Field Trip to Asheville

The Folk Art Center

This centThis is an example of another work from Laura Simser's history began in the 1930. The guild was started by missionary women. One in particular was Frances Goodrich, whos job was to set up a Prebyterian Church, and she wanted to get women involved in a community together. The guild was set up as a way of life for the people of Appalachia during the depression. The guild now has 900 plus members from 9 states and is still a way of life for some people.

The artisan I selected is Laura Sims. She is from Bakersville, NC, 40 minutes north of Asheville, and she works at Indigo Stone Studio. The piece displayed in The Folk Art Center was called Surviving Light. It was made in 2012 out of silk organza with discharge color removal. Not being able to take pictures, I do not have a photograph of the work, but it was two pieces of material. On the silk was a birch tree with cut outs that made it look like the bark was hanging off. I enjoyed the way it was transparent and the way the light hit it.  Laura says, "The intuitive designs from ancient cultures provide inspiration and encouragement for my creative journey.  Visually recording my surroundings through images of western North Carolina and other travels is a way of connecting to place."

Handmade in America

The way interior designers can successfully use craft in their designs is by going to local craft guilds and artist workshops to meet people and network. An interior designer can make a binder of these places to get crafts, decorations, furniture, cabnetry, etc. for the home. This binder will be helpful if one has a client interested in craft in there project.

The piece I chose from the Handmade in America exhibit was called complements by Teena Tuengue. It is made of wool and rayon. It is a shawl of orange, blue, and purble tones. Teena has been weaving for 40 years. She says this of her dearly loved hobby, "Making something new, maybe similar, but different, one idea leading on to another, it was the endless possibilities that attracted me, that I would not come to the end of the possible variations. It is something I will always be able to do with new delight."

Center for Craft Creativity and Design

I really enjoyed the work by Lia Cook in this gallery. When I walked in the door I was hit with numerous

faces peering at me. At first it looked like paintings, but then I walked closer and I noticed all of the stitches. I particularly loved this work because the children seem to be curious and wondering who you are.

 Oriole Mill

 "The Oriole Mill is founded on education, quality and innovation." This mill is run by Bethanne Knudson and Stephan Michelson and was started in 2006. Bethanne has a long history of working in textiles. Before starting the mill, she worked in education, texile soft-ware design, and Jacquard studies. Together, they currently have 2 Dobby looms and 5 Jacquard looms. Jacquard looms simplifiy the process of making complicated patterns. Dobby looms are not able to create as detailed weaves as a Jacquard. They produce high quality blankets, coverlets, pillows, upholstery fabric, and other home textiles out of mostly specialty wools and cottons.

The River Arts District: Asheville Glass Center

 The Asheville Glass Center is a safe place to learn glassblowing and flameworking. We were able to explore their studio space and shop. I took many interesting photos of glass objects, some for show and some usable. The way the light shown through the glass was mesmerizing. We also saw a student learning to make glass beads.