One of the greatest attractions of Ursula Gullow’s work is her obvious joy in making it. Every brushstroke crescendos with energy. Her color choices are vibrant, her narratives open-ended. “Queen of the Wasps,” Ursula Gullow, oil on canvas, 42”x 36” Fifteen paintings comprise her show at PUMP, most all of them created in the last […]
Church and state (of being)
While Bele Chere is in full effect, locals are faced with a conundrum that is uniquely Asheville: whether to enter the horde, wandering through the city streets among the shirtless masses, or to strike out and seek entertainment from acts other than Bele Chere’s typical parade of has-beens and never-weres. >Be here now: This Minneapolis […]
Culture watch
In a few weeks, after the buzz of Bele Chere has died down and the Smashing Pumpkins residency slowly fades into memory, it might be worth taking a long, hard look at the direction our local culture is headed in. In the last few years, rather by focused common will or simply mass delusion spilling […]
Top drawer: fashion news and views
Nature girl Local designer Natasha Nogan has been sewing for 10 years. Her creations—mainly geared toward women—are organic both in the materials she uses and in the lines she creates. Skirts and pants are made with comfortable drawstring ties and breathable fabrics. Simple designs are embellished with appliqués. Here, Natasha models her latest apparel. To […]
Gallery gossip
Just when you thought the theme had been completely exhausted, John Cram comes up with another great cat poster for his Village Art and Craft Fair. The fair happens on Aug. 4 and 5, but the T-shirts are available now. • Lauren Gibbes is rolling right along in the Big Apple—she has work in yet […]
Any Claymates out there?
What’s the attraction to North Carolina’s Idol runner-up?
Def: wordhouse (adj.) a darkly intellectual romp
Wordhouse, playing at the Asheville Arts Center through July 28, is superb. Written by Devin Walsh, directed by Adrielle Carlson and produced by long talks/little couch, the play deserves SRO audiences.
BlogAsheville announces their 2007 draft picks
BlogAsheville updates their list of local bloggers, and we give you the details on WNC’s newest blogstars.
Ben Betsalel gears up for a new opening
You may not know you know Ben Betsalel, but his art is all over town. Here’s the chance to check out his new work.
Shining a Light: A Q&A with reggae artist Joseph Israel
“Music is the voice of the people and it’s our job to share that and let the people’s voice be heard,” Israel asserts. Read what else this conscious reggae artist has to say.
Local fiddler’s influence lives on
The life and music of the late fiddler and singer Marcus Martin will be toasted on Tuesday night, July 24, at Warren Wilson College.
Africa within reach
The rhythms, patterns and flavors of Africa are closer that you think, thanks to the Kukundi Dance and Drum Project.
Auxiliary House in the house next week
The Chapel Hill-based Auxiliary House is coming to Asheville on their rollicking, bio-fueled summer tour.
Shake hands with the maker
Before there was Bele Chere—way before there was Bele Chere—there was the Craft Fair. The first Craftsman’s Fair, a joint effort by Southern Highlanders and Southern Mountain Handicraft Guild, was held in Gatlinburg, Tenn., in 1948. The event moved to Asheville three years later, and stayed. This photo was taken in 1953. photo by Edawrd […]
Pun intended
Just because Asheville doesn’t have a comedy club doesn’t mean it’s not a funny place. Big fun: Duke of deadpan Todd Barry will headline a roster that includes Asheville’s own Brian Fox, a 3’4” actor and comedian. “Our improv scene is fantastic,” says Greg Brown, author, chef and comedian-turned-festival-organizer. “The Oxymorons and Feral Chihuahuas are […]
The big picture
It almost sounds like a film-school student’s nightmare: Create, from script to screen, an entire short film in 48 hours. That means everything—all the writing, the casting, the rehearsing, the acting, the filming, the editing, the post-production voice work and scoring—must be done at a hellish pace against ever-increasing fatigue. Team Smokey, last year’s 48 […]
Culture Watch
New Album, Dead Band When last we heard from badly named local band Autumn Rising, they were in the process of putting together their first studio demo. The Christian-oriented group released Starting Over (an ironic name for a band that’s been around a whopping total of 2 years) in late 2006, and then immediately announced […]
Top drawer: fashion news and views
Most service-industry positions come with a uniform. If not a prescribed one (think flight attendants and postal workers) then a suggested one (the all-black attire of waitstaff; the aprons donned by baristas). Still, Asheville manages to make work wear not so, well, uniform after all. • The staff at the Chocolate Fetish (36 Haywood St., […]
Flying monkeys on his back
To hear him tell it, TJ Wiedow is “so over” making kung-fu movies. But that’s probably just the fatigue talking. It’s been five—no, maybe six—years since he started the last one, and he’s still working on it. And no matter how much work he puts into it, it seems like the thing will never be […]
Plan 9 from Planet Partisan
Have malevolent aliens invaded City/County Plaza? Local vlogger Ralph Roberts has a theory.
This panda was not made in China
Younger readers shouldn’t dismiss the upcoming Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.