Creative Focus
Home Page: Blowing Rock, A History at BRAHM. Above: Luck of the Pups at Mica, work by Robert Levin; Ben Long fresco in Blowing Rock
Art Remarks
By CML Staff
Some of the southeast region’s best art and fine (and functional) crafts can be found right here in the High Country and foothills. In addition to the annual arts & crafts festivals taking place throughout the region this spring—see our Regional Happenings—we have many newsworthy topics to share related to our popular galleries, public art and working artists.
Over in Banner Elk
The art galleries in Banner Elk are alive with new works, new exhibitions, and in the case of It’s All About The Art Gallery, a brand new location.
“It’s All About The Art is excited to share that we have moved to a new location in Banner Elk! We remain grateful for and committed to our community of artists, patrons, and numerous local supporters, including the Town of Banner Elk, the Chamber of Commerce, and CML,” said Amy Reshefsky, artist and gallery proprietor. “While we will miss our current neighbors, as we all continue to recover from Helene, this move allows It’s All About The Art to continue to showcase exceptional art and talent, host engaging events, and to add working studio space to interact with our partner artists.” You’ll find their new gallery at 5004 NC-105 S, Banner Elk, with a Grand Opening scheduled for May 1. “It’s All About The Art looks forward to adding more color around town and to welcoming you and new artists to our new space.” For updates, follow It’s All About The Art at ItsAllAboutTheArt.net and on Facebook and Instagram.
…………….
In downtown Banner Elk, the BE Artists Gallery at the Historic Banner Elk School has reopened for the season. Visit their light-filled space in the old brick school, built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. This popular co-op gallery is run by member artists, and includes work from over 30 local artists and artisans. Visit BEartistsgallery.com for more information and their current hours. As in past years, BE Artists Gallery will be open during the four Art on the Greene festivals that take place in front of the Historic Banner Elk School. The first event kicks off Memorial Day weekend (May 24-25), with additional shows July 5-6, August 2-3, and August 30-31 (Labor Day weekend).
…………….
After being flooded with nearly five feet of water during Helene, Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk spent many months renovating their first floor. The gallery is now open, and on May 16 from 3 – 5 p.m., you can help them celebrate the “GrandReopening” of renovations to ‘the Cellar.’ Art Cellar also has several exhibitions planned for their spring season, including works by Jason Hatcher & Justin Rothshank, opening on May 21, and works by Kathy Reece, Erin Hughes, and Nathan Favors, opening on June 25. artcellargallery.com
…………….
For anyone looking for a fun opportunity to get outside and sketch in the Banner Elk area, check out Banner Elk Sketching, a casual group getting together to sketch and paint. This brand new group will meet at select spots throughout Banner Elk one day each month during spring, summer and fall. There are no fees, and no experience is necessary—“just fun sketching together and fresh mountain air!” For information, or to join the group, email Jessie Schmitt at [email protected].
…………….
Spring Workshops are under way at Carlton Gallery, a lovely place to peruse works by local and regional artists in all media, and a place to expand and refine your art skills!Participants with all levels of painting and artistic experiences are welcome. On May 20 and 21,Egidio Antonaccio presents “Realistic Impressionism in Oil,” inviting artists to explore any subject matter using their own photographs. On May 27-29, Karin Neuvirth presents “Painting with Knives in Acrylic.” On June 3-5, Kim Abernethy leads her “Let’s Get Outdoors and Paint” workshop focusing on Plein Air Painting in Oil. On June 10-12, you can take part in Lisa Boardwine’s “Abstract Adventures” workshop in Acrylic/Mixed Media. And on June 17-19, Sharon Lampke presents “High Country Landscape Basics” in Oil.
For details on these workshops and other 2025 opportunities, visit carltongallery.com.
Over in Blowing Rock
Two Benjamin Long Frescoes are now on display at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Blowing Rock. One fresco is a depiction of the 23rd Psalm while the other portrays The Good Shepherd. Commissioned by Mabel Stowe Query in 2006 for a hospice center in Mt. Pleasant, SC, the frescoes were completed in 2009. Eventually, they were in need of a new home, and in 2022, Rumple obtained these frescoes, storing them until the church could properly display them.
World-famous fresco artist Benjamin F. Long IV is a North Carolina native who spent years studying with European masters. His fresco art appears throughout the region, including at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Glendale Springs, E.H. Sloop Chapel in Crossnore, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Wilkesboro—and now Rumple Memorial in Blowing Rock.
In late March, Rumple began its Fresco Ministry to the public with docent-guided tours and viewings of these two frescoes. Tours are held on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 – 4 p.m. Guests can enjoy an introductory eight-minute video featuring Ben Long, shown every half hour starting at 10:30 a.m.; thirty-minute docent presentations are held at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
“This is an amazing cultural light being shined on the community,” said Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM) executive director Stephan Dragisic. In 2024, BRAHM hosted a special program, The Lost Frescos of Ben Long, at the museum with expert Jim Walters, who shared with BRAHM patrons the story of how these paintings were discovered, and their journey to Blowing Rock. “While Rumple will share the (biblical) story behind the frescoes, we at the museum are shining a light on the artist and the art form. We will be doing that, always thinking the frescoes are here now and a part of our community.”
For more information on the frescoes, visit rumplechurch.org/fresco-ministry/ or email [email protected]. The church is located at 1218 Main Street, Blowing Rock.
…………….
While in Blowing Rock, be sure to check out BRAHM’s latest special exhibitions currently on display, including Blowing Rock, A History(semi-permanent exhibit); A Cardboard History of Blue Ridge Music through April 26; SHIP/SHAPE through May 4; Dail Dixon: Modern at Scale through May 11; Storyboard to Storybook: The Beulah Campbell Collection at Appalachian State University through June 8; Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn through August 10; and The Shape of Color: Understanding Color Theory in BRAHM’s Collection through December 25. blowingrockmuseum.org
…………….
Blowing Rock Art in the Park celebrates over six decades of shows! Art in the Park was created in 1962 by a handful of area artists and craftspeople to showcase local talent. Today, Art in the Park is host to 90 artisans at each of their six monthly shows. Enjoy mingling with award-winning and acclaimed artisans at these juried events, curated to present a wide variety of mediums. Find gifts for everyone on your list, and works for your own collections, including pottery, fiber, glass, furniture, cutlery, jewelry, textiles, photography, painting and more.
Artists’ tents line Park Avenue in the heart of downtown Blowing Rock so attendees can enjoy proximity to other shopping as well as dining options and local parks. Spring dates include May 17 and June 14. Additional dates in summer and early fall include July 12, August 16, September 6, and October 4, with hours of 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for each show, rain or shine. Make a weekend of it and stay for the outdoor Concert in the Park that follows each Art in the Park event on Sundays. blowingrock.com/artinthepark/
Over in Boone
The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) has announced the finalists for the 22nd Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) Exhibition, on display through May 3. With over 500 images submitted by 76 artists, jurors selected 47 photographs to embody the theme “Making Kin: Belonging & Longing in Appalachia.” Photographers were asked to “show how Appalachia shapes their sense of kinship and belonging.” From across the full range of Appalachia, the artists featured offer moments of tenderness, resilience, and connection. “Belonging is found by the rivers, in the woods, at the ancestral kitchen table, within the midst of wild-crafted families, and in the murky relationships between complicated bodies.” tcva.appstate.edu
The Turchin Center also participates in the “Boone First Friday Art Crawls,” an event that sees downtown Boone come alive with creativity, community, and celebration.
Explore participating galleries, meet local artists, and participate in collaborative art or youth programs. Additional exhibits and wine tastings take place at various downtown shops and restaurants, with special seasonal exhibitions showing at the Turchin Center on King Street, as well as the Mazie Jones Gallery in the Jones House Community Center. Spring dates include May 2 and June 6. exploreboone.com
…………….
This spring and summer, the Watauga Arts Council (WAC) will offer a diverse lineup of classes in various mediums, perfect for artists of all skill levels. Their Intro to Fiber Workshop Series invites participants to explore new fiber crafts with instructors from the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild. Classes take place on the fourth Saturday of every month through August, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn How to Crochet: Spa Day is a beginner-friendly crochet class with instructor Meredith Ross, where you’ll learn the basics while creating a relaxing spa project. Classes are held on Thursdays in May, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. In June, join instructor Cinda Ebner and Design and Paint a Barn Quilt. In this workshop, held June 21-22, you’ll learn how to draw and paint your own barn quilt on a lightweight, durable 2×2-ft aluminum composite board.
Check watauga-arts.org for more information about their upcoming classes and to register. Follow WAC on Instagram (@watauga-arts) and Facebook (Watauga Arts Council).
Across the Region
Running through April 30, The Luck of the Pups is Mica Gallery’s annual fundraiser for Mitchell County Animal Rescue (MCAR). The Luck of the Pups sale features works donated by Mica artists and by the family of Bobby Kadis. Seventy-five percent of the sales of these donated works will be contributed to MCAR. Bobby Kadis (1936-2020) was a longtime student at Penland School of Craft, a former chair of the Penland board, and a passionate supporter of the local arts community. Pottery and collecting the works of others became his avocation upon retirement. In his final years, Bobby adopted a dog for his wife Claudia because he didn’t want her to be lonely! She now dotes on this pup, and he responds with unquestioning devotion. The family is pleased to be able to share works from his collection with Mica Gallery on behalf of animals.
All of the gifted objects—gently used and displayed with pride for many years—are a testament to each donor’s love of animals. Works for sale include pieces by Robyn Horn, Shoko Teruyama, Rob Levin, Joe Nielander, Michael Kline, Bobby Kadis, and many more.
Prior to the launch of this annual fundraiser, Mica contacted MCAR’s executive director Amber Lowrey to ask how the hurricane affected their work. She replied, “Before the storm we moved all of the animals out of the shelter so that we would have room for displaced and stray animals. We always use social media to help locate lost and found pets, but we amped up that work after Helene. So many pets were missing or found, always in states of distress. We were able to care for these animals and help locate owners.” Consider joining Mica in support of Mitchell County Animal Rescue’s important work. Mica is an artist-run gallery of fine art and contemporary craft located at 37 N. Mitchell Avenue in Bakersville, NC. Visit micagallerync.com for more information.
…………….
Save the date! Penland School of Craft will hold its 40th Annual Benefit Auction this summer, August 22-23. This year marks 40 years of bringing together collectors, curators, artists, and friends for a gala weekend in the mountains of North Carolina. The Annual Benefit Auction is Penland’s signature event, their biggest fundraiser, and your chance to see and own works of art created by the artists who fill the Penland workshops with inspiration, ingenuity, collaboration, and discovery.
Last year’s auction engaged over 600 collectors, enthusiasts, artists and volunteers from across the country and internationally; nearly 200 artists contributed works of art. Registration for the event opens in May, so visit penland.org/auction and sign up for auction newsletters to get all the details as plans unfold. All proceeds benefit Penland School of Craft. This spring, you can visit the campus to explore the Penland Gallery, Supply Store, Coffee House and Resident Artists’ studios. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Penland campus is located near the town of Spruce Pine, just 25 miles southwest of Newland, NC. (Physical address: 2687 Conley Ridge Road, Bakersville, NC 28705)
…………….
Fiber arts enthusiasts won’t want to miss the annual Blue Ridge Fiber Fest taking place June 6-7 at the Higgins Fairgrounds in Sparta, NC. Set among the mountains, just a few miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Sparta’s popular Blue Ridge Fiber Fest brings together farmers, vendors and fiber artists for a celebration of the fiber arts. Dozens of classes will be available, including knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, basketry and more. Demonstrations will include both traditional and modern fiber techniques as well as farming operations. Vendors from across the U.S. will also be at the festival.
Blue Ridge Fiber Fest runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The fairgrounds are located at 1375 US Highway 21N, Sparta, NC. Learn more at blueridgefiberfest.com.
…………….
The Klondike Damis a cherished landmark adjacent to Grassy Creek Vineyard, just north of Elkin, NC. A few steps from the tasting room at Grassy Creek, you’ll find the trailhead for the state’s first official “forest bathing” trail, which connects to a greater network of trails. The Forest Bathing trail loop is approximately one mile long, which allows hikers of all levels to appreciate one of the reasons the trail is so special—it showcases some lovely artwork characterizing scenes from the foothills region depicted in a massive mural.
The mural was completed last year by Charlotte-based artist Eva Crawford, who is known for her captivating depictions of nature and landscapes, and in the Klondike Dam Mural, she has masterly captured the essence of the region. The mural, spanning the length of the 100-year-old dam, seamlessly harmonizes with the Forest Bathing Trail and the surrounding environment. Learn more about the trail, the Dam Mural and the Elkin area at exploreelkin.com and elkinvalleytrails.org.
…………….
Head over to the West Jefferson Gallery Crawl on the second Friday of each month and stroll the streets of historic downtown West Jefferson. As you walk, you’ll enjoy the cool mountain breezes while listening to the sounds of street musicians—then step inside and explore downtown West Jefferson’s many galleries. The West Jefferson Arts District is full of art, color and wonderful items to grace your home and garden. Art lovers will find one-of-a-kind paintings and photography, pottery, stained glass, quilts, fiber arts, jewelry, wood turned art, and much more.
Beginning June 13, and on second Fridays through October 10, galleries extend their hours from 5-7p.m. Crawlers will have an opportunity to see new, creative and innovative works by Ashe County’s leading artists and also view the downtown murals and other outdoor art pieces. ashecountyarts.org
…………….
There’s some good news for artists impacted by Hurricane Helene: The NC Arts Council (NCAC) recently awarded $915,000 to non-profit arts organizations in Western North Carolina affected by the destructive storm. The relief funds are being provided to 69 arts organizations throughout the impacted 26-county region. A list of awardees is available on the NCAC’s website at ncarts.org/hurricane-helene-relief-grant-award-recipients-2025/.
“The cultural and arts offerings in Western North Carolina are vital to the heritage and economic strength of our entire state,” said Arts Council Director Jeffrey Bell.
Here in the High Country, funds were awarded to Ensemble Stage in Avery County; Wilkes Playmakers in Wilkes County; Lost Province Center for the Cultural Arts, Florence Thomas Art School, Inc., and the Ashe County Arts Council in Ashe County; Appalachian Theatre of the High Country, Blowing Rock Art & History Museum (BRAHM), Project Dance Foundation and Watauga Arts Council in Watauga County; Toe River Arts Council, Inc. in Mitchell/Yancey counties; and Penland School of Craft in Mitchell County. These funds will help arts organizations fill a critical gap following the storm, which halted exhibitions and productions for several months and caused damage to structures and assets.