Opening Reception for the Artist Nov. 3, 6-8PM.

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present A Mirror, Not a Window, an exhibition of new and recent work by artist Hannah Cole. This is Cole’s second solo exhibition with the gallery. A reception for the artist will be held Friday, November 3 from 6-8PM.

This collection of paintings and sculptures continues Cole’s interest in creating, completely by hand, reproductions of small details and objects culled from her everyday life, turning the viewer’s attention to often overlooked aspects of our surrounding environment and reframing the very definition of representational art. With nods to pop art, trompe l’oeil, and modern American painters, Cole poses big questions about the nature of the artist’s hand, and the drive to (re)create.

A grouping of wall sculptures of nearly exact replicas of books which are hand-painted on wood blocks are included in the exhibition. These books are all non-fiction, mostly art related, though now un-readable. Instead of looking to books for answers, these objects force the viewer to provide the substance. The most self-referential of the group is Jean Baudrillard’s Simulacra and Simulation in which the French philosopher talks in dense prose about our culture of signs and signals eventually becoming copies without any originals. In Cole’s tongue-in-cheek nod, her faithful replica of Baudriallard’s philosophical work becomes an art object whose meaning has shifted completely from the original. Cole’s painted wood block cannot be read and has no actual utility at all, except as an object to contemplate.

A recurring element in Cole’s paintings is a hand-rendered tape measure running along the edge of her canvases. By including this common, easily recognizable object, Cole calls to question the “truth” of representation. Can we trust these measurements simply because they have identifiable markings? Other paintings on Styrofoam show painted wood grain edges, subverting the viewer’s expectation of where the painting itself is, and what it’s made of. We expect a painting to be on the outward-facing surface, but what if the faithful representation is painted on the sides?

In this contemporary age of Artificial Intelligence flooding us with copies, reproductions, fakes, and deliberate decep-tions, anxieties regarding authenticity and authorship run high. Cole’s work invites contemplation of these deeply philosophical issues with a playful tone, presenting serious questions by way of common objects.

Hannah Cole studied at Yale University and Boston University. Her work has been exhibited at The Turchin Center for Visual Arts, NC; the Drawing Center, NY; the University of Maine Museum of Art; the Sherman Gallery at Boston University, MA; Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Greenville, NC; and the North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, among other national and international institutions. She currently lives and works in Asheville, NC.

Join us for a Holiday Pop Up Shop at Open Studio

Saturday, December 9th – 11-5
Sunday, December 10th – 11-5

115 Elk Mountain Road, North Asheville NC 28804

Shop pottery, art, vintage clothing, home goods, jewelry, teas, tinctures, gifts + more from:
@gennypopshop
@a13rattlesnakesandrainbows
@junopottery
@heilbronherbs
@loomimports
@yewocollective

“This Holiday Sip & Shop offers a refreshing alternative to big-box retail chains, as every item in
our shop is American-made,” says the gallery’s marketing manager Ashley Van Matre.
Discover beauty in small batches while shopping for unique gift items handmade by Asheville
artists and beyond. Grovewood Gallery showcases over 9,000 square feet of finely crafted
jewelry, wooden bowls and utensils, ceramic tableware, blown glass, fiber art, and much more.
Local makers will demonstrate their craft each day. Participating artists include Eddie Aaronson
of Windthrow, Lisa Gluckin, Deanna Lynch, and Janna Mattson.

Demo Descriptions:

Eddie Aaronson of Windthrow – Dec. 8 + 9
Black and white sketch etchings of Western North Carolina landscapes.

Lisa Gluckin – Dec. 8 + 9
Hand-building clay vessels and surface design.

Deanna Lynch Textiles – Dec. 8 + 9
Mending antique quilts.

Janna Mattson – Dec. 9Needle felting wool landscapes.

About Grovewood Gallery

Established in 1992, Grovewood Gallery is noted for its charming, old-world setting and rich
craft heritage. The gallery is located in the historic Grovewood Village complex, which once
housed the weaving and woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries, a force in American
craft and textiles that grew to become one of the largest producers of handwoven wool in the
country. Today, the gallery offers two expansive floors of fine American-made art and crafts
contributed by more than 350 makers.
Hours are Monday through Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. Free parking is available on-site.

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

Live art creation, demos, and more. Peer into the process of artists in their studios, working in ceramic, fiber, paint, and more. Featuring Art Garden studio artists, and occasional special guests.

Studios:

#314: Trish Salmon, hand-built ceramic sculpture

#324: Cynthia Llanes, landscape expressionism

#320 Canopy Suite:

320a: Emily Alley and Leviticus Moore, fiber sculpture and painting.

320b: Skwerl, painting and drawing

320c: UCB+Youth Arts Empowered, Cleaster Cotton and Tarah Singh, mixed media

320d: Jack Henry, painting and wheel-thrown ceramics

320e: Dillon Endico, oil painting, woodwork, murals

320f: Annie Kyla Bennett, Regenerative Nouveau. oil and mixed media

320g: Sierra the Moth Queen, apothecary and plant arts

320h: Alex Stilber, painting and mixed media

Romare Bearden (Charlotte, NC 1911–1988 New York, NY), African American writer and artist, is renowned for his collages. He constantly experimented with various techniques to achieve his artistic goals throughout his career. This exhibition highlights works on paper and explores his most frequently used mediums, including screen-printing, lithography, hand-colored etching, collagraph, monotype, relief print, photomontage, and collage.

Bearden’s work reflects his improvisational approach to his practice. He considered his process akin to that of jazz and blues composers. Starting with an open mind, he would let an idea evolve spontaneously.

“Romare Bearden: Ways of Working highlights Bearden’s unique artistic practice and masterful storytelling through art,” says Pamela L. Myers, Executive Director of the Asheville Art Museum. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Jerald Melberg Gallery to present these extraordinary works on paper in conversation with Bearden’s collage Sunset Express, 1984 in the Museum Collection (on view in the Museum’s SECU Collection Hall). This exhibition will also provide a glimpse into the cultural histories and personal interests that influenced his art-making practice, and we hope it encourages introspection and dialogue with our visitors.”

Jerald Melberg states, “Romare Bearden’s groundbreaking artistic practice continues to captivate audiences worldwide. With an unparalleled legacy of creativity and innovation, Bearden’s contributions to art remain deeply influential years beyond his life.” We have enjoyed organizing this exhibition with the Asheville Art Museum to showcase his artistic genius and inspire visitors from the Western North Carolina region and beyond.”

This exhibition is made possible in part by the Judy Appleton Fund. Many thanks to the Jerald Melberg Gallery for the loan of these important artworks and to Mary and Jerald Melberg for their long-standing support of the arts, artists, and the Asheville Art Museum.

Tracey Morgan Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of paintings by artist Stella Alesi in our project space. This is Alesi’s first exhibition with the gallery and is presented in conjunction with Hannah Cole: A Mirror, Not a Window in our main gallery space. A reception for both artists will be held Friday, November 3 from 6-8PM.

The works on view are from the SQUISHY series, a group of geometric, abstract oil on oil paper paintings. With the use of simple shapes and a limited color palette, these works explore the visceral experience of living at this current moment. Alesi’s colorful, “squishy” shapes bend to the demands placed on them by their seemingly heavy, unforgiving counterparts. With this work, Alesi confronts contemporary issues such as climate change and political turmoil, as well as personal trials, using basic shapes, both hard and malleable to express a state of being. The shapes are gestural, fluid, and animated – sometimes resembling body parts even in their minimalism. The effect is a playful interpretation of heavy topics – a visual play on the deep and multi-layer well of human emotions.

Stella Alesi works across several styles and mediums, including drawing, painting, photography, collage, and large wall works. Their practice is characterized by a willingness to try new approaches in the ongoing investigation into new materials and visual languages, always exploring new ways to represent the visceral nature of the human experience. Born on Long Island, New York in 1963, Alesi was raised in New Jersey. They studied at Parsons School of Design, New York City; University Hampshire, Durham; and University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Their work has been purchased by many private and commercial collections. Career highlights include a recent solo exhibit (spring of 2023) at the Northern-Southern gallery, Austin, TX and a large-scale permanent installation in the lobby of The Foundry, Austin TX. Alesi currently lives and works in both Austin, TX and Asheville, NC.

Join Guidon Brewing for their 5th Annual Christmas Market. Local
vendors, Santa, live music with Sunlight Drive, cookie contest and Glühwein will help you get into the Christmas spirit!

Starting April 8th, you can ride ArtAVL’s new free ArtsAVL Connect Trolley – connecting the Downtown and River Arts Districts with two overlapping routes. The initiative is a partnership between ArtsAVL and Gray Line Asheville. Beginning April 8th, two chartered Gray Line trolleys will circulate on 20-30 minute intervals from 12-8 pm on every Second Saturday. Riders are welcome to hop on and off anywhere along the trolley routes. The Downtown Trolley connects the main areas of the Central Business District to the River Arts District. The River Arts Trolley loops throughout the River Arts District. Residents and visitors can view stops and current location of trolleys through the interactive trolley map on ArtsAVL’s website and the new ArtsAVL app.

There’s nothing like opening a brand new book and getting lost in the pages, especially during these dark winter months. Ensuring that more local youth have that very experience is exactly what United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County hopes to do through their annual Holiday Book Drive.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Greeting families and checking them in
• Running the hot chocolate bar
• Reading stories to children
• Acting as “booksellers” by assisting youth with finding books
• And more!

Requirements:

• You will need to sign a volunteer waiver before the shifts starts
• All volunteers will receive a brief orientation prior to the start of your shift

Skills Required: 

• Good customer service and welcoming demeanor.
• Flexibility to help where needed.

Attire:

• Casual or festive holiday clothes (think Santa hats, reindeer headbands, Christmas bulb necklaces, ugly sweaters that are family friendly)

Location:

• 50 S French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

Health and Safety:

• Masks are optional, must bring your own if you need one
• This event requires for volunteers to stand for long periods. Accommodations can be made if requested.

From Heart To Table: MANNA Foodbank:

Outdoor German-style Christkindlmarkt.
Artisans & Crafters. Food. Drink. Music. Santa Claus. Children’s crafts. Make your own s’mores. Outdoor games. Fun For All Ages.
Featuring: Haus Heidelberg Food Truck, Guidon Brewing Co., 30 vendors, & more

Collage postcards, greeting cards, AND make-your-own buttons!

Saturday, December 9th between 1-6, we’re unleashing a blast from the past with a downright delightful Vintage Popup!

Saddle up for a journey through time as you peruse the delightful array of clothes and curiosities curated by Soft Cowboy Trading Co and Tangelo Vintage. From timeless duds that’ll have you looking dapper at the local watering hole to trinkets with tales as vast as the prairie.

So, mosey on down, take a sip, and indulge in a shopping spree that’ll make you Yeehaw

SART Presents “Christmas Time’s A Comin’, An Appalachian Christmas Revue”

Join us for a heartwarming Christmas revue like no other! This holiday season, we’re spreading the joy by offering pay-what-you-wish tickets. It’s our way of giving back to the community and ensuring that everyone can experience the magic of the season. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity to create lasting memories with your loved ones. Get your tickets today at sartplays.com and celebrate the spirit of giving this Christmas!

From the bounty shores of England comes the Styckes-Upon-Thump Repertory Theatre Company, a stuffy old traveling troupe embarking on their fifteenth annual farewell tour of Dickens’ tale. The company includes Sir Selsdon Piddick, the consummate actor, in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, with Mrs. Bettina Salisbury, Dame Rowena Middleton-Lewis, Mrs. Cordelia ffoliet-ffolkes ffortescue Woods, Teddy Shub, and Elyot Crummels in multiple supporting roles. On this fateful Christmas Eve night, various forms of mayhem ensue as this professional company scrambles to keep the show going and everything that could go possibly wrong does, with hilarious, ridiculous results!

It’s beginning to look a lot like…you got it! Keep the family tradition going. Same great quality, all new show! Come celebrate the season here on ‘The Rock’ with the always popular A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas! Join in and sing along to some of your favorite holiday tunes like, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Jingle Bells,” “O Holy Night,” and many more. With an incredible cast

featuring dancers from Pat’s School of Dance and the Flat Rock Playhouse Chorus, there is truly no better way to kick off your holiday season!

Get ready to embrace the spirit of Christmas with Elf: The Musical, a heartwarming and hilarious adaptation of the beloved 2003 holiday film. This enchanting musical follows the journey of Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole who embarks on a journey to New York City to find his real father. Through catchy, uplifting songs and zany comedic antics, Elf: The Musical serves a healthy dose of holiday cheer, laughter, and life lessons about identity, family, and the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a magical, festive spectacle guaranteed to light up the holiday season for all ages!

A talkback with the cast & crew of Elf: The Musical will be held following the performances on December 3rd and 10th.

North Carolina’s oldest professional non-profit ballet company presents the full-length classical holiday tradition, with stars, story, and sugarplums. Clara’s magical journey to the Lands of Snow and Sweets featuring the traditional Tchaikovsky score has become a favorite holiday family tradition.

The Blue Ridge Orchestra welcomes the winter holidays with two performances of BRO Revels! 2023, featuring The Nutcracker Suite and introducing harpist Tori Parrish. Presented at 3:00 pm in Charles M. Beall Auditorium, Haywood Community College, on Saturday, December 9th, and in the Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church on Sunday, December 10th, the program is an eclectic mix of old and new, familiar and surprising.

Music Director Milton Crotts begins the program with Rigby’s Escape, a light and cheery piece for flute, clarinet, and string orchestra composed by featured composer Andre Madatian. The BRO Strings then change gears to accompany The Walker Family Band performing its original music – a unique blend of traditional, old-time, Celtic, and classical – with a familial twist. The genre shifts again as Tori Parrish takes center stage to perform Deborah Henson-Conant’s invigorating Baroque Flamenco for harp and strings, a musical tour de force that defies the stereotype of this most fascinating of instruments.

The full orchestra takes over for the second part of the program, presenting the lyrical second movement of the “Gaelic Symphony” composed in 1894 by Amy Beach, the “dean of women composers”. The concerts conclude with the celebrated music of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite, a perennial favorite of musicians and audiences alike.

With performances in Clyde and Swannanoa, the Blue Ridge Orchestra furthers its mission to share fine music with audiences across Western North Carolina, and is particularly proud to continue its association with Haywood Community College. Like Revels! past, BRO Revels! 2023 will usher in the holiday season with comfort and joy.

BRO Revels! 2023 is generously sponsored by Mosaic Community Lifestyle Realty. 

Details: Blue Ridge Orchestra’s Revels! 2023

Saturday, December 9th, 2023, 3:00 pm

Charles Beall Auditorium, Haywood Community College

185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC

Tickets: $25 General Admission, $15 Students, Free under age 5

Sunday, December 10th, 2023, 3:00 pm

Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church

101 Chapel Lane, Swannanoa, NC  

Tickets: $20 General Admission, $15 Friends, $5 Students, Free age 6 and under

Info: https://blueridgeorchestra.org/bro-revels-2023-dec-23

Facebook, Instagram,

or call 828-782-3354.

Honey & the Hive will present their Winter Market, taking place at 23 Merrimon Avenue on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 3 – 7 p.m., featuring small-scale local crafters, artisans, and artists.

The team at Honey & the Hive is proud to bring the Winter Market back for the fifth year. The 2023 Winter Market will be a one-day event featuring 15+ local vendors and artists with everything you need for gift shopping, including fermented foods, culinary goods, botanical art, foraging gear, herbal crafts, goat milk soaps, self-care products, and honey, of course! The market will be held at our storefront with vendors both indoors and outdoors, rain or shine.

The 5th Annual Market is free to attend. Customers who purchase from our vendors will be automatically entered into a chance to win a gift basket. Attendees are welcome to sample our infused honey and honey varietals from beekeepers around Western North Carolina.

“We live in an amazing place with many talented artisans and we believe strongly in supporting local businesses and producers. This market has grown and changed over the years to accommodate the needs of our community, and we look forward to a wonderful market day for our fifth year.” says staff member Amber Shehan.

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​​Honey & the Hive is a beekeeping supply, honey, and gift shop in Weaverville, North Carolina. We carry beekeeping supplies, offer classes on beekeeping, sell local honey, and make products from the hive, like propolis tincture, infused honey, and beeswax candles. More than just a store, we are a hive of like-minded people who love bees and pollinators and want to educate our community about how to help care for this valuable part of our ecosystem.

Vendors include: Fermenti, Sister of Mother Earth, Wise Earth Way, Larkspur Art, Toe River Threadworks, Of Sage and Stone, LeighAlan Skincare and Candle Co., Honey Badger Bakes, Tiny Sun Creations, GR Woodworking, Bold and Brash Bakery, Felt Good, Habibi Village, SAVOR Shrub Bitters, Deep Time, Appalachian Sacred Smoke

How can a spiritual perspective help us make sense of the times in which we live?

Despite efforts by many well-intentioned people, it seems more true now than ever that the problems humanity is facing sometimes seem to be getting worse not better. Divisions appear to grow deeper day by day, social relationships can feel strained, our institutions often appear unable to meet the needs of the world today, and even the viability of the natural environment around us seems threatened. So in the midst of these turbulent times, where can we turn to for sources of hope? In times of crisis, are there actually new opportunities for a more peaceful, just, and sustainable way of life? How can we help build those new patterns in our communities?

Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on how to promote constructive change in these difficult times. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role spirituality can play in our efforts to construct a new, more meaningful path forward in the midst of social turmoil.

“The world of mankind is in the throes of evolutionary activity indicating the passing of the old conditions and advent of the new.” – Bahá’í Teachings

*** This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

Tours will start at 5:00, 5:45, 6:30, and 7:15 PM each evening. Registration and advance payment is required. Tickets will go on sale November 1.

$20 adults, $15 students, $15 seniors (65+), free for 4 and under. Children are more than welcome, but please know the tour is about an hour of listening to guides talk about farm history before ending with hot chocolate and cookies.

Music upon arrival provided by local school groups. All tours will end with a visit to the Heritage Weavers & Fiber Artists.

The sisters of Johnson Family Farm invite you to their first
annual Village Nights, Saturday, December 2 and Saturday, December 9 from 5pm-9pm.
The holiday festivities will highlight the store located at 1202 Kanuga Road in
Hendersonville.
Fresh Fraser Fir trees, wreaths, garland and a bow and ribbon bar will be featured along
with tasty treats, hot cocoa and reindeer games for the kids.
The destination will also be a fun stop to take in while visiting various decorated homes
and businesses such as Johnson Family Farm in this year’s Henderson County Holiday
Light Trail.
“We’re going to decorate this place up to get everyone in the holiday spirit,” said Heather
Johnson Price, one of the sisters and owners. “We want to put this event on to connect
with the community and have an ole timey Christmas, go back to the basics.”
Get creative at the ribbon bar as you can buy various colored ribbon by the yard and
make your own bow. Local artisan crafts and gift baskets are available for purchase.
Fresh local vegetables are still available.
Normal store hours remain in effect from Tuesday- Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 9am-
1pm.
For more information visit www.johnsonfamilyfarmnc.com or call 828-484-2522.