Craft Throughout Ashville

The first stop we visited in Ashville was the Folk Art Center. It was established by the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The Center showcases many different types of crafts created by artists throughout the Appalachia region. The Guild dates back all the way to 1938. We learned about how Ellen Turner was one who helped start the crafts movement. It was a way for local artists to create objects to sell or trade to help them survive.

Handmade In America

Handmade in America is an amazing nonprofit organization who reaches out and finds local craftsman. They put their work on displays or in books to help promote their work. I was so impressed on how much they care for their local artists and craftsman. I learned that it is important that as an interior designer I need to help promote local artist in my designs. The organization put on a gallery that displayed how an entire room can be created just by craft and look amazing.

This piece below is a piece designed by a local artist on display in the Gallery. It is a large cabinet made for storing jewelry.

Center for Craft Creativity and Design

Lia Cook works took over the gallery in the Center. She is trying a study where she takes images and transforms the pixels into weaves.She is investigating how people see images. I had the opportunity to be apart of an experiment for Ms. Cook. I had to stand in front of a normal picture and compare how I felt when looking at it and one of her finished products. It was amazing how each piece made me feel so different. Below is an example of her work.

Oriole Mill

The Oriole Mill is Located in Hendersonville North Carolina. It is special because it is one of the few mills left in the United States.The building is also unique because it contains massive clerestory windows that allow in natural light. The machines were purchased to save them from going out of the country. Bethanne Knudson and Stephan Michelson bought their first loom in 2004. The mill contains 5 Jacquard looms and two Dobby looms. They only use the best of the best yarn that you can buy. They believe in creating fabric that can last forever and will not get worn out. The process is long but precise.

The First Step to the who production

River Arts District

Sarah Wells Rolland

Below is an image of Sarah Wells Rolland, a local potter at The Village Potters. She first started working with clay when she was 28 and  has been making beautiful pieces of pottery for over 20 years. Her work throughout the whole studio took my breath away. I have never experienced craft as beautiful as hers.