More Ways to Enjoy Asheville for Less:

Asheville Dance

Asheville Entertainment

Asheville Area Festivals

Asheville Area Live Music Scene

Asheville Theatre

Asheville Area Housing

Accommodations in Asheville

Asheville Body, Mind and Spirit

Restaurants and Cafes in the Asheville Area

Asheville Movies and the Film Industry

Asheville Local and Organic Produce

Medicinal Herbs in the Asheville Area

Shopping in the Asheville Area

Tea, Coffee and Brew Venues in Asheville Area

Outdoor Activities in the Asheville Area

Volunteer Opportunities in Asheville Area

Asheville Arts and Crafts Galleries. Open Studio Tours in Asheville and Western North Carolina. Gallery Strolls and Walks.

Art Plays a Major Role in the Cultural Activities of Asheville and Western North Carolina

Asheville has become a major player in the world art scene. The number of talented artists and artisans who have settled in Western North Carolina both contributes to... and attests to ... the amazingly high quality of life this area offers.

ZooBloo invites you to take a stroll through Asheville's many art galleries ... to attend the opening art receptions, and to take advantage of the open studio tours that occur on regular basis.

Check Mountain Xpress's "Smart Bets" section for news of openings, strolls, and other art-related events.

Asheville Area Galleries

Ariel Gallery Contemporary Craft Cooperative "... an artist cooperative featuring handmade work of renowned local artists from Asheville and the surrounding area. Enjoy original works in clay, fiber, glass, iron, metal, paper and wood. Meet local artists selling their own work. "

Artemisia

Asheville Downtown Gallery Association sponsors Art Walk first Thursday in October.

Asheville Gallery of Art

Bellagio Art to Wear has 3 October Trunk Shows with artists available for custom fittings and special orders.

Black Mountain Galleries

Blue Spiral 1 Gallery

Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. Maintained by the Southern Highlands Crafts Guild. Exhibits and demonstrations of crafts.

Grovewood Gallery "... This very special gallery is home to an extraordinary collection of fine craft, garden sculpture, and handcrafted furniture… presented in such a delightful setting that it’s no wonder it was chosen as one of the top 10 craft galleries in the country..."

" ... Biltmore Industries is located at 111 Grovewood Rd., adjacent to the Grove Park Inn. Today, in addition to Grovewood Cafe, the buildings house craft and furniture showrooms, an antique car museum, artist studios, an art gallery, weaving and spinning rooms..."

Montford Arts Center "...showcasing the works of over 50 Montford artists, craftspeople, musicians, writers, and photographers. " Carries CDs of local musicians.

New Morning Gallery "Art for Living"

River District Artists Lists a wide variety artists and artisans who maintain studios in Asheville's River District by location and medium.

Seven Sisters Gallery, Black Mountain

Wickwire Gallery Hendersonville. Fine art and folk art. Open First Fridays til 9

Woolworth Walk Asheville's largest gallery in a meticulously restored Woolworth's store... features many local artists.

Asheville Area Artists

Jen Swearington "Wonders in silk, paper and found fabric... Through drawing and sewing...."

Open Studio Tours in the Asheville and Western North Carolina Area

In addition to seeing artists at work, and meeting fellow art afionados, there are usually light refreshments at every stop. Visit enough studios ... and you probably won't feel like eating lunch or even dinner!

River District Artists Studio Stroll "... Our Studio Strolls are held twice a year, always the 2nd full weekend of June & November, on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm. The Studio Stroll is your chance to tour the studios, meet with the artists... "

Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) Tour Twice a year tour on the 2nd weekend in May and the 1st weekend in December. Visit the studios of more than 70 artists of the Toe River Valley, about an hour north of Asheville. Penland School of Arts and Crafts is a major factor in so many high calibre craftspeople working in every craft discipline are settling in the Toe River Valley.

Weaverville Art Safari "... self-guided tours of the various artists' studios, tucked away in the countryside communities of Weaverville, Barnardsville, and Alexander... held the last full weekend in April and the first full weekend in November, coinciding with the beautiful spring and fall seasons in the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. The tours are free and open to the public..."

Gallery Strolls, Walks and Outdoor Venues

Meet artists and other art aficianados... enjoy seeing art, crafts and photography... enjoy refreshments.

Art After Dark First Friday of each month. 5-9 p.m. Sylva

While in Sylva, this is a good chance to check out these restaurants and cafes:

• Guadalupe Cafe,
• Spring Street Cafe
• Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro "A true community gathering place with exceptional food and an extensive selection of beer, wine and tea." - Asheville Citizen-Times Free WiFi Spot. "Featuring live music filled with heart & soul, rooted in tradition... We wanted to create a place unlike any other... A place where people could come together for tea, to share their experiences with each other, meet new friends, listen to some great music, play a game of Chess, eat some healthy food, or just a place to kick-back and relax with a cup of tea and a good book."

Art After Dark First Friday of each month. 5-9 p.m.Waynesville

Asheville Downtown Gallery Association sponsors Art Walk first Thursdays 4 times a year. Also watch RomanticAsheville.com's site for news.

First Friday Gallery Walks Hendersonville. 5-9 p.m.

Greenlife Grocery Arts Market Every Saturday, 1-6. Meet artists from all around WNC. 70 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville

West Walk Annual walk first Saturday in December.

Articles

Visual Arts Rummage Sale: Caravanning around Asheville with the New American Arts Collective

Artists Receptions

Art League of Henderson County Monthly receptions

Artists Studio Space

Odyssey Center for the Ceramic Arts is an educational program of Highwater Clays has private ($225/mo.) and community ($125/mo.) spaces available. Electric wheels, extruders, slab roller, spray booth, plenty of work, retail and storage space.

250 sq ft Artist Studio For Rent in theRiver District with a great community of artists. High ceilings, natural light, sink, gallery area, high-speed internet access. $200/month, water and electricity included. Contact Dan deBettencourt at 828-768-9493.

River District Artists Studios

Article on The River District

The Potters Mark

Western North Carolina Art Schools

John C. Campbell Folk School has work/study programs and scholarships available. 2-1/2 hours from Asheville.

Penland School of Crafts "... a national center for craft education founded by Miss Lucy Morgan... organized the Penland Weavers which provided looms and materials to local women and marketed their handwoven goods. She invited guest instructors to teach weaving, and when requests for instruction began to come from other parts of the country, Penland School was born. Soon after the first students arrived in 1929, other crafts were added and the school began to raise funds, acquire property, and construct buildings... Penland has grown to encompass about 400 acres and 41 structures... over 1,200 people come each year seeking instruction in ten craft media. The school offers one- and two-week classes in the summer and and eight-week sessions in the spring and fall... a mix of demonstrations, lectures, individual studio work,and field trips.... Penland also offers daily movement classes, evening slide shows, visits to nearby studios, a library, volleyball games, dances, walks in the beautiful countryside, or a swim in the Toe River." Penland is about an hour's drive north of Asheville. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can join a tour of the campus (reservations required) which leaves from the Penland Gallery.

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Free Car  Learn how some folks are driving a car for free. Fascinating!