Mountain-made art connects past and present
For generations, the people of Western North Carolina have carved wood, shaped clay, woven fibers, and hammered metal, forging a multi-million-dollar craft economy that speaks to the talent, ingenuity, and resilience born out of these hills and hollers. Returning to the Ridge, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area’s first-ever craft exhibit, celebrates this legacy by showcasing the work of 33 mountain makers working in a range of mediums, from fiber and metalwork to printmaking and basketry. All of the participating artists are featured on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails — a regional initiative that connects travelers to local art studios and galleries. “The participating craft makers not only created incredibly beautiful objects but also continue to keep alive hand-making traditions,” curator Anna Fariello reveals in a press statement. The show opens in early July at Mars Landing Galleries in Mars Hill.
Returning to the Ridge: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Exhibition: July 2-September 28; Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10, 5-8pm
Mars Landing Galleries / 37 Library St., Mars Hill / marslandinggalleries.com