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.
Being an artist can be a lonely endeavor. RAD Collabs seeks to inspire artists to leave behind solitary work habits, encourage new friendships and inspire imaginative art.
We put the word out to Asheville-area artists earlier this year and had an overwhelming response from painters, potters, metalsmiths, woodworkers and others who expressed an interest in working with glassblowers.
The work exhibited in this show will shine the light on these new partnerships. Come see the show and watch glassblowers in action all at the same time!
Pictured is a collaboration between Joe Nicholson and Vanessa Tsumura.
The synergy of vibrant outsider art created locally and shared with Tryon Fine Arts has resulted
in a one-of-a-kind art exhibit opening June 1, 2022. The Skateboard: Re-purposed includes
works from North Carolina, Oregon, California, England and Germany. Seven artists are
featured, including Tryon’s own Jonathan Caple, Nicholas Harding (England), Matt Mercurio,
George Rocha, Michael Mauney, Paris Evans and Folk Dunker (Gemany).
Skateboarding has been popular for over a century and is now experiencing a resurgence in both
the sports arena and the art world—it became an Olympic sport in 2020 and was part of a
successful 2019 Sotheby’s auction, with boards by, among others, Damien Hirst and Marilyn
Minter.
Skateboards re-purposed as art will be on exhibit in TFAC’s Parker Gallery beginning June 1,
2022. The exhibit will feature skateboard art in many sizes and forms including graceful
sculptures, nature art, chairs, wall art, a crocheted piece, photographs, and more. Several of the
exhibit pieces will be for sale, supporting both the artists and TFAC as the exhibit sponsor.
The public is invited to attend the opening reception on June 9 from 5 – 7 PM, where they can
also meet local skateboard artist, Jonathan Caple. The exhibit will be on display through to the
end of July 2022.
To access the gallery, plan to enter through the Pavilion at the rear of Tryon Fine Arts Center.
Free parking is available behind TFAC and on surrounding side streets. For more information,
call 828-859-8322 or visit www.tryonarts.org.
“LIFE ART LIFE William Bernstein 50 year retrospective” exhibition August 6-October 9, 2022 at the Toe River Arts’ Kokol Gallery, Spruce Pine, NC, features the paintings and glass of this artist who has been on the forefront of the studio glass movement.
Graduating 1968 from the Philadelphia College of Arts and just married, Bernstein moved to Penland School of Crafts to be their second glass resident artist from 1968-70. He was a co-founder of the Glass Arts Society (GAS) that formed to bring together the glass community so people could work together and learn from each other. Receiving numerous awards, fellowships and grants, he has exhibited internationally and has artwork in many private and public collections. Bernstein has lived most of his professional life in the rural Celo community of Yancey, North Carolina along with his family and artist wife, Katherine Bernstin. This retrospective provides a great opportunity for one to imagine a life surrounded by art.
This has been not only been a year-long process of curating pieces for an exhibit, but a lifetime of making art that connects with all things about one’s life. Bernstein’s work in glass and paint showcases just that: his family, his pets, friends, his environs, his moods and so much more. A life well-lived in creating art. More on Bernstein Glass www.bernsteinglass.com
William Warmus (A Fellow and former curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum), writes for the exhibition catalog, “Bernstein is a minimalist whose style is based upon the dedication to the concepts of honesty, modesty, and humility. It has a feel of its surroundings and of the people of the region.”
The Toe River Arts Kokol Gallery is located at 269 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. The exhibition dates: August 6 – October 9, 2022. Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30 – 5:00 pm. 828-765-0520, www.toeriverarts.org
Public receptions on Fridays: August 12 and October 7, both 5:00-7:00 PM. Artist gallery talk Friday, August 12, 4:00 pm. The exhibition travels to Cary Arts Center November 30 – January 21, 2023.
Coinciding with the United Nations’ Year 2022 as the Year of Glass and the 60th Anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement, this has been made possible by Toe River Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Cary Art Center, Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, the Blumenthal Foundation, and Mountain Electronics in Micaville, NC.
Jessie B. Telfair, Freedom Quilt, 1983, cotton with pencil, 74 × 68 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, NY, gift of Judith Alexander in loving memory of her sister, Rebecca Alexander, 2004.9.1. © Estate of Jessie. B. Telfair, image Gavin Ashworth.
American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection showcases over 80 stellar works of folk and self-taught art including assemblages, needlework, paintings, pottery, quilts, and sculpture. Organized by the American Folk Art Museum in New York, this exhibition will be on view in the Explore Asheville Exhibition Hall at the Asheville Art Museum from June 18 through September 5, 2022. Everyone has stories to tell from both the private and mutual experiences encountered throughout their lifetime. American folk and self-taught artists capture these stories in powerful visual narratives that offer firsthand testimonies to chapters in the unfolding story of America from its inception to the present. Beautiful, diverse, and truthful; the art illuminates the thoughts and experiences of individuals with an immediacy that is palpable and unique to these expressions. These artworks held meaning in the makers’ worlds filtered through their own perceptions.
The artworks are organized into four sections—Founders, Travelers, Philosophers, and Seekers—that respond to such themes as nationhood, freedom, community, imagination, opportunity, and legacy. Evocative visual juxtapositions and accessible contextual information further reveal the vital role that folk art plays as a witness to history, carrier of cultural heritage, and a reflection of the world at large through the eyes, heart, and mind of the artist.
“While the Asheville Art Museum exhibits many folk and self-taught artists, most are local to the Southeast,” says Whitney Richardson, associate curator. “American Perspectives adds a national voice to the conversation by adding New England, Midwestern, Southwestern, and West Coast artworks that the Museum could never achieve alone. The amount of creative output from folk and self-taught artists was (and still is) on a national level and this exhibition helps to put that into a clear context. Traveling to Asheville from the collection of the American Folk Art Museum in New York, this exhibition will complement and expand the Museum’s ongoing conversations around American history and storytelling through works of art.”
This exhibition has been organized by the American Folk Art Museum, NY, with support provided by Art Bridges. Originally curated for installation at the American Folk Art Museum February 11, 2020–January 3, 2021 by Stacy C. Hollander, independent curator. Tour coordinated by Emelie Gevalt, Curator of Folk Art and Curatorial Chair for Collections, the American Folk Art Museum.
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| Richard Misrach, Wall, Jacumba, California, 2009, pigment print, 60 × 80 inches. Courtesy the Artist. © Richard Misrach, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco.. |
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| Draped and Veiled: 20×24 Polaroid Photographs by Joyce Tenneson showcases Joyce Tenneson’s Transformations series, which she began in 1985 and engaged with through 2005. Transformations features partially or fully nude figures poetically presented; Tenneson’s photographs have always been interested in the magic of the human figure, contained within bodies of all ages and emotions in a broad range that are both vulnerable and bold. This exhibition features 12 large Polaroids from the poetic series. Draped and Veiled will be on view May 25–October 10, 2022. |
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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.
Visitors to the Asheville Gallery of Art will be able to view Robin Altman’s show from August 1st through August 31st. They will be present for a special “Meet the Artist” event on First Friday, August 5th, from 5pm-8pm in the gallery at 82 Patton Avenue.
Robin Wethe Altman was raised in a family of artists and musicians, so luckily there was plenty of support for her artistic leanings. The artist colony of Laguna Beach, California was where she grew up and she participated in the town’s galleries as well as the Summer Art Festivals there. Winning an art scholarship from the Festival of Arts, Robin went on to study art at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. She traveled abroad with college groups to study the art of the great masters as well
as to paint on location. Presently Altman licenses her artwork to several companies that produce her work as puzzles and paint by numbers and such. The artist’s move to Asheville four years ago has proved to be a great boost in inspiration for the artist in her search for diversity and adventure.
Altman’s style of painting is recognizable and bold. Professor James Green, who she studied with at Principia College, would admonish his students to avoid painting “wallpaper”. He said that paintings should be made to stand out from the walls and be seen. Strong contrast and color helps to create such a painting. A well thought-out design is requisite to capture the attention and soothe the viewer psychologically.
In the painting, “Jumping Fences”, Altman makes the point that, in the mountains, nature is pervasive as she climbs and grows around and over man made barriers such as fences. The painting beacons the viewer to see beyond limitations as well, to the ever expanding mountain vistas.
Besides the magnificent landscape of the Appalachian Mountains, there is the charm of its animal life. In her painting of the bear, Altman depicts the quietude of the lumbering creature as her outstretched neck invites us to smell the fragrant mountain air with her as she scopes out the morning view.
Winter need not be a depressing time. To the contrary, in Altman’s painting, “Birch Trees in Winter”, there is a transcendent glow that bathes the whole snowy scene with warmth. The painting illustrates the introspective mood that penetrates a winter’s day. The birds are evidence that life is continuing even in winter. The winter season provides a time of rest to both nature and people in which to reflect on life and what matters the most.
It’s no wonder that sages of all time would go to the mountains to find serenity. This exhibit is about the peace of mind and clarity that comes from an artist making her home in the mountains.
It’s inspiring to think about the first European settlers coming to the Appalachian Mountains. “In the painting titled, “The Highlander”, I endeavored to capture the confident spirit of the kind of men who first dared to make the New World their home.” The Scotsman’s eyes appear just over Grandfather Mountain and his shoulders align with the slope of the mountains. The colors in the man and his clothes are echoed in the mountain colors, as if mountain and man were one and the same. The rugged gentleman’s eyes look directly at the viewer and special emphasis is given to his hands.
Robin’s artwork can be found under “Robin Wethe Altman” on Etsy, Fine Art America and Facebook and her website is: www.robinwethealtman.com
ince 2003, the Bearfootin’ Art Walk has helped raise funding for Downtown Hendersonville and a variety of local non-profits. In addition to raising funds, the bears offer a window into good work being done by community organizations in Henderson County.
The Bearfootin’ Bears arrive as blank slates before local artists transform each in a spectacular fashion, with creative themes ranging from Mona Lisa to Blue Ridge Mountain scenery. After the “Reveal” event in early May, the bears then take up residence in downtown Hendersonville for the duration of the summer and fall, up until auction. Participants bid during the auction to raise funds for local non-profits and Downtown Hendersonville. Winning bids up to $3,000 are split evenly between the downtown program and the nonprofit chosen by the sponsor, while bid amounts exceeding $3,000 are directed entirely to the non-profit. In 2021, the Bears raised more than $100,000, and in 2022 we hope to continue the tradition of giving.
Buncombe County Election Services wants to see your designs for the ever-popular ‘I Voted’ sticker. “We rolled out a custom Buncombe County branded sticker for the mid-term primary election and so many people loved it, says Election Services Director Corinne Duncan. “We want to see how creative the community can get.” Break out your colored pens, roll up your sleeves, show your civic pride, and show us your best ‘I Voted,’ sticker design.
WHO: Any young person, ages 13-18 that is a resident of Buncombe County is eligible to participate.
WHAT: Design a logo that we will use to create 2-inch “I Voted” stickers and digital graphics that can be used for sharing for the Nov. 8, 2022 Mid-Term Election. I Voted must appear somewhere in the design, but the rest is up to you.
WHEN: Artwork will be collected until Sept. 2, 2022. The Buncombe County Board of Elections will select the top three designs and then – of course – we open the contest up to the community to vote on the top designs on our website at engage.buncombecounty.org. From Sept. 7-21 cast your vote for your favorite design. The winning artwork will be selected from the top vote getters and announced on Sept. 22, 2022. Stickers will be distributed during the General Election to all voters in Buncombe County.
HOW: Send us your artwork – Photo, PDF, JPEG to [email protected]
El condado de Buncombe vota en el concurso de calcomanías “Yo voté”
Los Servicios Electorales del Condado de Buncombe quieren ver sus diseños para la calcomanía más popular calcomanía “Yo voté”. “Lanzamos una calcomanía personalizada con la marca del condado de Buncombe para las elecciones primarias de mitad de período y a mucha gente le encantó, dice la directora de Servicios Electorales, Corinne Duncan. “Queremos ver qué tan creativa puede llegar a ser la comunidad”. Saca tus bolígrafos de colores, súbete las mangas, muestra tu orgullo cívico y muéstranos tu mejor diseño de pegatina “Yo voté”.
QUIÉN: Se puede participar cualquier joven de 13 a 18 años que sea residente del condado de Buncombe.
QUÉ: Diseñar un logotipo que se convertirá en calcomanía de 2 pulgadas “Yo voté” y gráficos digitales que se pueden usar para compartir en las elecciones de mitad de período del 8 de noviembre de 2022. Yo voté debe aparecer en alguna parte del diseño, pero el resto depende de ti.
CUÁNDO: Las obras de arte se pueden enviar hasta el 2 de septiembre de 2022. La Junta Electoral del Condado de Buncombe seleccionará los tres mejores diseños y luego, por supuesto, abriremos el concurso a la comunidad para votar por los mejores diseños en nuestro sitio web Para participar.buncombecounty.org. Del 7 al 21 de septiembre elija su voto para su diseño favorito. La obra de arte ganadora se seleccionará entre las que tengan la mayor cantidad de votos y se anunciará el 22 de septiembre de 2022. Se distribuirán calcomanías durante las elecciones generales a todos los votantes del condado de Buncombe.
CÓMO: envíe su obra de arte: foto, PDF, JPEG a [email protected]
The Omni Grove Park Inn, an award-winning, 513-room resort set in the idyllic Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes from downtown Asheville, N.C., is celebrating The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™, which is the nation’s largest, hosted at the resort annually. Beginning July 6, 2022 the competition registration is officially now open here through November 14, 2022. The competition will be held and winners will be announced on November 21, 2022.
New elements for The 30th National Gingerbread House Competition™ include:
- Introduction of 10th Judge, Ashleigh Shanti, chef/owner of Good Hot Fish & 2020 James Beard finalist.
- Addition of six brand-new specialty awards and increased prizes (60% increase to years past) across the four age categories, which include Best Use of Sprinkles, Most Unique Ingredient, Longest Standing Competitor, Best Use of Color, Pop Culture Star, Most Innovative Structure, and Best Use of Spice.
- All registered competitors will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite piece of the entire competition to determine the winner of the new People’s Choice: Best in Show award.
The full press release announcing the official rules and entry forms can be found here and below, and a highlight reel and hi-res imagery from last year’s competition can be found here. Please let me know if you will consider the news on behalf of The Omni Grove Park Inn!
Since 1977, the North Carolina Arts Council’s Grassroots Arts Program (GAP) has provided North Carolina citizens access to quality arts experiences. Using a per capita based formula, the program provides funding for the arts in all 100 counties of the state through partnerships with local arts councils. The Grassroots Grant Program is made possible by the Grassroots Arts Program of North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, and Buncombe County Government.
The Grassroot Arts Program provides programmatic and operating support for nonprofit arts organizations in Buncombe County. Grants for FY23 will range from $2,500-7,500 dollars depending on the size of the organization. The deadline to apply is September 15, 2022.
Multicultural programs and organizations located outside of the City of Asheville will receive special consideration. To be considered a multicultural organization the mission of the organization must be focused on supporting African American, Asian American, Latino, or Native American cultures. For a program to be considered multicultural it must be conducted by artists, ensembles, or organizations of color.
Over the past two years, artist-researcher, community organizer, and Center for Craft grant recipient, Macon Reed has built Hello Death, Where Have You Been All My Life? an immersive installation that harnesses the social function of ritual space to reflect, process grief, heal, and envision alternative futures.
The art gallery at Asheville Regional Airport is showcasing 3 local artists in its newest exhibit. Revive highlights a variety of creations from sculpture and pottery to mixed media pieces.
The artists each bring a unique perspective of new life to their work. Mark Crossley’s botanical studies are realized in copper sculptures. Mark Flowers’ mixed media designs tell stories that are a cause for reflection. Akira Satake’s pottery uses traditional Japanese firing and glazing methods to create classic and unique forms.
“As hundreds of thousands of travelers pass through our airport during this exhibit, we are proud to show off these local artists and give visitors and residents a taste of the creativity in our region,” said Alexandra Ingle, Brand and Experience Designer at AVL and curator of the gallery.
Artwork can be purchased from the gallery by emailing [email protected]. Details about the program and how to apply can be found on the airport’s website at flyavl.com.
Contact Marianne at 828-859-8322 or email [email protected] to learn more.
ReUse Contest Guidelines
WHEN
The contest begins on August 1, 2022 and ends on September 30, 2022. Winners will be announced in October.
WHO
Anyone! (Except employees of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity)
WHAT
The Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore is hosting the 11th annual ReUse Contest to showcase innovative building projects constructed predominantly of used building materials.
Winners will be selected in the following categories:
- Furniture: $200 ReStore gift card
- Homesteading (i.e. chicken coop, raised bed): $200 ReStore gift card
- Live and/or work space: $200 ReStore gift card
- Art: $200 ReStore gift card
- Home Decor: $200 ReStore gift card
- Vans & Vehicles: $200 ReStore gift card
- Best in Show: $500 ReStore gift card
Winners will be announced in a press release, on Asheville Habitat’s website and social media pages, and featured in the Asheville Habitat ReStore.
OTHER DETAILS
- Entries must be submitted electronically using the form provided.
- Projects should have been completed within the last 2 years.
- You may submit up to three separate projects (individually).
- Re-submission of a project submitted in previous years will not be accepted.
- Incomplete entries will not be considered.
- Questions? Email [email protected].
JUDGING
There will be 5 judges, assessing entries based on:
- Quality of design and execution
- Replicability of concept
- Clarity of description
- Quality of photos (if we can’t see it well, we can’t judge it fairly)
In this multimedia and hands-on workshop, participants will explore the elements of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) and construct the building blocks of Nature using a new 3D modeling toy called FLEXISTIX. This half-day, family friendly workshop is open to all ages and perfect for middle grades students. Since antiquity, humans have recognized geometric patterns in the natural world. Geometry (Geo + Metry) literally means Earth measurement, and beautifully illustrates connections between vastly different scales of creation. Becoming fluent in the universal language of geometry allows one to read the book of Nature on the journey of life and experience a profound connection to its wonder along the way.
Whether you are already a math whiz or could use some inspiration join us and prepare to have your mind blown and and your eyes opened to the beauty and mystery of geometry.
Mark Hanf is a mathematician, artist, and teacher who has been exploring the nexus of the sciences and arts his entire life. In 1995, he was nominated to attend the NC Governor’s School in both Art and Mathematics where he studied Fractal and Non-Euclidean Geometry. He received a BA in Visual Arts from Davidson College in 2000 exploring both two and three-dimensional forms through acrylic painting, glass and wood. In 2006, he was a participant in the Design Science Lab, a ten-day international think-tank on 21st Century education, sponsored by The Buckminster Fuller Institute and the United Nations. From 2006-2012, Mark was part of a team that created Our Living Spaceship, a special project of the Buckminster Fuller Institute that integrated global geography, earth science, geometry, and service learning. Inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s World Game, this program was presented on Fuller’s Dymaxion World Map that shows a unique, undistorted projection of our planet as one island in one ocean. Since 2001, he has taught STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) in the classroom, led teacher trainings, and facilitated workshops around the country at schools, conferences, universities, and museums. Mark is also a professional artist and creates work that explores Nature’s architecture and symmetry. Recently, Mark has worked with Hape Toys to design FLEXISTIX: Leonardo’s Elements and is creating a range of multimedia STEAM education activities to dovetail with the new toy.
17th Annual Come to Leicester Artist Studio Tour: 10 AM – 5 PM, August 20-21. Artists in the small community of Leicester, NC open their studios to the public for this free, self-guided tour. Visitors choose their own tour stops using detailed brochures with maps and signs along the route directing to the individual stops. Visitors will find many types of fine art and crafts, including brooms, pottery, paintings, iron work, jewelry, fiber, stained glass, mosaic, enamel, and mixed media. Visit our website to see the artists and print a map. http://www.cometoleicester.org
Spartanburg modern abstract artist Craig Denesha says his exhibition, “Aphantasia: Visual Imagery Reimagined” in Gallery III of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg Aug. 2 through 25, will show visitors that “abstract art is for everyone.
“If you don’t think so, come to my show and give it a chance,” says Denesha of the exhibit of his acrylic paintings and mixed media. “While I painted these, it is up to you, the viewer, to develop your own experience and make your own interpretation.
will show visitors that “abstract art is for everyone.
“If you don’t think so, come to my show and give it a chance,” says Denesha of the exhibit of his acrylic paintings and mixed media. “While I painted these, it is up to you, the viewer, to develop your own experience and make your own interpretation.
Featured Artists: Jude Stuecker (fiber) Erica Bailey (jewelry) Mary Dashiell (clay) Steve Miller (wood) Rex Redd (clay)
Being an artist can be a lonely endeavor. RAD Collabs seeks to inspire artists to leave behind solitary work habits, encourage new friendships and inspire imaginative art.
We put the word out to Asheville-area artists earlier this year and had an overwhelming response from painters, potters, metalsmiths, woodworkers and others who expressed an interest in working with glassblowers.
The work exhibited in this show will shine the light on these new partnerships. Come see the show and watch glassblowers in action all at the same time!
Pictured is a collaboration between Joe Nicholson and Vanessa Tsumura.
“LIFE ART LIFE William Bernstein 50 year retrospective” exhibition August 6-October 9, 2022 at the Toe River Arts’ Kokol Gallery, Spruce Pine, NC, features the paintings and glass of this artist who has been on the forefront of the studio glass movement.
Graduating 1968 from the Philadelphia College of Arts and just married, Bernstein moved to Penland School of Crafts to be their second glass resident artist from 1968-70. He was a co-founder of the Glass Arts Society (GAS) that formed to bring together the glass community so people could work together and learn from each other. Receiving numerous awards, fellowships and grants, he has exhibited internationally and has artwork in many private and public collections. Bernstein has lived most of his professional life in the rural Celo community of Yancey, North Carolina along with his family and artist wife, Katherine Bernstin. This retrospective provides a great opportunity for one to imagine a life surrounded by art.
This has been not only been a year-long process of curating pieces for an exhibit, but a lifetime of making art that connects with all things about one’s life. Bernstein’s work in glass and paint showcases just that: his family, his pets, friends, his environs, his moods and so much more. A life well-lived in creating art. More on Bernstein Glass www.bernsteinglass.com
William Warmus (A Fellow and former curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum), writes for the exhibition catalog, “Bernstein is a minimalist whose style is based upon the dedication to the concepts of honesty, modesty, and humility. It has a feel of its surroundings and of the people of the region.”
The Toe River Arts Kokol Gallery is located at 269 Oak Avenue, Spruce Pine, NC 28777. The exhibition dates: August 6 – October 9, 2022. Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10:30 – 5:00 pm. 828-765-0520, www.toeriverarts.org
Public receptions on Fridays: August 12 and October 7, both 5:00-7:00 PM. Artist gallery talk Friday, August 12, 4:00 pm. The exhibition travels to Cary Arts Center November 30 – January 21, 2023.
Coinciding with the United Nations’ Year 2022 as the Year of Glass and the 60th Anniversary of the Studio Glass Movement, this has been made possible by Toe River Arts, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Cary Art Center, Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, the Blumenthal Foundation, and Mountain Electronics in Micaville, NC.
TFAC invites all artists: painters, sculptors, writers, performers & more — to a casual weekly drop-in gathering on Saturday mornings at 9 AM to share your works in progress, alert others, and chat about art and what’s happening in your community.
The first weekly Coffee is Saturday, August 20 at 9 am.
No RSVP needed, just drop by!
Free parking available on Melrose Avenue, behind and alongside TFAC.
Jessie B. Telfair, Freedom Quilt, 1983, cotton with pencil, 74 × 68 inches. Collection American Folk Art Museum, NY, gift of Judith Alexander in loving memory of her sister, Rebecca Alexander, 2004.9.1. © Estate of Jessie. B. Telfair, image Gavin Ashworth.
American Perspectives: Stories from the American Folk Art Museum Collection showcases over 80 stellar works of folk and self-taught art including assemblages, needlework, paintings, pottery, quilts, and sculpture. Organized by the American Folk Art Museum in New York, this exhibition will be on view in the Explore Asheville Exhibition Hall at the Asheville Art Museum from June 18 through September 5, 2022. Everyone has stories to tell from both the private and mutual experiences encountered throughout their lifetime. American folk and self-taught artists capture these stories in powerful visual narratives that offer firsthand testimonies to chapters in the unfolding story of America from its inception to the present. Beautiful, diverse, and truthful; the art illuminates the thoughts and experiences of individuals with an immediacy that is palpable and unique to these expressions. These artworks held meaning in the makers’ worlds filtered through their own perceptions.
The artworks are organized into four sections—Founders, Travelers, Philosophers, and Seekers—that respond to such themes as nationhood, freedom, community, imagination, opportunity, and legacy. Evocative visual juxtapositions and accessible contextual information further reveal the vital role that folk art plays as a witness to history, carrier of cultural heritage, and a reflection of the world at large through the eyes, heart, and mind of the artist.
“While the Asheville Art Museum exhibits many folk and self-taught artists, most are local to the Southeast,” says Whitney Richardson, associate curator. “American Perspectives adds a national voice to the conversation by adding New England, Midwestern, Southwestern, and West Coast artworks that the Museum could never achieve alone. The amount of creative output from folk and self-taught artists was (and still is) on a national level and this exhibition helps to put that into a clear context. Traveling to Asheville from the collection of the American Folk Art Museum in New York, this exhibition will complement and expand the Museum’s ongoing conversations around American history and storytelling through works of art.”
This exhibition has been organized by the American Folk Art Museum, NY, with support provided by Art Bridges. Originally curated for installation at the American Folk Art Museum February 11, 2020–January 3, 2021 by Stacy C. Hollander, independent curator. Tour coordinated by Emelie Gevalt, Curator of Folk Art and Curatorial Chair for Collections, the American Folk Art Museum.
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| Richard Misrach, Wall, Jacumba, California, 2009, pigment print, 60 × 80 inches. Courtesy the Artist. © Richard Misrach, courtesy Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco.. |
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| Draped and Veiled: 20×24 Polaroid Photographs by Joyce Tenneson showcases Joyce Tenneson’s Transformations series, which she began in 1985 and engaged with through 2005. Transformations features partially or fully nude figures poetically presented; Tenneson’s photographs have always been interested in the magic of the human figure, contained within bodies of all ages and emotions in a broad range that are both vulnerable and bold. This exhibition features 12 large Polaroids from the poetic series. Draped and Veiled will be on view May 25–October 10, 2022. |
New changes are on the horizon, as we usher in a new era of LEAF awesomeness. This summer, we’re relocating LEAF Downtown to an inspiring NEW outdoor venue, The Grey Eagle’s newest venue “The Outpost” at 521 Amboy Road. This new riverside venue will come alive with entertainment on Saturday, August 20th, with an entire day dedicated to our youth, family and community in an event dubbed: LEAF Down By The River!