Local artist Jeff Pittman has created a new Main Street painting in time for Weaverville’s Art in Autumn festival. The original oil on canvas painting can be purchased along with limited edition prints and framed/unframed giclee on canvas. All are available from his website at www.jeffpittmanart.com/galleryhtml/weaverville_main_street-art.html, or you can visit him this Saturday at Art in Autumn. He will be in booth #27.

It’s almost time for the 3rd Annual Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival.  This year’s festival is set for Saturday, September 19, 2009, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Main Street (between Merrimon Avenue and Church Street).  Over 100 artists will be showing their work, bands will be playing old-time and bluegrass music, and local non-profits will be selling food.  Admission is free. You can find more information, including a festival map and the list of participating artists and bands, on their website www.artinautumn.com.  A few other items of note:

Road Closures
Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. from the corner of Merrimon and Main to Church and Main. As a result traffic will be routed onto Alabama Avenue during the event.  We are anticipating thousands of visitors for this particular event.  The Police, Fire Department, and Emergency Services personnel have been alerted and will assist in monitoring the street closures.

Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to assist with setup, breakdown, information booths, and parking. If you would like to help with the event please contact Sherrye at 273-7306.

Raffle
Art in Autumn is sponsored and funded by the Weaverville Business Association. One of the ways they cover festival expenses is through the Art in Autumn Raffle. Local businesses have donated more than 40 items to be raffled off during the festival.  Tickets are $1 and can be purchased at the Information Booths during the festival.  Here’s a few of the items they’ll be giving away:

• Free eye exam, ½ off glasses or contacts from Weaverville Eye Associates
• Lunch for two from Sunnyside Cafe
• 1 hour massage from A Way to Heal Massage
• 1 hour massage from Secret Garden Inn & Spa
• $25 Gift Certificate from Maggie B’s Wine and Specialty Store
• $50 gift certificate from Miya Gallery
• $25 gift certificate to Brown’s Floral from Beverly Hanks
• Pottery Piece from Mangum Pottery
• $50 gift certificate from Curtis Wright Outfitters
• $20 gift certificate from Mike’s Grill
• $25 gift certificate from Stoney Knob
• $50 gift certificate from Weaverville Ingles

Later this week I’ll publish any of the sales or specials local businesses will be having in conjunction with the event. Please check back for those.

The 3rd Annual Art in Autumn festival is looking for artists for this year’s event, scheduled for Saturday, September 19 on Main Street.  Interested artists can download an application at www.artinautumn.com.  Application deadline is May 15.  More info:

The Weaverville Business Association has put out a call for artists for the 3rd Annual Art in Autumn Juried Arts and Crafts Show, to be held Saturday, September 19, 2009, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., in downtown Weaverville, North Carolina.

Applications are being accepted from artists working in any of the following mediums: Basketry, Clay, Digital Art, Drawing, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metal, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Wood.  A $1000 cash prize will be awarded for Best in Show, with additional cash prizes for second place, third place, and honorable mentions.

Additional information and artist applications are available online at www.artinautumn.com.

Deadline to enter is May 15, 2009.  The show can accommodate up to 100 artists.

For more information or to obtain a hard copy of the application, contact Sherrye Perry at (828) 273-7306 or e-mail artinautumn@visitweaverville.com.

Video of Weaverville artist Marcus Thomas as he works on a painting during Saturday’s Art in Autumn festival in downtown Weaverville.   In the mid-1980’s, Thomas was completely paralyzed from the shoulders down in a skiing accident and thus paints with the brush in his mouth.  You can see more of his work on his website, or live at Art Accents (1 South Main Street ).

Here’s some of the sales and specials being offered by downtown businesses during tomorrow’s Art in Autumn festival. Unless otherwise noted, these sales are happening only on Saturday, September 20:

Art Accents
$50 Art in Autumn Poster special.  This is happening the day of the festival only, and the price includes the poster, frame, glass, and tax (regular retail value is $80).  You’ll have a choice of a red, blue, or black frame.  To order, stop by the store anytime before the festival, or order forms will be available at the festival Information Booths on Saturday.

Brown’s Floral
20% off storewide sale

Curtis Wright Outfitters
30% off all clothing, Kenn Maui Sandals, and Quark footwear.  This sale starts on Friday and excludes those items already on sale.

Garden Station
Anniversary Sale — free popcorn and 10% off everything in the store

Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store
All day wine tasting

Secret Garden Inn & Spa
Chair massages on the front lawn for $1/minute.

Shop Around the Corner
Sample Saturday in the afternoon — try a few of the selected mixes or marinades they have for sale.
They also have Dr. Pete’s Marinades and Dressings on sale for 25% off (that sale is happening until they’re out of stock).

Sunnyside Cafe
They’ll be opening early at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and will feature their lunch menu for the entire day (plus a few dinner specials in the evening).  They’ll also have “grab and go” boxed lunches available, along with $2 Highland Gaelic Ales.

Weaverville Drug Company
Sidewalk Sale

The 2nd Annual Art in Autumn is happening this Saturday, September 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Main Street.  This year the festival boasts 100 artists and includes food and live, local bluegrass music.  Details, including the list of artists and band schedule, are available at www.artinautumn.com. Here’s some other notable information that’s not on the website:

Road Closures
Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. from the corner of Merrimon and Main to Church and Main. As a result traffic will be routed onto Alabama Avenue during the event.  We are anticipating thousands of visitors for this particular event.  The Police, Fire Department, and Emergency Services personnel have been alerted and will assist in monitoring the street closures.

---

Raffle
Local businesses have donated more than 30 items to be raffled off during the festival.  Tickets are $1.  Here’s some of the items to be given away:

• 3 -$10 gift certificates from Blue Mountain Pizza
• 2 – Lunches for two from Sunnyside Cafe
• Gift bag from Weaverville Drug Co
• $20 gift certificate from Weaverville Drug Co
• Gift Basket from Dry Ridge Inn
• $20 gift certificate from Mike’s Grill
• Gift certificate from Rose Pilates
• $25 gift certificate from Maggie B’s
• 2- $15 gift certificates from Preservation Hall
• $30 gift certificate from Curtis Wright Outfitters
• $100 savings bond from RBC Centura
• $25 gift certificate to Brown’s Floral from Beverly-Hanks
• $40 gift certificate from Brown’s Floral
• Framed print from Shopes Furniture
• Large piece of pottery from Mangum Pottery
• Savings bond from HomeTrust Bank
• 2 pots of mums from Garden Station
• $25 Gift certificate to Garden Station from de la terre
• Marcus Thomas print from Sherrye Perry
• Wooden swan from Sherrye Perry
• 5 -$20 gift certificates from Weaverville Dry Cleaning
• Gift certificate from Clay Spa
• $25 Gift certificate from Shop Around the Corner
• 2 – Lunch for two from North Star Diner
• Custom designed piece of jewelry from Miya Gallery
• Gift certificate from Weaverville Pet Pantry
• 2 – custom framed photographs by artist Robert Peterson from Secret Garden
• $250 towards real estate closing from Weaverville Realty
• Chilled wine tote from Inn on Main Street
• Free breakfast for two or $25 towards a stay at Inn on Main Street
• ½ hour massage from therapist Brie Ward
• The Secret of War (history of Civil War crime in WNC) from Dry Ridge Museum
• 2 copies of book about Dorothy B Weaver from Dry Ridge Museum
• Fear in North Carolina (Civil War journals and letters) from Dry Ridge Museum
• 3 – one hour gift certificates from Christopher’s Computers
• T – shirt from Weaverville Milling Company
• $40 Gift certificate to Miya Gallery from American Cornerstone Homes
• Collapsible camping chair from Bill Boughton/Edward Jones
• Framed 2008 Art in Autumn Poster from Art Accents

---

Sales & Specials
A number of downtown businesses are also having sales and specials during the Art in Autumn festival.  I’ll have a full list of those published tomorrow.

The second annual Art in Autumn has been scheduled for Saturday, September 20 in downtown Weaverville.  Applications are now being accepted for artists, and can be picked up at most Weaverville businesses or downloaded from http://www.visitweaverville.com/artinautumn/artInAutumnApp.pdf. 

A number of Weaverville businesses will be hosting special events and sales during this Saturday’s Art in Autumn Arts & Crafts Festival.  Unless otherwise noted, these sales last for the duration of the Art in Autumn festival only (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).  Here’s what I’ve heard about so far:

Art Accents, 1 South Main Street
15% off storewide

Bee & Thistle Interiors, 55 North Main Street
10% off storewide

Brown’s Floral Design, 25 North Main Street
15% off all Fall Silk Arrangements
Bouquet of the Day special

Curtis Wright Outfitters, 24 North Main Street
Buy 2 Items, Get One Free
Buy 1 Item, Get 2nd 1/2 Off

The Garden Station, One Merrimon Avenue
Grand Opening Gala
Food, drinks, and music by The Buckerettes from 2-4 p.m.
10% off all purchases of $25 or more

Maggie B’s Wine and Speciality Store, 113 North Main Street
Wine & Snacks, 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Crescent Woodworking artist Gary Egerer will be showing his handcrafted wood home furnishings, 1-5 pm

Secret Garden Inn & Spa, 56 North Main Street
Chair Massages: $1/minute with 15-minute minimum

Weaverville Drug Company, 3 North Main Street
30% off Framed Art
10% off Wall Hangings
15% off Gift Items
15% off Plush Animals
10% off Webkinz
Free North Buncombe hat with $30 purchase (excluding prescriptions)
Free Hot Dog with purchase of chips and a drink