February 2025 Roundup: Collaborating Couples, Crafting Stronger Communities, Revitalizing The Block

Love is in the air! 💘 This month, in the spirit of partnership and community (or perhaps as an act of resistance), we’re shining a light on those who create together. We featured craft artists working hand in hand with their romantic partners, spoke with community activists DeWayne Barton from West Asheville’s Hood Huggers International and Jan Gilbert from New Orleans’ The VESTIGES Project, and turned the spotlight on Noir Collective AVL, an artist collective that supports Asheville’s Black artists, activists, and cultural keepers. You can learn more about these stories by exploring the rest of this newsletter.

We’re also thrilled to have participated in the YMCA of WNC’s Field of Love event, where we showcased art and celebrated local artists just in time for Valentine’s Day. A heartfelt shout-out to the incredible, woman-led Seltzer Goods for sponsoring our table! If you haven't already, follow us on Instagram to stay updated on delightful events like this.

Behind the scenes, we've been pouring our hearts into “crafting” our spring-themed National Craft Month exhibit, Reawakening. The exhibit will open in person at the Ferguson Family YMCA on March 1 and will be available virtually starting March 3 on ArtsvilleUSA.com.

As we highlight the incredible talents of these artists, we’re also proud to share a special achievement: the ArtsvilleUSA podcast has once again been recognized as one of the Top 10 Craftsman Podcasts on the web. We couldn't do it without your support—whether or not you have a Valentine, we love being your partner in contemporary WNC fine arts and crafts.

Creative Chemistry: The Secrets Behind Couples Who Craft Together

It’s been said that good things come in pairs: mittens, mac and cheese, Burt and Ernie. The same holds true for artist couples who create together. Despite the persistent myth of the loner genius, many artists thrive in collaboration, drawing strength from their shared passions and complementary skills.

“Working together as Ross Pottery has been a natural and easy path for us as artists,” says Meg and Jamie Ross, who operate a studio in the Oakley neighborhood of Asheville. “Since the foundation of our relationship was working together and prioritizing creativity, our energy translated easily to creating Ross Pottery.”

As Valentine’s Day approaches, ArtsvilleUSA uncovers the secrets behind the successful collaborations of Western North Carolina’s most talented artist couples. From folk-inspired pottery to intricate mosaic garden stones, these stories offer valuable insights into the joys and pitfalls of working with your partner. Discover how their partnerships enhance their art and deepen their creative chemistry, transforming challenges into shared achievements.

Learn more about Western North Carolina’s most creative couples here.

The Art of Recovery: Rebuilding Communities in Asheville and New Orleans

What do New Orleans and Western North Carolina have in common? Both regions were rocked by historic hurricanes, which left lasting impacts on their communities and environments. In this episode of the ArtsvilleUSA podcast, host Louise Glickman explores the transformative role of art and creativity in community recovery, comparing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans to the recovery efforts following recent storms in Western North Carolina.

Louise is joined by Jan Gilbert, an artist and activist who co-founded The VESTIGES Project, and DeWayne Barton, founder of Hood Huggers International in Asheville. The VESTIGES Project, established in 1984, is a collective of artists and writers inspired by New Orleans. For its members, the city represents more than just a location; it embodies a rich tapestry of culture composed of remnants, rituals, memories, and myths, blurring the lines between fiction and reality, past and present. Hood Huggers develops sustainable strategies to support historically African-American neighborhoods in Asheville, NC, focusing on community capacity building and creating spaces that mitigate trauma while enhancing existing services.

Listen to our conversation here.

Noir Collective AVL: Bringing Black Back to The Block

For nearly a century after the Civil War, Black-owned businesses flourished in downtown Asheville along Eagle and South Market streets. This area, known as “The Block,” thrived as a cultural and commercial center for the Black community in the 1900s until urban renewal initiatives forced them out. Now, as part of a revitalization effort, Black-owned businesses are springing up on The Block, bringing the historic district back to its roots.

“Every inch of The Block had Black-owned businesses,” says alexandria monque ravenel, co-owner of one such business, Noir Collective AVL, a hybrid boutique, gallery, and bookstore occupying one of four retail spaces owned by the YMI Cultural Center. Founded in 2020 by alexandria’s youngest child, Ajax Ravenel, Noir Collective provides a platform for Black entrepreneurs to showcase their wares and build connections with like-minded artists, activists, and culture keepers in Asheville. “The timing of our opening was significant,” alexandria continues, reflecting on the protests and demonstrations that followed George Floyd’s murder in the summer of 2020. “We chose to launch on Juneteenth, a date that holds immense historical importance, and the community welcomed us with open arms.”

Learn more about Noir Collective AVL here.

News + Notes

Here’s where we share quick craft bites for busy hands and hungry minds. Warmer days are on the horizon, which means plenty of open calls for upcoming festivals and exhibitions.

Events + Exhibitions

• McDowell Tech Photography Student Show: Visit McDowell Tech Community College for its annual student photography exhibition, which runs throughout March 2025. Find out more about the show by visiting the McDowell Arts Council Association’s gallery page here.
• Reawakening: Craft Artists of WNC: To celebrate National Craft Month and the pending arrival of spring, ArtsvilleUSA presents Reawakening: Craft Artists of Western North Carolina, a spring exhibition created in collaboration with our sister organization and West Coast affiliate, NOT REAL ART. Reawakening opens March 1 at the Ferguson Family YMCA and features work by Deb Herman and Ashton Zager. The virtual component of our March craft exhibition opens March 3 on ArtsvilleUSA and includes work by Libba Tracy, Alex Bernstein, Erin Keane, and more.
• All Around Artsy Pop-Up Shop & Gallery Grand Opening: Join Resurrection Studios Collective on March 7 for the grand opening of Kira Bursky's All Around Artsy Pop-Up Shop & Gallery in downtown Asheville. The event will feature Kira's Hurricane Helene art collection, along with live music and drinks. Learn more about the event here.

Opportunities for Artists

• Appalachian Heritage Festival: Haywood County Arts Council is searching for vendors to participate in Waynesville’s annual Appalachian Heritage Festival in May. Fill out their application form here.
• Artist Relief Fund for Craft: The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area is teaming up with the North Carolina Arts Foundation to support artists who are experiencing financial difficulties following Hurricane Helene. If you are an artist in need, please apply for their $500 grant by March 15 here. Selected recipients will be notified within 10 business days after submitting their application
• The Uproar Festival of Public Art: Born from a desire to showcase our community through art and the arts, Uproar has become not only the first public art festival of its kind for Orange County but also in the state of North Carolina. Apply here by March 17 for a chance to show your work and win one of the festival’s many prizes.
• 18th Annual Blacksmith Exhibition: Hosted at Toe River Arts, this exhibition is an opportunity for metal artists of all skill levels to showcase their work. Learn more about the requirements here or apply here by March 15.

In the News

• Top 10 Craftsman Podcasts: For the second year in a row, ArtsvilleUSA was selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 10 Craftsman Podcasts on the web.🎙️🎉 Listen here.

Special Thanks to Our Partners

This copy has been edited for length and clarity. All photos published with permission of the artist(s); featured photo: Ross Pottery.