American Craft Week in Asheville

Our class traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to experience different craftsmen. The first stop was at the Folk Art Center. The Southern Highland Craft Guild was established in 1930. One of the founders,  Frances Goodrich moved to North Carolina to do missionary work. While living there, she found women who were still weaving. She started the Allanstand Cottage Industries in 1897, a craft shop that sold quilts and other hand-made objects. Several people met at the Penland School of Crafts and decided to start the guild. Over 900 craftspeople are represented by the Guild and is now one of the  most prominent craft organizations in the United States.

One artist that I found interesting while walking around the Black and White Southern Highland Craft Guild exhibition was Ed Byers. He creates figural sculptures with red earthenware clay that is hand built. Byers is from Huntsville, Alabama, graduated from Auburn University and studied ceramic sculpture in Asheville, NC at a graduate level. He wants his sculptures to capture the essence of the human experience through color, form and texture. The sculpture was of a woman with a pot on her head. It was called "Graceful Life." It was made out of terracotta clay, fired multiple times, had some custom marble in it and then finished with a black glaze. He uses coils, slabs and natural texture tools to achieve the affect.

One of Ed Byer's other works

Interior designers can successfully use craft in interiors by using local resources. An interior designer should see what craftsmen are in their area and see what products they have that could be used in the space that they are designing. For example, if a kitchen is being designed then one would look for a local cabinet maker. 

The textile piece that I found most interesting at Handmade in America was the Long Sweater made by Patte Vanden Berg. It is made out of recycled wool and cotton. Vanden Berg loves nature and is inspired by the outdoors. There is something that she finds enticing about bold colors and textures. She learned from her mother who was a seamstress. Sewing was always a part of her life. She was originally a glass-artist and then decided to become a fashion designer. She has no website or any online advertisement. Vanden Berg relies strictly on pieces to speak for themselves and get the word out. 

"Long Sweater" Patte Vanden Berg

At the Center for Craft Creativity, I was surprised when I first entered. It was hard to distinguish whether the pieces of art were photographs or paintings. They were actually rugs designed by Lia Cook. I never thought that there could be so much detail on a rug. They are very dramatic but there is still softness because of the texture of the rug. I think that the rugs with the faces on them tell more of a story than the original photograph. 

Lia Cook's Design

We went to the Oriole Mill, a textile design company where they make the different products such as coverlets, throws and pillows with natural fibers. The mill was founded by Bethanne Knudson and Stephan Michelson in 2006. There are only seven looms in total. The two Dobby looms are better for producing high quality products using delicate and expensive thread.The five Jacquard looms create the complex patterns that Knudson designs. This loom is controlled by punched cards that punch holes in each row to achieve the design. It was created in 1801 by Joseph Marie Jacquard. They do warping, winding, finishing and sewing on the grounds which help with the weaving process, Making it easier to produce high-end fabrics. 

Our last stop was at the Asheville Glass Center. It opened in 2009 in Asheville's River Arts District. They have cold working and flameworking in soft glass and borosilicate. One of the artist's was Logan MacSporran who was born in Toronto and then emigrated to the United States with his family. He was self taught who works in numerous mediums. One has to inflate the molten glass into a bubble with a blowpipe.

Overall, I really enjoyed going to Asheville and experiencing the different craftsmen and creations.