Bender Gallery is honored to present One Day I Will Disappear, a solo exhibition of current paintings by Czech American artist Tom Pazderka. His captivating work is deeply personal and is an elegant metaphor for life’s darker side: of landscape, of nature, of memory. The exhibition runs from July 3 through August 31 during regular business hours. There will be an opening reception for Pazderka on Saturday July 3, from 6 to 9 PM by RSVP only.

Pazderka is a painter, an installation artist, an intellectual, and a writer who spent his undergraduate years in the Asheville area. He was born near Prague in 1981 during the waning of the Communist era in Czechoslovakia. He lived in a panelák, a Soviet-style concrete apartment block, until emigrating to the US in 1994 at the age of twelve. Contrary to what we may envision in America, Pazderka has fond memories of his time there. Although life was basic and creativity was not encouraged, his family was never in need and they enjoyed regular visits to their family cottage in the country. However, most of Pazderka’s life has been lived in the US and he also considers himself American. His work and life are deeply influenced by what he describes as the “incompleteness of the immigrant experience”. Pazderka explores humanity’s quest for a universal truth. The work reflects his reverence for history and the failed Soviet promise of utopia of his native land. It is thus a balancing act between this history and his assimilation into the capitalist consumer culture of the United States.

The works shown in One Day I Will Disappear consist of oil, ash, and charcoal paintings on burned panel and paper. They feature clouds, mountains, portraits, ephemera, and remnants of nature. They are conceptually dark, yet haunting and beautiful at the same time. Pazderka uses humble materials such as found plywood panels that he burns with a torch before beginning the painting process. He transforms the painting surface with the destructive, yet creative power of fire. He states, “Materials and process are components of the work that are as important as the image and what the work is about”.

Pazderka chooses to work in a colorless palette reminiscent of aged black and white photographs. He explains, “Photographs interest me because it is a tangible memory, but photographs are really residue of the photographic process.”  They are themselves a memory of a memory. Much of Pazderka’s work is based on old family photographs and photos taken from nature and architecture relaying the past, the present, and the hope of a better future. The work appears otherworldly and fleeting, like ghosts of his memories. In Pazderka’s words, “The present is all there is in the end.”

Pazderka holds a BFA from Western Carolina University and an MFA from U.C. Santa Barbara. He has received many awards and fellowships and has held residencies in the US, France, and the Czech Republic. He lives and works in Ojai, CA.

Looking to get involved, stay active, and meet some new friends? Sand Hill Community Garden workdays take place on Wednesdays (6-8 p.m.) and Saturdays (10 a.m.-noon) from Feb. 27-Oct. 30, 2021, at Buncombe County Sports Park. The garden is located on 16 Apac Dr. in West Asheville/Enka-Candler.

Join friends and neighbors as they come together on common ground to raise fresh, organic vegetables and fruits for the Enka community.

Expect to wear a mask and maintain social distance throughout. Tools and hand sanitizer are available, but any gloves, loppers, pruners, or gardening tools you can bring will decrease the amount of contact between volunteers. Please wear work clothes to get dirty and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen, water, and a hat are also handy items to have on hand.

Sand Hill Community Garden has been growing fresh produce since 2011 and raised over 1,200 lbs. of organic produce last year.

NOTE: Community workdays are weather dependent. Please join the community garden email list (send your info to [email protected]) to stay up on workday tasks and other garden news.

To receive the I Heart Parks monthly newsletter, sign up online. Follow Buncombe County Recreation on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

The Asheville Art Museum announces Meeting the Moon, an exhibition featuring prints, photographs, ceramics, sculptures, and more from the Museum’s Collection. This exhibition will be on view in the Asheville Art Museum’s McClinton Gallery February 3 through July 26, 2021.

2021 marks the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Apollo space program at NASA, but its inception was hardly the beginning of humankind’s fascination with Earth’s only moon. Before space travel existed, the moon—its shape, its mystery, and the face we see in it—inspired countless artists. Once astronauts landed on the moon and we saw our world from a new perspective, a surge of creativity flooded the American art scene, in paintings, prints, sculpture, music, crafts, film, and poetry.

This exhibition, whose title is taken from a 1913 Robert Frost poem, examines artwork in the Asheville Art Museum’s Collection of artists who were inspired by the unknown, then increasingly familiar moon. Meeting the Moon includes works by nationally renowned artists Newcomb Pottery, James Rosenquist, Maltby Sykes, Paul Soldner, John Lewis, Richard Ritter (Bakersville, NC), and Mark Peiser (Penland, NC). Western North Carolina artists include Jane Peiser (Penland, NC), Jak Brewer (Zionville, NC), Dirck Cruser (Asheville, NC), George Peterson (Lake Toxaway, NC), John B. Neff (NC), and Maud Gatewood (Yanceyville, NC).

“Meeting the Moon offers the opportunity to combine science and popular culture with works of art in the Museum’s Collection,” says Whitney Richardson, associate curator. “I think all visitors will find something that draws them into this exhibition, whether it’s the artwork, poetry, music, or science of space travel. It’s such an affirmation of humanity to find these mysteries, like the moon, which enchant us all.”

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Whitney Richardson, associate curator. Visit ashevilleart.org for more information about this and other exhibitions.

Help local underprivileged students start the school year with the supplies they need for success! Asheville Outlets will host a Pack 2 School Supplies Drive from Saturday, July 10 through Saturday, August 7, 2021. Throughout the five-week drive, marked bins will be available in the food court for donation drop-off. Student supply needs include: #2 pencils, erasers, colored pencils, crayons, glue sticks, school scissors, folders, spiral notebooks, marbled composition notebooks, dry ease markers (pencil & regular size) and pencil pouches. Classroom needs include white & color copy paper, Band-Aids, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Ziploc bags, disinfectant wipes, and hand soap. School children at four local elementary schools will be the recipients of supplies collected during the program. The campaign will conclude on Saturday, August 7 with a live remote broadcast with iHeart Radio and gift card giveaways. For more information, visit ShopAshevilleOutlets.com.

11am–6pm. Late-night Thursdays until 9pm; closed Tuesdays.

Public Domain: Photography and the Preservation of Public Lands presents works drawn from the Asheville Art Museum’s Collection by artists looking both regionally and nationally at lands that are either state or federally managed or have become so. This exhibition will be on view in the Asheville Art Museum’s Van Winkle Law Firm Gallery May 19 through August 30, 2021. 

“The Asheville Art Museum’s growing collection of photography features a variety of artworks that consider humankind’s impact on our environment and world,” said Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator. “The imagery featured in Public Domain reminds us of the critical role that artists play in environmental activism and preservation, affecting change at a range of levels”. 

Through images capturing the beauty, changes, and even devastation to the American landscape, photographers have played a vital role in advocating for the preservation of nature via the establishment and maintenance of state parks, national parks and monuments, and other federally protected lands. From George Masa and Timothy McCoy’s photographs of Great Smoky Mountains National Park to a selection of works from Robert Glenn Ketchum’s Overlooked in America: The Success and Failure of Federal Land Management series, these artworks provoke contemplation of both nature’s beauty and a calling to protect it. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Bureau of Land Management whose mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

Photographers include Robert Glenn Ketchum, George Masa, Timothy McCoy, Benjamin Porter, Sally Gall, and more. 

This exhibition is organized by the Asheville Art Museum and curated by Hilary Schroeder, assistant curator. 

The Friends of the Weaverville Library (FOWL) are excited to announce the opening of their used bookstore in Weaverville on Thursday, July 8. Located in the lower level of the Weaverville Library at 41 N. Main St., the store will be open Thursdays 1-5 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with expanded hours beginning in September. The store is stocked with thousands of books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and more. All adult books are priced at $1.50-$3.00, children and teen books at $1.00-$1.50, audio and video at $2.00.

There is also a bargain-priced area and a collection of special finds that are priced individually. Please feel free to contact us at 828-641-1812 or [email protected]. All proceeds from the store will benefit the Weaverville Library.

Sobremesa, literally “over the table,” is a word that describes the ritual of families and friends
lingering over a meal to chat — often into the early morning hours. It’s when the food coma
kicks in, but you just want to relax and be in each other’s company, occasionally picking at
leftovers or refilling your glass. In honor of Asheville’s vibrant Latinx/Hispanic community,
this event will celebrate the rich and diverse food traditions that stretch from Mexico to the
Southernmost tip of Argentina. The meal will be accompanied by a thoughtful conversation
highlighting the role of immigration in our region’s foodways with guests Marianne
Martinez, executive director of Vecinos; and Sergio Fernandez, executive director of El
Centro.

Fine art gallery Grand Opening Saturday, July 10th  at 37 Library Street in downtown Mars Hill. Mars Landing Galleries is comprised of 6000 SF of exhibit space for works by emerging and established artists unrepresented in this region.

4 Week Session with 1 Weekend of digital performance

Rehearse – Monday through Friday 12-2(3)pm (June 15th through July 10th)

Shows pre-recorded and streamed – Friday, Saturday, Sunday at 5:30pm (July 10, 11, 12)
w/live Q & A after

Limit 20 Participants

Hit the trails and learn more about the Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with the return of guided trail walks in 2021! In response to COVID-19, new safety measures have been put in place to protect our guests, members, volunteers and staff: Walks will be limited to 10 people, including the guide, and all participants will be required to wear face coverings for the duration of the walk.

This free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks depart from the Baker Exhibit Center Lobby every Tuesday and Saturday at 1 p.m. through the month of October. Walks last 1.5- 2.5 hours and are approximately one to two miles in length, and as such are recommended for guests 14 years or older. Walks are held rain or shine, so all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

Register In Advance

Space is limited and advance registration is encouraged. Pre-registered participants must check in at the Baker Information Desk no later than 10 minutes before the scheduled program to keep their spot. Unclaimed spots will be offered to other guests.

Guests may sign up for trail walks in the following ways:

• Pre-register online
• Sign up in-person at the Baker Information Desk.

The presence of diverse and healthy pollinators like butterflies, bees, moths,
hummingbirds, and beetles is a signal that a landscape is functioning in beautiful harmony,
at its highest expression of health and diversity. Pollinators ensure the continued existence
of millions of plant species, as well as the animal species that depend on those plant
species, including humans. Many pollinator populations are in decline, attributed to the
mismanagement of the dynamic ecosystems that support our planet—pollution, the
misuse of chemicals, disease, and changes in climatic patterns are all examples of what
is causing shrinking and shifting pollinator populations. It’s time for a metamorphosis in
the way land is honored as a whole. Join Chow Chow and Kim Bailey, founder of Milkweed
Meadows Farm and Phyllis Stiles, founder and director emerita of Bee City USA for a
pollinator centered experience. From the farm fields to the forested mountaintops we
invite you to an inventive dining experience that imagines the bravery of metamorphosis,
and the synergy and abundance of intricate life that is supported when we honor the
ecology of the land.

Come enjoy an evening of live music, food and drinks at the Isis Music Hall. Reservations are highly recommended.

WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME FUNK YOU TO OUR OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES WITH SPECIAL GUEST LYRIC. COME AND ENJOY A NIGHT OF ROCK N’ ROLL IN THE SWANNANOA VALLEY.

From late night jam sessions at the University of Virginia to main stages at venues and festivals
throughout the country, Kendall Street Company has broken the mold of improvised rock and enters a
world of jazz-grass infused psychedelic bliss. With no two shows ever the same, word of mouth has
quickly grown a ravenous fanbase eager to hear their favorite studio tracks explored and extended as
part of a live community. As seasoned KSC fans can tell you, any one of their songs could easily turn
from a fun sing-along, into a cacophonous headbanging garage-rock soundscape or Klezmer-disco dance
party, and then resolve into a peaceful ambience that evokes nostalgia of your childhood.
Averaging over 100 shows per year since 2013, the band is currently comprised of Louis Smith [Acoustic
guitar, vocals], Brian Roy [Bass, vocals], Ryan Wood [Drums], Ben Laderberg [Electric guitar], and Jake
Vanaman [Saxophone]. For such a young band, their accomplishments are sincere. Kendall Street has
performed at festivals such as Lockn’, Roosterwalk, Floydfest, Resonance, and Domefest and has opened
for acts such as Papadosio, Umphrey’s McGee, Tauk, and Leftover Salmon. All the while, the band has
proudly released three records and two EPs. Their most recent 2019 release, “Lunar Dude” showcases
their versatility and virtuosity, and was met with overwhelming support.
2020 is building up to be the biggest year yet for the band. Along with two (or perhaps three) new
records on the horizon, their upcoming Winter/Spring tour will take them all across the country in
Woody Guthrie fashion. From Louisiana to Texas, Colorado to Wisconsin, Ohio to Boston, New York City
and more, the band has no intent of slowing down any time soon. See you on the road!

Persephone is 29, unemployed, broke, and trying to figure out what to do next. She’s living with her mother, who’s driving her crazy. Enter Hades – the attractive bad boy who might just offer the escape she needs. The question is – what is Persephone willing to give up for her freedom?

Keith Lockhart continues our opening weekend celebration with Mozart’s beloved Symphony No. 40, and the Brevard debut of Concert Artist Guild 1st Prize winner Jordan Bak in Walton’s towering Viola Concerto. 

PERFORMANCE & ARTIST DETAILS
Brevard Music Center Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Jordan Bak, viola

WILLIAM WALTON As You Like It: A Poem for Orchestra After Shakespeare
WILLIAM WALTON Viola Concerto
W.A. MOZART Symphony No. 40

Please note: Auditorium seating is reserved.  Lawn seating is general admission.