Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Saturday, April 23, 2022
Spring Art Exhibitions at BMCM+AC
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center

Black Mountain College: Idea + Place

Lower Level Gallery with Companion Digital Exhibition

How can an idea inform a place? How can a place inform an idea? Would Black Mountain College have had the same identity and lifespan if it had been located in the urban Northeast, the desert Southwest, or coastal California? How did BMC’s rather isolated, rural, and mountainous setting during the era of the Great Depression and the Jim Crow South influence the college community’s decision-making and the evolution of ideas upon which it was based?
This exhibition seeks to delve into these questions and others by exploring the places of Black Mountain College: its two very different campuses, its influential predecessor the Bauhaus in Germany, and the post-BMC diaspora.

Curated by Alice Sebrell, Director of Preservation

adVANCE! Modernism, Black Liberation + Black Mountain College

Upper Level Gallery with Companion Digital Exhibition

Featuring the work of contemporary sculptor Larry Paul King in conversation with Black Mountain College modernist masters including Jacob Lawrence, Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence, Josef Albers, Leo Krikorian, and Sewell Sillman. Premiering three Jacob Lawrence lithographs new to the BMCM+AC permanent collection.

adVANCE! celebrates Black Mountain College’s role in early civil rights and the ongoing role of Black, modernist artists in the pursuit of liberation and justice.

Curated by Marie T. Cochran, Founder of the Affrilachian Artist Project
Stained with Glass: Vitreograph Prints from the Studio of Harvey K. Littleton Exhibition
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum
 
Left: Thermon Statom, Frankincense, 1999, siligraphy from glass plate with digital transfer on BFK Rives paper, edition 50/50, 36 1/4 × 29 3/8 inches. Asheville Art Museum. © Thermon Statom. | Right: Dale Chihuly, Suite of Ten Prints: Chandelier, 1994, 4-color intaglio from glass plate on BRK Rives paper, edition 34/50, image: 29 ½ × 23 ½ inches, sheet: 36 × 29 ½ inches. Asheville Art Museum. © Dale Chihuly / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Asheville, N.C.—The selection of works from the Asheville Art Museum’s Collection presented in Stained with Glass: Vitreograph Prints from the Studio of Harvey K. Littleton features imagery that recreates the sensation and colors of stained glass. The exhibition showcases Littleton and the range of makers who worked with him, including Dale Chihuly, Cynthia Bringle, Thermon Statom, and more. This exhibition—organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator—will be on view in The Van Winkle Law Firm Gallery at the Museum from January 12 through May 23, 2022.

In 1974 Harvey K. Littleton (Corning, NY 1922–2013 Spruce Pine, NC) developed a process for using glass to create prints on paper. Littleton, who began as a ceramicist and became a leading figure in the American Studio Glass Movement, expanded his curiosity around the experimental potential of glass into innovations in the world of printmaking. A wide circle of artists in a variety of media—including glass, ceramics, and painting—were invited to Littleton’s studio in Spruce Pine, NC, to create prints using the vitreograph process developed by Littleton. Upending notions of both traditional glassmaking and printmaking, vitreographs innovatively combine the two into something new. The resulting prints created through a process of etched glass, ink, and paper create rich, colorful scenes reminiscent of luminous stained glass.

“Printmaking is a medium that many artists explore at some point in their career,” says Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator. “The process is often collaborative, as they may find themselves working with a print studio and highly skilled printmaker. The medium can also be quite experimental. Harvey Littleton’s contribution to the field is very much so in this spirit, as seen in his incorporation of glass and his invitation to artists who might otherwise not have explored works on paper. Through this exhibition, we are able to appreciate how the artists bring their work in clay, glass, or paint to ink and paper.” 

STEWART/OWEN OPEN COMPANY CLASS
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Henry LaBrun Studio

Led by Stewart/Owen Co-Directors, Vanessa Owen and Gavin Stewart, this class begins with full body conditioning followed by a series of technical modern exercises, and culminates in either phrase creation or Stewart/Owen repertory. Dancers are encouraged to modify for their own bodies and spaces! We recommend this class to experienced dancers who are looking for a fast-paced contemporary class that pushes their physical and mental boundaries.

In person: $10, pay at the door

Online: $7 suggested donation, contact [email protected] for class link and details.

About Stewart/Owen Dance: Gavin Stewart and Vanessa Owen, a husband and wife duo, are the co-directors of Western North Carolina based Stewart/Owen Dance. Their choreography has been presented by festivals and companies across the U.S., and their careers have most notably taken them around the globe on fifteen U.S. State Department tours to teach, perform and choreograph contemporary dance with Washington D.C. based Company E. In 2017 they made North Carolina their home base where they work towards building a sustainable community for professional dance artists to set roots.They have choreographed music videos for artists such as Moses Sumney, Sylvan Esso and Ben Phantom. Gavin and Vanessa won the Audience Choice Award at the NYC Dance Gallery Festival 2018, were commissioned as Dance Gallery 2019 Level UP Artists, are recipients of a McDowell Regional Artist Project Grant, a North Carolina Artist Support Grant and were voted “Artists Who Most Pushed the Boundaries with the Human Body” by 2020 Asheville Fringe Arts Festival. Since the pandemic, they have focused on producing COVID-conscious dance experiences for live audiences, including drive-up performances and a guided walk-along dance exhibit presented in residence with Asheville’s beloved Wortham Center for the Performing Arts.

The Wyeths: Three Generations | Works from the Bank of America Collection
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum
N. C. Wyeth, Eight Bells (Clyde Stanley and Andrew Wyeth aboard Eight Bells), 1937, oil on hardboard, 20 × 30 inches. Bank of America Collection

The Wyeths: Three Generations | Works from the Bank of America Collection provides a comprehensive survey of works by N. C. Wyeth, one of America’s finest illustrators; his son, Andrew, an important realist painter; his eldest daughter, Henriette, a realist painter; and Andrew’s son Jamie, a popular portraitist. Through the works of these artists from three generations of the Wyeth family, themes of American history, artistic techniques, and creative achievements can be explored. This exhibition will be on view in the Asheville Art Museum’s Explore Asheville Exhibition Hall February 12 through May 30, 2022.

N. C. Wyeth (1882–1945) has long been considered one of the nation’s leading illustrators. In the early 1900s, he studied with illustrator Howard Pyle in Delaware. In 1911, he built a house and studio in nearby Chadds Ford, PA. Later, he bought a sea captain’s house in Maine and in 1931 built a small studio, which he shared with his son, Andrew, and his daughters, Henriette and Carolyn. The exhibition includes illustrations for books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Washington Irving as well as historical scenes, seascapes, and landscapes.

Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009) is one of the United States’ most popular artists, and his paintings follow the American Realist tradition. He was influenced by the works of Winslow Homer, whose watercolor technique he admired, as well as by the art of Howard Pyle and his father, N. C. While Andrew painted recognizable images, his use of line and space often imbue his works with an underlying abstract quality. The exhibition includes important works from the 1970s and 1980s as well as recent paintings.

Henriette Wyeth (1907–1997) was the eldest daughter of N.C. Wyeth and an older sister to Andrew Wyeth. Like other members of her family, her painting style was realist in a time when Impressionism and Abstraction were popular in the early 20th century. She studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and was an acclaimed portraitist, though perhaps not as widely known as her father and brother. Most notably she painted the portrait of First Lady, Pat Nixon, which is in the collection of The White House.

Jamie Wyeth (born 1946), like his father and grandfather, paints subjects of everyday life, in particular the landscapes, animals, and people of Pennsylvania and Maine. In contrast to his father—who painted with watercolor, drybrush, and tempera—Jamie works in oil and mixed media, creating lush painterly surfaces. The 18 paintings in the exhibition represent all periods of his career.

This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program.

Tubular Wine Tastings
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

As part of Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, enjoy a Wine tasting that includes 6 wines served in Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards’ unique tubular wine flights. Enjoy our award winning French vinifera wines while sitting only steps away from the vineyard where the grapes are grown.

Useful and Beautiful: Silvercraft by William Waldo Dodge
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum
Left to right: William Waldo Dodge Jr., Teapot, 1928, hammered silver and ebony, 8 × 5 3/4 × 9 1/2 inches. Asheville Art Museum. © Estate of William Waldo Dodge Jr. | William Waldo Dodge Jr., Lidded vegetable bowl, 1932, hammered silver, 6 × 6 5/8 × 6 5/8 inches. Asheville Art Museum. © Estate of William Waldo Dodge Jr.

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.

Western Women’s Business Center Spring Pop-Up Shop
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
the Asheville Mall

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The spring shop will feature 25 women-owned, minority-owned businesses specializing in baked goods, beauty, fashion and accessories, home decor, pet-friendly goods, and more. Confirmed businesses include Dope Diva Accessories, Healed Skin & Candle Co., Pumpkin Dog, Prayer Pots by Anita Walling, Uniquely Neva, and Wendy Newman Photography.


“Our mission is to support the success of women entrepreneurs. We are grateful for our amazing community partners and sponsors that continue to invest in our local entrepreneurs, and sow into our mission,” said Zurilma Anuel, WWBC Director.

For more information about the WWBC and how to support women-owned businesses year-round, visit www.wwbcnc.org.
 

About the Western Women’s Business Center 

The mission of the Western Women’s Business Center is to reduce barriers and serve as a catalyst to the success of women entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina. The Western Women’s Business Center is a program of Carolina Small Business Development Fund, a statewide nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with a mission to foster economic development in the state of North Carolina. The WWBC meets the needs of women entrepreneurs through one-on-one business coaching, workshops, and access to capital. Our team of experts offer support on a range of topics small businesses need to start and grow.

Wine Tastings
Apr 23 @ 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Marked Tree Vineyard

As part of the Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, participate in a guided wine tasting of Marked Tree Vineyard staff’s five favorite wines and take home a souvenir glass. Reservations are requested. Indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the vineyard with 360-degree views of the mountains is available.

Asheville Hemp Fest 2022 – 4 Day Festival
Apr 23 @ 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Pack Square Park

Come join us for our second annual Hemp Festival!

Fun for all ages! Located downtown Asheville in front of the court house at Pack Square Park for April

Wed 4/20 – Sat 4/23. We will be hosting a 4-day event with live music on 2 stages.

Pack Square Amphitheater

&

Instant Karma Bus Stage

One of our main goals is to make something accessible and engaging for the whole community.

In honor of the Hemp Plant, we are getting our community together to celebrate and inform about all the wonderful benefits Hemp has to offer!

In collaborating with local hemp farmers, musicians, community activist and educators, including diverse talent from live glassblowing, fire spinning, live painters, visual arts, and so much more.

This is one you dont wanna miss.

For volunteer, Vending, sponsorship, or more information about involvement visit.

AshevilleHempFest.com

STAY TUNED FOR MORE DETAILS

Cider, Wine + Beer Tasting
Apr 23 @ 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider

As part of the Cider, Wine & Dine Weekend, join us all day on the farm to enjoy tasting all our locally grown and produced Normandy-style ciders along with local beer by Oklawaha Brewing. We also offer a tasting of three different North Carolina native grape sweet wines. The tasting room is a refurbished 90-year-old barn set in the middle of the orchards where the apples are grown! Great Views, Great Ciders, Wine and Beer!

Burial: Forestry Camp Production Facility Tour
Apr 23 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Forestry Camp

Burial: Forestry Camp Production Facility Tour


		Burial: Forestry Camp Production Facility Tour image

Details:

  • 90 minute tour with beverages/light food pairings*
  • Reservation only
  • 21+ up

Designated drivers don’t need a reservation, but must accompany a ticketed guest.

*If you have an allergy or accomodation request, please note these while placing your reservation, or email [email protected] with your needs.

Attire + Footwear

  • Closed-toe shoes with hard soles required
  • This tour is exposed to the elements. Please check the weather in advance and be prepared!

Accessibility

There are elements of the tour that are not wheelchair accessible. Please reach out directly to [email protected] for information and accommodation.

 


		Burial: Forestry Camp Production Facility Tour image

Battle of the Buck
Apr 23 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Stephens-Lee Recreation Center

Battle of the Buck

Dance competition in Asheville, NC

Guided Trail Walk
Apr 23 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
North Carolina Arboretum

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2022! From April — 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.
West Asheville Park Garden Work Day
Apr 23 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
West Asheville Park

Join Bountiful Cities for a community garden installation in West Asheville Park on Saturday, April 23rd, from 1-5 pm! Bountiful Cities is looking to collaborate with their community on how to create more food security in this lovely space. They are at the initial stages of this project, so this is a great time to be part of the conversation and collectively envision the space.

Community Garden Workday (1)

Introduction to Zentangle®
Apr 23 @ 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Purple Crayon

Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist, Certified Zentangle® Teacher, Michelle Marshall, will show you how to create beautiful abstract images using this fun, meditative process.

Zentangle® is an easy-to-learn, relaxing way to turn structured patterns—called “tangles”—into tiny (3.5” x 3.5”) masterpieces that can, ultimately, be assembled into a larger mosaic. In this workshop, Michelle will review the history of the Zentangle® Method and the benefits of using good quality tools. Then, you will begin to learn how to use “strings” to create boundaries within a paper tile, how to create several tangles, and, finally, how to shade your designs to increase their depth and richness.

No previous drawing experience necessary!

Asheville Transformers Peer Support Group
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Tzedek

Asheville Transformers hosts twice-monthly general peer support meetings, led by trained facilitators, which are open only to people who are transgender, non-binary, and/or individuals questioning their gender identity only – no family and friends at support group, please. Support meetings occur on the 2nd Thursday and 4th Saturday of each month.

Meets in the Tzedek space, located at 37 Montford Ave, Suite 201 (across from the AVL Chamber of Commerce). The simplest way to get to the space is by parking behind the building, coming in the back door and taking the elevator up to the second floor. Suite 201 is just to the right when you exit the elevator.**

For more information or location, please email [email protected].

FART Fest! Music, comedy, and good company
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm
FBO at Hominy Creek

FART Fest! Music, comedy, and good company.

2:00 – 3:30 FART Hike

3:30-5:00 Music by Buffalo KingsAcklen Walker & Goldfish Party

5:00 – 6:00 Family-Friendly Comedy

6:00 – 7:30 House music by DJ Deakle Matter

7:30 – ?? Big Kids Comedy –
Devon RobertsEmma BergJustin BlackburnMiz ChitchatWill ThomasJohn Hawley – Headliner, Janeen Slaughter – Headliner, Hosted by Amy Mora

Come and go as you please, this event is free.

There will be a food truck on site. Beer and cider on tap and we will have the fire-pit going. Bring a hammock to hang in the trees where the French Broad and Hominy Creek meet. There are disc baskets setup so don’t forget your putter. And of course bring your hiking shoes, the French Broad Greenway butts right up to Hominy.

All proceeds FART makes in April are going to Asheville Greenworks!

Send me a message with any questions. Our comedy line-up is booked but we have a few music slots available!

FART website

FART instagram

Little Women
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Kittredge Theatre

Little Women

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

Little Women the Broadway Musical
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Kittredge Theatre

Little Women - April 21-24, 2022

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from herself. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in Civil War America.

Little Women embodies the complete theatrical experience, guaranteeing a night filled with laughter, tears and a lifting of the spirit. Little Women features plenty of great opportunities for female actors and singers ranging in age. The powerful score soars with the sounds of personal discovery, heartache and hope – the sounds of a young America finding its voice.

Seed Bomb Workshop
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Patton Park at the Oklawaha Greenway

1369 Secondary Road 1503
Hendersonville, NC 28792

Spring Break Animal Encounters
Apr 23 @ 2:00 pm
Chimney Rock State Park

Image result for Chimney Rock Park

Did you know our staff had a wild side? Join a Park naturalist to meet some of our live Animal Ambassadors and learn what kind of wildlife inhabits the Park and their important roles in the ecosystem. Some of our best teachers have feathers, fur, shells or scales!

Daily Meditation + Support (online)
Apr 23 @ 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
online

Hosted by: The Buddhist Studies Institute

FREE – ONLINE – 30 MINUTES – DAILY
🌺Guided meditation support and community🌺

🌸Stabilization and Liberation:
In order to liberate our minds– we need stable calm.

🌸Consistency & Commitment:
Stabilizing in calm clear presence takes consistent training.

🌸Support & Community:
Daily Meditation is a container and support for your meditation focus.

Expand your meditation circle- join us online any day or every day!

Formerly known as 100 Days of practice to support a Tibetan Yogis tradition to practice 100 days in the winter, this has now been expanded to continue daily. To learn more and register: https://buddhiststudiesinstitute.org/daily-meditation/

Adaptive Climbing
Apr 23 @ 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
The Riveter

Monthly Adaptive Climbing Program for anyone with a physical disability and/or visual impairment. Our team of trained volunteers will support you on the wall and help you reach new heights!

PATIO SHOW: The Feels
Apr 23 @ 5:00 pm
The Grey Eagle

Based in Asheville, the Feels are a female-fronted, soulful, rootsy 5-piece group, with a new-throw-back sound & captivating female harmonies. Their original music is a unique fusion of R&B, Groove, Soul, and Americana. Singer-songwriters Lange Eve and Sarah Roberts bring their spunky and engaging energy as they showcase their tunes, backed by the talents of Matt Gardner on lead guitar, Brian Grasso on bass, and Matthew Roberts on drums. If you’ve been in the WNC area long enough, you’ve seen these musicians around the music scene- including The Afromotive, Menage, Plankeye Peggy, and High Flying Criminals. Check out this newer musical formation: The Feels!

Connect Beyond Festival PROMO
Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm
various locations

If you didn’t make it to Connect Beyond’s previous two fests, here’s what you need to know:

  • It has a mission. Connect Beyond is committed to harnessing the power of multimedia storytelling “to inspire personal growth, to cultivate curiosity, creativity and collaboration, and to drive social change.”

  • It’s Asheville’s version of SXSW. The schedule is packed with performances, panels, film screenings and workshops designed to expand conversation (a.k.a connection). “Think of it as a series of TED Talks meets your favorite podcast meets NPR Music’s Tiny Desk concert series meets the Sundance Film Festival,” says Connect Beyond Founder Jessica Tomasin.

  • There’s still a lot of live music. Tomasin manages Echo Mountain Recording, so expect both famous and up-and-coming artists. Past lineups have included Sylvan Esso, Fantastic Negrito, and Kishi Bashi.

  • Prose and productions with a purpose are front and center. Expect a “fireside chat” with investigative reporter and Pulitzer-winning author Megan Twohey (SHE SAID: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement), a reading from Terraform, the debut essay collection from musician + activist Propaganda, and a lineup of groundbreaking, culture-shifting films curated.

It’s Asheville connection to the Sundance Institute. Connect Beyond is working with Sundance Collab, the part of the Sundance Institute that helps create learning opportunities and build community for artists all over the world. They will be presenting a panel called Storytelling for Impact at this year’s festival

Connect Beyond Festival:Meet Gillian Laub in person
Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Asheville Art Museum

Please note, face coverings are required to attend this lecture.

Meet Gillian Laub in person! The Asheville Art Museum is hosting photographer and filmmaker Gillian Laub during Connect Beyond Festival 2022 in conjunction with Laub’s exhibition, Southern Rites, on view through July 4. Tickets to Laub’s lecture may be purchased individually or as an add-on to festival tickets (included with VIP tickets). All Laub and VIP tickets include general admission to the Museum and exhibition once during the weekend of the festival (Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24 from 11am to 6pm each day).

This event is sponsored by Tracey Morgan.

ABOUT CONNECT BEYOND FESTIVAL 2022

Following a record-setting 2019 event, Connect Beyond Festival returns to downtown Asheville, North Carolina, on April 22 and 23, 2022 for a two-day weekend of engaging performances, panels, film screenings, and workshops. The lineup features an extensive array of programming showcasing how the intersection of music, art, film, and storytelling can inspire positive change.

ABOUT GILLIAN LAUB

Gillian Laub (born 1975, raised in Chappaqua, New York) is a photographer and filmmaker based in New York. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in comparative literature before studying photography at the International Center of Photography, where her love of visual storytelling and family narratives began.

Laub’s first monograph, Testimony (Aperture 2007), began as a response to the media coverage during the second intifada in the Middle East. This work is comprised of portraits and testimonies from Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, Lebanese, and Palestinians all directly and indirectly affected by the conflict.

Laub spent over a decade working in Georgia exploring issues of lingering racism in the American South. This work became Laub’s first feature length, directed and produced, documentary film, Southern Rites that premiered on HBO. Her monograph, Southern Rites (Damiani, 2015) and travelling exhibition by the same title came out in conjunction with the film and are being used for an educational outreach campaign, in schools and institutions across the country. Southern Rites was named one of the best photo books by TIME, Smithsonian, Vogue, LensCulture, and American Photo. It was also nominated for a Lucie award and Humanitas award.

“Riveting…In a calm, understated tone, Southern Rites digs deep to expose the roots that have made segregated proms and other affronts possible. Southern Rites is a portrait of the inequities that lead to disaster on the streets of cities like Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo.” – The New York Times

Gillian’s most recent monograph Family Matters (Aperture), spanning over twenty years of photographs, explores how society’s biggest questions are revealed in our most intimate relationships; zeroing in on the artist family as an example of the way Donald Trump’s knack for sowing discord and division had impacted communities, individuals, and households across the country. An exhibition of Family Matters opened at the International Center of Photography in conjunction with the publication.

Laub recently received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was honored as a NYSCA/NYFA Photography Fellow in 2019.

Laub has been interviewed on The View, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, Good Morning America, Times Talks and numerous others. Laub contributes to many publications including TIME , The New York Times Magazine and Vanity Fair. Laub’s work has been widely collected and exhibited, and is included in the collects of the Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge MA; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Terrana Collection, Boston; Jewish Museum. New York; Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University; Brooklyn Museum, New York; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC (now American University Museum Collection in Washington, DC), and a wide range of corporate and private collections.

IN CONVERSATION

Hear from and interact with artists, experts, filmmakers, performing artists, poets, writers, and other special guests. To add your name to our In Conversations mailing list, click here or call 828.253.3227 x133.

Live & Wild with Indelible Sauce in Concert!
Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

Indelible Sauce is performing at the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center for the Mystic Photography of Adam Lurie exhibit opening! Fun and eclectic, both subtle and smooth and also wild and hectic! This kooky two piece is very original and dynamic, balanced and stable while also unfiltered and manic, while delivering powerful messages of positivity and engagement! With elements of rock, funk, jazz, punk, experimental, spoken word, hip hop, soul and mo’…

The art exhibit features a collection of photographic prints by Adam Lurie, inviting you to explore the amazing things happening in everyday objects, surfaces and spaces, Close examination may reveal extraordinary scenes, meaningful symbols and mystic visions.

By open donation.

The Mystic Photography of Adam Lurie Exhibit Opening
Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Flood Gallery Fine Art Center

Welcome to a new world! In this collection of photographic prints, Adam Lurie invites you to explore the amazing things happening in everyday objects, surfaces and spaces, Close examination may reveal extraordinary scenes, meaningful symbols and mystic visions. All images are real shots that have only been enhanced in color, contrast, and other straightforward adjustments, but all details and imagery are present from the original source, no stitching together of visuals.

The evening will feature live music by the dynamic duo, Indelible Sauce! Fun and eclectic, both subtle and smooth and also wild and hectic! This kooky two piece is very original and dynamic, balanced and stable while also unfiltered and manic, while delivering powerful messages of positivity and engagement! With elements of rock, funk, jazz, punk, experimental, spoken word, hip hop, soul and mo’…

Free & open to the public, but please donate as able to!
Exhibit open through May 28.

THE STRING CHEESE INCIDENT Three Nights!
Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm
Salvage Station

The String Cheese Incident

Over the past decade, The String Cheese Incident has emerged as one of America’s most significant independent bands. Born in 1993 in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, SCI has since released 10 albums, 5 DVDs and countless live recordings from their relentless tour schedule. Their 20 year history is packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. They have been recognized for their commitment to musical creativity and integrity, for their community spirit, philanthropic endeavors, and for their innovative approach to the business of music.

When The String Cheese Incident’s growth first started gaining momentum over a decade ago, when the internet was just beginning to take hold and the major-label business model was failing, the band decided to make music on their own terms.

Since then, The String Cheese Incident has gone on to carve out a completely different approach to the business of music; they are truly pioneers of a new way of “making a band.”  With the World Wide Web as their tool, SCI was among the first artists to disseminate information via the internet, such as tour dates, release information, and other news, to their growing fan base.  Rather than doing business on such terms as “the bottom line,” The String Cheese Incident put their music and their fans first, opening companies of their own, including a ticketing company, a merchandise company and a fan travel agency, to best serve their community. The band’s record label, SCI Fidelity Records, has always operated under the same ideals. Even early on, SCI Fidelity embraced downloadable music and file sharing, delivering SCI’s “On the Road” series, where every show the band plays is made available for download on the internet.  Whether they realized it at the time or not, The String Cheese Incident was inventing grassroots band development.  Today, literally hundreds of bands are using some version of this same approach to building a band.

The String Cheese Incident’s commitment goes well beyond their immediate community, and even beyond the music community as a whole. Early on, the band took a serious interest in giving back to the communities that they visited, and they were among the first performers to encourage “Green” shows and tours.  SCI’s support has helped give rise to such not-for-profit organizations as Conscious Alliance, Rock the Earth, and Head Count. In 2002, when the band’s right to sell tickets to their own shows became threatened by ticketing giant Ticketmaster, the band stood strong for the independent music community and filed a lawsuit against the company.  All the while, The String Cheese Incident has stayed committed to music as a creative endeavor, not just in their recordings but also in their live performances.  The list of SCI’s special guests and collaborators is long and diverse. Their annual events such as Horning’s Hideout, and holiday shows such as New Year’s and Halloween, have helped redefine the concert experience and has garnered the band a reputation as live music vibe innovators.

5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival
Apr 23 @ 7:00 pm
Bon Secours Wellness Arena

The 5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival is returning to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville at 7 p.m. on April 23. The festival is set to feature a blues honor roll of performers and legends alike, including Tucka, Ronnie Bell, Pokey Bear, Nellie Tiger Travis, Lebrado and Calvin Richardson.

The 5th Annual Greenville Blues Festival is presented by North American Entertainment Group Inc., one of the leading independent promoters of entertainment tours and live events in the United States.

ABOUT TUCKA

Tucka James is a songwriter and amazing artist. He’s in a lane of his own coming out of New Iberia, LA. Tucka James hit the scene in 2010 and never looked back. The ladies love his swag and style. Along with the charming voice. Tucka James has set standards that have never been set, he has performed in many states and cities. He has a unique flavor of music. You can never get enough of his hits such as “Candyland,” “Don’t Make Me Beg,” “Country Road,” “Sweet Shop,” “Booty Roll,” and so many more. He has collaborated with many other artists. They don’t call him Tucka for nothing. He’s a force to be reckoned with. There’s no stopping Tucka James.

ABOUT RONNIE BELL
Ronnie “RnB” Bell grew up in the small town of Walker, Louisiana. Since the age of five years old he sang in his church choir at Gloryland Church of God in Christ in Walker. RnB quickly became popular due to his extraordinary vocal ability at such a young age. At the age of fifteen he began to sing alongside his mother, uncles, and his late Great Uncle George Perkins as a member of “George Perkins and the Voices of Harmony”, a gospel-recording group based in Hammond, Louisisana. A year later after growing restless of quartet singing, he joined Kenneth Mitchell and the Voices of Praise. In college, he became a member of the world-renowned Southern University Concert Choir directed by the great Charles Lloyd, Jr. While under the instruction of the Legendary Dr. Issac Greggs and Mr. Lawrence Jackson, RnB performed at the Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands in the New Orleans Super dome in 2004, 2006, 2008, & 2011 as a guest soloist with the Southern University Marching Band. At Southern University, RnB opened for Juvenile and 112 while performing at the annual homecoming 2006 in both the halftime show and the annual concert. In 2008, RnB opened for Erykah Badu and Bun B in the Spring Fest at Southern University. Currently Ronnie Bell has transformed himself into a new genre of music with two Hit Singles: “Cotton Candy” and “I’ll Pay The Shipping Cost.” Both at one point number one Blues/Southern Soul/Swing Out songs in Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and sweeping over the Southern Region. Ronnie’s new label R.E.E.L. Entertainment Group has joined forces with Worldbeat Entertainment to take the Blues/Southern Soul/Swing Out genre by storm with his highly anticipated debut album “Ronnie Bell 365” released on May 5, 2020. But he has not forgotten his true love and genre of R&B and Soul. He plans to release a series of EP’s showcasing his talents so all the fans can experience his flavor of music.

ABOUT POKEY BEAR

Wardell “Pokey Bear” Brown was born on February 2, 1970 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is known for his soulful sound of music in the Blues/Southern Soul genre; however he did not start out that way. Pokey Bear began his career as a rap music artist, but after doing it for a while decided to try other styles. His venture off into other styles of music would lead him to be the soulful singer that he is today. He was first recognized in music for his first two projects produced by Beat Flippa. Particularly his songs entitled “They Call me Pokey” and “Side Piece,” The song “Side Piece” happened as a result of a hook that was written by Heavy in which he asked Pokey to write lyrics to. He has worked with artists such as Tyree Neal, Adrian Bagher, Ms. Pat, Veronica Raelle, and Cupid.

ABOUT NELLIE TIGER TRAVIS

Nellie Tiger Travis couldn’t be more destined to sing the blues. Born deep in the delta in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Nellie grew up singing gospel music. During the mid-eighties, Nellie was lead vocalist for the Mississippi based group “SSIPP,” opening for acts from Dee Dee Warwick to Ray Charles. Since relocating to Chicago in 1992 Nellie has been an undeniable force in the Chicago Blues Community. Koko Taylor was a major influence, mentor and friend to Nellie. Koko took Nellie under her wing after she witnessed an extremely emotional performance immediately after Nellie’s mother had passed away. Nellie has headlined at the Chicago Blues Festival and performed at numerous national and international festivals and clubs. Nellie has performed in Japan, Greece, Italy, Germany, Brazil, as well as her hometown in Mississippi. She has shared the stage with such greats as Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Glady’s Knight, Ronnie Baker Brooks to name a few. Nellie’s latest release “I’m Going Out Tonight” was released on March 18, 2011 with a star-studded release party at Buddy Guy’s Legends.

 

ABOUT LEBRADO

Lebrado Wilson first broke out into the music industry with his guest vocal appearance on his older brothers’, K-Ci and Jo Jo’s single entitled “Suicide” from their year 2000 album “X.” Continuing and expanding on his brother’s legacy, Lebrado’s released his debut album, Try Me, in 2006, which included his first hit single “Missing You, Babe.” His highly anticipated sophomore LP entitled Fire was subsequently released in 2009; its popular single “Fire” featuring his brother K-CI.

ABOUT CALVIN RICHARDSON

Born and raised in Monroe, North Carolina, Calvin Richardson is the fifth of nine children and the son of a Gospel singer. His life as a performer goes back to childhood: as a kid, Calvin’s mother led a Gospel act called The Willing Wonders and Calvin was the group’s youngest member. His first solo album, Country Boy, was released in 1999 by Universal Records and featured the singles “True Love” (featuring Chico DeBarge) and “I’ll Take Her” (featuring K-Ci Hailey). After being dropped by Universal, Calvin eventually rebounded and landed another record deal, this time with Hollywood Records. In September 2003, he released his second album, 2:35 PM.

The album, which was named after the time that his son Souljah was born, featured the Grammy-nominated hit “More Than A Woman,” featuring Angie Stone. Other singles from the album were “You’ve Got Me High” (featuring Slum Village) and “Keep On Pushin’.” Most recently, Calvin signed with Shanachie Records. His first Shanachie album, When Love Comes came out May 27, 2008. It was followed by the Grammy-nominated Bobby Womack tribute album Facts of Life in 2009 and an all-new album, America’s Most Wanted, in 2010.