July Issue 1999
The 52nd Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
One well-established part of Asheville, NC's art scene is the much anticipated gathering of gifted craftspeople from across the region at the Asheville Civic Center for the semi-annual Craft Fairs of the Southern Highlands. The Southern Highland Craft Guild's summer fair returns this July 16 -18, celebrating craft excellence from the mountains of nine Southeastern states. Thursday through Sunday the Civic Center comes alive with over 160 booths of fine craft by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, giving fairgoers the opportunity to meet the craftspeople themselves. Heritage crafts, reflecting rich southern Appalachian traditions complement a growing wealth of collectible contemporary designs. Visitors also enjoy the sounds of live regional music, and over a dozen craft demonstrations located throughout the Civic Center, carrying on the fair's 52-year traditions of education and entertainment.
The theme of this year's fairs is wood, marked by a selection of demonstrators who work in that medium. At this summer's fair, visitors will see the legendary Max Woody of Marion, NC, demonstrating outside the Civic Center. A fifth generation chairmaker, Max Woody uses a lathe to shape embellishments on his chairs. Other chairmakers will be Tom Donahey of Madison County, NC, who specializes in comfortable Carolina settin' chairs and rockers. Donahey will be working an old-fashioned, foot-pedaled lathe. William Showalter from Greeneville, TN, will demonstrate the making of his authentic Windsor style chairs with hand tools. In addition, the lively and engaging Bea Hensley with his "singing" anvil will be demonstrating blacksmithing techniques and delighting the crowd.
Each year, new artists are accepted as members of the Guild through a highly competitive jurying process. Regarded as a great achievement in the craft community, membership is also an invitation to participate in the semiannual Craft Fairs. A new member's first Craft Fair is often the first occasion for the public to view the complete spectrum of their work. The Guild was proud to accept 33 new members this March, some of whom will be exhibitors in the 1999 fairs. Showing for the first time in the Summer Edition will be:
Ceramicist, M.L. Bagwell of Robbinsville, NC; Fiber Artist, Allison Dennis of Asheville, NC; Jeweler, Joanna Gollberg of Asheville, NC; Woodturner, Alan Hollar of Newland, NC; Woodturner, Cliff Ammons of Greeneville, TN; Jeweler, Howard Thompson of Tullahoma, TN; and Ceramicist, Mark Tomczak of Nebo, NC.
The July Fair's entertainment line-up is an assortment of regional favorites ranging from the Celtic flavors of The Magills, an Asheville duo bringing a variety of historic instruments to their original compositions, to Transylvania County's Hoedown Stealers, a toe-tapping, old-time string band. New to the entertainment schedule is upstate South Carolina's Split Rail, an infectious, fast-picking quartet that works overtime producing "consumable bluegrass music" for all audiences. With 11 years of experience, Split Rail's repertoire ranges from old-time Flatt and Scruggs to gospel to "newgrass" favorites from the '60s - '80s.
Also new on the summer schedule is local legend Red Wilted and His Hotshots. For seventy years Avery County native Red Wilson has played old-time music passed down in his family. His "hotshots" are old-time musicologist and recording artist Bruce Greene and old-time guitarist and Guild member Rob Levin. No Craft Fair would be complete without the delightful tales and woeful mountain ballads of Sheila Kay Adams, a seventh generation ballad singer who delivers authentic mountain music and storytelling from Madison County. Each day of the fair promises a full schedule of music, free with the price of admission.
July's fair will also feature three fine craft items donated by members of the Guild for a raffle drawing. Jeweler Michele Alexander of Arden, NC, is donating a sterling watch with a band of six mixed metal segments of one-of-a-kind design. The band is embellished with semi-precious stones, set in sterling, copper and gold, and valued at $260. Ceramicist Mary Dashiell from Meadows of Dan, VA, is donating one of her whimsical earthenware sculptures. Her life-sized likeness of a spotted guinea hen is one of her very collectible animal sculptures made in small production with a retail value of $360. Dollmaker Helen Harmon of Knoxville, TN, is donating one of her limited edition Native American dolls made from corn shuck cornsilk, bead work and leather. Her Nittany figure represents the story of Nittany, who provided a barrier from a raging storm in Native folk legend. She holds a shield and lightening bolt, and retails for $195. Tickets will be available at the fair and the Folk Art Center, and all proceeds go toward the Guild's educational programs.
The July Fair will be the public debut of the Guild's Ornament of the Year. The Guild's holiday ornament of 1999 is a turned wooden birdhouse made of dogwood by Charles Ray Huskey of Gatlinburg, TN. A limited edition of two thousand ornaments are available, signed by the artist. The ornament will be displayed for sale at the July Craft Fair.
The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is held Thur.- Sun.
from 10am - 6pm at the Asheville Civic Center on Haywood Street
in historic downtown Asheville. Tickets are $5. Children under
12 are free when accompanied by an adult. Group tickets are available
with advanced notice. For more information or a brochure, call
the Southern Highland Craft Guild at the Folk Art Center, 828/298-7928.
Mailing Address: Carolina Arts, P.O. Drawer 427, Bonneau, SC
29431
Telephone, Answering Machine and FAX: 843/825-3408
E-Mail: carolinart@aol.com
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