May 3 – June 26, 2024 MON – SAT 11 – 6SUN 11 – 5

Artists: Caleb Clark, Bryant Holsenbeck, Bill Killebrew, Inigo Navarro, Isaac Payne, Amy Putansu, Daniel Robbins, Peggy Root, and Deborah Squier.

This group exhibition features paintings, collages, and sculptures that embody the alluring ambiance between sunrise and sunset. Plein air paintings capture the scattered, sleepy light of Dawn; Collaged drawings depict sidewalks blanketed by moonlight; Mixed-media sculptures portray nocturnal animals. Each artist reminds us of the recurrent and striking period of time when the atmosphere is neither totally dark, nor completely lit.

In the early 1900s, travel by train and automobile became more accessible in the United States, leading to an increase in tourism and a revitalized interest in landscape painting. The relative ease of transportation, as well as the creation of National Parks, allowed people to experience the breathtaking landscapes of the United States in new ways. Artists traveled along popular routes, recording the terrain they encountered.

This exhibition explores the sublime natural landscapes of the Smokey Mountains of Western North Carolina and Tennessee. While there were several regional schools of painting around this time, this group is largely from the Midwest and many of the artists trained at the Art Institute of Chicago or in New York City. Through their travels, they captured waterfalls, sunsets, thunderstorms, autumn foliage, lush green summers, and snow-covered mountains—elements that were novel for viewers from cities and rural areas. Though some of these paintings include people, they are usually used for scale and painted with little to no detail, highlighting the magnificence of nature.

Rudolph F. Ingerle, Mirrored Mountain, not dated, oil on canvas, 28 × 32 inches. Courtesy of Allen & Barry Huffman, Asheville Art Museum.

Robert Turner (1913-2005) arrived at Black Mountain College in 1949 to establish the first studio pottery program at the College. He worked with student architect Paul Williams to design the Potshop and stayed until 1951 as a teacher and potter. There he formed lifelong friendships with M.C. Richards, Joe Fiore, and Natasha Goldowski Renner, and was part of the lively mix of art and ideas generated by Clement Greenberg, Katherine Litz, Kenneth Noland, Theodoros Stamos, and many others. Turner’s education prior to his arrival at Black Mountain included Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Barnes Foundation, Penland School of Crafts, and Alfred University.

After Black Mountain, Turner and his family moved to Alfred Station, NY where they bought a farm, and he established a successful studio pottery practice and actively exhibited his work in galleries across the U.S. In 1958 he began teaching pottery and sculpture at Alfred University where he would lead the ceramics program until his retirement in 1979. In addition to his influential teaching position at Alfred, Turner taught at Penland, Haystack, and Anderson Ranch helping a new generation of artists and potters develop their work and establishing his own reputation as a gifted teacher.

Robert Turner’s travels to Africa and to the American Southwest proved to be important life experiences and important to his growth as an artist. Over his lifetime he received many awards for his work, but his humble, gentle demeanor and Quaker background helped keep him centered while also remaining open to exploration and discovery in nature and life.

The exhibition will include work by some of Turner’s students and colleagues at BMC, Alfred University, and Penland as well as work by contemporary ceramic artists whose work fits within the context of the show. Artists include: Meredith Brickell, Cynthia Bringle, Marjorie Dial, Cynthia Homire, Bill C. Jones, Bobby Kaddis, Karen Karnes, Eric Knoche, Jeannine Marchand, Neil Noland, Daniel Rhodes, M.C. Richards, Gay Smith, Tom Spleth, Adele Suska, Lydia C. Thompson, Xavier Toubes, Jerilyn Virden, Peter Voulkos, David Weinrib, and Kensuke Yamáda.

I wanted to work with clay so that the way it moved, the vitality of clay, is not meeting something that’s been on the drawing board. It’s using clay with abstraction to start with and then seeing what it’s going to do, how it will move and change, and always surprise you.

Curated by Alice Sebrell, Director of Preservation

Bender Gallery Artists Featured in Asheville Art Museum Exhibition The New Salon: A Contemporary View The Asheville Art Museum will be opening their exhibit, The New Salon: A Contemporary View, on March 8 and it will run until August 19, 2024. The New Salon offers a modern take on the prestigious tradition of the Parisian Salon with the diversity and innovation of today’s art world. Guest-curated by Gabriel Shaffer, the show will include works from Pop Surrealism, Outsider Art, Street Art, and Graffiti genres.   Bender Gallery has been collaborating with the Asheville Art Museum to loan four paintings from three of our artists. The artists are Laine Bachman, Kukula, and Yui Sakamoto. Be sure to check out this special exhibition in downtown Asheville. Learn More Kukula, Impossible Voyage, oil on board, 48 x 24 inches Kukula (b. 1980, Israel) Nataly Abramovitch, better known in the art world as, Kukula, paints imagined worlds filled with elaborately dressed women in fanciful settings. The artist does extensive research on the layouts of paintings from the Renaissance and Rococo periods. Kukula subverts these images by depicting women characters in place of traditionally male positions and settings. Her characters are powerful, commanding, and have an air of indifference. Available Work Yui Sakamoto, Self Portrait, oil on canvas, 63 x 63 inches Yui Sakamoto (b. 1981, Japan) Our surrealist artist, Yui Sakamoto, will have two paintings featured including My Soul and Self Portrait. Self Portrait is still available from his recent solo exhibition at Bender Gallery. Standing in front of Self Portrait, one is immersed in the dual-worlds of Sakamoto’s Japanese and Mexican cultures. There is a sense of calm reflected in the repeating rose pattern, mixed with the uneasy realization that the coral, fungi, and otherworldly forms are what makeup the figure. Available Work Laine Bachman, Night Bloomers, acrylic on canvas, 18 x 24 inches Laine Bachman (b. 1974, USA) Our prolific Magical Realism artist, Laine Bachman, makes a feature in the exhibition with her painting, Night Bloomers. She has been hard at work making 17 new pieces for her solo exhibition at the Canton Art Museum in Canton, Ohio. The Canton show opens on April 28 and continues through to July 28, 2024. Available Work

When one thinks of the necessities of life, one element immediately comes to mind: water. When one thinks of modern abstraction, the dynamic realm of contemporary art where boundaries are blurred and creativity knows no limits, one name shines brightly: Patricia Hargrove.

The Asheville Gallery of Art proudly presents its June exhibit of Hargove’s series that depicts the powers of water to energize, refresh and heal the soul and body. This masterful exhibit runs June 1-30, with an opening reception on Friday, June 7 from 5-7:30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Buncombe County Public Library is thrilled to announce The Hop Ice Cream as a proud supporting partner of this year’s Summer Reading Program to encourage youth literacy in our community. The Hop will provide free ice cream at the Summer Library Fest on Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m.-noon at East Asheville Library. For added fun, The Hop owner Greg Garrison will collaborate with Secret Agent 23 Skidoo to provide a special dance performance to families in attendance.

Any kid or teen who visits a Buncombe County library to pick up their summer reading activity sheet will also receive a 10 percent off coupon redeemable at any Hop location or at Pop Bubble Tea. Return your completed activity sheet to any branch and receive a bookmark for a free kiddie scoop of ice cream at any Hop location. You must complete 10 or more activities on your sheet to be eligible for ice cream – and you can also select a free book of your choice!

Summer Reading runs from June 1 to  August 31 and is open to anyone from birth to age 18.  If you have any questions, just contact your friendly neighborhood library.

A Journey to Self-Care at the Pisgah Valley Health Fair
Embark on a transformative journey and unlock the doors to holistic well-being at the Pisgah Valley Health Fair on June 19th, from 1-3:30pm. This event guarantees to be a haven for those seeking to nurture their mind, body, and spirit. This self-care extravaganza boasts an array of experiences and resources designed to empower individuals on their path to optimal wellness. Including fitness class demonstrations and information from local wellness leaders in acupuncture, aromatherapy, nutrition, travel, physical therapy, natural herbs, and home health. Representatives from Manna Food Bank, The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, AARP Mountain Region, and The Alzheimer’s Association will also be providing important educational resources during this event.

Join us for a relaxing ride through quiet countryside on your way to small-town life in Western North Carolina on the Tuckasegee River Excursion. Departing from Bryson City, this 4-hour excursion travels 32 miles round-trip to Dillsboro and back to the Bryson City Depot. Pass by the famous movie set of The Fugitive starring Harrison Ford!

The Tuckasegee (tuck-uh-SEE-jee) River Excursion includes an 1 hour and 20 minute layover in the historic town of Dillsboro, where you’ll find more than 50 shops, restaurants, a brewery, and country inns. There is time to shop, snack, and visit the many unique shops before returning to Bryson City. Please refer to the map below for a layout of Dillsboro.

Itinerary

Below is an outline of this train’s excursion. Please refer to this train’s schedule for exact departure times.

Given the nature of railroading, durations are approximate and subject to change with

Embark on an unforgettable journey of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit as the Playhouse proudly presents The Shawshank Redemption. Based on Steven King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, and its subsequent 1994 film adaptation, this captivating story has enthralled audiences around the world. Prepare to be riveted, moved, and inspired by this timeless tale of hope and reclamation as it comes to life on the Playhouse stage!

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.

Join us for postcard writing to get out the vote! We are fun people, joining together for all Democrats.

This is an easy way to help elect Democrats! Cards, names, and pens provided. We would gladly accept postcard stamps, but not required.

Who should attend: Precinct 45.1 Dems and any Democrat interested in helping elect more Democrats.

Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market, 3-6pm, On Wednesdays through October, check out the Etowah Lions Club Farmers Market,
which showcases local farmers, vendors and artisans and the delicious produce the area is known for, all items sold here are
made by or grown by the vendor

LEAF Global is excited to be a part of Juneteenth on The Block, Wednesday, June 19. LEAF will be hosting art-making on the parklet (just outside our front door) from 4-7 p.m.

From our neighbors, The Block Collaborative: “The Block neighborhood will come alive with various pop-in events hosted by neighbors throughout the day. The festivities will culminate in an evening gathering at The Foundry’s Workshop Lounge, where we will enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and fellowship. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community, celebrate freedom, and honor this historic day. Don’t miss out on this vibrant and meaningful event with LEAF Global Arts,  PennyCup Coffee, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Noir Collective, Asheville Crafted Edge, JD Ellison & Company, and more!”

This year’s election will be won by mobilizing voters who want to preserve our democracy and protect the rights of our citizens. Our phone bankers will be reaching out to likely supporters in your precincts who don’t vote on a regular basis. We will also be making separate calls in your precincts to recruit more volunteers for our efforts.

IF YOU HAVE A LAPTOP, PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING IT TO THE PHONE BANK. If you don’t have one, just be sure you bring your personal email login information (User ID & password) and you can use one of our Chromebooks. If you’ve canvassed or phone banked for Democrats in the past, you likely have an Action ID account, so please be sure to bring that login information as well. Of course, you will also need your cell phone.

Phone banking remains one of the best practices for winning elections and our phone banks are designed to reach those voters who rarely pick up their calls. We’ll leave a message on their voice mail, then also text them the same message. When someone does pick up their call, you’ll possibly have a lively conversation because we are targeting supporters!

The Asheville Downtown Association is thrilled to announce the return of the beloved Pritchard Park Arts and Culture Series, made possible through a generous partnership with the Trina Mullen Foundation, City of Asheville Parks and Recreation, ArtsAVL, and Explore Asheville. This summer series will run from May 28 through August 30, featuring exciting activations every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Wednesdays: Asheville Museum of Science

Dive into a world of discovery with interactive science activities, including bubbles and noise machines. This family-friendly event promises to engage and entertain all ages with hands-on experiments and demonstrations.

Explore hands on activities and experiments while we learn about the Science of Bubbles or the Science of Sound. Every other week we will play and learn together using a variety of tools, instruments, and toys. AMOS has a plethora of science to intrigue the zeal of every learner!

Sing songs that celebrate Peace & Community, with Resident Teaching Artist Melissa McKinney. Sing, play, drum, and dance while learning songs from the Justice Choir Songbook.

Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
$15 drop-in class
All ages welcome.

Celebrate the music of the Wu-Tang Clan with great cocktails, mocktails, hot dogs, veggie dogs, and sweet treats inspired by the legendary rap group. Free all ages pop up event! 21 and up for bar.

Karaoke Night at Hickory Tavern

An evening of original songs in the natural acoustics and listening room atmosphere of the beautiful and historic Brandy Bar. The program happens the 3rd Wednesday in each month and this month features: Andy Bracken, Letters to Abigail & Charlie Wilkinson. Andy Bracken is a singer songwriter from Hendersonville North Carolina. His music is deeply rooted in the music, lore and traditions of Appalachia.
James Harrell And Kelli Redmond are the married songwriting duo behind Letters To Abigail. To listen to their music is like being in on a well-kept secret. They have a special, close harmony, and their songs feature melodic storytelling lyrics that invite you to lean in to hear every word.

Charlie Wilkinson has been writing and performing since the late 60’s, from Washington, D. C., to Florida and to other foreign lands. He has been fortunate to live in fascinating places, during exciting times, and around wonderful people, especially here in Western North Carolina.
With hosts Mare Carmody and Charlie Wilkinson. For more info contact [email protected]

369 Monologue and Short Play Festival is back again for the second year in a row, and still features nine evenings filled with fifteen heart-warming, dramatic, funny, heartbreaking, and provocative theatrical pieces. This year, just in time for Juneteenth, Pride, and Father’s Day, the festival focuses on stories about PRIDE as it is experienced by a cross-section of humans of varying race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and personhood. Join us as we mix and match 6 short plays, and 9 monologues during the course of 3 weekends, for 10 different evenings of entertainment. Check out our packages to save on tickets to multiple evenings!  Note: If you’re interested in seeing all the shows, your best bet is a 3-package deal (go on a different night each week (ex. Th.  Fri.  Sat., Fri.  Sat. Thu., or Sat. Thu. Fri.).

This year we will ask each audience member to vote on their favorite monologue and play, following each performance, to create an afternoon of audience favorites! Please be sure to join us on Sunday, June 23rd at 3 pm for The Best Of 369!

Thursday – Saturday, June 6-22, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.

Embark on an unforgettable journey of resilience, friendship, and the triumph of the human spirit as the Playhouse proudly presents The Shawshank Redemption. Based on Steven King’s novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, and its subsequent 1994 film adaptation, this captivating story has enthralled audiences around the world. Prepare to be riveted, moved, and inspired by this timeless tale of hope and reclamation as it comes to life on the Playhouse stage!

*Adult language and content. Parental discretion is advised.