Asheville – A wide array of beautifully crafted hand-made items will be shown at the Southern Highland Craft Fair from Thursday, July 18th through Sunday, July 21st. Potters, wood carvers, basketmakers, spinners, weavers, jewelry makers, and designers using clay, metal and glass will all be present to show and sell their items. It is a unique opportunity to connect directly with the artist or even order a special hand-crafted item for an upcoming event. Two floors of Harrah’s Cherokee Center on Haywood Street in Asheville will be filled with Guild member’s wares, where more than 100 of these artisans are offering their original and beautifully crafted pieces. It is a breath of fresh air to see these fine pieces, which have been made with incredible attention to detail. This is an opportunity to visit and see some of the most talented craftsmen in the South.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild has been cultivating the craftsmakers of the Southern Highlands since 1930. The members, who have had to be juried to join the organization, span nine states—-Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. They are invested in helping members achieve their goals and providing them with the resources to refine and sell their craft. It is one of the oldest organizations for this endeavor in the United States. The Southern Highland Craft Guild is headquartered at the Folk Art Center in Asheville, NC on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where it has a retail location, as well as in Biltmore Village, on Tunnel Road and the Moses Cone Manor on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Free interactive events such as basketry workshops craft demonstrations, and educational events, as well as exhibitions and displays are held at the Folk Art Center throughout the year. The Guild hosts two large craft fairs yearly They are held this year July 18th-21st and October 17th – 20th in downtown Asheville from 10 am-5 pm, with tickets costing $12 and children under 12 free.
Upstairs on the 2nd floor Katherine Caldwell will be demonstrating Wheat Weaving, and Ronnie McMahan will be carving wood during all four days of the fair. Downstairs, Mike Lalone will be demonstrating wheel-thrown pottery. Throughout the day musicians will be performing on the arena stage starting at 11:00 am—then every hour and a half after that. Carol Rifkin and the Ashton Family, Janet Wiseman and Mountain Lights, Jonah Riddle and Carolina Express, and Buncombe Turnpike are a few well-recognized names that will be playing.
Thomas Irven, an award-winning woodturner artist, who is committed to creating product quality, will be showing some stunning creations. He looks for unexpected forms that reveal the exotic character of the wood. He says, “I am captivated by off-centered turning, creating askew and whimsical forms. I use the lathe in conjunction with enhancements, modifications and special effects to produce work inspired by nature and imagination that not only reveal an exotic character but also are creative and playful.” Pam Granger Gale of Majik Studio will be selling some extraordinary marbling designs. As she says “I love being inspired by nature forms and colors. I challenge myself to mimic what mother nature creates effortlessly. The paint colors float and expand, easily manipulated by combs and rakes. The silks capture the paint pattern forever.” Beginning and intermediate classes are offered regularly at Pink Dog Creative in the River Arts District at 340 Depot Street.
Wendy Seaward creates some amazing jewelry from beadweaving—necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Using off-loom bead weaving techniques Wendy Seaward composes intricate sculptural works out of glass seed beads and natural materials such as semiprecious stones, pearls, fossils, and found objects. Her gallery of beaded facemasks is striking, original and powerful.
Geoffrey Giles creates beautiful jewelry primarily in 18K gold one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry—with intriguing – traditional perhaps— designs dotted with diamonds. His bracelets gracefully wrap around the wrist. He has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He can be found in the Ariel Gallery here in Asheville and has a studio in north Asheville. He uses only 100% reclaimed and recycled metals and uses diamonds and gemstones from reputable companies that only supply ethically sourced materials.
As I was researching for this article, I was surprised to learn that the well-known jewelry store Stuart Nye on Tunnel Road has decided this is their last year! Stuart Nye Jewelry will close after 91 years on December 20th, 2024. They will become the Backward Loop Company in 2025. This family-owned business started in 1933. Many native Ashevillians certainly remember or own some of their attractive products—unique silver hammered dogwood bracelets, the calla lily pins as well as the oak leaf items or a variety of crosses. It is hard to imagine that the production of these charming Appalachian keepsakes is ending. A word to the wise, hurry to their booth to get a keepsake this year.