January 2025 Roundup: Treasure Hunting in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Preserving Rural Craft Communities, Plus the First Helene Retrospective
Our January newsletter spotlights the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, where artists are working to revive their communities through creative endeavors.
In this season of recovery from Hurricane Helene, rampaging wildfires in Los Angeles (home of our sister organization, NOT REAL ART), and big changes this month in Washington, D.C., our focus must be on creating a meaningful impact when and where we can.
As ArtsvilleUSA’s incoming executive director, I’m focused on hosting more virtual and live exhibits to bring attention to local artists, expanding our media coverage across all 23 counties of Western North Carolina, and celebrating the rich craft history of our region. On January 1, we launched the first retrospective exhibit on hurricane coverage, showcasing the work of local photographer Michael Freas. We also began spotlighting what makes our area unique by exploring the Haywood County quilt trails and featuring the executive director and craft trails coordinator of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area on the ArtsvilleUSA podcast. We have so many impactful projects we can’t wait to share with you over the coming months.
In the meantime, I'm thrilled to welcome 50 new kindred souls to our subscriber base since Helene and to share that our annual fundraiser came just $47 shy of raising $10,000 to support artists in Western North Carolina. A huge thanks to our founder, Louise Glickman, for her work on our inaugural campaign. To our readers and supporters: Your encouragement means the world to us, especially during such challenging times. There’s so much pulling on our heartstrings in other parts of the country, but we’re glad you’re here.
Never has it been more important to keep deliberately creating!
The First Helene Retrospective: 'From the Beginning'
“Photography has always been more than just a passion for me,” says Asheville artist Michael Freas. “It's a way to document the world's raw beauty and untold stories.” This sentiment resonates deeply in his latest exhibition, Hurricane Helene: From the Beginning, currently on view at the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler.
Presented by ArtsvilleUSA, the exhibit showcases Michael’s powerful photojournalistic portrayal of the devastation and resilience following one of the deadliest inland hurricanes on record. “When Hurricane Helene barreled toward us, I knew it was a story I had to tell through my lens,” he says. “The photos in this exhibit are not merely images; they are tales of courage, nature's fury, and hope. Each shot is a testament to our community's spirit and the sheer power of nature.”
See the rest of From the Beginning here.
Treasure Hunting in the Blue Ridge Mountains: Take a Self-Guided Tour Through the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina
Blink, and you’ll miss it: colorful quilt trails weaving through the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. With over 300 brightly painted squares adorning barns, businesses, and homes across nine counties, these hidden gems embody the region’s history and culture, beckoning explorers to uncover the stories behind each bespoke design.
“A lot of people have seen the quilts, but they don't realize that there is a trail,” says Danna Kelly Bohnhoff, volunteer studio coordinator for Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina. “The quilt squares help tell stories, memorialize places and people, or showcase something special to the region.”
Discover the Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina here.
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area: How Western North Carolina is Crafting a Comeback
Art and crafts are emerging as vital engines for recovery in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastation in Western North Carolina. Join host Louise Glickman as she chats with Angie Chandler, executive director of the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, and Robin Johnston, the Crafts Trails coordinator, to explore how small towns and artists are working to revive their communities through creative endeavors.
Listen to our conversation with the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area here.
New + Notes From Asheville and Beyond
Here’s where we share quick craft bites for busy hands and hungry minds. Although things slow down in January, we’ve got plenty of indoor events listed below for cold-weather fun.
Call for Artists
- Fragments of Hope: The Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center presents a juried exhibition intended to depict the impacts of Hurricane Helene on the lives of artists and artisans in Western North Carolina while conveying their strength and resilience as they move forward with their practices. Fragments of Hope runs from March 3 through May 23, 2025, at The Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. Apply here by the Feb. 15, 2025, deadline.
Events + Exhibitions
- Cool opening reception: From cool colors to cool temperatures, Haywood County Arts Council’s inaugural 2025 exhibition centers on the concept of “cool,” piggybacking off of HCAC’s Cool Jazz concert. Cool runs from Jan. 29 through March 3, 2025, at HCAC’s Handmade Gallery. Attend the opening reception on Friday, January 31, from 5 - 8 pm at Haywood County Arts Council. Learn more here.
- Showcase of Excellence 2025: Encouraging Young Artists – Celebrating Art Education: This juried art competition for local high school students opens Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 28, 2025, at the Tryon Fine Arts Center in the JP Gallery and TFAC Pavilion. Learn more about how to attend here.
- A Legacy Worth Noting: Presented by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, this exhibition showcases the work of past and present Life and Lifetime Achievement Members. A Legacy Worth Noting runs Feb. 1 through April 30, 2025, at the Folk Art Center and is free and open to the public.
- COFFEE & CONVERSATION: Esteemed glassblower Michael Hatch presents this online Zoom conversation about the origins of craft in Asheville on Feb. 4, 2025. Register for free and get a sneak preview of Michael's summer course, "Appalachian Craft: Then and Now,” which explores the history of craft in Western North Carolina.
- National Arts & Crafts Conference and Show: This beloved annual conference takes place at the Grove Park Inn, where participants will enjoy seminars, workshops, demonstrations, discussion groups, and a craft exhibition. The conference takes place Feb. 21 - 23, 2025. Learn more and register here.
In the News
- “In Asheville, Gingerbread Houses Reflect Community Spirit”: For over 30 years, Asheville and the Omni Grove Park Inn have hosted the National Gingerbread Contest. Although Hurricane Helene canceled this year's event, the celebration continues with 41 gingerbread creations displayed around town to spread holiday cheer and boost tourism. Watch the story here.
- “ArtsvilleUSA Launches New Initiatives to Support Helene-Impacted Artists”: We want to send big thanks to The Laurel of Asheville for covering Artsville and some of our hurricane-related initiatives this month, including the Helene Stories Hotline (833.622.7871), a new podcast series, and Asheville-based photographer Michael Freas’ exhibition at the YMCA in Candler. Read about ArtsvilleUSA in The Laurel here.
- “Seventeen Buncombe County Artists Receive 2024-25 Artist Support Grant”: Congratulations to the recipients of ArtsAVL’s Artist Support Grant, including weaver Emelie Weber Wade, who participated in ArtsvilleUSA’s artist mentorship program, the VGA, in 2024. Way to go, Emelie!
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This copy has been edited for length and clarity. All photos published with permission of the artist(s).