This weekend on a shoestring

Thursday, June 20

• Dr. Damaris Drewry, Ph.D, will discuss “communication from loved ones on the other side” and share experiences that motivated her to write about its study during a free presentation at the Unitarian Fellowship of Hendersonville, 2021 Kanuga Road. 7p.m.

• “Kellin Watson is a nationally-touring singer-songwriter whose award-winning sound blends elements of blues, pop, folk and soul,” begins her bio. “Hailing from Asheville, N.C., Kellin draws on her Appalachian roots to bring both power and rawness to her music. Growing up in a musical family influenced and inspired Kellin to begin writing, singing and performing her own songs. By the age of 13, Kellin was composing and performing her original songs for open mics and church services, and by age 16, she had recorded her first six song EP of original material, Little Things (1998). It was then that Kellin got her first taste of recording in a studio. She’s since gone on to release four full-length solo albums independently.” Watson performs Thursday at the Park Rhythms concert series. Held at Lake Tomahawk, 401 Laurel Circle Drive, Black Mountain. 7:30 p.m. Free.

Friday, June 21

• The Blue Ridge Artists and Crafters Association will host its second annual show, featuring more than 50 crafters of handmade items, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds, Highway 209 near Lake Junaluska. Food available; held indoors. Free parking. Held Fri., June 21 and Sat., June 22. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• “Aaron Siskind (1903–1991) was born in New York City, the son of Russian Jewish immigrants,” according to the Asheville Art Museum. “After receiving his Bachelor of Social Science degree in literature from College of the City of New York in 1926, Siskind taught high school English for 21 years in the New York public school system. His first loves were music and poetry, but he took an interest in photography in 1930 when he received a camera as a wedding gift. Siskind was still teaching in the public schools when he joined the New York Photo League, with whom he produced several significant socially-conscious series of images in the 1930s. The Harlem Document remains his best known body of work from this period. Siskind’s later photography focused on the details of nature and architecture, treating them as flat surfaces to create images which, he claimed, were independent of the original subject. Much of Siskind’s pioneering photography from this period has ties to the work done by the abstract expressionist painters at the same time. One of Siskind’s close friends was the painter Franz Kline, to whom Siskind created a series of photographs titled Homage to Franz Kline after the painter’s death in 1962.” Learn more about the museum’s current Siskind exhibit, Aaron Siskind: Abstract Expressionist Photographer, during this month’s Lunchtime Art Break, a series of gallery talks and presentations “designed to inform and engage members and visitors in dialogue with museum staff, docents, featured artists and other special guests.” 2 S. Pack Square. Noon. Free with membership or museum admission.

• Dance beneath the moon in the cool night air as local electronic duo DJ Transputer performs house, electro-house, trance and trap during a free dance party at Pack Square Park. 7-10p.m.

• “Kastle’s forward-thinking music results from his longtime love of hip-hop and R&B, fused with the magnetizing effect that dubstep, garage and bass-heavy music has had on him,” begins the artist’s bio. “Last year, his track ‘Stay Forever’ from the eponymous EP reached the iTunes Top 10 Best Electronic Songs of 2012, and he embarked on his highly successful ‘Stay Forever’ tour across North America and into Australia and New Zealand.” Kastle performs at Asheville’s newest music venue, The Millroom, 66 Asheland Ave. 10 p.m.

Saturday, June 22

• Explore the beauty of Appalachia as the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy hosts six guided hikes in the Highlands of Roan during its June Jamboree celebration; hikes available for all ages and skill levels. Free. See website for info, schedule and registration.

• The third annual Juneteenth Celebration will celebrate the end of slavery in the United States with live entertainment, free food, a fried chicken cook-off, children’s activities, basketball and more at the field at Hillcrest Apartments, 100 Atkinson St. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free.

• From Gift of Gab‘s website, “Welcome to The Next Logical Progression. We’ve travelled far with Gift of Gab over the years. When we first heard the venerated Oakland emcee’s voice with Blackalicious, it was a revelation — the opening salvo to nearly two decades of positive emanations, vivid storytelling, elastic rhymes and consistency through reinvention. Across three classic Blackalicious LPs, two praised solo records and 2008′s star-studded collaboration The Mighty Underdogs, not to mention the groundbreaking work of his label Quannum Projects, Gab has been a constant source of innovation and inspiration, giving us as much to mull over as bob our heads to. But lovely as it is, the past is written. The title of The Next Logical Progression is no hollow boast: over the lushest beats of his career, Gab blazes a path into the history of hip-hop to come.” Gift of Gab plays Asheville Music Hall with Free Radio and Alpha Lee. 10 p.m. $10 in advance.

Sunday, June 23

• Real Life Stories will feature seven first-person tales on the theme of “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” at Avenue M, 791 Merrimon Ave. Free; childcare available across the street at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. Info: real.life.stories.info@gmail.com.