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 

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. 

Pianoforte with Grace Lee Concert Sponsored by the Asheville Art Museum

November 20, 3:00 PM - Pianoforte with Grace Lee. Museum and Biltmore UMC Members: $8 + tax ($7 children). Non-Members: $16 + tax ($15 children). Biltmore United Methodist Church, 376 Hendersonville Road in Asheville NC.

Lee is an avid performer, educator, and conference lecturer across the U.S. She holds a doctorate of musical arts in piano performance and a post-master’s certificate in music theory pedagogy from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; a master of music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music; and a bachelor of music and artist diploma from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 

She has performed in master classes of internationally renowned pianists Kevin Kenner, Boaz Sharon, William Westney, Simone Dinnerstein, Jacques Després, Pascal Rogé, Jeremy Denk, Dror Biran, Joel Hastings, André Watts and Byron Janis.

This Week at the Asheville Art Museum

SPACE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED! REGISTER TODAY

 
Art Travels  -  Arts of the Earth: Wood and Clay
Tuesday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00  p.m.
Cost (includes transportation and lunch): $85 members; $95 non-members
Register online before the trip sells out, or call 828.253.3227

Michael Sherrill and Stoney Lamar

Join the Museum for this special half-day, small-group tour to visit the Western North Carolina studios of two master artists working in natural media, plus a delicious locally sourced lunch! The first stop is to the Bat Cave studio of Michael Sherrill, a materials-based artist experimenting primarily in clay, metal, and glass whose handmade objects explore the intersection of humans and materials in the natural world. Then participants head over to Saluda for a tasty lunch at The Purple Onion, known for its organic ingredients and simple, healthful Mediterranean-inspired menu. After lunch the group visits the studio of Stoney Lamar, whose unique multi-axial lathe work gives his wood sculptures a distinct sense of movement. Work by both Sherrill and Lamar is featured in the Museum’s and other public and private collections around the country.

Tot Time
Tuesday, October 18, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Free with membership or Museum admission (children under 5 always free)

Come discover the art of play in our interactive Art PLAYce! This monthly program for pre-school aged children accompanied by an adult occurs on the third Tuesday of each month, and features a fun activity designed especially for our young visitors plus time to explore the Museum galleries.

This Tot Time  will be your last chance to enjoy the original Art PLAYce before construction begins! Look for the Education team in your community presenting Tot Time at local libraries and community centers.

For more information, please email Sharon McRorie or call 828.253.3227, ext. 124.

ON VIEW IN THE ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM GALLERIES 
Creating Change: Political Art from the Permanent Collection
Selections from the Permanent Collection: 140 Years of American Art
Vault Visible: Behind the Scenes at the Asheville Art Museum
Geometric Vistas: Landscapes by Artists of Black Mountain College
Community: Sharon Louden
Sol LeWitt: Creating Place

This Week at the Asheville Art Museum

Last Chance to Register for An Afternoon at Highwater Clays.  This exciting behind-the-scenes tour is next week. Wednesday, July 20, 1:30 - 3:30 PM. Museum Members: $20,  Non-members: $30.  Meet at Highwater Clays (600 Riverside Drive, Asheville 28801).  For over 30 years, Highwater Clays has been mixing fine clays for artists’ use. Raw materials convene on Highwater from around the country, and are screened, mixed, refined and bagged using state-of-the-art technology. Join artists, collectors and Highwater founders Brian and Gail McCarthy for a private tour of Highwater’s production facility and warehouse, as well as their personal collection of fine-art ceramics. Light refreshments are provided. Space is limited; pre-registration is required. To register, click here or call 828.253.3227, ext. 122.


July 15, 2016 at 12:00 PM - Art Break.  More Than a Moment in Time: Selected Photographs from the Museum’s Collection with Taylor Heasley, Education Intern. Drop in to this informal lunchtime Art Break that focuses on works in our Permanent Collection! Our Art Breaks are designed to both inform and engage you in dialogue with our curatorial and education staff, docents or special guests. Free with membership or Museum admission.


July 19, 2016 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM - Tot Time. Come discover the art of play in the interactive Art PLAYce! This monthly program for pre-school aged children accompanied by an adult occurs on the third Tuesday of each month, and features a fun activity designed especially for our young visitors plus time to explore the Museum galleries. For more information, email Sharon McRorie or call 828.253.3227, ext. 124. Free with membership or Museum admission (children under 5 always free)

Museum Shop Centerpiece Sale Ends Friday - A limited selection of beautiful works of art featured at the recent benefit NEXT are available for purchase in the Museum Shop...but sales end Friday, July 15.  For more information or to purchase, click here.

Currently on view in the Asheville Art Museum Galleries:

• Vault Visible: Photographs
• Vault Visible: Behind the Scenes at the Asheville Art Museum
• Selections from the Permanent Collection: 140 Years of American Art
• Appalachian Innovators: Women Makers in the Southern Highland Craft Guild, 1930-2000
• Community: Sharon Louden
• Sol LeWitt: Creating Place

Upcoming Events at the Asheville Art Museum

The Asheville Art Museum is located at 2 South Pack square in down town Asheville NC.

First Friday Art Walk
Friday, May 6, 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Pay-as-you-wish admission

On the first Friday of each month from April through December, the Museum extends its hours and offers pay-as-you-wish admission from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. as part of the Downtown Asheville Art District’s First Friday Art Walks.
 
More Than Math: FREE Professional Development for Math Teachers
Saturday, May 7, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Teachers of Grades 7–8
Free (registration required)

More Than Math integrates the visual arts into problem-based mathematics units developed for grades 3 through 8, drawn from the context of works of art in the Museum’s Permanent Collection. For more information or to register, click here or call 828.253.3227, ext. 124.
 
Home School Program
Tuesday, May 10, 11:00 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
$4 per student
For Students in Grades 1–4

The Asheville Art Museum presents a home-school program on the second Tuesday of each month. Each 90-minute session includes a guided tour of the Museum’s Permanent Collection or a special exhibition, plus a hands-on activity in the Museum’s studio. Museum admission for students and all materials necessary are included in the cost. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, click here or contact Sharon McRorie at 828.253.3227, ext. 124.

Discussion Bound
Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying Modern Art by Nancy G. Heller
Tuesday, May 10, 12:00 p.m.
Free with membership or Museum admission

The first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this entertaining guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children’s art, Heller shows us how we can refine analytical tools we already possess to understand and enjoy even the most unfamiliar paintings and sculptures. For more information, click here.

Tot Time
Tuesday, May 17, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Free with membership or Museum admission (children under 5 always free)

Come discover the art of play in our interactive Art PLAYce! Art PLAYce is open daily, but each month we will feature a fun activity designed especially for our young visitors plus time to explore the Museum galleries.
 
International Museum Day
Wednesday, May 18, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Free admission to Museum

Every year since 1977, International Museum Day is organized on May 18. From America to Oceania and from Africa and Europe to Asia, this year’s event celebrates the theme, Museums and Cultural Landscapes. Institutions around the world open their doors and organize programs that explore how museums are responsible for their landscapes – both inside or outside their walls, and both physical and cultural – by contributing knowledge and taking an active role in their management and upkeep.

To celebrate, the Museum is hosting the following FREE events on that day:

Art Break: Stories From the Vault, 12:00 p.m.
As we undertake the processes of inventory, packing, and moving before our expansion, staff members are making new discoveries about the Museum’s collection every day. In this series, curators, educators and special guests tell tales of connoisseurship, conservation, collecting and conundrums as we delve into the recesses of our storage vaults.

Family Open Studio, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Take a break from viewing the Museum’s exhibitions during International Museum Day and join us in the studio for family-friendly, hands-on art activities!

Make It Yours Listening Session, 3:00 p.m.
Come one, come all: Make your voice heard! We invite YOU to participate in the creation of the new Asheville Art Museum. The Museum is excited to have begun a major renovation and construction project that will transform our space and programs. Join us for a preview of the new Museum, an update on construction and give us feedback on areas of growth, opportunity and sustainability. We want to hear from our community as we prepare for our grand reopening in 2018! Light refreshments are provided. For more information, call 828.253.3227, ext. 122.
 

photo courtesy of Asheville Art Museum

Up for Discussion – The Creative Use of Industrial Processes for Artists
Wednesday, May 18, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Museum and SNAG Members: $35
Non-members: $45
In this interactive artist talk, discover a portfolio of examples of how clever artists utilize industrial resources such as casting, commercial photo-etching, water jet and laser cutting, spinning and rapid prototyping to help make both one-of-a-kind and production objects. Click here for more information and to register, or call 828.253.3227, ext. 122.

Kate Clayton(Granny) Donaldson Cow Blanket, wool

 

 

Art Break
Tryon Toy Makers: The Art and Craft of Eleanor Vance and Charlotte Yale
Friday, May 20, 12:00 p.m.
Free with membership or Museum admission

For this Art Break, Bruce Johnson, Director of the National Arts and Crafts Conference, will lead the discussion. This event is held in conjunction with Appalachian Innovators: Women in the Southern Highland Craft Guild, 1930-2000.
 


Workshop Series: Make It Last
How to Research Your Artwork
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Member: $20 per workshop
Non-member: $30 per workshop

Every artwork comes with its own set of mysteries: Who made it? Where did it come from? Whom was it for? Who owned it since its creation? The answers to these questions not only establish a history of ownership, but they also often tell fascinating tales about unique works of art. Learn about how to use print resources, online databases, art appraisal and connoisseurship to discover more about any artwork. Speakers include:

• Brandy Bourne, Public Services Librarian, Ramsey Library at UNC Asheville
• Carolyn Grosch, Assistant Curator, Asheville Art Museum
• Lise Johnson, Associate Appraiser, Campbell Fine Art
• Leisa Rundquist, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Art History and Department Chair, UNC Asheville

For more information and to register, click here or call 828.253.3227, ext. 122.

This Week at the Ashevile Art Museum

courtesy Asheville Art Museum

January 25, 2016 from 4:30 - 6:30 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC: The Museum is undergoing major construction beginning in 2016 and is kicking it off in sparkling style!

All are  invited  to join the Museum in this launch to Make It New and Make It Yours. At this exciting event, you can learn  what's happening at the Museum in the coming months. Join many other members of our wonderful community to enjoy refreshments, giveaways and entertainment. FREE event.



January 23, 30, February 6 and 13, 2016  (Saturdays) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Explore the Power of Art and Writing. In this four-part writing workshop, explore the influence that the visual arts have on emotions, memories, and stories. 

Each week focuses on a different type of artwork in the Museum's collection or special exhibitions, both as a point of meditation and inspiration for discussion and written responses. This workshop is an outlet for writers of all levels to broaden familiarity with artistic and written genres, spark creativity in surprising places, develop and hone writing skills, and receive valuable feedback. 

Space is limited; call 828.253.3227, ext. 122. or register online today. Museum Members: $80; Non-members: $100.

Asheville Art Museum Special Events this Weekend

August 28, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC:   Lunchtime Art Break. Photographer Ken Abbott will be leading this Lunchtime Art Brea.  Ken will discuss his work in Heritage and Home: Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm.

Ken Abbott Photograph of Hickory Nut Gap Farm

The Museum presents Lunchtime Art Breaks, a series of gallery talks and presentations designed to inform and engage you in dialogue with members of our curatorial and education departments, docents and special guests.

August 29, 5:00 - 8:00 PM join the Museum for a Soiree at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Take a tour of the historic Hickory Nut Gap home and enjoy food and music while you immerse yourself in the surroundings of this beautiful farm.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres catered by the Hickory Nut Gap Farm, as well as beer and wine will be served. This event is held in conjunction with Heritage and Home: Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, featuring the works of local photographer Ken Abbott.

$30 for members; $40 for non-members. Please call the Museum at 828.253.3227 for tickets.

William Wegman Exhibition at The Asheville Art Museum

August 23, 3:00 - 5:00 PM at The Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC - Opening Reception for Cubism and Other-isms by William Wegman. The exhibition is on view August 22, 2015 through January 24, 2016. 

William Wegman, one of the world's most renowned photographers, has been working on a project he calls Cubism and Other-isms, where with his trademark wry humor he mines art historical precedents to create images of startling beauty. Beginning in the early 1990s while making videos and films with his dogs standing in as human characters, the artist placed his subjects on elevated platforms in order to shoot them at eye level. Over the years, props in Wegman's photographs have taken many forms, but none so consistently as the cube. 

William Wegman "Lean"to" courtesy Asheville Art Museum

Asheville Art Museum News: August Events at the Museum

August 7, 2015 from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in Asheville NC: First Friday Art Walk. Free with membership or Museum admission. On the first Friday of each month, the Museum welcomes participants of the Downtown Asheville Art District's First Friday Art Walk. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the remarkable Asheville Art Museum.

August 13, 2015 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM: Lecture: Male Quilter Roger Winchell. Free with membership or Museum admission. Join a discussion and show-and-tell with local male-quilter Roger Winchell. Winchell has only been quilting for five years, but in that short period he won the Viewers' Choice Award at the Asheville Quilt Show with his very first quilt, which was later exhibited at the Folk Art Center. His quilts have won local awards and several have been accepted into national juried shows. Prior to his career in quilting, Roger was a computer systems analyst at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. This event is held in conjunction with "Man-Made: Contemporary Male Quilters".

August 15 - 16, 2015 at 2:00 PM: Weekend Film Screenings - Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt, Directed by Jeffrey Friedman and Rob Epstein Free with membership or Museum admission. An Olympic athlete; a gay activist; a boy with hemophilia; a recovering heroin addict; a closeted Navy commander: five very diverse lives that shared a common fate. Their lives - along with thousands of others - are woven together in a giant memorial patchwork quilt that is solemnly unfolded in the U.S. Capitol to protest the government's refusal to respond to a growing epidemic. Common Threads tells the powerful story of the first decade of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. Not rated. 79 minutes. Screened in conjunction with Man-Made: Contemporary Male Quilters.

August 18, 2015 from 10:30 - 11:30 AM: Tot Time. Free with membership or Museum admission. Come discover the art of play in the interactive Art PLAYce for Children. Art PLAYce is open daily, but each month a fun activity is featured, designed especially for young visitors plus time to explore the Museum galleries.

August 22, 2015 10:00 - 5:00 PM - New on View: William Wegman. Free with membership or Museum admission. Opening Reception: August 23, 3:00 - 5:00 PM. The Museum is excited to present Cubism and Other-isms, an exhibition of works by one of the world's most renowned photographers, William Wegman. The exhibition is on view August 22, 2015 through January 24, 2016.

Over many years, Wegman has been working on a project he calls Cubism and Other-isms, where with his trademark wry humor he mines art historical precedents to create images of startling beauty. Beginning in the early 1990s while making videos and films with his dogs standing in as human characters, the artist placed his subjects on elevated platforms in order to shoot them at eye level. Over the years, props in Wegman's photographs have taken many forms, but none so consistently as the cube.

August 28,2015 from 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunchtime Art Break. Heritage and Home: Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Ken Abbott, photographer. Free with membership or Museum admission. The Museum presents Lunchtime Art Breaks, a series of gallery talks and presentations designed to inform and engage you in dialogue with members of the curatorial and education departments, docents and special guests.

August 29,2015 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM:  Soiree at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. $30 for members; $40 for non-members. Enjoy a tour of the historic Hickory Nut Gap home and enjoy food and music while you immerse yourself in the surroundings of this beautiful farm. Heavy hors d'oeuvres catered by the Hickory Nut Gap Farm, as well as beer and wine will be served. This event is held in conjunction with Heritage and Home: Photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm, featuring the works of local photographer Ken Abbott. 

Opening Reception at the Asheville Art Museum for "Heritage & Home"

July 24, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Gallery Talk at 5:30 at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC: Opening Reception, Gallery Talk and Book Release for Heritage and Home. Heritage and Home is an exhibition featuring the captivating photographs of Hickory Nut Gap Farm by photographer Ken Abbott. To celebrate the opening of this exhibition, the Museum is excited to host a reception and gallery talk this Friday. The evening will also celebrate the release of Abbott's book "Useful Work.

photo by Ken Abbott courtesy Asheville At Museum

The exhibition features approximately 40 images, as well as a selection of historic photos and artifacts, from Abbott's Hickory Nut Gap Farm Project. After discovering the old Sherrill's Inn in 2004 while chaperoning his daughter's preschool field trip to Hickory Nut Gap Farm, Abbott, a newcomer to Western North Carolina, spent the next several years photographing the Fairview NC house and family. "  read more here...

Asheville Art Museum Event: A Gallery Talk on the Life and Work of Jack Tworkov

April 22, 2015 5:30 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 South Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC - Guest Curator Jason Andrew presents a special gallery talk in conjunction with Jack Tworkov: Beyond Black Mountain, Selected Works From 1952-1982.  

Jack Tworkov (1900-1982) was invited to teach at Black Mountain College in the summer of 1952. By the time he arrived, he had already left an indelible mark on the art world, making a name for himself as a talented abstract painter. Learn more about the life and work of this influential artist from Guest Curator Jason Andrew. Andrew is the Manager and Curator of the Estate of Jack Tworkov and has organized many exhibitions of the artist's work, including the 2009 retrospective Jack Tworkov: Against Extremes, Five Decades of Painting. He is an independent scholar specializing in Post War American Art and is currently directing and editing the online Catalogue Raisonne Project of Works on Canvas by Jack Tworkov. In addition, Andrew is a prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene and is the co-founder/director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th anniversary encouraging, promoting and presenting collaborative projects in the arts.

Asheville Art Museum Lunchtime Art Break Today

April 10, 12 - 1 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC - Lunchtime Art Break: John Heliker: The Order of Things - 60 Years of Paintings and Drawings Cole Hendrix, Special Projects Curator . 

The Museum regularly presents Lunchtime Art Breaks, gallery talks and presentations designed to inform and engage you in dialogue with members of the curatorial and education departments, docents and special guests.

Asheville Art Museum "Flourish" Jewelry Exhibit

April 18 - August 16 at The Asheville Art Museum, 2 S. Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC: Flourish: Selected Jewelry From the Daphne Farago Collection. Opening reception on Saturday, April 18, 3:00-5:00 PM.

Flourish showcases a selection of jewelry carefully curated over many years by the keen-eyed collector Daphne Farago and reveals the breadth of studio jewelry as the movement evolved. A self-conscious practice, studio jewelry emerged following WWII as a response to commercially available adornment and as a marriage of fine craft and art.

photo courtesy of Asheville Art Museum: Art Smith, 
"Half & Half" Necklace, 1948, brass, 7 x 8 x 1.25 inches. Museum
of Fine Arts, Boston - The Daphne Farago Collection. 2006.536.

The exhibition is grouped thematically to reflect the varying disciplines of studio jewelry, beginning with the Studio Craft Movement of the mid-20th century. The Studio Craft Movement derived directly from the Arts and Crafts Movements of Europe and the United States, using handmade techniques and aesthetics as a means of reflecting the changing world. Much of the work in the exhibition mirrors the stylistic shifts in the art world from the 1940s to today, including constructivism, mid-century modernism, pop-art, narrative and funk.The works, like the artists, are varied and have been selected to reflect a broad range of ideas, with nuances that show the possibilities of the practice. They are united by the vision of the collector. Featured artists include Ed Wiener, Louis Mueller, Art Smith, Robert W. Ebendorf, John Prip, Roy Lichtenstein, Mary Lee Hu, Arline M. Fisch and Gijs Bakker, among others.

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum, with special thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.


Programs held in conjunction with this exhibition include: 

OPENING RECEPTION -  April 18 Saturday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. 

DISCUSSION BOUND -  May 2 Tuesday, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Jewels: A Secret History by Victoria Finlay

LUNCHTIME ART BREAK  - Jine 19 Friday, 12:00 p.m. Candace Reilly, Adult Programs Manager 

FILM SCREENING  - June 20 + 21 Saturday + Sunday, 2:00 p.m. Tale of the Three Jewels 

PANEL DISCUSSION -  July 11 Saturday, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Form and Function: Panel Discussion on Studio Craft Jewelry 

POP-UP STUDIO CRAFT MARKETPLACE  - July 16-18 Thursday, Friday + Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. A celebration of studio craft! The Museum is hosting a three-day pop-up marketplace, curated by Asheville's own Constance Esner, featuring the work of some of our region's most talented craft artists. While visitors are at the Museum purchasing beautiful craft art pieces, they can take the opportunity to view Flourish: Selected Jewelry From the Daphne Farago Collection. 

WORKSHOP -  August 1 Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Textile & Metal Jewelry with Joanna Gollberg. 

All programs are free with membership or Museum admission except for the workshop which is $95 for members, $105 for non-members.

Get Creative at The Asheville Art Museum with April Workshops

The Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC,  is offering three April workshops, all taught by artist Pamela Lanza. The workshops explore the art of drawing, collage and altered books.

Drawing Faces 
Friday, April 10, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $60 for members, $70 for non-members This workshop will teach simple and reliable steps for mapping facial features with proper placement and proportion. Participants will study the features individually, then practice steps for drawing faces in frontal and three-quarter view. Students will also learn about underlying anatomy and rules for shading faces, discover how to draw hair, explore expressive rendering and experience the empowering and proven magic of a master study. All materials and snacks are included in the cost. Class size is limited and advanced registration is required. Please register by contacting the Museum at 828.253.3227 or purchase tickets online. Reservation deadline is Sunday, April 5. 

Collage  
Saturday, April 11, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. $75 for members, $85 for non-members From Dada to Abstract Expressionism and beyond, collage has been a favorite tool of artists in all media. It is art for those who can't draw a line, as well as art for those who want to add a different technique to their artistic repertoire. In this workshop, participants will construct one large collage using spontaneity and intuition as guides, then isolate beautiful compositions from the bigger one. This workshop teaches proper use of adhesives and sealants, how to experiment with design in composition and encourages the spirit of discovery and the element of surprise. Participants will take home six to ten finished pieces, with two favorites mounted to wooden panels. Please bring cut-out collage images (please email the instructor for specifics: lalanza@earthlink.net); snacks and the rest of the materials are included in the cost. Class size is limited and advanced registration is required. Please register by contacting the Museum at 828.253.3227 or purchase tickets online. Reservation deadline is Sunday, April 5.

Altered Books 
Friday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. $85 for members, $95 for non-members Combine art practice with recycling (and upcycling) by creating a work of art from a found or discarded book. Using collage, drawing and painting as the basic techniques, we will help participants transform found objects into a unique and fascinating artwork. The class will give participants the skills to explore the limitless possibilities of this alchemical art form in future projects. Students provide a small old book of their choosing (preferably with a sewn, not glued, binding and not too many pages, plus cut-out images for collage). Please email the instructor for specifics: lalanza@earthlink.net. We will provide everything else. Snacks and materials are included in the cost. There will be a one-hour break for lunch at noon. Class size is limited and advanced registration is required. Please register by contacting the Museum at 828.253.3227 or purchase tickets online. Reservation deadline is Sunday, April 12. 


ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Pamela Lanza has an MFA from the San Francisco Art Institute, and has taught at SFAI and UC Berkeley Extension programs for over 15 years. Her work has been exhibited at galleries & college campuses across the country, including The Graduate Theological Union (Berkeley), UNC Asheville, Florida State University, California Institute of Integral Studies (San Francisco), Stanford University, and Linn-Benton College (Oregon). Her work has appeared in Harper's Ferry Review, Paterson Literary Review, and Anatomical Venus by poet Meg Schoerke. She is currently represented by Sandra Lee Gallery, San Francisco. 

Opening Reception for Jack Tworkov Tonight at The Asheville Art Museum

March 27, 5 PM - 7 PM at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC: Opening Reception for Jack Tworkov: Beyond Black Mountain, Selected Works From 1952-1982. 

This exhibition revisits artist Jack Tworkov's (1900-1982) affiliation with Black Mountain College and includes a significant survey of the artist's career including important works spanning three decades.  A founding member of the New York School, Tworkov is regarded as one of the great American artists of the 20th century, along with Willem de Kooning, Philip Guston, Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline. 

Also attending the opening event is guest curator Jason Andrew. Andrew is the Manager and Curator of the Estate of Jack Tworkov and has organized many exhibitions of the artist's work, including the 2009 retrospective Jack Tworkov: Against Extremes, Five Decades of Painting. He is an independent scholar specializing in Post War American Art and is currently directing and editing the online Catalogue Raisonne Project of Works on Canvas by Jack Tworkov. In addition, Andrew is a prominent figure in the Bushwick, Brooklyn art scene and is the co-founder/director of Norte Maar, a non-profit now celebrating its 10th Anniversary encouraging, promoting and presenting collaborative projects in the arts. 

Free with membership or Museum admission

Ongoing Exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum Charts 140 Years of American Art

Selections from the Permanent Collection: 140 Years of American Art, is an ongoing installation at the Asheville Art Museum located at 2 S Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC.

The Exhibition, organized and curated by the Museum's staff, is presented  from a chronological point of view while highlighting works of great interest. Viewers may experience the evolution of American art from the late 19th century to the early 21st century, although there are a few notable art works from the 19th century showing the foundation for future works. 

From the American Impressionist to post-war Abstract Expressionism and through Pop Art, Optical Art, Minimalism and the second generation of Abstraction the exhibition provides a remarkable experience of significant American art. 

Get additional details and view selected works HERE.

 

Asheville Art Museum Lunchtime (Moz)Art Break this week

March 20, 2015:  LUNCHTIME (MOZ)ART BREAK at The Asheville Art Museum   Lunchtime Art Breaks are a series of gallery talks designed to inform and engage you in dialogue with members of staff. For Asheville Amadeus, Asheville Symphony Director David Whitehill will join with a member of the Museum’s curatorial staff to “dissect” works of art. Participants will learn how to analyze both a work of art and a musical work by Mozart. Free with membership or Museum admission

New Photography Exhibit at The Asheville Art Museum

March 13 through July 25, 2015 - Keep All You Wish: The Photographs of Hugh Mangum will be on exhibit at the Asheville Art Museum, 2 A Pack Square in downtown Asheville NC.

The Exhibit features a selection of images of early 20th century Southern society showing personalities as immediate as if they were taken yesterday. Photographer Hugh Mangum began establishing studios and working as an itinerant photographer in the early 1890s traveling by rail through North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Remarkable for his time, Mangum attracted and cultivated a clientele that drew heavily from both black and white communities.