The SPARC Foundation empowers marginalized people with individualized support; increasing self-sufficiency, family health and community safety. Our mission is to keep residents of Western North Carolina out of institutional care. SPARC’s programs focus on: – keeping adults out of prisons and mental health facilities – keeping children out of foster care or group homes – re-educating domestic abusers; teaching them new methods of interacting with intimate partners and family members – supervising and facilitating DSS court-ordered family visits and coaching parents as they learn new parenting skills – ensuring access to nutritious, free food for low income residents living in designated “food desserts” – offering Family Centered Treatment; in-home therapy designed to support reuniting families – assisting former inmates with employment, education and housing opportunities to increase their chances of success upon re-entering society and decrease recidivism www.thesparcfoundation.org
Calendar of Events
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.
Thursday, September
26, 2019
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
Young Farmers BBQ Mixer
City Dance
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Hickory Nut Gap Farm and the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) have joined together to celebrate all those interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.
On Thursday, September 26th from 5pm to 9pm, all new and future farmers are invited to spend the evening enjoying a buffet of farm-raised bbq, drinks, and fellowship. To start the evening, attendees will enjoy a guided square dancing icebreaker, followed by live music by Bull Moose Party and finally an update from the NYFC on their tireless efforts on capitol hill lobbying for young farmers.
“With the average age of farm owners in the U.S. approaching 60 and all of the food-related challenges ahead of us in the coming decades it can often feel hopeless and daunting to be involved with agriculture in the 21st century. But the truth is, there is hope, there are more and more young and beginning farmers joining our food system every day; but with such a decentralized form of production, these young farmers often don’t have many options to connect with each other, network, and feel encouraged,” says Hickory Nut Gap farm director, Asher Wright. “Here at HNG we have a great event space and kitchen with the capacity to host an event, and so we are very excited to welcome the next generation of producers to our farm to connect with each other and be assured that nobody is alone in this industry.”
5p-6pm: Mingle and Official Welcome
6pm-9pm: Complimentary dinner, drinks, live music
Dinner: BBQ, farm-to-fork sides, fresh breads all prepared by our culinary team at Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Drinks: Each attendee will receive two (2) complimentary drink tickets that can be used for beer, wine, or specialty soft drinks. Water and tea are unlimited. Additional beverages available to purchase.
Beginner’s workshop lesson at 7:30 P.M., then 8-11 P.M. Contra Dance with Country Waltzing at the break and the final dance. This is a partner dance but it’s not necessary to come with a partner. We have different live bands and callers.
Friday, September
27, 2019
Non Profits: Junior League 3rd Annual Volunteer Expo is Now Accepting Applications
Volunteers: Super Hero 5K, Goombay, Urban Odyssey, Under the Stars, Pride Parade
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
Heritage Knits Book Release Party
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
Asheville Running Experience’s Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K, Sept. 21
Be a Super Hero and volunteer at the four aid stations along both courses of the Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K on Saturday, September 21st from 8:30 a.m through 10:30 a.m. In return..
Asheville Running Experience is making a donation to the Asheville Museum of Science (if the minimum number of volunteers is exceeded). If you’re 21 or older, join the after party at the Salvage Station and get one free beer ticket at Salvage Station after you’ve completed your volunteer shift. To sign up for a shift, please fill out this Google Form and contact AMOS Volunteer/Board Member Bryant Korzeniewski at Bryant.Korzeniewski@gmail.
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YMI Cultural Center’s Goombay Festival, Sept 20 – Sept. 22
Drum Roll Please! Volunteers are needed for the 39th Annual Goombay Festival September 20th-22nd at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville. The YMI Cultural Center’s mission is to help promote intercultural ism and the preservation of cultural identity. For more information and to volunteer please contact Dewana Little
at dlittle@ymiculturalcenter.
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Asheville Urban Odyssey, Sept. 22
his urban scavenger hunt will take teams of four around the downtown area via a series of clues to sixteen different locations where they will be required to complete a task before receiving their next clue. Two volunteers will staff each secret location, checking teams in and out, throughout the day. Contact [email protected] directly if you are interested in assisting with this event or sign up by CLICKING HERE.
8 volunteers from a local nonprofit are requested or 2 groups of 4 volunteers (there is a donation compensation for providing volunteers).
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6th Annual Under the Stars Event at Highland Brewing, Sept. 26
AMOS is seeking volunteers to help out during this event from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th. For volunteering at “Under The Stars”, you get a FREE TICKET to the “Under The Stars” INCLUDING 1 FREE beer token (21+ only), FREE food, and a FREE Daily Family Pass to AMOS. Additionally, you get a FREE TICKET to the Sirius.B Show that begins after the conclusion of “Under The Stars” at 9 p.m. To sign up for a volunteer shift, please use this Google Spreadsheet and contact AMOS’ Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@ashevillescience.
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Blue Ridge Pride Festival, September 28
Give us 2-4 hours. Enjoy a day of music and memories — and the knowledge that you helped to bring a community together! You’ll also get a little swag: a 11th Annual Festival Tee Shirt, snacks, a drink ticket, and our new Blue Ridge Pride Center buttons and stickers. Volunteer roles include: setup and breakdown, selling wristbands, beverages or merchandise, and assisting with volunteer check-in or VIP. Learn more and sign up here.
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
We’re hosting a book release party to celebrate our very own Christina Danaee’s Modern Hertiage Knits book. Come join us for food, drinks, and music! See all the knits from the book in person, buy a copy of the book, get it signed, and more!
Saturday, September
28, 2019
Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Volunteers Needed
Non Profits: Junior League 3rd Annual Volunteer Expo is Now Accepting Applications
Volunteers: Super Hero 5K, Goombay, Urban Odyssey, Under the Stars, Pride Parade
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
Sand Hill Community Garden Workday
Meet the Creator of Denton the Dragon!
Art opening at Flood Gallery: “Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.” Photography & Poetry by Oğuz Erdur
Call for Volunteers!! We are grateful that the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo supports conservation of land and water resources — and we need YOUR help to make it happen. Binge volunteers enjoy fun and camaraderie while helping in a variety of ways, from course marshals to Binge party hosting.
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
Asheville Running Experience’s Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K, Sept. 21
Be a Super Hero and volunteer at the four aid stations along both courses of the Super Hero 5K/Super Villain 10K on Saturday, September 21st from 8:30 a.m through 10:30 a.m. In return..
Asheville Running Experience is making a donation to the Asheville Museum of Science (if the minimum number of volunteers is exceeded). If you’re 21 or older, join the after party at the Salvage Station and get one free beer ticket at Salvage Station after you’ve completed your volunteer shift. To sign up for a shift, please fill out this Google Form and contact AMOS Volunteer/Board Member Bryant Korzeniewski at Bryant.Korzeniewski@gmail.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YMI Cultural Center’s Goombay Festival, Sept 20 – Sept. 22
Drum Roll Please! Volunteers are needed for the 39th Annual Goombay Festival September 20th-22nd at Pack Square Park in Downtown Asheville. The YMI Cultural Center’s mission is to help promote intercultural ism and the preservation of cultural identity. For more information and to volunteer please contact Dewana Little
at dlittle@ymiculturalcenter.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Asheville Urban Odyssey, Sept. 22
his urban scavenger hunt will take teams of four around the downtown area via a series of clues to sixteen different locations where they will be required to complete a task before receiving their next clue. Two volunteers will staff each secret location, checking teams in and out, throughout the day. Contact [email protected] directly if you are interested in assisting with this event or sign up by CLICKING HERE.
8 volunteers from a local nonprofit are requested or 2 groups of 4 volunteers (there is a donation compensation for providing volunteers).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6th Annual Under the Stars Event at Highland Brewing, Sept. 26
AMOS is seeking volunteers to help out during this event from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, September 26th. For volunteering at “Under The Stars”, you get a FREE TICKET to the “Under The Stars” INCLUDING 1 FREE beer token (21+ only), FREE food, and a FREE Daily Family Pass to AMOS. Additionally, you get a FREE TICKET to the Sirius.B Show that begins after the conclusion of “Under The Stars” at 9 p.m. To sign up for a volunteer shift, please use this Google Spreadsheet and contact AMOS’ Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@ashevillescience.
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Blue Ridge Pride Festival, September 28
Give us 2-4 hours. Enjoy a day of music and memories — and the knowledge that you helped to bring a community together! You’ll also get a little swag: a 11th Annual Festival Tee Shirt, snacks, a drink ticket, and our new Blue Ridge Pride Center buttons and stickers. Volunteer roles include: setup and breakdown, selling wristbands, beverages or merchandise, and assisting with volunteer check-in or VIP. Learn more and sign up here.
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Community Garden located at the Buncombe County Sports Park.
The mission of Sand HIll Community Garden is to share in garden space, knowledge, and labor with all members of the community. Using organic growing practices we promote community health and wellness by providing fresh produce for garden members and local people in need of food.
Bring the kids and have a fun afternoon with face painting, children’s books and a dragon puppet! Jeff will be signing copies of “The Last Dragon and Other Tales” for purchase.
“Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.”
Photography & Poetry by Oğuz Erdur
Also showing:
Sculptural & Functional Ceramics by Joey Sheehan
Opening reception – Sept. 28 • 6-9 pm
Exhibit through Dec. 30
“Minimalia: The Commonwealth of Sentiments.” is a new photographic exhibit of dream-like, surreal experimentations and poetry by Oğuz Erdur, assistant professor of anthropology at UNC Asheville, from Istanbul, Turkey. The collection of micro-photography images were made with a lensbaby lens. Lensbaby is a line of camera lenses for SLR cameras that combine a simple lens with a bellows or ball and socket mechanism for use in special-effect photography, often used in selective focus photography and bokeh effects. Featuring a hybrid collection of poems, photographic close-ups and prose reflections, the exhibition centers on themes of existential angst and the quest for meaning. Erdur will also be reading his poetry at the exhibit opening.
Joey Sheehan began his study in clay over 14 years ago when he received a BFA in ceramics from Virginia Tech. He completed a 2 year residency at the Odyssey Center and another year there as the studio technician, and has been making pots in Western North Carolina ever since. Sheehan is extremely interested in classical shapes and forms but with a contemporary look at surface. He works to build a relationship between the shape, function, and surface of each piece while also telling a story of the firing process. His work has been shown all over the eastern US and he is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the Piedmont Craftsman.
Sunday, September
29, 2019
Asheville Quilt Show
Non Profits: Junior League 3rd Annual Volunteer Expo is Now Accepting Applications
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
The 37th Asheville Quilt Show includes Demonstrations, Gift shop, Silent Auction, Special Exhibits, Kids Sewing, Quilts for Sale, Opportunity Quilt and food on site. Over 300 quilts from across the country will be exhibited.
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Monday, September
30, 2019
Non Profits: Junior League 3rd Annual Volunteer Expo is Now Accepting Applications
Youth Art Competition Application Deadline October 1, 2019
The Junior League of Asheville, Inc. (JLA) will hold its third annual Volunteer Expo, on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at the Crowne Plaza Expo Center from 10am to 3pm. Modeled after a job fair, this free event will feature more than 70 local nonprofits looking to fill ongoing and future volunteer needs. Nonprofits in almost every area of community concern will be present at the event: health, poverty, legal aid, environmental stewardship, women’s issues, arts, civic leadership, technology, education and animal welfare.
Excitement for the Volunteer Expo continues to grow, with nonprofit participation growing year over year. The 2019 event featured over 70 non-profits with attendance at well over 1,000 community members coming to network and sign up to volunteer with nonprofit organizations.
The 2020 Volunteer Expo will be accepting applications starting in September. Due to the increase in interest for booths at the Expo, this year the League plans to review all applications received instead of awarding booths on a first come first serve basis. They hope this will ensure a good mix of volunteer opportunities in a variety of service areas as well as allow new nonprofits the chance to have a booth at the event. There will be a silent auction fundraiser, Cheers to Volunteers, the evening before the Volunteer Expo from 6pm to 9pm at the Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. All community members are invited to attend both events. If you are a nonprofit interested in participating in the 2020 Volunteer Expo, please email us at [email protected].
Hot Works 4th Asheville Fine Art Show, October 26 & 27, 2019 takes place in Pack Square Park, downtown Asheville. This art show is juried by art professionals and brings artists to sell his/her art in all discipline including paintings, sculpture, clay, glass, fiber, jewelry, wood and more. All art is original and personally handmade by the artist who is present at the show. There is something for everyone, in all price ranges. You will see many artists at this show who do not attend other shows in North Carolina or South Carolina.
As part of our commitment to bring art education into the community, a Youth Art Competition for grades K-8 or ages 5-13 is integrated within a 10×20 space at the Asheville Fine Art Show. Sponsored by Institute for the Arts & Education, the associated 501c3 non-profit organization, all students in grades K-8 or ages 5-13 are encouraged to enter his/her original and personally handmade art that will be publicly displayed in the art show the entire weekend. On Sunday, October 27 at 3pm, there is $250 in youth art awards presented. Students are exposed to the rules and entrepreneurship opportunity of doing art shows for a living. The program brings families to the art show and exposes them to great art.
Wednesday, October
2, 2019
Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo Volunteers Needed
Stephen St. Claire’s “Wild Places” Opening Reception
Storytime & Art
Catch the Wave Celebration
Call for Volunteers!! We are grateful that the Bookwalter Binge Gran Fondo supports conservation of land and water resources — and we need YOUR help to make it happen. Binge volunteers enjoy fun and camaraderie while helping in a variety of ways, from course marshals to Binge party hosting.
Join AC Hotel Asheville to celebrate the arrival of Stephen St. Claire’s art series, “Wild Places.” Enjoy an exclusive look at his captivating paintings, conversation with the artist, light bites and cocktails. A percentage of all sales will go to support Children’s Welfare League. RSVP to [email protected]
Come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones! The Education Department staff is visiting public libraries for preschool storytime at locations near your neighborhood.
Storytime & Art takes place at North Asheville Library on First Wednesdays.
Our program for preschool-aged students accompanied by an adult is at a library near you! During the school year, come join in the fun with stories and songs, then make a hands-on art project just for the little ones.
Join us for a night of celebration and fun October 2nd for our second annual Catch the Wave event hosted by RiverLink! We’ll have live music provided by The Barsters, awesome raffles, food, refreshments, and informational sessions providing updates on the project.
All proceeds from the event will help build the Greenway & Blueway so grab your friends and get ready for a good time!
For more information and tickets please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/woodfin-greenway-blueway-2nd-annual-catch-the-wave-celebration-tickets-69998580639
Special thanks to our amazing co-hosts: Asheville GreenWorks, MountainTrue, Connect Buncombe, and French Broad River Academy
RiverLink is the proud fundraising partner of the Town of Woodfin and Buncombe County Greenways.
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AWESOME RAFFLE PRIZES
Grand Prize Items:
Homeslice Whitewater Kayak from Liquidlogic Kayaks
Raft, Zipline, Yurt Package from Wildwater Ltd.
Bike from Motion Makers Bicycle Shop
Jackson Cruise FlexDrive Fishing Kayak from Southern Raft Supply
Alloy Rim Wheelset and stem by Industry Nine
There will also be a dozen additional runner-up prizes
There will be a separate drawings for each. Raffle participants will put their ticket(s) toward whichever item(s) they wish.
**** YOU NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN**** For those unable to attend the event, tickets for the raffle may be purchased online, and we’ll enter them for you. Winners will be notified by email.
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*Children 12 and under may attend at no charge.
Learn more about the project at https://riverlink.org/
Thursday, October
3, 2019
SPARC After Dark
Catapult at Tryon Fine Arts Center
Nobuntu
Let your little light shine for The SPARC Foundation as we sparkle and glow (feel free to wear your boldest and brightest) along the French Broad River! Hosted by Asheville Affiliates, SPARC After Dark will light up the night to raise funds for programs working to keep people out of institutional care. Modern Strangers will fill the autumn air with high-energy music… and the event will overflow with tasty local food and drinks from Urban Orchard, Roots Hummus, Catabaw Brewing, Mellow Mushroom, and more. Expect spectacular raffle packages and local prizes.
The SPARC Foundation
Catapult is, technically, a shadow dance company. What it really is: a theatrical art form that is an amazingly imaginative combination of dance, story-telling, and sculpture. Founded in 2009, by Adam Battlestein (choreographer, Creative Director and Master Teaching Artist for Pilobolus Dance Theatre for 19 years), Catapult catapulted to fame on Season 8 of America’s Got Talent, earning their way to the finals of the NBC-TV hit show.
Catapult is all about the human body and its ability to transform. The talented Catapult dancers work behind a screen to create seemingly impossible dancing shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us. You won’t believe your eyes as you watch these incredible dancers become a mountain, a full size elephant, a helicopter, a house with a window and people inside the window. You will never figure out how they do it, and you won’t know what they will make next – you will be surprised and delighted again and again. Audiences of all ages love what appear to be effortless transformations and applaud over and over as more and more unbelievable images appear.
Catapult’s “Magic Shadows” show is packed with hundreds of shape transformations, and it is full of humor, emotion, and engaging stories. There are 8 fully realized stories told through music and shadows and 6 short shadow dance videos which play between the live dances – brief moments of poetry or humor which perfectly cleanse the palate and prepare the audience for their next shadow journey. Audiences leave this show dazed and happy, and they will never look at their own shadow the same way again!
Nobuntu — Thursday, October 3, 2019, 8 p.m. The five voices of Nobuntu echo with power and intensity, emanating pure joy while embodying the spirit of the artists’ Zimbabwe home. An all-female a cappella vocal quintet, Nobuntu draws international acclaim for its inventive performances that are accompanied by minimalistic percussion, traditional instruments and organic, authentic dance movements
Friday, October
4, 2019
Street Creatures & Dancing Beasts Exhibit
“A Tribute To The Feminine Spirit” A Solo Art Show by Stuart Engel
An Evening with Cornflower
NC Dance Festival
Asheville
$5 at the door
Please join us on October 4, from 5 to 8 pm for the opening party. Performance of “Nona’s Cooking Show” marionette show is at 6:30.
Exhibit open 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, at 207 Coxe Ave, downtown Asheville, through October 25.
“Street Creatures and Dancing Beasts” will celebrate Asheville’s vibrant puppetry scene as an Asheville Area Arts Council exhibit. It will display puppets made by local artists showing diverse styles and forms in a range of sizes and materials. A menagerie of animals, both real and imaginary, will dance around the gallery. Puppetry is often relegated to the world of children’s entertainment, but this art form is ancient, multi faceted and almost limitless in scope. It requires the skills of an artist, tinkerer and performer, writer, musician and dancer.
Curator and artist Jennifer Murphy is one of the founders of Street Creature Puppet Collective, and “den mother” of the Puppet Clubhouse, a bright and lively community art space in North Asheville. Her work brings nature and myth together in ecological pageants. The other artists included use diverse visual styles and approaches.
Represented are long time puppetry master Hobey Ford, winner of puppetry’s highest honor, the UNIMA Citation of Excellence; Luce Romaldini, who’s rough charming cardboard figures tell uncomfortable truths; Edwin Salas, international puppeteer and dancer who conjures strange creatures of the dark side; Jim Julien, graphic designer and co-director of the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival; Chris Eizember, creative tinkerer and bamboo sculptor; Geneva Bierce-Wilson, fiber artist, inventor and maker of small dragons and large worms; and Street Creature Puppet Collective, a community of collaborative parade puppet makers.
Stuart Engel has been painting and drawing for his entire life. In the late 70’s he started his professional art career after moving to Boulder, CO, from the DC area. Since then Stuart has raised three girls, participated in numerous Gallery Shows, and sold his art worldwide to collectors. Since moving to Asheville 19 years ago, he has shown at such notable places as Zapow Gallery, The Woolworth Walk, and The Official Warren Christmas Jam Art Show.
Over the years, Stuart has been primarily known for creating dynamic portraits of musicians with acrylic paint and sand. He says he is inspired by “music, color, and the search to capture the feeling of movement.” Indeed, these paintings express the spirit of music and dance in a way that is undeniably one of a kind.
For the past three years, however, Stuart has shifted his focus away from musicians to a new body of work, consisting of six separate themed shows. “A Tribute To The Feminine Spirit,” the first of these shows to debut publicly, will explore feminine themes and how they inspire the artist.
“A Tribute To The Feminine Spirit” opens October 4th, with a reception from 7-9pm at ZaPow Gallery. The show runs through October 26th.
More information:
Website: Stuart-Engel.artistwebsites.com
Instagram: @stuartengel42
Facebook: StuArtOriginals
? ASHEVILLE CONCERT THIS FRIDAY!
I am STOKED to bring this transformational music and movement concert experience to the Asheville Community at Violet Owl Wellness in Downtown Asheville!
Asheville was an oasis for me growing up in East Tennessee. I could just drive over the most beautiful mountains to find myself in a fresh new perspective on life. I saw some of the best concerts in Asheville while in high school and it is full circle for me to now bring my music to this beautiful city.
RSVP now @ Cornflower at Asheville NC and tag (or invite) your Asheville friends in the comments below!
See you on the Dance Floor!
ALL LOVE, Cornflower
Experience the energy and talent of professional dance artists from across NC with the 29th Season of the NC Dance Festival. The Festival aims to support the creation of new choreography and the presentation of high-quality repertory, build and strengthen relationships between dance artists within the state, and provide access to and education about modern and contemporary dance to audiences and students.
Vania Claiborne (Greensboro) presents (Bro)tha/Brother, a duet for two men that celebrates and explores black male joy, friendship, and humanity.
In Studio C Projects (Durham) atmospheric Two, three dancers follow two sets of movement instructions that test the accuracy of memory in response to a shifting environment.
MARO Movement (Southern Pines) explores the sometimes taboo topic of mortality and vulnerability with Impact, inspired by choreographer Matthew Rocks late grandmother.
The multigenerational dancers of Durhams Big Red Dance Project, ranging in age from 38-78 and directed by Gerri Houlihan, reveal the melodic and rhythmic complexities of J.S. Bachs Violin Concerto in A Minor in Dances for the Time Being.
Wilmington’s Alyona Amato presents Its All About Me, an ensemble dance that combines video and movement to capture the sense of competition and self-centeredness that can characterize our modern culture.
Local Asheville company Stewart/Owen presents an excerpt of a new theatrical work that broadly speaks to power, control, vulnerability, and how human beings manifest each of those qualities and surrender to them.