There’s typically a time limit for each presenter, and some open mics have a theme or a host to usher the evening along, but what happens in front of the microphone is, truly, wide open to possibility.
Poet Reginald Dwayne Betts on words, incarceration and his commencement address
Betts, who completed his MFA in 2010, will return to Warren Wilson on Saturday, May 19, to give the commencement address to the school’s undergraduate class.
Smart Bets: William Faulkner’s ‘The Hamlet’
Jim Stokley and Michael Sartisky perform dramatic readings from the novel on May 10 at Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar.
Smart Bets: Alida Woods
The Asheville-based poet reads from her new book on May 6 at Malaprop’s.
Sustainability-themed poetry contest winner announced
Asheville-based writer Holly Amann has been named the winner of this year’s Xpress Poetry Contest. Writers were invited to submit work around the themes of sustainability, environmental awareness and/or reverence for nature.
Smart Bets: Naima Coster
The acclaimed author reads from different works, April 28 at the Flatiron Writers Room and April 29 at Firestorm Books & Coffee.
Smart Bets: Constance Lombardo
Asheville-based author and illustrator launches her third (and final) Mr. Puffball book at Malaprop’s on April 24.
Charles Frazier’s fiction returns to the Civil War
On Saturday, April 21, Charles Frazier will read passages from his latest book, Varina, at UNC Asheville’s Lipinsky Auditorium. The author will be joined onstage in conversation with fellow-writer, Wiley Cash.
New festival/conference examines the intersection of art and social justice
Panels discuss everything from the experience of women in media and entertainment fields to the process of turning a story into a song. Saturday night concludes with a superband made up of Ben Sollee, Big Chief Juan Pardo, Leeda “Lyric” Jones, Jaze Uries, Jacob Rodriguez and others.
Smart Bets: The Point In Between
The Flood Gallery Fine Arts Center launches its Black Mountain location with an exhibition of Phil Kurz’s artwork and writing on April 14.
Asheville Wordfest explores the relationships between science, art and environment
Events take place Thursday-Sunday, April 12-15, at UNC Asheville, Malaprop’s and the Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Asheville campus.
UNCA’s Arts Fest explores creative intersections
Along with exhibitions, concerts, readings, dance performances and a ceramics sale, Arts Fest also offers installations and presentations aimed at engaging students and the broader Asheville community.
WCU’s Spring Literary Festival returns
This year’s events, which take place Monday-Thursday, April 2-5, include writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and culminates in an event with Pulitzer, Emmy and Obie (among others) award-winning playwright Tony Kushner.
Swannanoa songwriter, poet, artist and dramatist Billy Edd Wheeler celebrates a new memoir
Today, at age 85, Wheeler shows little sign of slowing down. Hotter Than a Pepper Sprout is a highly enjoyable chronicle, following a young boy in Boone County, W.V. through a fascinating lifetime, rubbing elbows with Elvis, Chet Atkins and countless other musical peers.
Power to the people: Best of WNC 2018 voting begins
With a far out feeling, voting has begun for the beloved annual Best of WNC awards. Only you can decide who’ll be feelin’ it in the new summer of love, when winners are announced this August. You have until 11:59 p.m. on the night of Saturday, April 28 to complete your ballot and make sure your voice is heard. […]
Kids Issue 2018: Earth
“Let your feelings fly to be a/part of this world”
Smart Bets: Jon Michael Riley
The local writer reads from his second Channey Moran action/thriller on March 29 at Malaprop’s.
Kids Issue 2018: Stopping racism
“There is a pretty big problem in Asheville. It’s racism.”
Kids Issue 2018: Warmth and comfort for children in need
“However, a problem that is often overlooked is children in hospitals or shelters without comfort. This is the problem I acted upon by volunteering for Project Linus and making a security blanket for a baby in need.”
Kids Issue 2018: Create compost at school
“We would attract more bugs like butterflies and bees to school, and we would waste less. It would help us and the animals.”
Kids Issue 2018: Darkness into light
“The glimmer of joy dances in front of you/you latch on with all your might:/maybe there’s a chance for a redo?”