November 2013

BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend Art Stroll & Studio Tour in the Asheville-Black Mountain, NC, Area Takes Place - Nov. 16 & 17, 2013

More than 40 artists, studios and art venues from the Blue Ridge Parkway at Hwy. 70 heading east to Black Mountain and beyond will be open to the public for the BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend Art Stroll & Studio Tour, from 10am-6pm (studios), Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17, 2013. The two-day event, sponsored by AnTHM Gallery, Greybeard Realty, Seven Sisters Gallery and The Inn on Mill Creek, locally, is a chance to visit working artist studios and downtown Black Mountain art venues, and to take part in demonstrations, workshops, studio tours, children’s crafts and live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Weekend activities are free and open to the public and include an antique spinning wheel in Black Mountain, potters’ studios near Montreat, NC, a 3D found-object art sculptor’s studio in East Asheville, a photographer’s studio with demonstrations in Old Fort, NC, and tours of pastel and acrylic painters’ studios in Black Mountain as well as a Blacksmith’s workshop. Spinning wheel demonstrations, handspun yarns, art quilts, earthy ceramics and arts & crafts handmade chairs and bowls can be discovered during the two-day event.

Event destinations include East Asheville, Swannanoa, and Black Mountain to Old Fort.

An interactive tour map has been posted at (www.bluetoblackartweekend.com), with driving directions, map markers, Web links and contact information for each site. A list of art demonstrations offered during the BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend also has been posted. Printed 2013 weekend brochures listing all participants may be obtained at the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber, AnTHM, throughout Buncombe County, Hendersonville, NC, or at participating sites.

“Our BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend Art Stroll & Studio Tour is a wonderful way to step inside a working studio or downtown art venue and see how works of art are made. Thousands of people have toured the studios since 2006 when the first studio tour started (formerly known as E.A.S.T—East of Asheville Studio Tour), and we are pleased to continue this event bi-annually — always the first weekend in May, and now, the third weekend in November—to kick-off the holiday, gift-giving season,” said Cappi Macsherry, executive director of BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend.

“In May, participants sold artwork, took commissions for custom works, introduced community members to a “Taste of Black Mountain” with May’s annual Chamber fundraiser and Painted Rocking Chair debut, talked shop and made some long-lasting contacts. This is a great way to get to know our BLUE To BLACK artists, art venue retailers, and historic arts area.”

“This November’s BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend fundraiser will benefit Black Mountain’s Community Garden through their “Empty Cup” event. Check the website for further details on this artsy and organic event,” says Macsherry.

Macsherry said the art scene is hot in the Black Mountain region and includes artists working with fabric, collage, thread, paint, paper, wood, glass, metal, photography, fiber, wood turning and clay. These artists paint quilts, stitch books, coil baskets, mold found-art sculpture, build fine furniture, throw bowls, design and make fine jewelry, carve wood and knit sculpture. Curious travelers can find one-of-a-kinds from handspun yarns, blown glass ornaments, handmade sterling earrings, hand-molded ceramic mugs to fine, folk and outsider style art, along with other handmade collectibles in addition to experiencing craft demonstrations, working studios, or art venue offerings firsthand.

BLUE To BLACK Art Weekend is made possible by a group of committed community artists and arts advocates in addition to multiple area sponsors.

In addition to the weekend’s events and Black Mountain Community Garden fundraiser, on view at the Monte Vista Hotel Nov. 1 - Dec. 31 is “Fabulous Fakes”: Interpretive Paintings from the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League of Master’s works - a favorite annual show put on by the art league. A ‘Meet the Artists’ reception will kick-off BLUE To BLACK, 5-8pm, Friday, Nov. 15, along with a sampling of artworks and handmades being shown on the Art Weekend’s Art Stroll & Studio Tour. The public is invited to attend and to help kick off our big weekend.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call 828/707-7615 or visit (www.bluetoblackartweekend.com).

[ | November 2013 | Feature Articles | Download Carolina Arts' Current Issue | Carolina Arts Unleashed | Home | ]