTER NOW

A panel of artists including Elizabeth Brim, Heather Mae Erickson, and 

Michael Sherrill will discuss the various methods of teaching a craft - from the classroom to the craft school to apprenticeships and DIY - and the pros and cons of each approach.

 

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design 

 is located at 67 Broadway St., Asheville, NC 

 

 

Coaster Sale at Michael Kline Pottery

 

Michael Kline Pottery  

4062 Snow Creek Rd. Bakersville, NC 

2017 Front Street Arts and Crafts Show in Dillsboro NC a Big Success

Wonderful blue skies, great entertainment and over 60 multi-talented artisans brought out more than 3,000 people to Front Street Arts and Crafts Show in Dillsboro NC on June 17th.

The first of three 2017 festivals produced by the Dillsboro Merchants Association, Front Street Arts and Crafts Show filled not only Front Street but also Church Street, increasing vendor participation thereby providing a much larger selection of arts and crafts. Dillsboro Merchants also reported an upturn in business during the festival.

The second 2017 Dillsboro festival, Summer Arts and Crafts Market, is scheduled for August 19th, with vendor booths booked to capacity. Vendor booths for ColorFest on October 7th, the third 2017  Association sponsored Festival are going fast.

This report and photos provided by

Amy Ammons Garza

Co-Founder

Catch the Spirit of Appalachia, Inc.

29 Regal Avenue •  Sylva, NC 28779

Phone: 828-631-4587

Email:  violetamy@frontier.com

www.spiritofappalachia.org

www.storiesofmountainfolk.com

www.csabooks.com

The Art Museum's permanent address at 2 South Pack Square remains under construction with "The Museum on the Slope"open at 175 Biltmore Avenue for regular hours and special events.Admission is free during construction, but donations are welcomed to continue support of programs.

June 17, 2017 at The Asheville Art Museum: TIME WARP, the 2017 Benefit Gala.The event will be held at the Renaissance Asheville Hotel.

The evening includes:

• “Make It Yours” sumptuous cocktail dinner with wine, beer + signature cocktail
• Gourmet food stations to please every palate
• Live auction — fine art, travel packages
• Fund-the-Needs Lot: Cultivating the Future: Artists, Educators, Collectors, Museum Lovers and More
• Dream Bar + Chef Dinner raffles
• Centerpiece + Textile Art sales
• After Party on the Terrace with Zati & Meseret of Phantom Pantone
• Cash liquor bar available
• NEW! Meet-the-Maker VIP Hour at 5pm (additional fee) – includes valet parking

Make sure to dress your best in TIME WARP attire to have a chance to win the “Best-Dressed” award – a Glass Experience with Chaotic Joy Glassworks

GET TICKETS HERE
or call: 828.253.3227

Annual Saluda Arts Festival

 May 20, 2017   in  SALUDA NC -   Saluda Arts Festival   This  year's annual festival will include

 almost 90 artists and craftspeople, lively and award winning music, the children's art tent, several art and craft demonstrators and delicious food from our local restaurants. 

The festival also pays tribute this year to the late artist Johnny Waddill with a special exhibit displaying his work during the festival at the Saluda Center, 64 Greenville St., Saluda, NC.

The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design Announces 2017 CCCD Windgate Fellows and Project Grant recipients

Each year, the Windgate Fellowship identifies ten undergraduate seniors with exemplary skill in craft. Awardees receive $15,000 - one of the largest awards offered nationally to art students. 

Now in it’s twelfth year, The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design’s (CCCD) Windgate Fellowship marks $1.8 million awarded to 120 emerging craft artists nationwide. Nominated from a national network of 104 university art programs, these makers represent a skilled and motivated next generation for craft. 

The final four CCCD Windgate Project Grants were awarded this year to:
Josh Copus, 2006 Windgate Fellow, Ceramics, Marshall, NC
Brian Fleetwood, 2012 Windgate Fellow, Jewelry, La Mesilla, NM
Ani Geragosian, 2009 Windgate Fellow, Fiber, Salem, MA
Adam Ledford, 2011 Windgate Fellow, Ceramics, Philadelphia, PA

The 2017 CCCD Windgate Fellows are:
Audrey An, Alfred University, Ceramics
Rachel Chalik, The University of the Arts, Jewelry/Metalsmithing
Esther Cho, Virginia Commonwealth University, Wood/Furniture
Emelie Cleveland, Parsons, The New School of Design, Fiber/Textiles
Christina Dietz, Pennsylvania State University, Sculpture/Psychology
Christina Glover, Savannah College of Art and Design, Fiber/Textiles
Breana Hendricks, State University of New York at New Paltz, Ceramics
Amy Hoagland, University of Kentucky, Glass/Sculpture/Paper/Extended Media
Steven Kaplan-Pistiner, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Jewelry/Metalsmithing
Rosa Novak, California College of the Arts, Ceramics/Fiber

This Week at The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Apr 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM - SCHOLARS and SCONES:  The Steel Rails That Opened the High Country. Join Johnny Graybeal as he tells the story of the ET and WNC and the little engine known as "Tweetsie"; The railroad that transformed the High Country of Western North Carolina.

One hundred years ago the Lost Provinces of northwestern North Carolina were somewhat isolated from the rest of the country. It took steel rails coming from East Tennessee to open up the area to the outside world. The narrow gauge East Tennessee and Western North Carolina Railroad and its sister company, the Linville River Railway, eventually connected Johnson City, TN, with the North Carolina towns of Elk Park, Newland, Linville, Foscoe, Shulls Mills, and Boone. Best known by its nickname "Tweetsie", this little train wound its way along rivers and ridges, and into the hearts of the people it served.

Economics and floodwater closed the railroad, but it came back as a theme park tourist attraction. Come hear the story of how a little train changed the destiny of the High Country forever The talk will be accompanied by locally-baked goods and coffee from Boone-based Hatchet Coffee Company.

The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum is located at 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC.

submitted by Pamela L. Myers Executive Director, Asheville Art Museum 

Support Public Investment in the Arts 

We believe the arts make a difference in our lives and in our community. Art inspires, enriches and enlivens us; it gives hope for the future and reminds us of our shared humanity. We know that you feel the same way. 

Dear Arts Supporter,

President Trump's proposed budget cuts all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute for Museum & Library Services (IMLS), among other agencies and programs. These cuts would have serious negative implications for the Asheville Art Museum and its ability to fulfill its mission to transform lives through art with innovative exhibitions and programming.

Please consider contacting your elected officials to let them know how important the arts are to our communities. Share your passion for the arts and include some of the facts below. We also encourage you to share this information with your social media networks to help spread the word that the arts matter.

Funding that Supports the Asheville Art Museum

From 2007-2017, the Asheville Art Museum received the following amounts from federal funding sources -- funds that are critical to the Museum's mission:

•         NEA – $135,000
•         IMLS -- $93,355
•         NEH -- $4,839

Below is some additional information from the Association of Art Museum Directors:

Reach of the NEA / NEH / IMLS

• No other arts funder -- public or private -- sends funds to every congressional district in every state and to all the U.S. territories.
• The NEA and NEH don't tell states what to do with the funds they receive. The states set their own priorities.
• The NEA and NEH's investment in state and regional arts organizations helps to bolster a strong arts and culture ecosystem in United States. 
• The loss of the NEA / NEH / IMLS would have the greatest impact on rural areas, low-income areas, and schoolchildren, seniors, and veterans.

Economic Factors 

• Taxpayer investment in the NEA and NEH is minimal, just 94 cents per capita, less than the cost of one cup of coffee each year.
• The NEA has a huge impact for that minimal investment. On average, each dollar awarded by the NEA to an arts organization enables that organization to leverage nine dollars from other sources. 
• This makes the NEA an economic driver, generating more than $600 million annually in these matching funds.

Thank you for your support of the arts.

Sincerely,
Pamela L. Myers
Executive Director, Asheville Art Museum 

Blowing Rock Art and History Museum Announces 2017 Movies at the Museum Film Series

March 13, 2017 - Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM), 159 Chestnut Street in Blowing Rock NC, introduces the 2017 Movies at the Museum film series.  Movies at the Museum features films by North Carolina filmmakers, films about the arts and films about the history and culture of the Appalachian region. Complimentary popcorn will be provided, and the film will be followed by a discussion facilitated by a special guest speaker.

March 23 at 7 PM:  America's First Forest: Carl Schenck and the Asheville Experiment. America's First Forest tells the story of how Carl Schenck, a German forester, came to America in 1895 to manage the forests at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. He not only helped restore the land there, he established the country’s first forestry school and helped launch the American conservation movement. The documentary film is produced for the Forest History Society by Bonesteel Films. The speaker for the movie is Bill Alexander, Landscape and Forest Historian at the Biltmore Estate. GET MORE INFORMATION HERE.

Enjoy a Thursday night in Blowing Rock with dinner and a movie. Here’s how it works: pick up your ticket anytime during museum hours on the day of the film, and present it at Bistro Roca for a 10% discount on your meal (offer only valid the day of the film). Then, come on over to BRAHM for a film and discussion.

 Additional March Events at BRAHM:

March 21 at 11 AM - Coffee with the Curator, featuring Selections from the Collection



March 20 at 11 AM -  Family, Food, and Place: The Winebarger Mill and Agricultural History in Watauga County, North Carolina.

Heartwood Gallery Final Winter Sale and Spring Cleaning

This is the final week of the Winter Sale at Heartwood Gallery, 21 East Main Street in Saluda NC. Sale items have been further reduced. Pottery, glass, wearables, wood, jewelry, holiday items and more up to 60% off. Sale ends Sunday, March 5, 2017. 

Spring cleaning begins on Monday, March 6 when the shop will close for painting and cleaning and re-open on Saturday March 11, 2017 at 10 AM. 

Heartwood Gallery offers a variety of local and American handmade crafts including wearables, jewelry, paper, paintings, fine porcelain, stoneware, glass, metal and wood. The Gallery is a destination well worth considering when you're looking for a special indulgence 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 Art Museum February Events

February 11,2017 from 10 AM-2 PM: Introduction to Screen-Printing. One of the most versatile printing methods, screen-printing uses simple tools and can be applied to a wide range of materials. Participants in this workshop are introduced to the practical and artistic forms of screen-printing and techniques such as open screen, photo silkscreen, paper block-outs and flocking through demonstrations, experimentation and discussion.

Instructor Kevin Hogan was born in Liverpool, England. He makes sculptural installations, paintings, prints, drawings and mixed-media artwork. His earlier work was almost entirely black and white, focusing more on line and shape within the work. His experimentation with printmaking led to an exploration of color. He has exhibited in North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, New York, France and Germany.

Space is limited; register by February 7. Click here to register or call 828.253.3227, ext. 122 for more information.



February 19,2016 at 3 PM at Biltmore United Methodist Church - Pianoforte with Les Downs. Dr. Leslie Downs is active as both a solo and a collaborative pianist. He has performed in solo, lieder, chamber, and choral concerts throughout the United States and in Canada. He has also served as music director for regional musical theatre productions. For 16 years he worked as a freelance pianist/teacher/vocal coach in New York City. He currently serves as Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville.

The program will include works by Joseph Haydn, Manuel de Falla, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, Claude Debussy, Alexander Scriabin and Isaac Albéniz.

Pianoforte concerts fill up quickly; click here to purchase tickets online or call 828.253.3227, ext. 122.

February 24, 2017 from 5:30-8:30 PM at Hi-Wire Brewing Big Top, 2 Huntsman Place in Asheville NC - TOAST Asheville. As the Museum is "Making It New" during construction, they are also re-inventing the annual TOAST Asheville event and are excited to be partnering this year with Hi-Wire Brewing. The evening will be a festive gathering with plenty of unique Hi-Wire beers and partner wines to sample, local tasty food, brewery tours, and a silent auction. Entertainment is generously provided by Appalatin, whose foot-stomping, hip-swinging sounds organically unite Appalachian folk and high-energy Latin music.

All proceeds from this event support the Asheville Art Museum’s ongoing exhibitions and programming. For tickets to this event, you may purchase online or call 828.253.3227.



Asheville Art Museum Work of the Week: Squid Under Pier by Minna Citron. Minna Citron (1896-1991) was a painter and printmaker best known for her Social Realist images of New York City. Citron studied at the Art Students League with John Sloan and Kenneth Hayes Miller, and she later was associated with a group of Realist painters known as the 14th Street School. In the late 1930s she taught art and painted murals for the Works Progress Administration. By the early 1940s, abstraction became her primary style.

Minna Citron, Squid Under Pier, 1948, Color Intaglio and Stencil, 16 x 19.5 inches. 2010 Collectors’ Circle Purchase. Permanent Collection. 2011.01.01.60.

The Asheville Art Museum Current Events

Yanka Kostova Carolina Day School Award Winner

January 27, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 PM, 175 Biltmore Avenue (the "pop up" location during renovations and construction) in Asheville NC - The Museum On the Slope. Celebrate the official opening of the Slope Gallery with a reception. Enjoy snacks and drinks, browse the gift shop and be the first to view the award-winning student artwork on view in the 2017 WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards exhibition. The exhibit continues through February 26.

With major construction happening at 2 S. Pack Square in 2017, The Museum has moved to a pop-up location. Free admission! Current hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 AM-5 PM and Sunday 1-5 PM.  What’s there? Our Gift Shop is open, and our first exhibition opens January 28. We also have an education studio to hold some programming, and our staff offices have temporarily moved to this location.


January 27, 12:00 PM at the Asheville Art Museum On the Slope - Art Break: Multimedia Storytelling. Last fall the Museum collaborated with UNC Asheville as a case study for Multimedia Storytelling for Journalism students. Each student selected an artwork, artist, or topic related to the Museum’s Permanent Collection to profile in multiple media formats. Students researched story ideas, interviewed sources, designed compelling stories and produced narratives to connect people with art. View for a screening of the student’s videos and a Q&A with Dr. Sonya DiPalma, Professor of Mass Communications.

Kenneth Noland courtesy of Asheville Art Museum

Work of the Week: NORTH SOUTH EAST WEST by Kenneth Noland. Kenneth Noland (1924-2010) was born in Asheville, NC. He was exposed to art at an early age by his mother, who was an amateur musician, and his father, a painter. After service in the Air Force, he returned to Asheville and attended Black Mountain College, where he was introduced to Bauhaus principles and color theories.