There are some things I’m so involved with that I tend to forget everyone doesn’t know about them already. The Weaverville Art Safari is one of those events. The Spring Tour takes place this weekend (April 26-27), with 46 artists participating in and around Weaverville. Artist studios are open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day and many of the artists are having demonstrations and/or giving away door prizes. The tour is also free (except for the money you’ll spend on gas getting to and from the various studios). You can find all the information you need, including sample work by the artists and a detailed brochure/guide map, at www.weavervilleartsafari.com.

Here’s what else is happening on Main Street during Art Safari weekend:

• Sunnyside Cafe will be open for lunch on Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (or perhaps a little later if they’re busy)
• Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Shop plays host to woodworking artist Gary Egerer and will be having wine tastings each day, featuring “white wines that are perfect for Spring, plus one red”
• The Garden Station hosts ceramic sculpture artist Jo Bewley
• Shop Around the Corner will have free food samples on Saturday
• The Weaverville Garden Club holds its annual Rummage Sale Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
• Miya Gallery, Mangum Pottery, and Preservation Hall are all participating in the Tour

Art Exhibition at Miya Gallery which begins April 26 and runs through May 31. Featured artists are Mimi Strang, Sarah Faulkner, & Simone Wilson. An artist reception will be held Saturday, April 26 from 5-8 p.m.

The Preview Party for this Spring’s Weaverville Art Safari is 7-9 p.m. on Friday, April 25 at the Reems Creek Golf Club. You can purchase tickets at the door or in advance at Preservation Hall. They will again feature a silent auction and door prizes along with a chance to meet the artists. A cash bar and snacks will also be available.

On Friday, April 25 the Weaverville Art Safari will host a Preview Party to celebrate their eighth season of bi-annual studios tours. The event is from 7-9 p.m. at the Reems Creek Golf Club and features a silent auction. Each participating member donates a piece of their work for the auction, providing a sampling of what the weekend has to offer. Proceeds from the Preview Party go to support the production of future tours. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Below are the winners of last week’s North Buncombe Youth Art Show, along with the banks who sponsored each savings bond prize. All 10 division winners will be on display at the banks this week starting with Home Trust and working their way around town. Be sure to stop by, say thanks, and see the winners.

Division 1
Sponsored by RBC Centura
Judges Choice — Sophia Luna
Peoples Choice — Hannah Lunsford

Division 2
Sponsored by First Citizens
Judges Choice — Hunter Rivers
Peoples Choice — David Elkins

Division 3
Sponsored by Carolina First
Judges Choice — Paige Shook
Peoples Choice — Lindsey Gulliam

Division 4
Sponsored by Suntrust
Judges Choice — Hannah Bailey
Peoples Choice — Megan McGahan

Division 5
Sponsored by HomeTrust
Judges Choice — Taidra Simpson
Peoples Choice — Kimberly Buckner

North Point Baptist Church is sponsoring a community event on Saturday, May 3 called Springfest ‘08. It will be a fun-filled day for the entire family, running 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 119 Monticello Road. Here are a few of the things which will be going on….

FOR KIDS
Inflatables, clowns, balloons, face painting, pony rides, hay ride plus much more.

ENTERTAINMENT
The Kingsmen Quartet, Bailey Mountain Cloggers plus many more local and regional entertainers.

FOOD
BBQ plates, burgers, snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn and a few other snacks.

COMMUNITY
The Weaverville Police Dept will be on hand for car seat safety checks and kid fingerprinting. The Weaverville Fire Dept will share their Fire House Safety demo. Craft corner with items from local artists.

This year’s North Buncombe Youth Art Show will be held April 8-12. The Show, sponsored by the Weaverville Business Association, features artwork created by our local students.

This artwork will be on display in the following locations from Tuesday, April 8 through the morning of Saturday, April 12.

• Division 1 (K & 1st grades) — Art Accents Frame Shop, 1 South Main St
• Division 2 (2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades) — Preservation Hall, 115 North Main St
• Division 3 (5th and 6th grades) — Miya Gallery, 20 North Main St
• Division 4 (7th and 8th grades) — Sunnyside Cafe, 18 North Main St
• Division 5 (high school) — de la terre, 7 Florida Ave

In each division there will be a People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice award winner. People’s Choice voting will take place throughout the week, ending on April 12 after the artwork is moved to the meeting room of the library for final People’s Choice voting from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Judging will be at 1 p.m., with the award winners announced at 2 p.m.

People’s Choice division winners will receive a $50 savings bond. Judges’ Choice division winners will receive a $100 savings bond. All 10 award winners will be displayed at our local participating banks the week following the show.

Weaverville resident Carol Morton will be hosting two April Stampin’ Up workshops at her home.  Workshop dates are 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, April 4 or 6:30-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 5.  Each workshop costs $10 to attend and you need to pre-pay before Sunday, March 30 to hold your spot.  The April projects are:

• Mother’s Day tote with goodies inside
• card using pastels
• party favor (by request)
• reversible four-photo frame

Snacks and door prizes will also be available, and she’ll have discounts on in-stock retired stamp sets.  To register, call Carol at 658-1003.   FYI:  The May workshop dates will be May 2 and May 3.

The artist lineup for the Spring 2008 Weaverville Art Safari is available on their website, www.weavervilleartsafari.com.  Names, images, contact information, and website information is available on the Artist page.  The Spring Tour Brochure and Guide Map is also available to download from the Tour page.

This Spring there are 46 artists participating in the free self-guided tour, which takes place 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. 

Weaverville artist Patti Quinn Hill will be exhibiting at University of North Carolina Asheville’s Highsmith Union Gallery March 11-26. Also scheduled during the exhibition are an Artist Talk and Basket Workshop.

From Shaker to Paper
Patti Quinn Hill

Traditional and contemporary at the same time, the baskets created by Patti Quinn Hill are spirited, graceful, and immaculately crafted out of archival paper. Hill begins with a traditional Shaker form, but from there her concepts, materials, and colors are unique and modern. From Shaker to Paper highlights the evolution of her baskets. Patti Quinn Hill is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and the National Basketry Organization. This exhibit is in celebration of women’s work and Women’s History Month.

Also scheduled during the exhibition:

Artist Talk
An artist talk with Hill on Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Reception to follow

Paper Basket Workshop
Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with lunch break
All levels are welcome to have fun weaving a sturdy paper basket designed to hold beverage napkins. Students will paint their heavy watercolor paper with acrylic paint using many surface design techniques, then cut the paper into even strips using a pasta cutter. Weaving will be done over a mold using traditional basketry techniques, and curl embellishments will be emphasized to create your one-of-a-kind basket. Cost is $15 for students and $60 for the general public (all materials included). More information and registration information here: http://www.unca.edu/highsmith/gallery/images/Pattiworkshop.pdf

Highsmith Union Gallery is open to the public Monday-Friday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. and on weekends 10 a.m.-6 p.m. when class is in session. It’s located in the Highsmith University Union on the University of North Carolina Asheville campus.

from the Asheville Regional Airport’s monthy e-newsletter:

Are you an artist? Do you know someone who is?
 
The Asheville Regional Airport Art Gallery is a premier location to display and sell artwork. Open to artists with residence in one of the eleven counties served by AVL, Art in the Airport gives artists a great opportunity for exposure to the more than 300,000 passengers traveling through the airport every year.
 
It’s easy to apply — applications are available online at http://www.flyavl.com/media-guide/art-in-the-airport.html – and AVL retains only a 20% commission, so even starving artists who sell artwork can enjoy a good meal!
 
To apply for the next exhibit, visit www.flyavl.com for more information and submit a completed application no later than March 14, 2008.
 
Questions? E-mail art@flyavl.com.

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. 

Carol Morton will be hosting two Stampin’ Up workshops in Weaverville this month: Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 9.  They run from 6:30-9 p.m. (both workshops are the same, so you only have to attend one).  Feburary’s workshop projects include:  an Easter card, candy pounch, windowed gift box for cookies and a mini book.  Snacks and door prizes will also be available.  Workshops are $10, and you’ll need to pre-pay by February 2 to reserve your spot.  For more information or to register contact Carol at 658-1003.

This month is also Sale-A-Bration month — with every $50 purchase you receive a free stamp set.  Contact Carol for more info.

Miya Gallery’s Valentine Invitational Exhibition begins Friday, February 1 and runs through March 28.  An opening reception will be held 6-9 p.m. on Friday, February 1.  Artists participating in the exhibition include Liz Summerfield, Scott Summerfield, Laura Sims, Kay Bonitz, Jennifer Robinson, Michael Hatch, Simone Wilson, Mimi Strang, K4 Glassart, Selena Glass, Scott Olson, Thais Wiener, Jennifer Jenkins, Kathleen Gibbs, Elizabeth Hake, Sarah Faulkner, Mary Timmer, Joanna Gollberg, Jason Janow, Nancy Flemming, Lou Anne Jordan, Frances Domingues, Greg Krolick, and Anne Rob.

Miya Gallery is located at 20 North Main Street.

Weaverville raku pottery artist Steven Forbes-deSoule has updated the Shows & Workshops page of his website with his 2008 schedule.   Thus far he has two Weaverville Art Shows on his schedule:  the Spring Weaverville Art Safari April 26-27 and an Open House for Collectors August 29-31.  Steven has also added some new pieces to his online gallery.

Arts for Life Executive Director Anna Littman sent this letter about their entry in the Asheville Airport’s Holiday Contest:

Thanks to the support and generosity of WNC Magazine, Arts For Life is a part of an exciting contest at the Asheville Airport and we need your help!

WNC Magazine has sponsored Arts For Life and created a color-filled Christmas Tree being displayed at the Asheville Airport. The tree is part of a contest put on by the airport and local businesses who have decorated trees and menorahs in hopes of bringing support to their favorite nonprofit organizations. WNC Magazine’s tree features colorful paper cranes made by children in Arts For Life’s programs who are going through treatments for cancer and other serious illnesses.

There is a “Peoples Choice” award for the best tree that gives the public an opportunity to vote online for their winner at www.flyavl.com/announcements/holiday-tree-contest.html.  If we win, we will receive $2,000 for our programs. Please help us by voting today. Please pass this message along to anyone you know who might help.

Thank you!
Anna Littman
Executive Director

Note: Arts for Life is a non-profit organization with headquarters located on Monticello Road in Weaverville.  The program provides daily visual art, music, photography, creative writing lessons and art support groups to children, adolescents, and young adults battling cancer, life-threatening diseases and other disabilities.