Grandfather Mountain is a great source of inspiration for the wildlife artist. The long-range views, unique flora and abundance of animal life on the mountain helps lay out a canvas or paper like no other place. In this Adult Field Course, we’ll be working in close proximity to Grandfather’s wildlife in the Animal Habitats, using them as live models as we learn to accurately draw their anatomy, posture and gestures.

This course will be done in and around Grandfather Mountain’s Conservation Campus and focus primarily on drawing only – please, no painting or messy media as we need to respect their facilities. Your instructor, Ryan Kirby, will be working right along with you, doing demonstrations and offering advice as the course progresses. At the end the group will gather for a critique of our work (this is optional and only for those that would like critique) and a brief Q&A.

Ryan Kirby grew up on a farm in the Midwest, surrounded by livestock and wildlife from an early age. From day one he was fascinated with wild animals, and this passion for the outdoors has fueled his entire career. After several years as a graphic artist for a conservation group, Ryan launched out on his own and has been a full-time wildlife artist for over a decade. From his studio near Todd, NC, Ryan produces original oil paintings and drawings of deer, turkey, elk, sporting dogs and much more. Grandfather Mountain is a treasure of the Appalachian Mountains, and not only do he appreciate the opportunity to work with the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, but also to bring his kids and family here to show them the wonders of our natural world.

Program Itinerary
9:30 a.m.: Meet at the Grandfather Mountain Wilson Center for Nature Discovery for an Introduction and Course Overview
10:30 a.m.: Photograph and Sketch Live Animals -Elk, Cougar and Bear
12:00 p.m.: Break for Lunch at Visitors Center
1:00 p.m.: Wildlife Drawing Session – Elk, Cougar and Bear
3:00 p.m.: Reconvene in the Wilson Center for a Critique and Q&A

Registration
This Adult Field Course costs $60 for general admission and $51 for members of Grandfather Mountain’s Bridge Club, plus tax. Attendance is limited to 15 participants. Registration opens below on April 20 at 9 a.m.

Your program cost includes admission into the park, field instruction, and transportation during your program (you may drive your own vehicle to visit sites on the mountain if you would prefer). It does not include meals or lodging. Bringing a bagged lunch is recommended for most field courses, although Mildred’s Grill will be open to attendees. Tips are not accepted for field courses. However, donations to the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation are accepted if you would like to recognize a program.

General Clothing List
Much of your time will be spent outdoors and all programs are held rain, snow or shine. You should be prepared for a variety of mountain weather conditions and temperatures. Appropriate clothing, equipment, and footwear are very important.

Equipment

• Daypack with enough room to carry extra clothing, water, lunch, camera, etc.
• Water Bottle
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Hiking boots
• Binoculars

Equipment Specific to this Course

• Sketch Pad – work as large or small as you like, but keep in mind that we will be moving around a bit. I’ll be working on an 11”x14” Strathmore Drawing Pad. I would recommend that you work in a small enough size that you can support in your lap without the aid of an easel, and no loose sheets. Sketch Pads or Sketch Books work best, as they’re sturdy and provide support as you work.
• Graphite or Colored Pencils – please no messy media and no paint
• Erasers
• Spray Fixative – optional. This will help your finished work from smearing in transit home

The Brevard Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) is sponsoring its 53rd Annual Book Sale at Brevard College. Proceeds will support scholarships for local girls and young women. There will be 30,000 well organized books in all genres, puzzles, audiobooks, DVD’s, CD’s and vinyl. There will be ample parking, free admission and dealers are welcome. Prices range from 25 cents and up. Assistance is provided loading books into cars. Payments provided include cash, checks with an ID, or cards.

We’ve got magic to do just for you! We are beyond thrilled to invite you to our 77th Season at Asheville Community Theatre! Join us for a year of mystery and magic that is overflowing with spellbinding stories and captivating characters. Pippin Performances: September 15-October 8, 2023 Elf: The Musical Performances: December 1-23, 2023 Flyin’ West Performances: February 9-25, 2024 Matilda: The Musical Performances: April 12-May 5, 2024 Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps Performances: June 21-July 7, 2024 Find your corner of the sky! Whether you’re seeking the flexibility of choosing individual shows or the perks of a subscription, here’s everything you need to know in order to unlock the theatrical experience that’s right for you. June 1, 2023: Re-subscriptions Current Season Subscription holders get exclusive access to early bird prices and first choice of seating. June 14-27, 2023: Early Bird Subscriptions Reduced pricing for Season Subscriptions opens to the public and is available for two weeks. June 28, 2023: Season Subscriptions Regularly-priced Season Subscriptions go on sale for the remainder of the season. July 5-18, 2023: Single Tickets: Opening Weekend Discount  New this year! Tickets for opening weekends are offered at a discount: musicals are 2 for $60 and plays are 2 for $50 – with no maximum ticket limit. The opening weekend discount is only available during this time period and does not include Elf: The Musical. July 19, 2023: Single Tickets All tickets for all shows are now on sale!

Will once again be providing access to some of the finest artists in the region with it’s market series now in its second decade. The event takes place on three Saturdays each June and October. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local. Muddy Knees Design and Production proudly offers local artists the opportunity to connect with the public in Asheville‘s Pack Square Park.

You are invited to come out to Asheville Art in the Park, take a stroll around downtown Asheville and experience the textures and forms of a truly unique art garden.

What will you see at Asheville Art in the Park?

At the event you are sure to find the finest in handcrafted art that Asheville Area Artists have to offer. Skilled workers of Glass, Ceramics, Wood, Jewelry, and metal make their shops open to display to the public at every market. Positioned in the center of downtown Asheville the market has created over $1M in needed income for area artists. Many artists return to the market to welcome customers that return each year. Asheville is known as the hub of artistic activity that radiates throughout the area. Not only does Western North Carolina boast many excellent craft education programs, but it also plays host to many tourist each year. The vacationers marvel at the city as it’s arts and culture oozes out of every side of the artcentric mountainous region. Come start your next artistic adventure in the center of Asheville in Pack Square Park this June and October and take home some of the wondrous bounty that is Asheville Art.

Stop by and learn about composting at home. See five different composting methods on display, including a single bin unit, a tumbling composter, a wood pallet bin, a classic 3-bin system and an example of vermiculture on demo day.

Exhibition dates: June 9 – July 23

Hours: Tuesday-Saturdays from 10-5 pm, Sundays 11-4 pm

Eidolon is an ancient term from Greek -oeidēs “form”. Early meanings included “mental image”, “appearance”, and “reflection” (as in a mirror or pool), and later, “apparition” or “imaginary entity”, among other things. Expanding beyond the definition pointing to a phantasm or specter, eidolon also sounds like some kind of astral or idyllic place in a novel or poem about an imaginary world. Eidolon features the work of Jacqueline Shatz and Margaret Thompson.
Jacqueline Shatz’s small sculptures of ambiguous and hybridized figures float, entwine, swim, commune with animals and collapse into abstract arabesques and gestures, hinting at mythology, in-between states, and the permeable nature of existence. Margaret Thompson’s paintings are inspired by elements of the symbolist movement and magical realism; she channels dreams and the associative powers of the imagination into her practice, painting subjects that live between our physical realm and spaces beyond the categories of known experience: they are unrestrained, undefined, and free.

Food Scraps Drop Off

The City of Asheville, in partnership with Buncombe County and the Natural Resources Defense Council, is offering a FREE Food Scrap Drop-Off program in

two locations for all Buncombe County residents.  This organic matter will be collected and turned into good clean compost, keeping it OUT of our landfill and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Register for Food Scraps Drop Off

Need a handy kitchen countertop food scrap bin?  Let us know on the registration form! We’ll be having bin giveaways at city and county facilities and would love to give you one.

Locations

West Asheville Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the south side of the building

942 Haywood Road, Asheville

Library open hours

Stephens-Lee Recreation Center “Food Scrap Shed” next to the Community Garden on the North side of the parking lot

30 Washington Carver Avenue, Asheville

• • Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m.

Murphy Oakley Community Center and Library – “Food Scrap Bin Shelters” on the east side of the parking lot

749 Fairview Road, Asheville

• • Dawn – Dusk

Buncombe County Landfill – Convenience Center85 Panther Branch Road, Alexander

• • • • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
      • Saturday, 8 a.m. – 12:30 pm

Join your friends, neighbors and families of all kinds and all ages for the grand opening celebration and dedication of the Greenways Read Out Loud Walking Trail (the GROW Trail) at Lake Tomahawk Park, 401 Laurel Circle Drive in Black Mountain, North Carolina on Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 10 am-Noon. This happy event will officially dedicate and open the ‘story book trail’ to all and honor the generous donors and dedicated volunteers who have made the trail a reality.

Conceived by Melisa Pressley, Manager of the Black Mountain-Tyson Library, the concept and commitment to the GROW Trail was adopted by the Black Mountain Greenways and Trails Committee and enthusiastically endorsed by the Friends of the Black Mountain Library, Black Mountain Town Council, Black Mountain Recreation and Parks, Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce, and the Black Mountain Beautification Committee.

Through a generous initial donation by Robin and Tom Stiles in memory of their son Greg, and subsequent support by sponsors and donors, more than 20 ‘Story Stations’ were built and installed by volunteers along the half-mile existing trail encircling the lake. Located right on the lake, Arbor House Bed & Breakfast owners Theresa and Jim Fuller generously provided staging, storing, workshop, tools and building space for the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make the GROW Trail a reality.

The stations will showcase page-by-page rotating children’s books by local authors and encourage activities along the way that foster creativity and learning. Although all will enjoy the Trail, the specific focus is on children in K-Fifth Grade. The initial book selected for the Trail is Hiding in Plain Sight by author, photographer and Asheville resident, Cindy Groce.

The Grand Opening Celebration will include a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, music, free ice cream and cookies, and activities and fun for children and all attendees.

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, 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 and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

Explore Biltmore House with an Audio Guide that introduces you to the Vanderbilt family and their magnificent home’s history, architecture, and collections of fine art and furnishings.

PLUS: Immersive, multi-sensory Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition created by Grande Experiences

PLUS: FREE next-day access to Biltmore’s Gardens and Grounds

This visit includes access to:

• Italian Renaissance Alive at Amherst at Deerpark®
• 8,000 Acres of Gardens and Grounds for two consecutive days
• Antler Hill Village & Winery
• Complimentary Wine Tastings at the Winery
• Tastings require a Day-of-Visit Reservation, which can be made by:
  • Scanning the QR Code found in your Estate Guide
  • Visiting any Guest Services location
• Complimentary parking

Art Exhibition: Italian Renaissance Alive

This fascinating experience takes you on a spellbinding tour of Italy, fully immersing you in the beauty and brilliance of iconic masterworks from the greatest artistic period in history

Learn Asheville’s history, discover hidden gems, and laugh at LaZoom’s quirky sense of adventure.

• Guided comedy tour bus of historical Asheville
• 90-Minutes – tours run daily
• 15-minute break at Green Man Brewing
• $39 per person (ages 13+ only)

Would you like to learn more about how literacy changes people’s lives?

Sign up to come to an orientation meeting! We host two monthly orientations. Everyone is welcome to join us, from community members willing to learn more about Literacy Together’s work to prospective volunteer tutors. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer tutor, please click here.

Linda Youngblood, for example, came to an orientation meeting a few years ago, and the information she gathered helped her to understand her neighbors better.

“I love Literacy Together! One of their presentations changed the way I think of people and how I relate to them. I have so much forgiveness in people knowing the numbers about literacy.” 

Linda Youngblood, a Buncombe County resident

Upcoming orientation meetings:

May 2nd at 6:00 pm via Zoom

May 4th at 10:00 am via Zoom

June 6th at 6:00 pm via Zoom

June 8th at 10:00 am via Zoom

Ooh La La Curiosity Market 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 more than a dozen local artists. Taking place on 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. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic and jazz acts.

Join us in this inclusive and supportive environment as we all take turns in the “hot seat” where the focus is on getting insight and solving problems.

Not only will your challenge be addressed, but you get to learn from what others are bringing to the table too. And it’s a great way to meet other entrepreneurs who are on a similar journey.

Policies in effect at our Market:

• Walk-in service with vendors with proper distancing.
Once in the market, please distance from other customers while in line. Only one customer at a booth at one time.

The market will continue the following practices:
• Hand sanitizer will be available for shoppers and vendors throughout the market;
• A hand washing station is available;
• All vendor tents will be spaced to allow for physical distancing;
• Vendors will wear gloves and/or sanitize regularly when will handle open food products for customers;
• Vendors may sample their product but we ask that customers let the vendor provide a single sample and then step to the side, away from others, to try that product;
• No member of Market staff or Market vendors will be allowed to attend the Market if they are experiencing illness;
• If you have any questions or need the Market’s assistance in any way, please email us at  [email protected] and we will help any way we can.

We take the health and wellness of our community very seriously. Fresh local food is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and we want our community to have consistent and safe access to our local produce and products.

Thank you all for your cooperation and for your support of our Market.

“Shine and Dine” on the railway! We cordially invite you to hop on board The Carolina Shine, GSMR’s All-Adult First Class Moonshine Car! We will be proudly serving hand crafted, triple-distilled, craft moonshine. Some of the smoothest tasting moonshine in the Carolinas! Offered on the Nantahala Gorge excursion, this shine and dine experience begins in a renovated First Class train fleet car, The Carolina Shine. The interior features copper lined walls filled with the history of moonshining in North Carolina. Learn about the proud tradition that the Appalachians established when bootlegging was an acceptable way of life and local home brews were the best in town. Read about Swain County’s very own Major Redmond, the most famous mountain moonshine outlaw of the 19th century. Once your appetite for knowledge is satisfied, enjoy sample tastings of flavors like Apple Pie, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry moonshine. If the samples are not enough, there will be plenty of Moonshine infused cocktails like Copper Cola or Moonshiner’s Mimosa available for purchase. GSMR is excited to feature multiple craft NC based distilleries to serve our guests only the best! Each jar is handcrafted and authentically infused with real fruit, the way moonshine was meant to be made. Passengers will also enjoy a full service All-Adult First Class ride with an attendant and our popular Cajun seasoned Pulled Pork BBQ with Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce cooked in our special spices and slow roasted to perfection! During the month of October, 9am departures will feature the option of a delicious Cheesy Shrimp & Grits or Cheesy Ham Hash Brown Casserole while 2pm departures will be served the popular BBQ meal.

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.

Ayurveda-Influenced yoga designed for the summer.

Bring a mat and stay afterward for community

Avoid the fee by sending a venmo to @burning-sage-yoga and put Hillman 6/4 in the notes.

Your amazing instructor Claudia will lead you through a summer flow designed to help you stay cool & balanced this summer.

Stay at Hillman for a great time afterwards!

Black Mountain College and Mexico (BMC/MX): Exhibition, Publication, and Public Programming

Black Mountain College (1933–1957), a small but remarkably influential liberal arts school in rural North Carolina, had important links to Mexico that until now have been little investigated. A crucible of twentieth-century creativity, BMC galvanized and inspired artists and intellectuals from around the world, while Mexico’s innovations and age-old traditions—in fine and applied arts, architecture, poetry, music, performance, and more—dovetailed with, and indeed drove, global impulses toward modernism and beyond. Among the many key BMC figures whose lives were importantly touched by experiences in Mexico were Anni and Josef Albers, Ruth Asawa, John Cage, Jean Charlot, Elaine de Kooning, Buckminster Fuller, Carlos Mérida, Robert Motherwell, Charles Olson, Clara Porset, M.C. Richards, and Aaron Siskind. In turn, engagements with BMC and its legacy have played a significant role in shaping contemporary approaches to art in Mexico, evident in the works of Jorge Méndez Blake, Iñaki Bonillas, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Jose Dávila, Gerda Gruber, Lake Verea, Gabriel Orozco, and Damián Ortega, among others.

The exhibition BMC/MX features works by these and other prominent contemporary Mexican artists alongside a selection of historic works by BMC artists, highlighting the ways in which ideas and modalities are translated across materials, space, and time.

Related programming, planned in collaboration with Mexican artists, features a series of public events, including a performance by artist (and BMC/MX co-curator) David Miranda to take place at Different Wrld; an exhibition visit (in Spanish and English) with BMC/MX Project Director Eric Baden; and a series of experiential art events in the BMCM+AC library.

The exhibition is accompanied by the book Black Mountain College and Mexico (forthcoming late summer 2023), which investigates the people, ideas, and practices linking BMC and Mexico during the life of the school, as well as resonances between BMC and the work of contemporary Mexican artists. With contributions by BMC/MX’s curators, as well as by artist Abraham Cruzvillegas, design scholar Ana Elena Mallet, and author and activist Margaret Randall, this fully illustrated volume brings new light to this complex and underexplored subject.

BMC/MX is an investigation into modes of communication—the arenas in which new ideas and alliances may come to be—between Black Mountain College and Mexico, between past and present, between form and idea.

About the Curators

BMC/MX’s Project Director Eric Baden is a photographer and from 1994 to 2022 was professor of photography at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina. He is the founding director of photo+, a multidisciplinary arts event held in Asheville, North Carolina.

Artist and educator David Miranda is curator at the Museo Experimental El Eco (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM), and teaches at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado “La Esmeralda” in Mexico City.

Diana Stoll is an editor, writer and curator who works with institutions such as The Museum of Modern Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum. She has served as an editor at Aperture and Artforum magazines, and contributes writings to prominent arts publications.

A 30 minute piece of puppetry originally created by Mikayla Wilson in collaboration with the Vance Birthplace Historical Site staff for the Juneteenth program at the Vance Birthplace Historical Site, Leah & the Rabbit is making a journey throughout Buncombe Country in partnership with Buncombe County libraries and the Vance Birthplace Historical Site with the support of ArtsAVL and the Mountain History and Culture Group.

After its origin last Juneteenth at the Vance birthplace, Leah and the Rabbit has played as part of the City of Asheville’s Art in the Heart, the Asheville Fringe Festival, and the Asheville Amadeus Festival.  This June, with the support of the ArtsAVL Grassroots Grant, the show will tour across the county, bringing this powerful story to more audiences than ever.  Ms. Wilson says, “The show talks about the forgotten stories of the enslaved people owned by the Vance family. Leah Erwin is one of twenty-seven known enslaved people that were owned by and lived with the Vance family. Leah’s story is paired with the tales of Br’er Rabbit, a popular folk story character that was passed down by enslaved people but appropriated by white storytellers with racial bias. Many Black people were brought to Asheville for cheap or enslaved labor to support the tourist industry in the antebellum period. Now, Black people must compete with systems that favor the wealthy or privileged. This story is meant to question the people who are being removed from Asheville and who can afford to stay.”  AMC Curator Aaron Snook says, “We couldn’t be more excited that this new American Myth has a chance to grow and find new audiences.  We’re extremely grateful to ArtsAVL and the Mountain History and Culture Group for the support.”

TOUR SCHEDULE

JUNE 10 @ 11AM ~ FAIRVIEW LIBRARY

JUNE 10 @ 2PM ~ LEICESTER LIBRARY

JUNE 17TH @ 11AM & 1PM ~ VANCE BIRTHPLACE HISTORICAL SITE

JUNE 24 @ 11AM ~ SWANNANOA LIBRARY

JUNE 24 @ 2PM ~ PACK LIBRARY

LIBRARY SHOWS: With the support of ArtsAVL’s generous Grassroots Grant, this event is free for all; simply show up and enjoy the show.

VANCE BIRTHPLACE SHOW: With the support of the Mountain History and Culture Group, this free event will be ticketed with a pre-show historical tour and post-show moderated discussion.  Seats will be limited and can be reserved here:    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-leah-the-rabbit-tickets-637397080827

CREATIVES: Leah & the Rabbit is created and directed by Mikayla Wilson with puppets created by Mikayla Wilson and Aaron Snook featuring Mikayla Wilson, Mack Moseley, and Sherly Moore as puppeteers and Stephanie Hickling Beckman as the voice of Leah.

AMC INFO:  The AMC’s mission is to curate stories to spark necessary conversation within our community.  Upon reflecting on the AMC, founder Aaron Snook says, “While our mission stays the same, we continue to evolve in how we achieve that goal.  This year’s initiatives, Leah & the Rabbit and A Different Myth (our new play development collaboration with Different Strokes) continue our journey in discovering how we can best serve our beloved community.”

Kids’ Comedy Tour: Wildly funny, this educational and entertaining tour features the perfect blend of Asheville’s history and kid-centric comedy. Geared specifically toward the 5–12 year old crowd, you’ll explore the town with our famously outlandish tour guides leading the way.

• Perfect for birthday parties
• Makes for memorable school field trips
• Tickets are $27 per person
• Beverages available for purchase at the LaZoom Room
• Departs from 76 Biltmore Avenue

This class will cover the importance and function of native meadows and site preparation. We’ll discuss planting approaches and plant plugs and seeds, followed by Q&A on maintenance, troubleshooting, and plant selection. Nursery plants and plug trays will be available for sale.

Paul Wong, Carbon, silver and gold, 2016, pigmented linen and cotton pulp, publisher: Dieu Donné, New York, edition 3/25, 18 × 11 inches. Gift of Dieu Donné, New York, 2022.27.06. © Paul Wong.

On View March 8 through July 24, 2023
The Van Winkle Law Firm Gallery • Level 1

Paper is an essential part of the art-making process for many artists, serving as the base for drawing, painting, printmaking, and other forms of art. As a substrate, paper can vary in weight, absorbency, color, size, and other aspects. Since industrialization, paper has primarily been produced through mechanical means that allow for consistency and affordability.

What happens, then, when an artist chooses to return to the foundations of paper, wherein it is made by hand using pulps, fibers, and dyes that reflect the human element through variations, inconsistencies, flaws, and surprises? Certain artists have sought out these qualities and embraced them, making paper not just a support on which to work, but fully a medium in and of itself.

Pulp Potential: Works in Handmade Paper is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Hilary Schroeder, former assistant curator, with assistance from Alexis Meldrum, curatorial assistant. Special thanks to Dieu Donné, New York, NY.

We’re planning to kick off Summer with a bang! Come and enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, giveaways, adventure, and more right on the beautiful Nantahala River. 

Event Highlights:

• Local Artisan Village featuring local craftspeople and artisans
• Community Partner booths
• Live Music Riverside 1 – 4 pm Jacob’s Well
• Live Music Riverside 5 – 8 pm Natti Love Joys
• Giveaways, contests, and prizes