May 2011

Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville, NC, Features Works by Members of 310 Art Gallery

The Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville, NC, is proud to present, 310 ART: Contemporary Works from the River Arts District, on view in Gallery 86, from May 4 - 30, 2011. A reception will be held on May 6, from 6-9pm.

This exhibition features work by artists at the 310 Art Gallery at Riverview Station in Asheville, NC’s River Arts District. Participating artists are: Karen Weihs, painter and instructor of “Seminarts” painting workshops; Fleta Wells Monaghan, painter, painting instructor, and founder of 310 ART School and Gallery; Karen Ives, sculptor; Bob Martin, sumi-e and palette knife painter and instructor; Mary Farmer, encaustic painter and instructor; Betty Carlson, fiber artist and poet; Mark Holland, contemporary figurative painter; Julie Robinson, abstract painter; Elizabeth Henderson, visionary painter; Marsha Balbier, contemporary glass artist; and, Sarah Wells Rolland, potter and owner of The Village Potter, located adjacent to 310 ART.

The mission of 310 ART Gallery is to support experimentation and growth as a primary focus. Situated along the French Broad River in a poetically timeworn warehouse arts building, it attracts both aspiring and professional artists to special exhibition at the gallery, and teaching and learning opportunities in the classroom.

As founder Fleta Monaghan explains, “Artists are constantly juggling time between learning, creating and the business aspects of the job of being an artist. At 310 ART we support the learning and creating aspects of the artist by advocating for continued growth and experimentation for each person who exhibits. Every participating artist makes a commitment to the gallery to work hard and to create new work that reflects his or her present focus. For emerging artists, we provide support and training in professional development. For established artists we have a teaching venue where they can share their expertise with aspiring painters and exhibit work in the flourishing River Arts District of Asheville.”

At 310 ART, visitors see art that is original, fresh and contemporary. Monaghan continues, “As artists we like to flex our brain muscles and always be coming up with cutting edge ways to do things and the invention of images that speak to our present thoughts and concerns. We strive to follow the tradition of innovation and adventure established in the past 100 years by the Tryon Impressionists and the Black Mountain College artists. From the beginning we have advocated for collaboration, support, education and the importance of embracing creativity for each and every individual. ”

The gallery is located at Riverview Station, in suite 310. Originally a tannery, the 100 year old building is the southern gateway to the arts district, and houses many art studios. Monaghan began the venture in 2006 with the foundation of River’s Edge Studio, a learning center for adults. The center now hosts nine artists who teach in many mediums and subjects, from portrait painting, landscape to abstract painting classes.

In 2009 the gallery was created. The space wraps around the classroom and showcases work of Western NC artists and artisans with new works added and exhibits continuing year round.

The mission of the Haywood County Arts Council is to build partnerships that promote art and artists, explore new cultural opportunities, and preserve mountain artistic heritage. This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division or the Department of Cultural Resources.

For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Council at 828/452-0593 or visit (www.haywoodarts.org).

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