From a press release:
Toe River Arts Council announces studio tour exhibit
The Toe River Arts Council (TRAC) announces the opening of its biannual exhibit that features the artwork of the 2015 June Toe River Studio Tour Participants. The heavily anticipated showcase opens Saturday, May 9 at TRAC’s 269 Oak Avenue Gallery in downtown Spruce Pine. Arranged geographically, the work is displayed to make it easy to navigate from studio to studio in this two-county event, now in its 22nd year. With guide and pencil in hand, visitors can choose their route for the tour weekend or purchase a piece of art they just can’t wait to have.
Both internationally known and emerging artists in every medium have settled into what has become one of the finest communities of both traditional and contemporary craft artists in the country. Twice a year, these artists open their studios and invite the public to spend a few minutes to get to know them, to view their work, to learn how they went from idea to something the visitor can hold. This year’s tour boasts 100 participating artists and galleries all with a sampling of pieces that are available in their studio on display at the Spruce Pine Gallery.
On the first day of the tour, Friday, June 5, the hours are noon to 4pm. Afterward, visitors mosey on back to the Spruce Pine Gallery, artists shut their doors for the evening and everyone gathers downtown for a reception of great food, great drinks, and great friends. The tour continues on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm when the exhibit ends and all relax for another 6 months when they sweep their floors and open their doors for the December Tour. Each tour is different, each has different participating artists. They come and go. Some only participate in the June tour, some just the holiday event. There’s always something new and exciting going on in the Western North Carolina mountains.
The exhibit, reception, guides and self-guided tour are all free. To take the tour all you need is the guide; then follow the red arrowed signs. Guides are available at the TRAC Galleries, studios, other galleries and businesses in the region. As May gets into full swing and the exhibit continues to offer new ideas, new work and new artists, thoughts turn to the June tour — meandering the roadways and making connections in out-of-the-way places with artists and new friends. Information about the tour and participating artists, places to stay, our sponsors and the exhibition are available at www.toeriverarts.org or by calling 828.682.7215 or 828.7625.0520.
The Toe River Arts Council is a 501C-3 nonprofit founded in 1976 to promote the arts in Mitchell and Yancey Counties in Western North Carolina. It is supported by donations, memberships, local government support, grants (including the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency) and earned income from its events and sales.
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