Onward to Asheville

FOLK ART CENTER

The Folk Art Center was started by missionaries. The Southern Highland Craft Guild was chartered in 1930 and represents close to 100 craftspeople today. The guild was started by Frances Goodrich, when she found a few women still weaving traditional coverlets in woool and cotton. This associated with her idea of a cottage industry that would help mountain families. 

I selected a piece of work done by Lori Anderson in Bryson City, NC. She did a sculpture using cornshuck, dye, driftwood, paint and whitewash. The piece is called Black and White #2 and is selling for $650.

HANDMADE IN AMERICA

Handmade in America was a gallery that was to show the community the work done by interior designers and to also sell some of their work. The gallery shows how interior designers can successfully use craft by using them in kitchen ware or just a decoration.

Autumn Tree Pot This is the Autumn Tree Pot by Maud and Austin Boleman. It's made out of high fire stoneware, ash glaze, and oxides. It's selling for $375.

ORIOLE MILL

At the Oriole Mill they make baby blankets, bending, coverlets, etc. usingfive Jacquard looms and two high-speed Dobby looms. " In-house warping, winding, finishing and sewing facilities support the weaving process to produce high-end, luxury fabrics and home goods."  It was an old warehouse that had been turned into a mill, which no one had every really done before. They use a lot of natural light which also don't go by old mill standards. It was very interesting watching how technology has spead up this process of making textiles and making them at the speed of light. We got to watch a slowed down version of the loom and it was quite amazing all the work that happens in a split second.  http://www.theoriolemill.com/pages/about-us 

making the spool for the loom

loom for making blanketsclose up of the different colored thread