Penland School's 26th Annual Benefit Auction

August 12-13, 2011  The Penland School of Crafts Annual Benefit Auction is a gala weekend in the North Carolina mountains featuring the sale of more than 230 works in books, clay, drawing, glass, iron, letterpress, metals, painting, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. The Penland auction is one of the most important craft collecting events in the Southeast and a perfect opportunity to support Penland's educational programs, which have helped thousands of people to live creative lives.

The auctioneer for the weekend is Mark Oliver. Reservations are required. The event often sells out quickly; early reservations are recommended. Reservations will be accepted until available spaces are filled.

Absentee and phone bids are accepted for all auctions until noon on Friday, August 12, for a fee of $25 (includes catalog). All ticket purchasers and absentee bidders receive an illustrated catalog in July. Images of artwork and details about absentee bidding will be posted on our website in late June. Catalogs are available for $25.

Please return a reservation card to auction@penland.org or call 828-765-2359, ext. 30 for phone reservations. Electronic auction reservation card (Word)

Asheville's Gallery Minerva Updates

Gallery Minerva and Ambiance Interiors are hosting a special book signing event with Susan Sully to celebrate The Home Within Us by Bobby McAlpine. The event takes place on Thursday, June 16th from 5-8 PM. Click  HERE to receive our invitation. RSVP here! Ambiance Interiors is located at 189 East Chestnut Street in Asheville NC

New Paintings at Gallery Minerva: Chris Sedgwick

New studio works have arrived by Chris Sedgwick. The artist will be joining us to celebrate the launch of our 8th year in Asheville. Join us for the Downtown Gallery Art Walk this Friday, June 3rd from 5-9pm. The work shown is: "The Inner Cycle" 37"x65", oil and gold leaf on canvas.

Upcoming Workshop from Random Arts

June 4 - 5   Random Arts offers Resist Dye and bookbinding with fiber artist Chad Alice Hagen. Three spaces are available for this very interactive and hands on class for both beginners and advanced alike.

Chad teaches all over the world and of course here in the US from Washington State to Minnesota to Maine and everywhere in between including John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina. The workshopwill make use of the Random Arts 8 foot stainless steel sink in the studio, along with the outdoor workspace.

To learn more about Chad and her work, click here. $210. includes 2 days of instruction and 2 catered lunches.

John C Campbell Folk School Gala and Benefit Auction

June 11 at 5 PM,   the Annual Gala & Benefit Auction at the John C Campbell Folk School in Brasstown NC. Find handmade craft and art of the highest quality and enjoy a lively and  entertaining auction.

This event is not only a great opportunity to purchase art and other items, it is a time of togetherness and camaraderie that helps the Folk School grow and thrive. The Annual Gala will take place in the Community Room of the Keith House where there will be heavy hors d'oeuvres, drinks and wonderful live music. During this time bidders can socialize and enjoy the Folk School atmosphere while they peruse the wide array of silent auction items. The  live auction will take place at the culmination of the event, with spirited bidding led by local auctioneer, Bob Grove. 

Visit the Auction page for more information about the artists and the items available to bidders.

Ticket prices: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; $15 for "Friends of the Folk School" (donors who have donated over $500 to the school in 2011) Tickets include admission, food and two drink tickets. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and wine/beer will be served at this event. Tickets may be purchased online and in our Craft Shop.

Fanaticon2 at the Asheville Art Museum

May 20 from 8:02 PM to 11:02 PM F.A.D. hosts FANATICON2, Asheville Art Museum. Dancin' on the Deck. Grab your mask, take the Batmobile in for a tune-up and start practicing your high kicks! Join  F.A.D. and  POW! ZAP! and WHAM! your way through a fabulous party in celebration of FANATICON2. Music, drinks, performance artists and more will turn the top level of the Pack Plaza Parking Deck into an explosion of superhero fun! Costumes not required, but encouraged!

Pack Plaza Parking Deck Adjacent to Pack Place - $25 Admission. TICKETS ON SALE NOW! PURCHASE HERE  For more information and to purchase tickets, please call 828.253.3227. To join the League of Volunteers for F.A.D., contact Hillary Frye at 828.253.3227, ext. 110 or email hfrye@ashevilleart.org.

Random Arts at the 4th Annual Inspired Artist Retreat

May 11 - 14, 10 AM till 10 PM, Vendor Marketplace at Inspired Artist at the Embassy Suites in Concord, NC. Random Arts is shakin' it up this year at the 4th annual Inspired Artist Retreat and Vendor Marketplace with  hundreds of like minded souls eager to share and express their need for creative bliss. If you can't make the retreat come to shop instead and browse 8 other booths jam packed with goodies and ongoing demonstrations that will be sure to inspire you. The Embassy Suites is conveniently located at exit 49 on I-85. It's easy on and off for those traveling on the interstate.

Asheville Art Museum Hosts "Up for Discussion"

April 7, 6 PM - 9PM at The Diana Wortham Theatre. Up For Discussion: An Evening with Karen Karnes and Special Guests    A special evening talk with artist Karen Karnes, author/biographer Mark Shapiro, and artist Paulus Berensohn. The discussion will be moderated by scholar, curator, and former Executive Director of the American Craft Council Andrew Glasgow.

Karnes, a former Black Mountain College faculty member, is the subject of our exhibition A Chosen Path: The Ceramic Art of Karen Karnes; Shapiro is the editor of the monograph of the same title. This discussion is followed by a book signing and reception at the Asheville Art Museum. The Museum's galleries will remain open from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. to ticket holders for this event. $3 Museum Members; $5 Non-Members

Asheville Art Museum Art Break

March 18,  12:00 - 1:00 PM at The Asheville Art Museum,  2 South Pack Square in Asheville  NC.  Looking Back: Celebrating 60 Years of Collecting at the Asheville Art Museum is an exhibition which examines various ways to look at art and different relationships between art, artist and observer. We are pleased to have this art break led by two artists in the exhibition - Steven Seinberg and Kenn Kotara. Both artists live in Asheville and exhibit their work throughout the US. Each will talk about their work in the exhibition as well as the work surrounding their own - so this discussion will be quite personal and interesting!

Asheville's Hatchfest Scheduled for April 14 - 17 in 2011

For a third year Asheville's HATCH brings together luminaries in the arts and entertainment world to serve as mentors to groundbreaking new creative talent in an event called "Hatchfest". Asheville's studios, art galleries, theaters, concert halls and a variety of other locations become HATCH venues during the Hatchfest for experiential exhibits, panels, workshops, and networking events. With many of the panels, events and workshops open to the public the entire community has the opportunity to "hatch" their creativity in a positive and sustainable way.

Hatch is an non-profit organization operating year around to foster creative thinking and expression through networking, mentoring and exposure. The biannual International Hatchfests include performances, screenings, experiential events, panels, and real time (cross disciplinary) collaborations that provides exposure + expansion + evolution of  vision. Get an up-to-date schedule and more details at http://hatchfest.org.

Asheville Art Museum hosts Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony

February 20 at 2:00 PM the Scholastic Art Awards Ceremony  will be held at  the Diana Wortham Theatre in Asheville. The Asheville Art Museum, with the assistance of its volunteer docents, partners with the Asheville Area Section of the American Institute of Architects each year to sponsor the Western North Carolina Regional Scholastic Art Awards.

Students in grades 7 - 12 from all across our region are invited to submit work for this special juried competition. The 2011 Western North Carolina Regional Scholastic Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on February 20 and the exhibition of their artwork will be on view at the Pack Place Community Gallery from January 28 - March 6, 2011. Regional Gold Key recipients' work will be sent to the National Scholastic Art competition in New York City. For more information on the Scholastic Art Awards, please visit www.ashevilleart.org or www.artandwriting.org.

Folk Art Center Special Event

August 14 from 10 AM to 4 PM come the the Folk Art Center for Wood Day! Carve, turn, build - celebrate wood crafts at this free event with fun for the whole family, featuring demonstrations, hands on activities and the 10th Annual Carve Off Competition. The Folk Art Center is located at Mile post 382, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville North Carolina.

Architecture and Design Expo this weekend in Asheville

June25 - 26   Don't miss  HandMade: The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture and Design Expo.  The two-day event will offer examples of successful collaborations between craft artists, individuals and industry professionals. Model home rooms utilizing handcrafted furniture, entry doors, stained glass windows, hand-forged lighting, gates, and landscape elements will be just a few things that will be featured.  The event includes education sessions, craft demonstrations inside and on teh arboretum grounds, craft sales and commission opportunities for artists, and a retail craft shop. Blue Ridge Parkway 75 Event, Milepost 377

Memorial Day Weekend Events: Heritage Festival in Bryson CIty

May 28-29  Bryson City  North Carolina.  Heritage Festival   Two day festival features local musicians offering old-time gospel, classic country and bluegrass, a highlands pipe and drum corps and high energy "newgrass". Family activities, crafts and food will also be included.

Pre-registration for Craft, Architecture & Design Expo

June 25-26, the North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, AshevilleNorth Carolina. Register now for HandMade: The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture & Design Expo and save money. Tickets are only $15 for a single day Friday or Saturday, and $25 for both days. All tickets purchased by June 21st include admission and parking at the Arboretum. After June 21st tickets may only be purchased on site at the Arboretum and require an additional $8 parking fee. Your Expo ticket gives you access to the work of close to 300 artists, architects, landscape architects, and interior designers who are designing and building rooms that feature handcrafted architectural and design elements. Read more...

Paint Out in Rutherfordton

April 23 - 24  Rutherfordton North Carolina.   Arts in April - "Paint Out"   A Plein Air Workshop. Historic buildings abound in Rutherford County--old churches, charming town streets and homes with inviting porches and fanciful details. Artists are invited to paint on location at selected historic properties. Experienced instructors will be available to give advice for painting on location in oils, watercolor, pastels, or acrylics.

April 1st Birthday - No Fooling!

April 1, 4PM-7PM, Quilters Quarters,  2020 Dellwood Road, Waynesville North Carolina. Join us for our 2nd Birthday Party with food and birthday cake. Free fat quarters for everyone and drawings for gift bags on the hour!  Silent Auction will be held during these hours. Demos for "Texturizing Magic" and  "Circle Cutter". http://www.quiltersquartersnc.com/