Calendar of Events

Come to The Learning Garden to celebrate the end of the growing season. Enjoy fun activities for children and adults. Explore the gardens filled with Master Gardener volunteers to answer your gardening questions. Activities will include: Free Flower Seeds, Pumpkin Decorating, Flower Seed-Saving Activity, Winter Sowing Demonstration, Vermicomposting, Scavenger Hunts for kids of all ages … and more!
No registration required. Just stop by . . .

This is the 10th year for Ooh La La Curiosity Market that is an artist’s market that takes place in Pritchard Park, located in the center of beautiful downtown Asheville and will showcase the work of local artists.

Taking place over 14 Saturdays throughout Summer and every Saturday in October.

Ooh La La will feature 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. You will also enjoy three different musicians performing throughout the day.

Ooh La La is also a fundraiser for Animal Haven of Asheville, a no kill shelter.

This campaign is sponsored by Subaru and the ASPCA in an effort to unite animals in need of homes with new families. Blue Ridge Humane Society will receive a $100 grant up to the amount of $3,500 for each cat and dog adopted during this campaign. On Friday, October 21 st from 11 am until 5 pm, Blue Ridge Humane Society will be participating in the WLOS Pet Project located at Hunter Subaru in Fletcher, NC. During this major adoption event, we will
have adoptable dogs onsite and will also be offering discounted adoption fees. View all of Blue Ridge Humane Society’s adoptable animals by visiting www.blueridgehumane.org/adopt.

Closed for Lunch daily from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

The Blue Ridge Humane Society, Inc., is a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization started in 1950 and
dedicated to ensuring the highest quality of life for animals in Henderson County and our neighboring
communities. BRHS cares for pets awaiting adoption at the Adoption Center; offers low-cost
vaccine clinics, animal education programs, pet training classes, and youth education and projects;
coordinates community pet food assistance, emergency vet assistance, and the Spay Neuter Incentive
Program (SNIP), which is a collaboration with Henderson County, the City of Hendersonville, and the
Henderson County Animal Services Center.

Kids have great imaginations – this is the place to let it loose! Our youngest students will learn to bring fun stories and characters to life. Through games and play, they’ll get comfortable expressing with their voices and bodies. And, their confidence will grow as they perform with other kids! Join us for play and creativity!

Registration begins on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 10:00 am. Tuition will be $175 – Scholarships are available.

NOTE: If applying for a scholarship, please fill out the Scholarship Application INSTEAD of filling out registration. If your application is approved, we will be in touch with you to register.

Improv teaches performers spontaneity, creativity, and to think outside the box! In this class, students will learn the basics of improv with techniques designed to get them comfortable with performing, quick thinking, and being present on stage. They’ll be laughing and learning with fun games, warm-ups, “Yes And” exercises, and a showcase for family and friends during the last class.

Registration begins on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 at 10:00 am. Tuition will be $225 – Scholarships are available.

NOTE: If applying for a scholarship, please fill out the Scholarship Application INSTEAD of filling out registration. If your application is approved, we will be in touch with you to register.

Eliada’s Annual Corn Maze and Fall Festival is the agency’s single largest fundraiser. Through your volunteer support, you are directly impacting the lives of vulnerable children in our community.

Group Volunteer Opportunities If you are a part of a community or church group and are interested in volunteering as a team, we’d love to have you! Contact our Resource Development Officer Rebecca Boline, at [email protected] or (828) 254-5356 x306 to get your volunteer group signed up today! Restrictions We ask that volunteers be 18+ years of age. Besides that, we have no other requirements for volunteering-just your commitment to lending two helping hands and a great attitude during your shift!

Join us on the Museum’s rooftop Sculpture Terrace featuring panoramic city and mountain views for Gentle Flow Yoga. This 60-minute class is comprised of gentle stretching and strengthening aimed to restore the body and mind, with a special focus on breathing, body awareness, and mindset care. The one-hour yoga class will be followed by a time to gather and enjoy fresh-brewed coffee and a pastry baked inhouse in our beautiful Perspective Cafe. All-levels are welcome. Please bring your own mat. Loose-fitting clothing is recommended. Please Note: Yoga on the Rooftop is held outdoors on the Museum’s rooftop Sculpture Terrace. In the event of inclement weather, it will be held inside the Perspective Cafe. Space is limited to small groups of up to 10 individuals; social distancing is required.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR Alaina has been teaching regular yoga and meditation classes since 2016. She was certified at the 200-hour level at the Asheville Yoga Center and at the 300-level at The Breathing Space in Blacksburg, Virginia. Alaina is passionate about sharing a different approach focused on grounding, breathing, and spinal health. Alaina prioritizes making her classes accessible and friendly to all.

Meet the Ambassador Animals! Join Appalachian Wildlife Refuge at Rabbit Rabbit at 73 Coxe Avenue in downtown Asheville on Saturday, October 15 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm for a family-friendly event to save wild lives with educational ambassador animals you can meet up close and personal, a raffle for exciting prizes, and fun, educational activities. Stay for Hip Hop Hooray, a kid’s break dance party happening after from 12:30-2:00pm! $5 suggested donation for adults, kids are free!! For more information, contact [email protected] or visit AppalachianWild.org.

Limited Capacity: 12 Guests per Tour
A truly memorable experience featuring rare photo opportunities, this exclusive guided tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at the design and construction of Biltmore House in areas unavailable on the regular house visit. Imagine yourself a Vanderbilt (or cherished Vanderbilt guest) as you take in stunning views seen only from the house’s rooftop and balconies.

Advance reservation required. Tour includes 250 stairs with no elevator access. Wheelchairs, strollers, and baby backpacks are prohibited. Backpacks are not allowed on any guided tours. Guests are required to leave backpacks in a locker or in their vehicle. To participate in this tour, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community. The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am. No RSVP needed, just drop by! Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.

Asheville Gallery of Art presents Judy Rentner’s rich, colorful paintings, during the month of October, in an exhibition titled ‘Nature’s Gems’. The opening reception will be held on Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00pm.

Of all of the seasons of the year, fall is the crescendo, the last burst of beauty before nature’s tones soften and become quiet in the winter months. Autumn colors are like precious gems: topaz, sapphires, emeralds, rubies…, an endless sparkling array of brilliance. Although an artist cannot compete with God’s creations, she can capture the awe-inspiring essence of a moment in time to share with her viewers. Judy is such an artist.

Judy Rentner has been painting the landscapes of Western North Carolina for 23 years and they continue to inspire her. Having lived in 10 different states from coast to coast, she still considers North Carolina one of the most beautiful. Although she has been painting most of her adult life, it was here that she found her creative style. Painting in oils, with a palette knife, enabled her to achieve the essence of a scene in light and color. Everything about the creative process is personal and many viewers find themselves drawn to Judy’s unique, inviting style.

A graduate of Ohio University, Judy Rentner did not pursue art until years later when she took workshops, in watercolor, from various artists. This was a pivotal time of discovery as she learned the skills needed to express her ideas in paint. She then experimented with different mediums producing work that was both realistic and abstract. Moving to North Carolina, she placed her work in galleries and taught classes in watercolor, acrylic, and oil. Currently, her passion lies in painting landscapes, with a palette knife, in oils. This technique has given her freedom of expression, using color to its fullest extent.

Judy’s work is represented in several galleries. Check out her website at www.judyrentner.com and be sure to drop by Asheville Gallery of Art this October to view her outstanding autumn paintings. The gallery is open from 11:00am until 6:00pm Monday through Sunday.

Her Painting Titles and writeup:

1. “Crossing into light”….My daughter, a photographer, went to Duke Gardens to “chase the light”. Normally I paint from my own sketches and photos, but this was so striking a scene, that it inspired me to capture it in oil.

2. “Sun Rise in the Mountains” was a combination of many scenes I have painted in our beautiful Smokey Mountains.

3 “Fall Treasure” This is a scene I captured in the Smokey Mountain National Park. Almost every fall I drive through the mountains of Western North Carolina searching for the right landscape. I do not have to go far as this is a painter’s paradise.

Capacity is limited.
Tasting room by reservation only. Make reservations in-person on the day of your Winery visit.

To participate in this activity, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate’s splendid overnight properties.

Reservations are required for all wine tastings and must be made on the day of your visit. Because our complimentary wine tastings fill up quickly, we recommend you reserve your tasting when you arrive for your visit.

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present Uncharted, a joint exhibition by multiple-disciplinary artists Georgia Deal and Tom Ashcraft. Incorporating both individual and collaborative works, the exhibition will in-clude wooden and cast bronze boat sculptures, prints on hand-made paper, and photographs, all centered around ideas of physical and psychological transitions.

The isolation of the pandemic and the ensuing global geo-political tumult compelled Deal and Ashcraft to re-examine their studio practices. The individual and collaborative works in this exhibition reference a liminal space, that transitional point between “what was” and “what’s next.”

For Deal, the pandemic afforded time to examine ideas of solitude and anticipation and her work echoes the imagery brought on by that period of stasis. Ashcraft’s sculptures, selected versions from his collection of 200+ handmade wooden boats, gather ideas of migration, observation, scale, and object-making. Their col-laborative piece, Uncharted, undertakes these overlapping themes, dealing with both the psychic and antici-patory nature of movement, especially when that movement is only possible through imagination

Deal and Ashcraft each conduct significant individual studio practices and have been committed to the ethic of collaborative art for over 35 years. They are core members of Workingman Collective, founded in 2005 as a cooperative group of artists and other professionals whose membership and objectives evolve to fit each new project. They are interested in process, invention, chance, and the public.

Georgia Deal is Professor Emeritus and former Chair of the Printmaking and Papermaking Program at the Corcoran School of Art & Design of George Washington University in Washington DC. Her work is in multiple collections including the Philadelphia Museum, the Library of Congress, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Yale University Library. She currently lives in Asheville, NC and is proprietor of the papermaking studio, Swannanoa Paper.

Tom Ashcraft’s diverse practice is rooted in object-making, public and participatory artwork. He and Work-ingman Collective have exhibited and produced work in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean and Africa. Awards include a National Endowment for the Arts Design Grant and a Ford Foundation Fellowship, among others. He recently completed a student / artist collaborative work “Public Practice” which was a three-year course focused on creating two permanent artworks for the US Embassy in Niamey, Niger, commissioned by Art in Embassies, US Department of State. Ashcraft is currently based in Asheville, North Carolina and is the MFA Director and Distinguished Professor at the School of Art + Design, Western Carolina University.

Wednesday through Monday from 11am to 6pm

Rebel/Re-Belle: Exploring Gender, Agency, and Identity | Selections from the Asheville Art Museum and Rubell Museum combines works, primarily created by women, from two significant collections of contemporary art to explore how artists have innovated, influenced, interrogated, and inspired visual culture in the past 100 years.

Tours of St. John in the Wilderness are sponsored and led by a team of volunteer docents who seek to tell the story of our historic parish. Tours are held every third Saturday of the month at 11:00am and last about one hour.

There is no cost to tour the churchyard. Please wear comfortable shoes, and meet in the Carriage Entrance of the church. Space is limited to 30 people per tour

Useful and Beautiful: Silvercraft by William Waldo Dodge features a selection of functional silver works by Dodge drawn from the Museum’s Collection. Organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Whitney Richardson, associate curator, this exhibition will be on view in the Debra McClinton Gallery at the Museum from February 23 through October 17, 2022.

William Waldo Dodge Jr. (Washington, DC 1895–1971 Asheville, NC) moved to Asheville in 1924 as a trained architect and a newly skilled silversmith. When he opened for business promoting his handwrought silver tableware, including plates, candlesticks, flatware (spoons, forks, and knives), and serving dishes, he did so in a true Arts and Crafts tradition. The aesthetics of the style were dictated by its philosophy: an artist’s handmade creation should reflect their hard work and skill, and the resulting artwork should highlight the material from which it was made. Dodge’s silver often displayed his hammer marks and inventive techniques, revealing the beauty of these useful household goods.

The Arts and Crafts style of England became popular in the United States in the early 1900s. Asheville was an early adopter of the movement because of the popularity and abundance of Arts and Crafts architecture in neighborhoods like Biltmore Forest, Biltmore Village, and the area around The Grove Park Inn. The title of this exhibition was taken from the famous quotation by one of the founding members of the English Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris, who said, “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” Not only did Dodge follow this suggestion; he contributed to American Arts and Crafts silver’s relevancy persisting almost halfway into the 20th century.

“It has been over 15 years since the Museum exhibited its collection of William Waldo Dodge silver and I am looking forward to displaying it in the new space with some new acquisitions added,” said Whitney Richardson, associate curator. Learn more at ashevilleart.org.

Verner Center for Early Learning is a nonprofit agency providing high quality, affordable early care and education to children birth to five years of age throughout Buncombe County. The mission of Verner Center is to foster holistic learning environments where young children and families thrive. The organization embraces a philosophy that includes excellence in early childhood practices, diversity among children and families, and partnerships and collaboration with families and communities. This philosophy is demonstrated through provision of high quality education, family services, health and nutrition services, and professional development for teachers.

We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to support our experiential garden.

Volunteer Opportunity Includes:

• Pulling weeds
• Cleaning out garden beds
• Prepping new garden beds
• Building small projects
• Mowing
• Weed eating
• Laying mulch
• Watering

Volunteer Requirements:

• Respond to the shift
• Comfortable working in various weather conditions
• Comfortable bending, stooping, twisting
• Ability to stand for 1-2 hours at a time

The Literacy Council is hosting a Walk for Literacy. We are
inviting our tutors, their students, and their families to Patton
Park for a one-mile walk to help bring awareness to the
literacy needs in Henderson County.
We will have music, a food truck, snacks, and more. You can
help provide literacy services by becoming a community
partner. We are inviting you and your organization to
take part by having a tent/booth at the event for a $50
donation. This event is open to the community and our adult
learners, tutors, and their families. You will be able to reach
a wide variety of community members.
Blue Ridge Literacy Council offers adult literacy classes for
English Language Acquisition, High School Equivalency,
Adult Basic Education, and Citizenship. We provide teen
tutoring and interactive journaling services to Henderson
County Public School students, and Family Literacy classes
to promote kindergarten readiness. Visit us online at
www.litcouncil.org for more information.

Since 2019, the Center for Craft has worked with members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Asheville community to create a new public art space inspired by Cherokee basketry.

The installation, which is located on a historic Cherokee trading route, addresses the lack of recognition of Cherokee culture and heritage in downtown Asheville. Titled, “ᏔᎷᏣ The Basket,” this new public artwork allows visitors to learn about the Cherokee land, language, traditions, and culture that are still thriving today.

Celebrate this new landmark installation with us on Saturday, October 15th from 1-4pm at a free, family-friendly event, including:

– Live craft demonstrations by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian Cultural Specialists

– Meet and greet with Consulting Artist, ᎺᎵ ᏔᎻᏏᏂ Mary Welch Thompson (Eastern Band Cherokee)

– Hands-on weaving activities (ages 12+)

– Collaborative sculpture-building

– Cherokee Fry Bread “Pop Up”

– And more!

Chloe lived in Asheville for 12 years and is now residing in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Much of her book takes place in Asheville. Chloe’s spiritual memoir reveals the Divine pathway to a more peaceful, happy, fulfilled, and healthy life. Come meet Chloe and find out why her book is changing lives.

GOLD WINNER Memoir by a female—2022 Living Now Book Awards — Books for Better Living

FINALIST New Age Nonfiction: 2022 International Book Awards

WEST ASHEVILLE YOGA hosting Author Event: Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1 pm; 602 Haywood Rd.

🌻 Book Discussion 🌻 Reading Excerpts from the book 🌻 Q & A session 🌻 Autographed English & Spanish books available to purchase

For more information about Chloe and her WISDOM KEEPER spiritual memoir: www.ChloeKempWisdomKeeper.com

Historic Johnson Farm will be hosting a Farm Fun Day on Saturday, October 15 from 1-5 PM. This family-friendly event will entertain people of all ages.
Admission to the event is $20 per family. A family is up to 4 people of any age. If a family has more than 4 people, each additional member is $5. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

Games and crafts for children are included with admission. Farm animals will be available for petting, and all visitors can take a wagon ride. The historic farmhouse will be open for self-guided tours. The Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists as well as Caregivers of Mother Earth will be on site to lead activities and talk about their organizations. Popcorn and drinks will be available for purchase.

Parking will be available across the street at Rugby Middle School, and volunteers from the Sheriff’s Office will help visitors cross the street. Handicapped parking is available at the farm. Please leave pets at home.

Historic Johnson Farm is located at 3346 Haywood Road, Hendersonville, NC 28791. It features 15 acres of forest, fields, and streams, 10 historic structures, animals and picnic tables. The farm was a gift to schoolchildren and the community by the late Vernon and Leander Johnson.

For more information, call 828-891-6585 or visit www.historicjohnsonfarm.org or www.facebook.com/HistoricJohnsonFarm/.

CLASSICAL CHAMBER MUSIC

A multifaceted artist, cellist Diego Carneiro is one of the most distinguished Brazilian young artists and conductors of his generation. Winner of several prizes and international recognitions, he received commendation as the Ambassador of tourism of Ecuador, a recognition from the Majority of Quito, Camera of Commerce Ecuador-Brazil, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education of Ecuador. He was recently accoladed by the United Nations in Geneva, for his musical work integrating several countries and initiatives with a human side. He has participated in several important programs for the BBC, Deutsche Welle, CNN and other media.

Taking place on select weekends, Artful Adventures are 30–45 minute kid-friendly, themed interactive gallery tours followed by an optional visit to our Wells Fargo Art PLAYce. Families of all ages and abilities are welcome; no reservations required.

WINNER OF SIX TONY® AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL
AND GRAMMY® AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM.

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post who says DEAR EVAN HANSEN is “Theatrical magic. One of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” The New York Times calls it “a breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

DEAR EVAN HANSEN features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).

WINNER OF SIX TONY® AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL
AND GRAMMY® AWARD FOR BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM.

A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in. DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere, including The Washington Post who says DEAR EVAN HANSEN is “Theatrical magic. One of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” The New York Times calls it “a breathtaking knockout of a musical.” And NBC Nightly News declares the musical “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

DEAR EVAN HANSEN features a book by Tony Award winner Steven Levenson, a score by Grammy®, Tony® and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), and direction by four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).

Our high-energy volunteer Oakley TreeKeepers have teamed up with our dedicated Treasured Tree committee for a fantastic Saturday in Oaktober.

This event will kick-off with the dedication of an ancient Treasured White Oak at the site of The Western North Carolina AIDS Project (WNCAP).

Following the dedication, the Oakley TreeKeepers will lead a tree stroll on a loop along Wanoca Avenue-Unaka Avenue.

The Oakley TreeKeepers have invited Chardin Detrich of Smart Feller Tree Works, a certified arborist, to offer residents on the stroll his professional advice about how best to install or preserve neighborhood trees—and tips for when loving care may be required.