The Asheville Art Museum Blog

Summer Fun with the Asheville Art Museum Continues!

2011-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

The first few weeks of Summer Camp at the Museum have flown by! We’ve enjoyed seeing both new and familiar faces in our June and early July camp sessions, where campers in kindergarten through 8th grades have enjoyed Exploring Puppetry and Mask Making, Cartooning Is Cool, Let’s Draw + Paint and many more exciting activities!

Each summer, the Asheville Art Museum offers eight weeks of Summer Camp fun to rising kindergarten through 12th grade students. Classes are held in the studio of the Museum’s WNC Art Resource Center. A few spaces are still open for registration including: Digital Photography + Mixed Media (for 9th -12th grade students the mornings of July 25 - 29) and 3-D Adventure (for 3rd - 5th grade students the mornings of August 1 - 5). Be sure to visit the Museum’s website for more details about the sessions remaining in this year’s Summer Art Camp. Full camp descriptions can be found here.

Summertime fun with the Museum continued this past weekend during the Family Art pARTy!, held in conjunction with The Big Crafty on Sunday, July 10th. Thank you to everyone who participated in our fun afternoon activities!

For more information about these and upcoming family fun, kid-friendly programs and activities at the Museum, contact Sharon McRorie, Education Program Manager at 828.253.3227 ext. 122 or smcrorie@ashevilleart.org or Erin Shope, School + Family Programs Manager at 828.253.3227 ext. 121 or eshope@ashevilleart.org.

The Museum's LA Travels Continue...

2011-06-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

(Thursday, June 9)

The first full day of our travels in LA included the Huntington Museum and Gardens, the Norton Simon Museum and a wonderful private collection of Historic African American Art in Pasadena. It was a long and exciting day for all of us! While Asheville is sweltering, LA is cool with highs of 70 degrees! Today we are off to LA MOCA, LACMA and the Craft and Folk Art Museum.

Also, we enjoyed a fabulous private tour of the arts and crafts, Greene and Greene designed Gamble house (lots of connections to Asheville with our GPI heritage). So all in all, the links between the Museum collections—particularly the American collection at the Huntington and the African American Collection—have been really exciting.

(Today, June 10)

June gloom still in force here: 68 degrees (cold) but today the sun peeked out late in the day when we arrived at LACMA.We started at LA MOCA which was a real treat for all, as was the Disney Concert Hall, where Susan Holden got us in despite all odds. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch followed by a tour of an amazing private collection.

We then moved on to LACMA—David Smith—OH MY!!! (one of my favorites!), followed by parts of the contemporary collection. Lastly, we enjoyed the LA Craft and Folk Art Museum. There, we were hosted by the board and new Director and Asheville favorite Suzanne Isken. We’ve been resting for an hour and will soon be off to fabulous Asian dinner!

Wish all of you were with us—next time be sure to come.

The Museum and Friends Travel to L.A.

2011-06-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

Hello Asheville Art Museum fans from your friends traveling in LA. Today everyone arrived- from various points, airports, transfers and the like. We all met just before 7:00 p.m. in the lovely lobby of the Montage hotel and walked across the street in Beverly Hills to the famed Spago restaurant. What a fabulous meal and great way to fortify ourselves for the upcoming jam packed days of looking at art of all kinds. 25 aficionados are all geared up and ready to go. Pasadena's treasurers await tomorrow.

More updates to come...

Getting to Know Us: Museum Library

2011-02-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

This week's blog post is from Frank Thomson, the Museum's Curator, who also organizes the Museum Library:

“Visiting this museum is always a treat, and the library is exceptional.”

This is a note left in the comment book by a visitor this winter. It highlights one of the important, but quieter, programs at the Asheville Art Museum, the Frances Mulhall Achilles Library. The library is located by the stairs leading up to the second floor. It features books, catalogs, magazines, videos and art images. All of this material is searchable in a computer catalog.

On February 3, 2011, the library celebrated an important milestone; the nine thousandth item was added to the catalog.

The Asheville Art Museum’s library is one of the largest resources of art publications in the region and is regularly used by staff, visitors, students and scholars. While the materials do not circulate, the Museum has a Teachers’ Resource Center that allows area school teachers to check out materials for use in the classroom.

Also thanks to a grant from Progress Energy, the library includes three computers with Internet access for further art research.

The success of the library is due to many supporters who have donated materials, but in particular to a small group of dedicated volunteer librarians. The current group consists of Leah Karpen, Fran Myers, Meg Miles and Martha Shepard. Most Thursday mornings find this dedicated and hard working group in the library cataloging new materials, re-shelving books and other tasks needed to maintain the library as the important resource that it is.

The library is free to Members or with paid admission, so check it out the next time you are in the Museum. If you are here on a Thursday morning, say hello to the librarians, they always love visitors.

Getting to Know Us: Membership and Groups

2011-02-01T11:42:00.001-08:00

Continue getting to know us with this post from Rebecca Lynch-Maass, Membership Manager at the Museum. She coordinates the Collectors' Circle group. Read here about their recent purchase party:

The Asheville Art Museum Collectors’ Circle held their seventh annual selection dinner on January 17, 2011. The Collectors’ Circle is dedicated to increasing their own knowledge about art and collecting, while also growing the Museum’s Permanent Collection through annual purchases from an acquisition fund created by yearly dues.

This year, the Circle and Circle members added 10 works to the Museum’s Permanent Collection, as well as furthering their commitment to the growth of acquisition funds for the Museum.

The 2010 Collectors’ Circle members voted to acquire Basket by Ruth Asawa (pictured left). This early Asawa work, one of few created while she was a student at Black Mountain College, is a stunning example of her early efforts with the looped-wire technique learned in Toluca, Mexico in 1947. Central to an earlier exhibition of her work was a large looped wire sculpture given to the Museum by Lorna Blaine Halper. The addition of this early basket form offers us the opportunity to build upon Halper’s significant gift and to showcase both an early and a later wire sculpture. This addition of a work by a Black Mountain College artist, and especially one created at Black Mountain College, adds to the ongoing efforts by the Museum to build a significant BMC Collection, and continues the Circle’s commitment to that Collection.

In anticipation of the upcoming exhibition Artists at Work: American Printmakers and the WPA (April 29 – September 25, 2011), Assistant Curator Cole Hendrix presented three works by WPA printmakers Minna Citron, Louis Schanker and Hyman Warsager to the Circle. Warsager’s 1937 lithograph Preserve the Initiative for Children, Schanker’s 1939 woodcut Three Men on a Bench (pictured left) and Squid Under Pier, 1948-9, intaglio and stencil by Minna Citron were gifted by individual members.

Another purchase by the Circle with their 2010 Acquisition Fund was photographer John Pfahl’s Fish, Cypress Gardens, Florida, 2001, Type C color negative print (pictured left). Individuals Pam Myers, Gail and Brian McCarthy and Gary and Olivia Zahler made additional contributions for the purchase of this work. Another powerful work by Pfahl presented to the Circle, Morning Light on Railroad Viaduct, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 2004, Endura print, was chosen to be purchased with funds from the Nat C. Myers Photography Fund.

Additional works gifted by Individual Circle members included:

Morning Gossips by Alfred Heber Hutty, drypoint etching on paper, 1950, gifted by Rob Pulleyn (pictured left).

Ray Griffin and Thom Robinson gifted two works: Ronald Cooper’s Helldozer, mixed media, 2008 (pictured left); and Thunder Pony by John Grant, carved stone, 2007.

Anne Burkhardt and Cherry Lentz Saenger gifted Taylor Rolling Store, acrylic on canvas, not dated (pictured left).

Since their founding in 2003 the Collectors’ Circle and Circle members have contributed over $300,000 to Collections growth and support for the Asheville Art Museum. Their generosity and commitment are to be applauded, and are an inspiration to us all.

2010 Collectors’ Circle members were Nancy Albyn, Phillip Broughton and David Smith, Nat and Anne Burkhardt, Andrew Glasgow, Ray Griffin and Thom Robinson, Susan Holden, Suzanne and Stephen Jones, Gail and Brian McCarthy, Fran Myers, Ladene and Russell Newton, Ann and Ted Oliver, Mary Powell, Rob Pulleyn, Cherry and Paul Lentz Saenger, Randy Siegel, Susan Stair Stevens, Susan Turner, Olivia and Gary Zahler.

Rebecca would also love to help you become a Member so you can join us for the New Members' Reception on February 13 (*mention this blog and get $5 off!*). E-mail rlynch-maass@ashevilleart.org or visit www.ashevilleart.org for information.

Getting to know us...

2011-01-13T07:57:00.000-08:00

In the upcoming weeks, we'd like to take the opportunity for you to get to know us. We'll have staff members, front desk volunteers, docents, board members and others involved in the Museum writing blog posts so you have the chance to meet some of the well-rounded group. We're an approachable bunch, so say "Hi!" and feel free to ask any questions next time you visit.

This post is written by Judy Swan, Trustee and Secretary of the Asheville Art Museum:

I have been on the Board of the Art Museum for many years; that can be serious stuff. The real fun is volunteering at the front desk/shop. Visitors are always interesting and share their museum and Asheville experiences. The staff always has something interesting for me to do between visitors.

The first Wednesday of the month is free at the museum from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. That fell on one of my volunteer days this month and what a great day! The Mountain Xpress ran an excellent article about the Sewell Sillman exhibit just before it closed but in time for the free visitors. We had guests from NYC, Canada, Illinois, Iowa, Florida, California, Colorado as well as Asheville and nearby counties. All of this on a cold day between snowstorms mid-week in Asheville. There were young couples with designer winter jackets, family groups taking advantage of a free day, a couple of people my age who were interested in moving here. Earlier in the day I suggested some young people might come back when it was free. One couple did, but another paid and spent a long time enjoying all three upstairs floors of the Museum as well as the outstanding Director’s Cut exhibition in our ‘always free’ first floor community galleries. They appreciated my money-saving suggestion but had late afternoon plans.

Judy Swan (right) with her husband Bob at the Museum's 60th Anniversary Party at The Orange Peel.

Show us Your Original Photos!

2010-12-29T13:04:00.000-08:00

Are you an amateur photographer who would love to share your work with other art lovers? We love seeing your work and would love to feature it on our Facebook page as a featured fan photo! First, become a fan of our Facebook page. Then, send your favorite original photos and information to Kim at kzdanowicz@ashevilleart.org. This is a fun way to share art between our friends and we are excited to see what you crafty people have to show us! Our very first featured photo was called "Deer" by Melinda Fulk.

Holiday Arts Extravaganza!

2010-12-17T10:43:00.001-08:00

If you're looking for something creative for your young, artsy child this Holiday season, look no further! Sign your budding artist up for our Holiday Arts Ext ravaganza for 1st through 4th graders. Campers will spend four afternoons creating original art of all kinds. Here is a peek of some campers from our Summer Art Camp, 2010 to get an idea of all the fun your kids can have this winter!

The Genius of Peiser

2010-12-01T10:01:00.001-08:00

In honor of our Work of the Week artist this week, Mark Peiser, I would like to share this interesting article, which was written earlier this year and posted on a blog called The GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet. It is a Q & A that gives insight into the genius of this glass artist and his amazing work! Also, take a look at the Peiser pieces we have in our Permanent Collection online.

Please click on the link to view the original article. We apologize for having originally re-posted the article in its entirety. Also, visit www.glassquarterlyblog.com for more information.

The Beauty in Watercolors

2010-11-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

One of our current exhibitions, Sallie Middleton: A Life in the Forest, has been hugely popular with many museum-goers, especially locals who have known about her work for many years. Although Sallie passed away in 2009, her legacy continues in her amazingly detailed watercolors of nature. This exhibition will be over in just a few weeks on December, though, so now is the time to come get your fill of Sallie's work, whether you've enjoyed it in previous visits, or if you haven't seen it at all. People often leave our exhibit feeling they have just had a taste of her wonderful work and want to know more! While attempting to learn more about her myself, I ran across a few great resources I would like to share.

Of course, there is her Web site which offers biographical information, anecdotes and an online store.

Here is an oral history as well as some great pictures of the artist from the library at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

In our library at the Museum, we have also acquired the book, The Magical Realm of Sallie Middleton, by Celestine Silby which was published in 1980. Museum guests are welcome to visit our library which is free with a Museum membership or Museum admission.

If you are interested in purchasing some of Sallie Middleton's prints, the Asheville Art Museum Shop is currently selling her Months of the Year series, the Four Seasons series and the Flutter series in sets and individually, which make excellent gifts for the Holiday season!

Come see, Sallie Middleton: A Life in the Forest before it is gone on December 5, 2010!

John Cage Video

2010-11-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Today, while browsing through some of the old documents at the Museum, I stumbled upon this video of John Cage featured on a TV game show in 1960 with host Garry Moore. Here, he is performing one of his avante garde musical pieces called "Water Walk," which involved a number of strange instruments like a bath tub, duck call, watering can and many more. During this time, Cage was teaching an experimental music class at New York City's New School. As you can see, this is a time when Cage's works were quite controversial. John Cage was one of the major creative voices in late 20th century art, both in his own work and his collaborations with Merce Cunningham and Robert Rauschenberg.

Three weeks ago, the Museum's Work of the Week featured a musical notation for one Cage's compositions. It's nice to put a face with the art. Enjoy this fun and interesting video! And then look back at his work in the Work of the Week and in our Permanent Collection online.

Holiday Shopping Just Got Better!

2010-11-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

With colder weather approaching and the fading of the colorful leaves, the Holidays are now on everyone's minds. But instead of subjecting yourself to crowded malls and last minute shopping, you should consider attending this year's Holiday Market at the Asheville Art Museum!

As with every year, Museum Shop workers have gathered tons of great products from local artists and artisans. We have pottery, beautiful jewelry, wood-turned bowls, candles and so much more! We will also have several book signings by local authors like Jennifer Lipsey, Leo Monohan, and Katie Boyette. Not to mention all of the holiday music, treats, refreshments and beer kegs! It's not just a shopping extravaganza, it's a holiday PARTY!

The Holiday Market begins on Tuesday, November 16 and will run through Sunday, November 21. That's six full days of party and shopping opportunities! On the final day, November 21, we will also have a SunTrust Sunday which means FREE admission to the Museum AND a silent auction where you can bid on some more awesome local products. Plus you will get a chance to meet all of the artists who participated in the Market. Thanks so much to SunTrust Bank for sponsoring this great day!

So, now that you're pumped, tell all your friends about this great event! You will not only be helping out your favorite museum :) but also a lot of local artists! This is a great way to score some unique gifts for your loved ones.

Call us if you have any questions or would like to donate something to our silent auction! 828.253.3227

Plush "Monsters" by Canoo

Jewelry and Candles inspired by nature by Sumner Smith

Wood turned bowls by Jim Cascowski

Pottery by Dawn Dalto

One of the books we will have signed, by Jennifer Lipsey

MoMA's splendor

2010-10-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Asheville. As a one time writer for this blog and a recent transplant to New York City (well, Brooklyn, technically), I write to you now from this cultured and crazy city. Want to know a little about my museum adventures? well, read on fellow art lovers. read on.

Last week, I had the chance to visit MoMA- twice. As a current student of film preservation and archiving, the Museum of Modern Art has been one of the leaders of film collection, preservation and projection for decades; their approach to film as an art form was unprecedented when they began to collect. Because of this, MoMA has an incredible film collection, which they mostly now keep off site in stable storage. They also have a film study room and quite an extensive archive of ephemeral material related to their films. Scholars and students can request films to screen and comb the archives, all from the comfort of the cozy study room.

Ok, enough about film. The MoMA also has a wonderful contemporary art collection, which you probably know. I traversed the halls and maneuvered through the crowds to bring you some of the jewels on view (my opinion, of course).

My first stop was MoMA's exhibition on kitchen design, Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen. The exhibition traverses the history of kitchen design from efficiency during the war- The Frankfurt Kitchen- to post-war personalization options- Tupperware, new appliances and utensils, etc. which grew out of technological design innovations and expendable incomes. The exhibition then turned to the kitchen as a space for discourse on social and gender roles through art, literature, and performance works. Of course, I went through the circular exhibition backwards, to avert the crowds. It gave me a new perspective, where I began with the social and ended with the practical and historical. It was kind of perfect for me. Plus, they used a lot of audio visual material in the show- television clips, old commercials, art works- which made me happy.

above: Anna and Bernhard Blume's Kitchen Frenzy- where potatoes are used to show the frenzy felt by women stuck in the kitchen (and gendered stereotypes). Sometimes I feel that way when I am studying. It is part of the Kitchen Sink Dramas section, of course.

Waiting for my timed entry to Matisse and Radical Invention exhibition, I hopped over to the Contemporary Art from the Collection exhibition, where watching the people is almost as fun as getting to know the works. Yoko Ono's 1961 Voice Piece for Soprano resides in the foyer, and to the delight of the employees, patrons step up to a microphone and scream at the top of their lungs all day long. As you are looking through the galleries, you can hear yelling and screaming echoing throughout the building. Interesting. And at the entrance to the show is Kara Walker's 1994 piece, Gone, a reaction to African American stereotypes in Gone with the Wind. Just its scale is stunning- which I tried to show you here.

Matisse is not my favorite, but the exhibition they had up, from his period in 1913 back from Morocco to his departure for Nice in 1917, was fascinating in that it pointed out the 'process' noticeable in his art. Patrons can see sketch marks, sculptures side by side which document his progression, and works of experimentation as Matisse is honing his style. I couldn't take any photos of this one, so here is one of my favorite Matisse, because I am a fan of his use of negative space- The Red Studio- where the artworks littering the studio create the foundations for the walls, the floor, the furniture. It is the negative space that fascinates me.

Then through the Paintings and Sculpture Galleries, and the Abstract Expressionist galleries rooms, where all the famous people you would recognize reside. and where all the people huddle around Starry Night, Water Lilies, and Les Demoiselles d'Avignon. I stood in front of Georges-Pierre Seurat's Evening, Honfleur for a while, moving closer and further away from it so that I could analyze the dots that not only cover the canvas but also the frame.

One of the gems of my visit was a small gallery located on the bottom floor, Abstract Expressionist New York: Rock Paper Scissors, an offshoot of the larger Abstract Expressionist show, where artists' drawings are positioned next to their sculpture. Here their styles go from 2 to 3D. Louise Nevelson, David Smith, etc. gained new life for me.

On a free Friday night, the crowds can get kind of crazy, so after three hours, I decided it was time to leave. On my way out the door, in a hallway near the toilets I looked over and there was Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World. I couldn't help myself and I did what you just don't do in New York- I stopped abruptly. Wyeth in the hallway, and I almost missed it. In that moment, this city is worth all the craziness of crowds and litter and noise and metros. Andrew Wyeth in the hallway and I am the only one who stopped.

cheers,
Crystal

A Celebration of 61 Years!

2010-10-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

All museums have permanent collections. But what does that really mean? The pieces in a museum’s permanent collection are just that - they are a collection of pieces the museum has acquired and intend to keep. What I have learned is that permanent collections are vital to museums for a variety of reasons. They allow the organization to form goals and collecting strategies to better serve the community in a unique and stimulating way.

Although many may not realize this, the Asheville Art Museum’s Permanent Collection actually consists of more than 2,500 works of art and nearly 5,000 architectural drawings! Like most museums, though, we have a limited amount of space to show our awesome collection in the galleries. We currently are only able to show about 3 percent of our entire collection. In our exhibition, Looking Back: Celebrating 60 Years of Collecting at the Asheville Art Museum, guests are able to see how diverse our Permanent Collection really is. The even more exciting part is you are likely to see something new in the galleries every time you visit because our Executive Director and curators are always rearranging and adding new pieces.

The Asheville Art Museum is dedicated to strategic collecting and considers these goals with each art acquisition. As a whole, the Museum has focused its expertise on 20^th and 21^st Century American art. It also seeks to include works from local artists and works of significance to Western North Carolina’s culture such as Studio Craft, Black Mountain College and Cherokee artists. We have important photographic pieces of our region and nationwide as well as contemporary photography. Our holdings also include large sculptures, Outsider Art and pieces reflective of the local community.

Many of the pieces in the Permanent Collection are gifts from artists or the families of artists who would like to continue the legacy of the artist and the work. Others are purchased through funds given by gracious benefactors and many are purchased by the Museum or through Museum groups such as the Collector’s Circle and Art Nouveaux.

Now that you know a little more about our Permanent Collection, come experience it in the galleries or view even more at once in our online archive. We also have a Work of the Week featuring information about a different piece from the Permanent Collection each week. We are very proud of our collection and love sharing it with the public! We also thank everyone who has contributed to our growing collection!

Docent Recruitment Photos

2010-09-10T08:03:00.001-07:00

In honor of Docent Recruitment Day coming up on September 20, here are some pictures of docent activities throughout the years, just to get a taste of what you might experience as a volunteer docent at the Asheville Art Museum! From summer picnics to craft projects, field trips and holiday luncheons, docents know how to have fun.

Join the Arts Community at the Asheville Art Museum as a Docent!

2010-09-03T07:23:00.001-07:00

We’re getting ready for Docent Recruitment Day here at the Museum and we’re trying to get everyone interested! Anyone can be a docent – we have all types of people serving on our docent staff - young, old, teachers, doctors, artists and art lovers. All that’s needed is a passion for the arts and for sharing what you care about!

Docents are an integral part of the Museum staff because they volunteer their time to give informative tours of the Museum to our guests. The word “docent” comes from the Latin “docere,” which means, “to teach.” But don’t be intimidated! Being a docent is easy because you get all the training you need before you start your tours. You don’t need any teaching experience or even any prior knowledge of art before you start, just a willingness to absorb what you learn from training.

Docent training session

If you take the time to talk to any of our docents, most will tell you the experience has been the most rewarding and gratifying of all their volunteering endeavors. In addition to the fun of leading tours, docents also have the opportunity to meet artists, Museum staff and visit local artists’ studios and cultural attractions. Not to mention, you will gain great friendships with your fellow docents, who throw a fun holiday party every winter.

Although the public speaking aspect makes many volunteers nervous in the beginning, they find they are comfortable in the role and thoroughly enjoy the interaction.

Docents are only expected to attend Monday morning trainings two to three times each month and commit to leading tours approximately once each week during the school year. The trainings are extremely thorough and are created to teach docents all they need to know about each exhibition.

Docents are the Museum’s gateway to engaging with our guests personally and connecting them with the Museum and the art itself. If you think this is the perfect role for you, we would love to see you at our Docent Recruitment Day Monday, September 2010 at 10:00 a.m. There will be tasty snacks and more information about being a docent.

You can also talk to Nancy Sokolove, our Adult Programs Manager about this opportunity by calling 828.253.3227, ext 120 or e-mailing nsokolove@ashevilleart.org.

Who is Joseph Albers?

2010-08-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Joseph Albers and Sewell Sillman
explored through two WORKs OF THE WEEK

August 9th through August 22, 2010

From left: Josef Albers, Formulation: Articulation Folio II, Folder 12, 1972, serigraph on paper, 15 x 40 inches. Gift of The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. 1997.01.05.65L; Josef Albers, Formulation: Articulation Folio II, Folder 18, 1972, serigraph on paper, 15 x 40 inches. Gift of The Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. Asheville Art Museum Collection. 1997.01.05.65R.

Josef Albers and Sewell Sillman are intimately tied in terms of the artistic lives they led and the work they produced. When Sillman arrived at Black Mountain College, Albers was head of the art department. Initially interested in architecture, Sillman quickly displayed a passion for art under the tutelage of Albers. Sillman and Albers both shared a passion for color studies and were both instrumental in the formulation of Color Theory. Sillman eventually taught many of the courses that he took under Albers.

Sillman also continued to work with Albers through his print publishing firm, Ives-Sillman, founded with fellow Yale professor and graphic designer Norman Ives. Sillman used the knowledge he gained from years of color studies to successfully create color reproductions of fine art works. By focusing on screenprinting as a new medium for reproductions, these two were able to control the quality of their color prints, allowing them to introduce the fine art portfolio book to the United States. Their first and most frequent client was Josef Albers, who entrusted them with the production of two instrumental portfolios: Interaction of Color, a book based on Albers' lessons in color theory, and Formulation: Articulation, a retrospective reworking of some of Albers' greatest artistic achievements.

These two prints, now on display in the Museum's exhibition Sewell Sillman: Pushing Limits, are included in Albers' deluxe double portfolio Formulation: Articulation. Sillman recalled that the purpose of this portfolio was to allow Josef Albers the opportunity to take "every seminal idea that he's ever had and to redevelop it." Sillman was a key collaborator in creating this portfolio, for he helped Albers review his past work and select compositions to reproduce as screenprints.

All of the works in the Museum's Collection from Albers' portfolio, Formulation: Articulation, are now up on the Permanent Collection Archive.

Come in to see Sewell Sillman: Pushing Limits, which traverses the breadth of Sillman's career as a student, a businessman, a teacher, a collaborator, an artist and a friend.

Image: Eugenia Joyce, Sewell Sillman, Josef Albers, and Norman Ives at the completion of the Formulation: Articulation project in 1972. Photo by John Hill, Collection of James McNair.

Inside Scoop: Behind the Scenes

2010-08-06T10:01:00.000-07:00

This summer has been exceptionally busy around the Museum and the summer interns have been working hard to keep up with all the events and work there has been. Luckily, I’ve had the honor of working with an extremely diverse group of fellow interns and have found that we’ve gotten a TON of work accomplished over the past three months!

All of us are scattered around different departments, so our work has been very different, but equally rewarding! Curatorial interns have been endlessly dedicated to adding pieces from our Permanent Collection to our online archive. This is an intimidating endeavor, since our Permanent Collection holds over 2,000 objects and 4,000 architectural drawings! Over the course of the summer, interns have managed to almost double the archive entries. That means countless hours spent researching, editing, typing and fact checking so that our Permanent Collection can be seen online by anyone, anytime, anywhere! Click here to peruse the collection!

Then there were those who spent their hours planning events, volunteering, organizing the Museum Shop and working on inventory. Some learned about grant writing and its importance to a great non-profit organization and others learned how to make a gallery installation go smoothly! And then some of us had the pleasure of writing the blog to let everyone know all the juicy details. :)

Curatorial Intern Freeman helped with the installation of the exhibition Sewell Sillman: Pushing Limits

Communications Intern DeeAnna (me!) and volunteer Nikki helped work the Asheville Art Museum booth at Bele Chere

Events Planning and Curatorial Intern Casey (right) had some fun at ArtMob's Summer Soiree event

All of the girls at the Seventh Asheville Wine Auction + Art Gala

From left to right: Casey, Lisa, DeeAnna, Lindsay, and Sarah

I would like to extend my gratitude to all of the interns and Museum staff for making this summer so enjoyable. Sometimes it didn’t even feel like work at all…

Inside Scoop: Exhibition inspires craft project

2010-07-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wanted to make your own bird feeder? Well, our new exhibition, Sallie Middleton: A Life in the Forest recently inspired me to create a simple bird feeder that anyone can make! Sallie’s works are intricately detailed watercolors inspired by nature. We have several of her paintings in our collection, many of which are of different species of birds. I immediately thought of this craft to show in conjunction with our new exhibition. I have seen this project throughout the Internet but originally learned about it from a friend who loves the outdoors. You can follow these simple directions or see a demonstration in a video of me on WLOS’s Craft Corner!

Here’s what you will need:

Three 4 foot lengths of rope or jute

15 inch grapevine wreath

10 inch terra cotta saucer

Instructions:

1. Easily fit your saucer into the center of the grapevine wreath.

2. Take your rope or twine and knot all three pieces together at each end.

3. Fit the wreath feeder inside the three ropes so it sits on the bottom knot that you tied.

4. Then simply hang it on a tree or somewhere outside as a bird feeder or bird bath!

You can easily decorate it with ribbon or glue seashells on the saucer.

Feel free to find creative ways to attract the birds!

Inside Scoop: The Big Crafty 2010

2010-07-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Big Crafty proved its popularity this year as hundreds of people crowded Pack Place and Pack Square to get their hands on some awesome hand made crafts from local crafters and artists. Voted the best arts and crafts fair in Western North Carolina, the Big Crafty NEVER disappoints. There was definitely an eclectic assortment of crafts, from pottery all the way to "organic armor." There were so many interesting and exciting booths, I’m afraid I spent a little too much money! I especially enjoy my unique print from Katie Daisy and my eco-friendly jewelry from Smart Glass Jewelry. The event is always a great way to experience the best of Asheville and the amazing artists who work here!

The Big Crafty also lured many people into the museum, who strolled through some of our galleries and learned more about some of our events! Take a look at some of our photos we snagged at the event.

Inside Scoop: Summer Happenings

2010-06-25T08:04:00.000-07:00

I’m here to update you on all the crazy happenings around the museum! Our biggest fundraiser in three years, the Seventh Asheville Wine Auction and Dinner Gala was a huge success! The venue was gorgeous and we had a great turn out making for an awesome, fun-filled night. We are still in the midst of crunching the numbers to find out the final word, but we are thankful for all the people who came out and supported us as well as for the staff at Togar Rugs for hosting us! It was definitely an enchanting evening!

the museum staff!

The interns representin!

But the summer is just beginning! We have a packed calendar for the month of July, starting with an ARTmob event called Summer Soiree. On July 2 we will be taking over the top level of the parking deck to party the evening away. I hear there will be some delicious food, (a taco buffet?), beer, lots of RC Cola, sidewalk chalk murals, crazy awesome entertainment AND a great view of the fireworks! I think we’ve covered everything to make for some extreme fun. EVERYONE invited!

And don’t forget about the Big Crafty and Family Art pARTy on July 11. Featuring over 100 artists and crafters, the Big Crafty is voted Asheville’s favorite indie craft fair and is hosted in Pack Place. This is a really great event and opportunity for us to support local hand-made commerce and also snag some really unique and fun gifts. There will be local fare, beer and entertainment to go along with it. And on the same day you can enjoy making some hands-on crafts with the whole family.

We’ve also got a film screening of Chuck Close, more Art Camps, Yoga @ the Museum and a Pianoforte Concert with Douglas Weeks! Whew. Now, we have enough events to fill an entire month and I’m sure you’ll make it to all of them, right? :)

Tim Barnwell Speaks of Exhibition

2010-06-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

Photographer Tim Barnwell joined us last week for our Art Break to talk about his exhibition Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia. This awesome display of black and white photos is an exploration of folk crafts and music. Barnwell took the time to give us a behind-the-camera look at his collection.

Barnwell said when the project culminated he knew he wanted to capture the functional crafts that people of Appalachia created – the types of hand made crafts that stretch far back in time and are considered by some a dying art. He said he always seeks subjects to photograph that have weight and substance and that will develop layers of meaning for different viewers.

Barnwell sought subjects in varying crafts and music and traveled from East Raleigh, North Carolina to Nashville, Tennessee and Lexington, Kentucky. Some of the photos in the exhibition include Doc Watson, John Hartford, Etta Baker, Jerry Douglas and Ralph Stanley Sr. Portrayed are other craftsmen creating pottery, woven baskets and blacksmithing.

The captivating photographs were not always easy to come by, though. Barnwell said the biggest challenge was figuring out how create a portrait that would honestly speak of that person. He decided the best way to accomplish that was to capture them in their own workspace and environment, allowing them to feel comfortable. He would often make multiple trips to visit some of the subjects in order to develop trust and understanding before he photographed them.

One of my favorite photos is of Ralph Stanley Sr. and his grandson. Although it looks like a simple portrait of a man and his grandson, the story is much deeper. Barnwell said Stanley is quite a serious man and it was very difficult to capture captivating pictures of him that Barnwell felt showed the essence of who Stanley was. It wasn't until Stanley's grandson came to visit that a smile crossed his face and he lit up for the camera. Barnwell was pleased to capture a touching moment between a famous musician and his family.

One of Barnwell’s goals is to strip away society’s expectations of portraiture exemplified by contemporary photos of celebrities. He said people are so used to seeing pictures of celebrities, but not knowing any information about the person in the picture. In Barnwell’s photos, viewers already know the backgrounds of the subjects while the photograph weaves a story.

Understanding an artist is the key to understanding an artist's work. Just as Barnwell had to understand his subjects, we also learned more about him! At the Art Break, we learned there is more to his photos than people creating crafts and music - it is a celebration of traditional art that is slipping away before us.

Here is the link to a podcast series of Barnwell’s Art Break talk

History Lesson

2010-05-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Your favorite intern here! We just got finished listening to our Adult Programs Manager, Nancy Sokolove, talk about the history of the building in which the Asheville Art Museum currently resides. I am always a bit fanatical when it comes to history, and this city certainly has a rich past. I thought I would pass the knowledge along….

This building, originally a library, was built in 1922 by architect Edward Lippincott Tilton. It was called the Pack Memorial Library. He is known for having built more than one hundred libraries in the U.S. and Canada, many of which were Carnegie libraries, which were public libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie. It is questionable whether or not this building was meant to be a Carnegie library. Although it seems to have met many of the strict requirements, we cannot find the documents proving this.

Tilton was heavily influenced by the Neo-classical style of architecture, which is extremely evident when you take a look at the outside of our building. We have several arched windows as well as large lamps attached to the walls. Nancy said these lights were meant to represent the “lamp of learning.”

When you enter our atrium the style continues. There are very large arched windows on all four walls just below the ceiling, closely resembling the architecture of Greek temples. There is also an impressive frieze. (A frieze is a horizontal band that runs along a wall or doorway). The frieze was designed by a famous Danish sculptor of Icelandic descent and was cast specifically for the use in this building. The sculpture tells a narrative that begins just above the door and moves clock-wise.

This beautiful building was a rich addition to the city and the likes of Carl Sandberg lectured here! (that's him above) Very cool.

As far as the history of the museum itself…The Asheville Art Museum had humble beginnings in 1948 and was housed on Charlotte St. A group of local artists decided there needed to be an art museum. Over time, it moved to houses in Montford, the basement of the Civic Center and what is now the BB&T building. Pack Place was built in 1992 and the museum moved into the site of the old library.

We are currently working on expansion plans and hope to renovate the museum and expand the library to connect to a lending library system.

My how exciting History Preservation Month is!

Inside Scoop - An Intern's Perspective

2010-05-27T13:11:00.000-07:00

Hello there! It’s your Asheville Art Museum summer intern, DeeAnna. I specialize in all things social media – and lots more in between. I’m checking up on events and quietly eavesdropping on the happenings inside the museum and will be giving you the insider’s scoop all summer long – from an intern’s perspective

When I started last week, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Stuffy office and pants suits? Or wildly enthusiastic and out-of-touch art lovers? My preconceptions were highly misguided by my thoughts that workers and guests at an art museum would be snobby or pretentious. Now I chuckle at the thought. HELLO! This is the Asheville Art Museum – a collection of unique people and art tucked away in only one of the coolest cities in the nation!

So here I am, happily getting to know the museum staff as they buzz around working endlessly to make this place a beautiful success! There was even deliciously rich chocolate cake at my first staff meeting, which is a fabulous way to begin any relationship. :)

Not to mention we have some awesome events going on all summer! Just check out the event calendar on our Web site! (And if you miss them, you will hear about them ad nauseum on this blog or see so many fun pictures that you are forced to join in!)

I will keep you updated as we go along and hope you are as excited for summer as we are!

Next event is Friday May 28: Art Break: Historic Preservation Month. I can’t wait to learn more about the museum history and the importance of preserving things from the past!

Giving Back

2010-05-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Asheville Art Museum is participating in a program called Blue Stars Museums this summer, a partnership with Blue Stars Families, The National Endowment for the Arts. In an effort to give a BIG THANK YOU to all military personnel and their families, we are offering free admission to all active duty military members and their families from May 31, 2010 to September 6, 2010.

Our museum is only one among approximately 600 others participating during this time, and we are excited to give back to those who give to us every day! We hope you all can come out and take advantage of this opportunity and explore all our museum has to offer!

Click here for more info and faqs about the program

Hot Glass + Cold Beer = A New Appreciation

2010-05-21T10:58:00.000-07:00

To watch a glass blower at work is to see nothing less than definite precision and impressive skill. Working under a searing and intense flame, these artists create beautiful jewelry, vases, trinkets, etc. using one of the most ubiquitous materials we use everyday.

Last night, ARTmob took over the Phil Mechanic Studios in the River Arts District to see premiere glass blowing artists Alex Greenwood, Logan MacSporran and Shane Smith and how they create their masterpieces.

Glass blowing is a skill that is not acquired overnight. Many artists, like Greenwood, have spent eight years or more perfecting the process. They also have to complete full training and often apprenticeships before they have the ability to step out on their own.

With beers in hand (the event was called “Hot Glass + Cold Beer,” after all) we passed around goofy glasses to protect our eyes from the bright blue flames. The artists got right to work, starting with a skinny stick of glass and molding it under the fire like putty. They used a pipe to blow air into the glass which helped create the bubbled shapes. Then, they used different tools to form the shape they wanted.

The complex nature of glass forces the artist, sometimes called a gaffer, to exercise great care while under the torch. Working with temperatures around 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, they must take care to not allow the glass to explode or to burn themselves on the flames.

But the artists last night were good at making the process look easy. With their rhythmic movements they quickly created goblets and designs from what we originally saw as a regular piece of transparent glass.

Guests left in awe of the amazing skill and courage it takes to be a glass blower. Most importantly, we gained a new appreciation for a different kind of art. Next time we will think twice when we buy our intricately designed glass jewelry.

click here to learn more about Phil Mechanic Studios

Hands In Harmony: Tradtional Crafts and Music in Appalachia

2010-05-18T11:58:00.001-07:00

Hands In Harmony: Tradtional Crafts and Music in Appalachia

Posted using ShareThis

6th part of an Interview with Tim Barnwell talking about his photograph of Cherokee basket maker Rowena Bradley. His exhibition of photographs of traditional Appalachian musicians and craft artists opens May 14 at the Asheville Art Museum.

Photographs and Memories

2010-05-14T06:50:00.000-07:00

The exhibition on Tim Barnwell at the Museum opens tonight! Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia, Photographs by Tim Barnwell. It is a special one, classy black and white photographs with oral histories next to each image. Tim spent years photographing some of the icons of this rich region- both in music and craft culture- while also compiling interviews and oral histories on each one. The Museum brings you these in its newest exhibition. OPENING RECEPTION is tonight at 5pm- and it is Free! Come see the show and meet Mr. Tim Barnwell.

To get you excited about it- here is a sneak preview. Tim Barnwell's photograph of Minnie Adkins, folk artist, and family, is in the show- and here is her wall text. The Museum also has a piece of Minnie's in their collection- a new acquisition purchased by the Art Nouveax. I have included it also! Enjoy!

Minnie Adkins and family with folk art creations, 2005

Isonville, Elliott County, KY

“As far back as I can remember, I’ve whittled and made stuff. I started out making popguns, whistles, slingshots, stuff like that, to play with when I was little. Back in the early ’70s, I would sell little roosters for fifty cents and a dollar at flea markets. I started making them out of forked sticks, like my slingshots, but I never got to sell ’em, or got recognized, till in the early ’80s. They wasn't no folk art in Morehead at the time. Adrian Swain had a little pottery shop in town. He was a-doing pottery and a-selling people's stuff on consignment. He started selling my work. Now he’s curator at the Kentucky Folk Art Center at the university.

When me and Garland first got in it, there wasn't no market for it. Then we begin to make good at it. Some folks made fun of us, said, "Why, Garland quit working and started whittling." I just laughed all the way to the bank. Garland bought a new truck and people seen us supporting ourself. They begin wondering what was going on, come to me asking, "If I make something, where could I sell it?" I bought stuff from everybody and encouraged 'em in doing it and, at one time, we had fifteen real good artists around here.

I make all different kinds of little animals, roosters, alligators, foxes, giraffe, cow, sheep and four or five Noah's arks. The little animals are made from two-by-fours. We saw off a square block, and I'll sketch out what I’m a-going to make, and saw it out on the band saw. We may use some power tools or a Dremel tool sometimes, but usually we just use pocketknives, drawing knives, and chainsaws. All of it we make out of linnwood. It's very soft and easy to whittle, and don't crack much.

When Herman, my second husband, come on the scene, he was a-helping me whittle and said, “Why, anything you can make out of wood, I can make out of iron.” That little iron blue rooster up there is the first one he ever made. When he brought it down, I knowed he was onto something. He’s added an awful lot to what I’m a-doing. When my first husband passed away, I just couldn’t get with it, didn’t think I’d ever do any more. Greg, my grandson, said, “Mamaw, you can’t give it up. Papaw wouldn’t want you to.” He’d encourage me to go on and I appreciate so much the fact that he seen the need to help me keep working. Greg loves doing this. He’s been making stuff about six year, and he’s the one that helps me with the big animals and he's branched out on his own now till he’s a-doing paintings and stuff, so I’m real proud. It’s more or less become a family project. I’m involving my family because at seventy years old, I know I ain’t gonna always be here, and when I’m gone, I’m hopeful that they will carry on what I started.”

-Minnie Adkins

Images: Tim Barwell exhibition setup; Tim Barnwell, Minnie Adkins and Family, Folk Artist, 2005, black and white silver gelatin print, 14 x 11 inches. Courtesy of the Artist; Minnie Adkins, Possum and Babies, 2005, carved and painted wood, 9.5 x 40 x 4.6 inches. 2009 Art Nouveaux Purchase. Asheville Art Museum Collection. 2010.01.04.32; Detail of Minnie Adkins, Possum and Babies.

WORK OF THE WEEK

2010-05-10T11:45:00.000-07:00

Had to share this one with you!

Last week was Rowena Bradley's basket. This week is Tim Barnwell's photograph of Rowena Bradley (with baskets). Look down at her feet...

Exploring the Permanent Collection with a Work of the Week

THIS WEEK: May 10 - 16, 2010

Tim Barnwell, Rowena Bradley Making Double Weave Rivercane Baskets,

1991, black and white silver gelatin print, 14 x 11 inches. 2009 Art Nouveaux Purchase. Asheville Art Museum Collection. 2010.01.02.91.

Tim Barnwell is well-known in the region for his photographs of Western North Carolina's rich and unique cultural heritage. Through his professional and striking photographs, he has documented some of this area's strong characters, fascinating crafts and unprecedented artistic and musical history. His work both reflects great artistic talent and documents the talent of others. It is greatly understood that the Western North Carolina area has a cultural heritage uniquely it's own, and Tim Barnwell effectively showcases this heritage to the world through his incredible talent as a photographer.

In the Holden Community Gallery, the Museum has organized a new exhibition on Tim Barnwell, Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia, Photographs by Tim Barnwell; it is a photographic exploration of the makers of Appalachian folk music and traditional handcrafts. This photo, Rowena Bradley Making Double Weave Rivercane Baskets, is part of the show. It was purchased last year by the Museum's collecting group, Art Nouveaux, in preparation for this show. Rowena Bradley was a Cherokee basket weaver; at one point she was one of only a handful of double weave rivercane weavers, and during her lifetime, she helped to revive interest in Cherokee basketry, effectively insuring that knowledge of this craft would live on in future generations. Reflective of many of the Museum's goals in collecting Cherokee art and contemporary photographs and cataloging regional heritage, the Museum's Permanent Collection contains three Barnwell photographs and two Rowena Bradley baskets. Last week's Work of the Week discussed Bradley's Double Weave Lidded Basket in the collection.

THIS FRIDAY, MAY 14^th is the opening for the exhibition of Tim Barnwell's photographs at the Museum. Come discuss the work with him!

For more information on Tim Barnwell and his photograph Rowena Bradley Making Double Weave Rivercane Baskets, visit it in our Permanent Collection online!

For more information on Rowena Bradley and her basket Double Weave Lidded Basket, visit it here in our Permanent Collection online!

WORK OF THE WEEK

2010-05-05T06:17:00.000-07:00

This next month of works is going to be so cool that I thought I would post it to the blog.

Here is the first week:

May 3 - 9, 2010

Rowena Bradley, Double Weave Lidded Basket,

No date, double woven river cane with walnut and blood root dyes, 6.75 x 6 x 6 inches. 2004 Collectors' Circle Acquisition. Asheville Art Museum Collection. 2005.03.09.58.

At one point, Rowena Bradley was one of only a handful of double weave rivercane weavers. She learned by watching her mother weave, a third generation Cherokee basket weaver. Eventually, she became part of the Cherokee craft revitalization which helped boost Cherokee economy and also kept the traditions of Cherokee craft alive for future generations. Bradley's father was Henry Bradley, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band, and she grew up on lands owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian.

Double weave baskets were good storage containers because they were strong and often water repellant. A double weave basket is really two baskets, one inside the other, woven together at the rim. Beginning at the base of the inside basket, the weaver works upward to the rim and then down along the outside towards the base, often using two designs on the inside and the outside. Bradley learned patterns and designs from her mother, but she also came up with some of her own. To make the baskets, the rivercane is collected, split into quarters, peeled, soaked in water and then dyed before beginning to weave. Bradley used materials common to traditional Cherokee rivercane basketry, including naturally found dyes from native roots and bark, including those from butternut, black walnut, bloodroot and yellow root.

This basket was purchased for the Museum by the Collectors' Circle after it was in the Museum's exhibition Transformations: Cherokee Baskets in the Twentieth Century, which examined Cherokee basket making over the past century, and how the materials and styles have evolved during this time period. A photograph of Rowena Bradley taken by photographer Tim Barnwell will be on display starting May 14th in the Museum's new exhibition Hands in Harmony: Traditional Crafts and Music in Appalachia, Photographs by Tim Barnwell. Look for it next week, here at Work of the Week!

For more information on this work and artist, visit our Permanent Collection online!

A Video of ARTmob by Aaron Morrell

2010-04-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Asheville Art Mob & Andy Farkas from Aaron Morrell on Vimeo.

A Chocolate Covered ARTmob Screenprint

2010-04-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

The ARTmob and book artist Andy Farkas overran the French Broad Chocolate Lounge last week, made a chocolate screenprint and then ate it!

Did you miss it? See it happen:

For more photos of the night, check out our Facebook Photo Album.

Ken Fandell and the Skies Above

2010-04-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

If you don't know who Ken Fandell is, you should. Not only is he a great photographer, and a really nice guy, but he also shares my taste in beer- which is really important, because this is Asheville after all.

Fandell spent a few days last month wandering around Asheville, scouring the skies and chasing clouds around to take photographs for a work commissioned by the Museum's Collectors' Circle. It will be installed in the new Museum and will literally be composed of the skies over Asheville (and surrounding areas!)

Fandell is an internationally acclaimed photographer who lives and works in Chicago and teaches at the Chicago Art Institute. His work comments on the interesting interplay of high and low culture, concerns of artist ownership and issues of permanence. He takes hundreds upon hundreds of pictures of the sky and collages them together to make one image, reflective of movement- of space and of time- all of which are stopped by the taking of a photograph and the capturing of a moment, but are still hinted at by this capturing itself. In Fandell's own words, his interest with these works lies in "the complexity of the composition mixed with the duration of time". His interplay interestingly positions the conceptual against the romantic, instilling a humor in the work that is both intelligent and creatively original.

The Museum had one of his works on display in the gallery as part of our 2008 show Time is of the Essence. It is composed of over 500 photographs taken from various locations around the US and Europe and collaged into one seamless photomontage. As you can see, his works are steadily growing in scale and thus, he is also interested in the production of his photographs, often using a wallpaper-like substance to install them on the walls, pushing the boundaries of how you think about photography in a gallery space or Museum environment. In this way, they are quite industrial. And yet, the works have a beautiful quality to them, almost as if you could be mesmerized by them and stare at them for hours. Excuse me....

Ok, I am back. So, Fandell spoke to our Collectors' Circle about his progress among the clouds, his process of creating the works and his ideas for the future piece. stay tuned for more...

Check out Ken Fandell's work HERE!

Images: Ken Fandell with Collectors' Circle member Ray Griffin; Ken Fandell's talk during the Collectors' Circle gathering; Visitors gather around Ken Fandell's All the Skies Above, 2006, archival ink jet print, Courtesy of the Columbus Museum of Art at Asheville Art Museum's opening of Time is of the Essence.

Don't be scared of Decoupage

2010-03-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

What is Decoupage?

A Staff Craft brought to you by the Asheville Art Museum

First, as scary as it sounds, decoupage is actually very, very easy. It took me a staff craft to learn this. Fittingly similar to mosaics (with glue, not grout), you can really decoupage anything. My coworkers did pots for plants, boxes, and trays. I did some covers for a book I am making; my decoupaged bookboard will become the covers of a new journal.

The second thing is that decoupage is often unfairly stereotyped. You can pair stripes and patterns according to colors and style, add monogrammed touches, and incorporate all things floral. Or you can decoupage cardboard boxes (often found in your recycling pile) with skeletons and other images found in a medical supplies magazine. You can use comics from the Sunday paper, as I did. Everything is game- and I am sure that if you look around your house, you can find some things to decoupage- all you have to do is buy the glue...

Here it is- how to decoupage...

Required ingredients:

something to decoupage. If you don’t already have something around the house try the thrift store, dollar store, or big lots (you probably have something around the house). Pots for house plants, washed out aluminum cans, old picture frames under the bed, etc.
decorative papers (or any papers really)- look in magazines, family photo albums, newspapers, catalogs sent to you and you don't know why...(it is better than recycling- or even worse, throwing them in the trash)
scissors- (or you can just tear if you want that rustic edge look- or if you lost all the scissors in your house..)
mod podge (good decoupage glue) and probably a paint brush for spreading glue.

Steps:

Cut out and arrange the pictures onto the item you are decoupaging. Make sure the surface is dry and clean. (this is the planning out step)

Apply a generous layer of glue onto the item you are decoupaging- or onto the back of the picture. (this is the glue step)

Attach and smooth out. (no wrinkles!)

Repeat

Once all of the decoupage medium is dry, coat your item completely with decoupage medium. Let this dry.

Repeat until it looks good to you. Make sure it is all covered with glue. Dry completely.

Spring IS here and the Mosaic IS done

2010-03-26T08:51:00.000-07:00

Our Mosaic Workshop participants worked hard- even after the program was done, so they could finish in style. Imagine The Hatchery painted, polished and serving beer- with this mosaic flanking two sides of the front door! One side holds a tree, a chicken, eggs and more- while the other side is whimsical, curvy and fun! Thanks to all our participants, creating art wherever they can...

The Hatchery

2010-03-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

Day 1 at The Hatchery

thinking about designs-
here are some of the ideas.

instruction

sketching out the design

the materials- look familiar?

working hard...

Day 2 at The Hatchery

(from day 1)

the plan

taping

grout

MOSAICS!

2010-03-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

The Workshop is in full swing. On-site pics from the River Arts District will be posted on Friday! Now I really want to mosaic my whole house...

More Mosaics..

2010-03-16T08:48:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Nancy for her personal touch on our Week of Mosaics! (see the blog below) I just watched the film In A Dream yesterday at the Asheville Jewish Film Festival and it made me want to go home and mosaic my whole house- large scale. And then I got to work today and found out that the Mosaic workshop that starts today is going to be working on a large scale project in a building currently being renovated in the River Arts District. Jessica Levine will be teaching us what to do- and Asheville's infamous muralist Molly Must (of the Asheville Mural Project) is also helping! (I kind of invited myself to help out on Thursday, so stay tuned for lots and lots of pictures). Now, you only have to wait a few more days for a large scale mosaic in this town- brought to you by the fabulous programs of the Asheville Art Museum. So, go- watch the film so you know what I am talking about- (or just glance at this pic- it is amazing) and then start your own giant Mosaic project-anywhere. You will want to, trust me. I am going to...

my friend jessica levine, mosaic artist

2010-03-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

I used to say that I've known Jessica Levine for 25 years because we met in our first year of art school. But the other day I did the math and realized much to my dismay that Jessie and I actually know each other for exactly 30 years. Yesterday I found a grey hair so I guess that all makes sense. I am personally pleased to report that Jessie has a few years on me, and a whole lot more grey hair.

Jessica Levine is a community-based artist, doing projects like mosaics all over the country and in the Caribbean too. She also does cool stuff like runs Dottywood, Inc. which in addition to art projects has a whole recycling center, all based in Lewisburg, WV. Dottywood - get it? That gives you a sense of how incredibly funny Jessica is. She always makes me laugh. And for a while, she wore polka dots every day. Not in a preppy, Cole Hendrix Assistant Curator at the Asheville Art Museum kind of way, but more like in a Yayoi Kusama, slightly crazy artist sort of way.

Somewhere along the line while we lived in Philly, Jessica started working on projects with Isaiah Zagar. I didn't really know him yet, but I had watched with awe the 70 foot or so long wall of the Painted Bride Art Center get completely tiled over by Isaiah and his crew, including Jessica. One day Jessie invited me out to dim sum with Isaiah and his wife Julia; I had a great time despite learning right then that well, I'm not a huge fan of dim sum. But it was cool to hang out with Isaiah and Julia.

Another night I was invited over to their house for dinner with Jessie, and while I'm sure Julia served us a lovely dinner I was completely consumed with the house. Julia owned a store around the corner on South Street that imported stuff from Mexico, so there were decorated Mexican figurines and mirrors and boxes and tzotchkes everywhere. And then the mosaics....

And then the mosaics....yes, I did just repeat that, for effect.

How trite to say, "Wow", but,,,,,,,"Wow."

The entire house, from baseboard to ceiling, to behind the toilet to inside the closets (well, i am now exaggerating; i don't really know about the closets) - mosaic tiles.

And it was cool too b/c I could see his process, which I'm not going to disclose to you now. You'll have to see the film, or sign up for the workshop to get that info!

Photo of Isaiah and Julia Zagar in front of one of Isaiah's Mural.

Jessica Levine is hosting a Mosaic Workshop at the Asheville Art Museum, Tuesday through Thursday, March 16 to the 18th.
This coincides with the screening of In A Dream, a film about Isaiah's glorious murals, as a part of the Asheville Jewish Film Festival
Monday, March 15^th at 1:00 p.m. and
Wednesday, March 17^th at 7:00 p.m.

Once Upon A Time...

2010-02-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

....there was an artist who had an idea for a story- one that was colorful, that captured your attention, and that used lots of nouns and verbs- but not many adjectives! It was a book for children!

Children's Book Artists are unique in their approach to the book. Because they have a very distinct and critical target audience, children's books are vividly colorful, creatively simple, and morally applicable. They may look like an easy project, but a good children's book takes into account all of these things and still wins over two separate audiences- children and adults!

The Asheville Art Museum's new exhibition, Nouns: Children's Book Artists Look at People, Places and Things, takes a close look at the art produced through the history of the children's book. Each one of the artists in the show has a unique approach to their craft, and audience members get a rare opportunity to see some of the original pieces from popular books as well as a glimpse into the process of shape, color, and storyline.

Additionally, there is space to sit down with your children and read some of these books. Entertain both yourself and your children with this innovative and multi-faceted exhibition!

I sat down with a friend of mine and her three year old the other day and read Spiegelman's I'm A Dog, and I was pleasantly surprised by its appeal to both adults and children. Kids tap into its colors, fantasy aspects ,and creative use of texture and pop-ups. But adults can appreciate its interestingly bizarre storyline (I won't tell you any more). This book reminded me so much of the needs of children's films these days to cater to both adults and kids with separate sets of jokes, analogies, comments, and associations. Children's books must do so also, and if they are like Spiegelman's I'm A Dog, they can be just as successful!

Come to the Museum to see original art from Spiegelman's I'm A Dog and many others.

The Museum is holding Pre-school Storytime sessions to read in the galleries
February 24, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and
March 2, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Or come in at any time to read children's books in the gallery! For a complete list of programming visit our website!

Want to see another work of art from this exhibition? Check out our Work of the Week from the week of February 15 - 21, 2010.

This exhibition was organized and curated by the Asheville Art Museum. This exhibition is sponsored by Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, The Captain's Bookshelf, Mr. Lester Laminack and The Toy Box.

Image Credit: Art Spiegelman. Image from I’m a Dog. Joanna Cotler Books publisher, 1997.

Organizing and Celebrating Scholastics!

2010-02-02T08:03:00.000-08:00

Not only do we have our first online gallery of the WNC Regional Scholastics Exhibition online through Facebook but we also present to you a taste of the exhibition currently up in the Pack Place Community Gallery. See some behind the scenes moments and meet some of the artists!

Want to see art by students in Western North Carolina? The exhibition is only on display until February 14th! And it is FREE.

Staying organized in the Studio: Students from 20 WNC Counties drop off their work at the Asheville Art Museum, the regional representative for the Scholastic Art Awards. An array of local artists are asked to judge the artwork.

Hanging the Show: The Pack Place Community Gallery is a Free gallery in the front of Pack Place, which hosts the winning pieces every year. The Museum regularly sends 20 to 25 gold award recipients’ work on to the National Scholastic Art Competition.

Celebrating with Award Winners and Guests: The regional award recipients will be honored at a ceremony on Sunday, February 7 at 2:00 p.m. in Diana Wortham Theatre. Visitors come to see the show, including students from Smoky Mountain High School who came to celebrate the show together with teacher Gayle Woody!

Images from top left: Emily Ashe, Cathedral, Silver Key Award, Category: Printmaking; Sofia Peretti, Oz, Silver Key Award, Category: Sculpture; Carolina Karasinski, The Love Vase, Honorable Mention, Category:Ceramics & Glass; Ricky Phuong, City Of Lights, Honorable Mention, Category: Painting; Alicia Fowler, Buddah Sculpture, Silver Key Award, Category: Painting

The Asheville Art Museum is proud of all of the participants, teachers and parents of the 2010 WNC Regional Scholastic Art Awards. Don't miss this show!

Sitting down a Working Woman/Artist (literally)

2010-01-29T11:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we started standing up, but the discussion during our Lunchtime Art Break this afternoon on Women Artists/Women Workers was so casual and intimate that we all sat down in the galleries to hear from our guest speaker Gwen Diehn. Gwen is an artist and a retired faculty member of the Warren Wilson art department and a wife and the mother of three kids. She gave us some insight into the life of an artist who also must juggle work, married life, kids, and just life in general. When and how do you make time for your art practice?

It was only fitting that we sat down in the Ruth Asawa gallery. Ruth had six children, a husband, and, eventually, a prolific arts advocacy career. Yet, she produced an array of art, which she made great strides with in the art world.

Here are some great insights from Gwen on being an artists and having a life:

1. It does not matter what you do after art school (if you go). Being an artist is finding time for your practice. Some people work at 3am before their crazy jobs start or their babies wake up. What is important is to find time for it and to do it regularly.

2. Being an artist does not necessarily mean that your end goal is to show in a big New York gallery. You might be on the other end of the spectrum, where you are not concerned at all about selling a piece. Think about where you fit on the spectrum and tailor your goals accordingly.

3. Finding space for art can be hard sometimes so it is good to keep tools and supplies available, out in the open, easily reachable, and available to all. Gwen had a printing press in the dining room, where it fit.

4. Involve those around you. When your kids are sick, you may have to draw them in bed. Your kids might want to help you crank the press in the dining room. They learn and you practice.

5. It is so helpful to have a partner who supports your daily juggle and pushes you to maintain your practice. Support can come in all forms- financial, emotional, etc.

6. Priorities are priorities but that does not always mean that your art practice is always at the top. Don't feel bad if you get consumed by the love for your new baby, etc.- pick up your artistic practice when you are ready- just don't forget about it entirely.

Thanks to Gwen for a unique look at Ruth Asawa. Check out our upcoming Art Breaks! We have lots of special guests coming in to give us fresh perspectives!

Crafty Ideas

2010-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Did you miss the Asheville Art Museum on WLOS's Craft Corner?

Learn to make origami books here.

Honoring One of Our Own

2010-01-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

There has always been a play between the actual symmetry of the picture shape (square, horizontal, diamond, shape, etc.) and the symmetry of layout, which opens the depicted forms to the use of color -- to sound or harmonize in an expressive way. -Kenneth Noland

(1924-2010)

Kenneth Noland, a great artist and Asheville native, died on Tuesday at the age of 85. An abstract expressionist painter, he was a main figure in the color field movement that involved large canvases, poured paint, and a rethinking of color perception. His training at Black Mountain college introduced him to Bauhaus principles and color theories, for which he became a notable and important artist in the abstract expressionist movement.

Noland painted geometric shapes on large canvases using bold colors. Visually similar to targets, these paintings evoke motion through their use of shape and color.

The Asheville Art Museum has three paintings by Kenneth Noland, one of which, North South East West, is currently on display in the exhibition Looking Forward: New Works and New Directions for the Permanent Collection. Unfortunately, I cannot upload photos here of his work because of copyright, but check out his paintings on line and in person at the Asheville Art Museum. His official site is www.kennethnoland.com

Noland was a great friend of the Asheville Art Museum. Thank you for all that you have done for Asheville and the art world. We will miss you.

A bit of a bio:
Nolan's mother was an amateur musician and his father was a painter who had studied under an Impressionist.
He served in the Air force as a glider pilot and cryptographer
He attended Black Mountain College.
His first one man exhibition was in 1949 at Galerie Raymond Creuze, in Paris.
He settled in Washington D.C.
He returned to Black Mountain College and met Clement Greenberg and Helen Frankenthaler.
He experimented with Frankenthaler's method of staining unprimed canvas with acrylic. His work gradually became more hard-edged and geometric, featuring circular or ellipsoid rings, chevrons and targets. In 1958 he created concentric circle canvases, generally considered his first mature works. In 1962 he began the cat's-eye series.
He moved to New York in the spring of 1962.
He bought Robert Frost's farm in Vermont.
His works were exhibited in 1964 with the Minimalist group known as "The Washington Color Painters."
He began making sculptures after buying some materials from the David Smith estate.
His forms became more loose; horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines overlapped to involve the space outside of the picture plane.
He began to work in metal sculpture and to produce shaped canvases during the 1970s.
He was elected to the American Academy and Institutes of Arts and Letters.
His works are in the collections of the Guggenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
He was awarded the North Carolina Award in Fine Arts in 1992.
His remains will be interred in the Montford area in Asheville.

Lighting up Art

2010-01-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

This week, I was fortunate to attend a tour of Asheville artist Heather Lewis's work at the Asheville Area Arts Council. There, Heather showed us some of her newer paintings and then down to the basement to see her newer work with light. I had never been down to the basement of the Arts Council. It is an interesting space, unfinished and without good lighting, that is perfect for Heather's installation pieces. Starting from scratch, she utilizes the space well, creating her own lighting, and using the great space for her unique and impressive installation pieces.

Heather's work is inspired by the mechanisms and products of industry. She is both inspired and troubled by the products that are created en mass, for the masses, taking them as her point of departure to comment on their mundane status and to make them into something different, through stenciling and light, so that their existence is made apparent to us as viewers, their everyday status is no longer disguised in routine.

It is a remarkable approach. She uses sardine cans and tires as stencils in her paintings; her "Objects from a Kitchen Drawer" light installation utilizes telephone cords and scotch tape, projecting them on the wall so they are transformed into something different and stripped of all practicality. When I asked her about one stencil she said it was made with a banana split tray from an ice cream shop. Yum!

I went home and looked at all of my kitchen appliances differently, mesmerized by the artistic potential hidden in the practical and the everyday.

To see more work by Heather Lewis, visit her website here.

Images from the Asheville Area Arts Council installation- 2009.

The Year in Pictures: 2009

2009-12-29T13:16:00.000-08:00

Snowed In and Shoveled Out!

2009-12-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

Things have slowed down here at the Museum this week because of the great snow storm of 2009 in Asheville this past weekend. We have finally seen the remaining snowed-in staff members this morning (yes, Day 6) and have almost exhausted our snow horror stories. Who had power? Who made snowmen and sledded down the neighboring slope in a kayak (me)? Whose cars are still covered in 20 inches of snow?

I know that you are all curious so let me ease your mind. The Museum itself and its Pack Place neighbors received a healthy dose of the snow- but we have shoveled safe paths that lead you right to our door. So eat your big meals, unwrap your gifts, and get out of the house over the Holidays with a little dose of art at your local downtown Museum (three floors allow you to find your own space within our safe, warm walls while still remaining close to your family).

And from all of us at the Asheville Art Museum, we wish you a warm-electricity filled, snow angel making, crazy sledding time over the upcoming Holidays- and into the New Year.

See in 2010.

Images- The Asheville Art Museum Entrance. Saturday, December 19 (Day2); Staff Photo, December 2009.

Artistic Ads

2009-12-16T09:41:00.000-08:00

Merely by accident, I found some very interesting advertisements from the Asheville Art Museum's advertising past. They are quirky and fun, with just the right amount of wittiness- and I felt like I had to share them with you. They effectively present the arts in a new way- and get you to think about the importance of the arts in all of our lives. They have become historical relics for the Art Museum (they are not really that old) but they also maintain their contemporary relevance. And like any ad campaign- they are incredibly catchy! I think they are great- Enjoy!

Let me know if you have ideas that are just as catchy...

Hanging Lorna Blaine Halper

2009-12-09T09:44:00.000-08:00

Today we are hanging Lorna Blaine Halper's solo show at the Asheville Art Museum!

It opens on Saturday, December 12th. Opening Reception is Sunday December 13th at 2pm.

And it is Free.

Lorna Blaine Halper was a student at Black Mountain College, a unique arts school located just outside of Asheville. Although it lasted only 24 years, from 1933-57, and enrolled fewer than 1200 students, Black Mountain College launched a remarkable number of the artists. The Museum is dedicated to collecting and preserving the art of Black Mountain College and continues to expand its Black Mountain College collection.

According to Assistant Curator, Cole Hendrix, Halper's "visual practice became dominated by an obsessive, introspective and sustained meditation on the line. Throughout her career Halper continually played with the terms of seeing, manipulating value, tone and scale to evince the descriptive qualities of line."

Lorna Blaine Halper: The Space Between is going up in the Museum's Community Gallery on the first floor. It is split by the Museum shop so both spaces have to be considered apart from each other and also together within the larger context of the show.

The Curators and Registrar/Preparator determine where the works should go, taking into account shapes, sizes, themes, and colors so that the pieces flow in a logical and creative way for optimal viewing. Then, the Museum's Executive Director considers the placement of the pieces, making changes as

necessary. Afterwards, the prep crew measures and hangs each piece on the wall, securing each side for added strength. The wall text is then placed onto the wall in the appropriate places and the exhibition is ready to open to the public.

Come out and visit this exciting exhibition!

Image Credits:

Lorna Blaine Halper, Untitled, 1965, oil on canvas, 34.13 x 48 inches. Gift of Lorna Blaine Halper. Asheville Art Museum Black Mountain College Collection. 2008.03.09.21; Lorna Blaine Halper, Untitled, nd, oil and ink on linen, 60 x 48 inches. Gift of Lorna Blaine Halper. Asheville Art Museum Black Mountain College Collection. 2008.03.10.21; Staff hanging the exhibition.

Getting Crafty

2009-12-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

The BIG Crafty drops into Pack Place this Sunday, December 6th from 12-6pm.
The Asheville Art Museum hosts!

They have great local crafts by many, many artists plus holiday music, cupcakes and beer, fancy decor, and a lot of people! Don't miss the Asheville Art Museum's shop where the Holiday Market has been extended with more homemade goodies from area artists!

Because the Asheville Art Museum is hosting the Big Crafty in Pack Place, we all got a little excited and decided to do some crafts of our own! For an afternoon, we walked away from our computers, pushed up our sleeves, and made our way to the Studio where the Education Staff led us in a Paste Paper making session. It is so easy and fun to do- so read the recipe below and get crafty in celebration of this weekend's great local craft fair!

Basic Paste Paper Recipe:
Set 6 cups of water to boil in large saucepan. Meanwhile, mix 3/4 cup white rice flour (available in bulk foods) and ¾ cup white wheat f lour (cake flour is great) with 1 ½ cups of cold water. (You can use plain white wheat flour for the whole shebang if you want to.) Add water to the flour slowly, trying to make the paste as smooth as possible, you will thank yourself later. When your water is boiling add the cold-water paste mixture to the boiling water stirring constantly with a whisk. The paste will thicken immediately and turn somewhat translucent. As soon as it does this, remove the paste from the heat and let in cool. Once paste is no longer boiling hot, add 1tsp of glycerin (drug store) and 1tsp. of Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap though any liquid soap will do the job. If the paste is lumpy use a blender to smooth things out. Mix the paste with water soluble paints like acrylic but tempera is fine if you are working with kids.

BE CRAFTY: Get a piece of blank, clean paper. Water it with a sponge (all of it- all the way to the corners) so it is wet but not soaking wet. Drop a few drops of colored paste onto the paper and spread it around with your fingers( too many colors will make it brown so be careful!). Use fun tools like old legos, rubber stamps, whatever to make cool designs... When finished- spread them out to dry for a day- and then iron from the back side to make them flat. They are excellent as homemade cards, wrapping paper, etc. It can get messy! So make sure that you have plenty of water and that you do this in an area you can clean up afterwards (studio, kitchen, e.g.) Wash off the table every time you start a new piece of paper and HAVE FUN!

The Holiday Market at the Asheville Art Museum

2009-11-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Open through Sunday, Nov 22nd!
Pack Place, downtown Asheville

Book Signings, Local Art, Cookies & Cider, Craft Demos, Free Gift Wrapping!

Plus Incentives! Let the Photos speak for themselves! Come see us!

Funding through Facebook

2009-11-18T12:32:00.001-08:00

Chase Community Giving is picking its next charities through Facebook. Fans vote and Chase gives the winners a sizeable donation! Become a fan of the Asheville Art Museum and vote before December 11, 2009!

The Docent's take in Art

2009-11-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

I learned something very interesting today... Steven Seinberg and I grew up in the same neighborhood in the Florida suburbs; we share memories of the same river, where the Florida wetlands butt up against the rows of residential houses.

Seinberg is an artist living and working in Asheville; his contemporary abstract paintings are inspired by the tranquility of natural settings. I hopped on a tour that the Asheville Art Museum Docents took this week of his studio, and as he was speaking about nature as a strong focus in his art, his paintings grow livelier and stronger. I can feel the breeze and hear the brook where he gained inspiration. I am calmed by the majesty of the mountains in the distance. He speaks about the importance of Asheville's setting for his work and the connection it has with his childhood memories where the Florida swamp is unforgivably intrusive, yet the lushness of the surroundings is easily forgotten amid daily routine. I suddenly remember the canoe I steered throughout middle school, down the river I spent so much time on during my childhood, and I jump back into the cool, refreshing spring where shark teeth can be found with a snorkel and a mask. It is a memory we both share, and one I forgot for so long; a memory that was overshadowed by Central Florida asphalt and unnatural suburban landscapes.

Steven Seinberg's paintings can invoke still moments that we all have experienced at one time. Standing before his work invokes the tranquil feeling of nature, moments of stillness, and the peace of healthy relationships. As I stand in his studio, on the second floor of a busy downtown street, I am suddenly aware of the greatness of our city- that he can work in the busiest part of downtown and still take inspiration from the stillness of our surroundings.

This is a perfect segue for the second part of the Docent's journey today. We leave the studio and walk a few blocks down to the Asheville Mural on Lexington Ave where we meet Molly Must, a 23 year old artist whose artistic dream for a rundown space under a busy highway overpass was realized- for Asheville's immense benefit. Understanding the power of urban spaces and mixing it with her love and knowledge of Asheville's appreciation for the arts, she pushed for this project to happen from city approval and feats of fundraising, to the logistics of scaffold rental and artist scheduling. She understands that art can transform political arenas and assist with social problems. Her vision extends to inserting art as a positive force in the lives of the underprivileged, the forgotten, and those on the fringes of 'productive society'. And not only that-she is a very talented painter.

This mural is a testament to her ambition, her talent, and her passion.

As I take photographs and listen to her speak- I am also aware of the awe and appreciation the group before me has for her efforts. The Mural has not only transformed the walls under this busy overpass- but it has also individually transformed so many of our daily lives and the lives that we have as a citizens of this great city.

Overall, I have to say that the Asheville Art Museum Docents get to do some very exciting things! They give their time and energy to the Museum in the pursuit of dispersing knowledge, entertaining visitors, and enriching any visit to the Museum- and we appreciate every moment of their time that they give to the Museum. Thank you to the Docents- and to Steven Seinberg and Molly Must for a fascinating Monday adventure!

Want to be an Asheville Art Museum docent? Contact Nancy Sokolove, Adult Programs Manager at the Asheville Art Museum. 828.253.3227 or email nsokolove@ashevilleart.org

The Asheville Art Museum Blog

Summer Fun with the Asheville Art Museum Continues!

The Museum's LA Travels Continue...

The Museum and Friends Travel to L.A.

Getting to Know Us: Museum Library

Getting to Know Us: Membership and Groups

Getting to know us...

Show us Your Original Photos!

Holiday Arts Extravaganza!

The Genius of Peiser

The Beauty in Watercolors

John Cage Video

Holiday Shopping Just Got Better!

MoMA's splendor

A Celebration of 61 Years!

Docent Recruitment Photos

Join the Arts Community at the Asheville Art Museum as a Docent!

Who is Joseph Albers?

Inside Scoop: Behind the Scenes

Inside Scoop: Exhibition inspires craft project

Inside Scoop: The Big Crafty 2010

Inside Scoop: Summer Happenings

Tim Barnwell Speaks of Exhibition

History Lesson

Inside Scoop - An Intern's Perspective

Giving Back

Hot Glass + Cold Beer = A New Appreciation

Hands In Harmony: Tradtional Crafts and Music in Appalachia

Photographs and Memories

WORK OF THE WEEK

Exploring the Permanent Collection with a Work of the WeekTHIS WEEK: May 10 - 16, 2010

WORK OF THE WEEK

A Video of ARTmob by Aaron Morrell

A Chocolate Covered ARTmob Screenprint

Ken Fandell and the Skies Above

Don't be scared of Decoupage

Spring IS here and the Mosaic IS done

The Hatchery

MOSAICS!

More Mosaics..

my friend jessica levine, mosaic artist

Once Upon A Time...

Organizing and Celebrating Scholastics!

Sitting down a Working Woman/Artist (literally)

Crafty Ideas

Honoring One of Our Own

Lighting up Art

The Year in Pictures: 2009

Snowed In and Shoveled Out!

Artistic Ads

Hanging Lorna Blaine Halper

Getting Crafty

The Holiday Market at the Asheville Art Museum

Funding through Facebook

The Docent's take in Art

Exploring the Permanent Collection with a Work of the Week

THIS WEEK: May 10 - 16, 2010