Calling all Leicester artists! The Leicester Library is celebrating its 20th anniversary in November 2021. To celebrate this beautiful library and its pastoral views, we are seeking local artist perspectives for a fun project.

20 Views of the Leicester Library is looking for artists to create pieces that celebrate the views from the inside and of the outside of the library.

Art can be in any medium, by any artist, of any age. Paintings, photography, drawings, collage, sculpture, needlework, etc. are all welcome. We are looking for heartfelt, fun and creative views of this branch that show what it has meant to patrons and community members. We welcome art by self-taught artists as well as trained artists. Examples could be a photo of a child reading a book in the library, a watercolor painting of the mountains off in the distance, or a charcoal sketch of the building itself. Or something totally abstract and unusual – that would be welcome too!

We are looking for anything that captures the essence of what this library represents to you, the Leicester community.

Artists are welcome to visit the grounds or come inside to gather inspiration during the library’s open hours. The library is currently open Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

All submitted art will be featured on the library’s social media accounts and displayed in the library as part of our 20th Anniversary Celebration in November 2021.

In addition, the Leicester Library will be offering a series of art classes at the library in August and September. The first class is Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. and will be a Creative Collage Workshop with visiting artist Evelyn Dufne. This class is free, but registration is required.

To participate or for more information, come by the library or email [email protected] for more information.

Bender Gallery is honored to present One Day I Will Disappear, a solo exhibition of current paintings by Czech American artist Tom Pazderka. His captivating work is deeply personal and is an elegant metaphor for life’s darker side: of landscape, of nature, of memory. The exhibition runs from July 3 through August 31 during regular business hours. There will be an opening reception for Pazderka on Saturday July 3, from 6 to 9 PM by RSVP only.

Pazderka is a painter, an installation artist, an intellectual, and a writer who spent his undergraduate years in the Asheville area. He was born near Prague in 1981 during the waning of the Communist era in Czechoslovakia. He lived in a panelák, a Soviet-style concrete apartment block, until emigrating to the US in 1994 at the age of twelve. Contrary to what we may envision in America, Pazderka has fond memories of his time there. Although life was basic and creativity was not encouraged, his family was never in need and they enjoyed regular visits to their family cottage in the country. However, most of Pazderka’s life has been lived in the US and he also considers himself American. His work and life are deeply influenced by what he describes as the “incompleteness of the immigrant experience”. Pazderka explores humanity’s quest for a universal truth. The work reflects his reverence for history and the failed Soviet promise of utopia of his native land. It is thus a balancing act between this history and his assimilation into the capitalist consumer culture of the United States.

The works shown in One Day I Will Disappear consist of oil, ash, and charcoal paintings on burned panel and paper. They feature clouds, mountains, portraits, ephemera, and remnants of nature. They are conceptually dark, yet haunting and beautiful at the same time. Pazderka uses humble materials such as found plywood panels that he burns with a torch before beginning the painting process. He transforms the painting surface with the destructive, yet creative power of fire. He states, “Materials and process are components of the work that are as important as the image and what the work is about”.

Pazderka chooses to work in a colorless palette reminiscent of aged black and white photographs. He explains, “Photographs interest me because it is a tangible memory, but photographs are really residue of the photographic process.”  They are themselves a memory of a memory. Much of Pazderka’s work is based on old family photographs and photos taken from nature and architecture relaying the past, the present, and the hope of a better future. The work appears otherworldly and fleeting, like ghosts of his memories. In Pazderka’s words, “The present is all there is in the end.”

Pazderka holds a BFA from Western Carolina University and an MFA from U.C. Santa Barbara. He has received many awards and fellowships and has held residencies in the US, France, and the Czech Republic. He lives and works in Ojai, CA.

Come enjoy the beautiful summer weather by joining our weekly nursery workdays! We will meet in the Sand Hill native tree nursery from 10am-12pm. We will do a variety of activities from potting trees and weeding nursery plants. Please dress to get dirty and have a good time! Bring water, sun protection, and any other personal items.

* Minors under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult on all workdays. Minors 14-17 can volunteer unaccompanied but must have a parent or guardian submit a minor waiver (contact [email protected]). *

Please register for the workday(s) you will be attending.

Review our Communicable Disease Guidelines for Volunteers

During the month of August Second Gear has selected RiverLink as their monthly non-profit partner! They will be donating 1% of all the proceed they receive throughout the month. We are so thankful for their generous support of our mission to protect the French Broad River! Both of our organizations share a passion for the environment and helping our community experience it’s beauty. Their support will help us ensure that the French Broad River continues to be an excellent source of outdoor recreation.

Second Gear is a locally owned, independently run store based out of Asheville, North Carolina where they’ve been proudly serving the community since 2004. They buy and sell outdoor gear and help people prepare for their next outdoor adventure. So go get some gear this month and help support clean water!

Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.

This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 2:45-6pm
K-6th graders.
Does your child enjoy having fun and making new friends? Offering
arts, crafts, special events, homework assistance and more!
Families currently enrolled in the school system’s reduced or free
meal program, please contact your recreation center for discount
fee information.
Locations: Burton, Grant, Montford, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee

Montford Pre-Teen Afterschool Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021 – June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
5th-6th graders.
New program designed to meet the needs of your pre-teen.
Providing time dedicated to school assignments, life skills, arts,
communication, leadership, fitness, nutrition, and loads of fun.
Location: Montford

Teen Leadership Program
Pre-registration required. FREE for the 2021-2022 school year
August 23, 2021-June 3, 2022 | Monday-Friday | 3:30-6pm
6th-9th graders.
Looking for a cool and enriching alternative for your Teen to attend
this school year? We offer creative activities, diverse projects,
field trips, and more.
Locations: Grant, Shiloh, Stephens-Lee

Tuesday, August 24 * 5:00 pm Facilitated via ZOOM We had planned to hold an in-person Annual Meeting at the theatre this year, but have decided to meet virtually instead. Join us Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 5:00 pm on ZOOM. We will share a link closer to the date so that all can attend virtually! Everyone is welcome to attend. Please join us as we thank retiring Board members, elect new Board members and look ahead to the work we’ll be doing in the year ahead. Subscribers are “members” and are eligible to vote.

WNCHA Executive Director Anne Chesky Smith will discuss her new book Murder at Asheville’s Battery Park Hotel: The Search for Helen Clevenger’s Killer, out July 26. In 1936, Helen Clevenger’s uncle discovered her bloodied body crumpled on the floor of her small room in Asheville’s grand Battery Park Hotel. She had been shot through the chest. Buncombe County sheriff Laurence Brown, up for reelection, desperately searched for the white teenager’s killer as the public clamored for answers. Even after Sheriff Brown secured a confession from a young Black man, many southerners feared that the crime had not been solved.

It’s time for a little South Slope love. We will meet out front on the far side of the outside seating area. Parking can certainly be challenging so plan a little extra time to find a parking spot if you can

This run will have a 3 mile and 5/6 mile options. Here are the options:
3 miles: LEFT out of brewery, left on coxe, R onto Southside, R onto South French Broad, R onto Patton,R onto Biltmore ave, R onto southside, R onto coxe.

Mile 5&6:LEFT out of brewery, LEFT ON COXE, R onto southside, R onto S French broad, L onto Haywood, R onto montford. Follow montford to chestnut (if you are doing 6 miles keep running to montford park and turn around at the end of the park and back to chestnut).R at chestnut, R on Charlotte, follow charlotte straight till back on southside. Follow southside, R on coxe and back to brewery. We will all meet back at brewery. All routes are pretty much a square and mileage is close, not exact. Hope to see everyone there!!!

Maggot Tuesday Workout

OUTDOOR SHOW

Join us on Tuesday nights for Magnetic’s signature variety show. There will be an exciting mix of comedy, music, theatre, dance, magic and more! Smoky Park Supper Club is offering us their beautiful outdoor venue, and will be selling food and drinks. The event is BYOC (bring your own chair), and we will, of course, be following strict Covid safety protocols. We can’t wait to see you there!

Join us Tuesday nights, beginning April 13th, as The Magnetic Theatre teams up with the wizards at Smoky Park Supper Club to host a live, outdoor variety show. We’ll be filling Smoky Park’s gorgeous, riverside outdoor space with comedy, theatre, music and so much more.

There will be food and beverages available for purchase.

• This is a BYOC (Bring-Your-Own-Chair) event.
• In accordance with safety guidelines this show will be staged outdoors, with mask and social distancing protocols enforced. There will also be temperature checks and COVID waivers that need to be signed by each attendee at the gate.
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the 7pm showtime.
• We do require that masks be worn at all times unless you are actively eating or drinking.

Join us every Tuesday night for Tacos & Trivia!

Twisted Roots will be cooking up a variety of tacos and authentic sides (vegetarian options available) starting at 5 pm.

Trivia will run from 7-8:15 pm. We will be capping the teams at 20 and teams will not be able to join after 7 so make sure to arrive early to secure your spot!

No reservations needed, just grab your thinking caps and get ready for good food, a good time, and a chance to win a $10, $20, or $30 gift certificate to Down Dog!

Stop by and play trivia at The Village Porch with Geeks Who Drink and win prizes from our pub and from Wicked Weed!

We aren’t trying to re-invent the wheel, so instead we hired Geeks Who Drink, who provide the coolest wheels *trivia* around! Everything you need to know from the Geeks Who Drink website:

1. Bring a team (up to 6), or join one at the bar
2. It’s free to play (but order something, cheapo)
3. Expect 70-ish questions over 2 hours
Win free pints and other prizes
4. Go on to massive fame, fortune, a happy home life, self-realization, etc.

Explosive. Inventive. Utterly Unique.

STOMP doesn’t have a storyline or dialogue like traditional musicals or plays. Instead, the eight-member troupe uses everything but percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, and hubcaps, to name a few – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms.

Over the past 20 years, STOMP has grown into an international sensation. A fan-favorite amongst television hosts and audiences, STOMP members have performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and “The Today Show.” All the while, the production has accumulated awards and recognition, including an Olivier Award for Best Choreography, a New York Obie Award, and a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre Experience (and unique, it is!).

You may have seen STOMP before, but with two new pieces, you’ve never seen it like this! Join in on the journey through sound, a celebration of the every day, and a comic interplay of characters wordlessly communicating through dance and drum. STOMP – see what the noise is all about.

“STOMP has a beat that just won’t quit!” – San Francisco Chronicle

“If you haven’t seen STOMP, GO! If you have seen it, take someone and share the pleasure!” – Boston Globe

Official Website