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April Issue 2003
Transylvania County Arts Council in Brevard, NC, Offers Studio Tour
The Transylvania County Arts Council in Brevard, NC, is presenting the Handmade in Transylvania Artists' Studio Tour on Apr. 26 and 27, from 10am-4pm. This self-guided tour visits the studios of 18 local artisans working in pottery, metal, painting, fibers, wood and more.
Off of Highway 280, between Pisgah Forest, NC, and Brevard, six artists will be featuring their studios for the first time in a coordinated event. These artists represent a great diversity of artistry and craftsmanship that can be found locally. At BernWell Pottery, Dennis Bern and Wendy Elwell create functional and decorative pottery using two gas-fired car kilns. Bern specialize in traditional and hardwood ash glazes, while Elwell works on high-fired stoneware and porcelain in a broad range of colors.
"For us, the completion of the pot occurs when it is actually in use," said Elwell. "We value our loyal customers who help make this happen, and we look forward to making new ones."
Ray Byrum, who recently moved to Pisgah Forest from Mapleton, GA, is a palate-knife painter and serigraph printer who has work in the collections of the royal family of Norway, actor Vincent Price, and a number of corporate collections. Pastel artist Barbara Williams is an active member of the Transylvania Art Guild who has been working in the medium for more than 15 years, creating pictures of landscapes, especially gardens.
Furniture maker Gary Wells focuses on the Arts and Crafts-style in his work while, Ken Ayers specializes in handcrafting hardwood furniture in traditional designs, such as a recently completed silver chest with spool decoration.
"This is a great opportunity for us to show that good quality furniture is made here in the county with local labor and mostly local materials; and profits stay in the county," said Kenneth Ayers, head of Kenneth T. Ayers Handcrafted Furniture workshop. "Every piece we do is handmade with solid wood and we're still competitive with the local furniture stores and the veneer pieces that they offer. I do custom work, so I can build something to fit any space. We do it all from scratch."
Other artists to be featured on the tour include: Aaron Alderman, metal and wood sculpture; Joe Cooper, metal sculpture; Ann DerGara, paintings and printmaking; Karen Dittman, American folk art; John Dodson, Mud Dabbers pottery; Mollie Doctrow, printmaking; Judith Duff, Cedar Mountain Artworks pottery; French Broad Weavers, spinning and weaving; Jennifer and Nick Friedman, Duckpond pottery; Richard Merrill, Bear Forge blacksmithing; Mary Murray, Mountain Forest pottery; Karen Swing, textiles and fiber art; and Robert and Patricia Travis, Glass Feather fused glass.
A one-stop demonstration-site at the Community Arts Center on Saturday will feature Mollie Arnette, jewelry; Sonia Arnold, jewelry; Marcia Brennan, watercolor and papier-mâché; Jacolyn Cambell, wire-craft jewelry; Yvonne Collins, jewelry; Steve Fox, clay sculpture; Karen Kiser, jewelry; Walter Kluge, wood; Jack Olewine, chair caning; and Reneé Williams, painting. The Arts Center also will have refreshments and a special exhibit of photographs giving a historical look back at life in Transylvania County. The Arts Center is located at 321 South Caldwell Street, in Brevard, NC.
Tickets for the tour are $15 per person and can be purchased in Brevard at the Community Arts Center, 321 South Caldwell Street; at #7 Arts Cooperative, 7 East Main Street; or by calling the Arts Council at 828/884-2787.
The Handmade in Transylvania Artists' Studio Tour is presented by the Transylvania County Arts Council, Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, United Community Bank and Transylvania County artists.
For more information call the Transylvania County Arts Council at 828/884-2787.
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