Asheville Art Museum Artmob Event

ARTmob Presents: Picha Kucha Night Thursday, January 20, 2011 at 7:00 PM. $3 Museum Members; $5 Non-Members. Pack Place Lobby + Asheville Art Museum. Picha Kucha means "chit chat" in Japanese, and ARTmob will be "exhibiting" 20 images for 20 seconds each. We might see 20 images of someone's artwork, 20 images of someone's vacation or 20 images of scary clowns. There are a limited number of presenters, but no limit on our audience! We'll have fun watching while we drink and nibble on refreshments.

This is an ARTmob event that also helps kickoff opening night of the Asheville Fringe Festival. To sign up as a participant, please contact Nancy Sokolove, Adult Programs Manager at 828.253.3227, ext. 120 or nsokolove@ashevilleart.org.

The Asheville Art Museum is located at 2 South Pack Square, Asheville, NorthCarolina.

Contemporary Color at Tryon Gallery

Contemporary Color is the latest exhibit to be held in The Gallery at Tryon Arts and Crafts. The community is invited to view the collection  located at 373 Harmon Field Road. Exhibit dates are November 20th  January 28th. The exhibiting artists are Kay Larch, Pat Lorenz, Jeannette Schmeichel and Suzanne Vitti. While their styles vary drastically, all four artists use a bold palette and unique design elements in their medium of choice. The artists bring together traditional methods and media, while creating quite modern works of art

HandMade in America Names New Executive Director

HandMade in America (HandMade), a leader in creative economic development in Western North Carolina, announced that it has named Gwynne Rukenbrod as the organization's new Executive Director, effective January 1, 2011. HandMade's Board made its selection after a rigorous search process that generated more than 120 applicants from across the United States.

Since 2008, Rukenbrod has served as Curator of Fine Craft at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, a nonprofit organization founded to advance education about the process, product, and history of craft. An accomplished glass artist herself, she was previously Executive Director of the International Society of Glass Beadmakers, Art Curator of The Works (the Ohio Center for History, Art and Technology), and Director of Columbus' Days of Creation Arts for Kids.

Rukenbrod brings extensive experience in the management of nonprofit cultural organizations; including program development, fund-raising and donor relationships, volunteer coordination, and event production. She has worked with both rural and urban communities and built strong stakeholder coalitions in both. "HandMade in America has such a wealth of creative energy, which is no doubt inspired by the beauty of the region and the talents of its artisans. I look forward to working with the board, staff, and surrounding communities to revitalize, fulfill, and expand on the mission and vision of the organization".

"Gwynne Rukenbrod's dynamic combination of management experience and expertise as an exhibiting craft artist and curator are a perfect fit for HandMade," said Bill Lehnert, Chair of HandMade's Board. We look forward to her enthusiasm and leadership with great anticipation. Stephanie Twitty, who chaired the Search Committee for the new Executive Director, added: "It was a privilege to lead this important effort. Gwynne's skills, enthusiasm, and deep regard for craft and community speak well for the future of HandMade."

Demo and Mini-workshop on Book Arts

January 6 at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City, NC the NC Arts Council presents a Demo and Mini-workshop on Book Arts by Phyllis Jarvinen of Sylva NC. Participants will follow the stepby-step process to make a slim hardbound book during this free program. Participants can bring old maps, pretty papers or photos to use for endsheets or covers if desired.

Anyone who is interested is invited to attend free of charge. This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the department of Cultural Resources.  Get details...