| For more information about this article or gallery, please call the gallery phone number listed in the last line of the article, "For more info..." |
July Issue 2009
Southern Highland
Craft Guild Presents Annual Crafts Fair - July 16-19, 2009 in
Asheville, NC
Courtney Martin
The Southern Highland
Craft Guild will present the 62nd Annual Craft Fair of the
Southern Highlands at the Asheville Civic Center, in downtown
Asheville, NC, from July 16 - 19, 2009.
For four days each July and October, the Civic Center in Asheville
comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts. The
Fairs, a local tradition since 1948, showcase the work of members
of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and feature craft demonstrations,
regional music and entertainment.
Over 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the Civic Center selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry. As members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the exhibiting artists have passed a rigorous jury process to become a part of the organization. Membership is open to artists who live in the mountain counties of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and the Virginias.
While locals and visitors can find crafts at numerous galleries, the Fairs are unique in that they offer people the opportunity to connect with the artists by purchasing directly from them. The community this fosters is important to craftspeople and patrons alike. In an age of mass production and imports, the connection to fine American craft and the individual maker is more relevant than ever. The Fairs help the Southern Highland Craft Guild fulfill its mission to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation.
The Craft Fairs take place in beautiful downtown Asheville, nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains. Long known as an arts and crafts destination, Asheville offers architectural charm, eclectic restaurants and a wide variety of lodging. People come to Asheville seeking relaxation and inspiration. The Craft Fairs of the Southern Highlands certainly enhance this experience each July and October.
Hours are 10am-6pm Thursday - Saturday, and 10am-5pm Sunday. Admission for adults is $7, children under 12 free. Group discounts are available.
For further information
check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call the Guild at
828/298-7928 or visit (www.craftguild.org).
Carolina Arts is published monthly by Shoestring Publishing Company, a subsidiary of PSMG, Inc. Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc., which published Charleston Arts from July 1987 - Dec. 1994 and South Carolina Arts from Jan. 1995 - Dec. 1996. It also publishes Carolina Arts Online, Copyright© 2009 by PSMG, Inc. All rights reserved by PSMG, Inc. or by the authors of articles. Reproduction or use without written permission is strictly prohibited. Carolina Arts is available throughout North & South Carolina.