WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER? Asheville School juniors Stella Gregory, Savannah Fowler, Lily Formato and Nathan Alleyne collaborated on this artwork as part of a school project to examine a contemporary social issue that they believe needs immediate attention.

KIDS Issue 2017: Moving to Asheville

Posted on June 26, 2017June 26, 2017 by Xpress Contributor

We continue to share more of the engaging student art and writing from the 2017 Kids Issue. In this post, we feature contributions from students at Asheville School and Claxton Elementary School.

NIGHT DRAGON: Asheville School 11th-grader Heather Capps painted this atmospheric night scene.

Kids Issue 2017: My life with friends

Posted on June 23, 2017June 23, 2017 by Xpress Contributor

We are continuing to share student art and writing from the 2017 Kids Issue. In this post, we feature contributions from students at Asheville School and The Learning Community School.

WELCOME TO THE WALL: Up-and-coming artists such as Tyler Martino, whose work is seen here, get an inaugural reveal at Debut, on view at PUSH Gallery. One of the ideas behind the group show, says curator Severn Eaton, is that it “may lead to another show down the road … or collaborations with other artists.”

‘Debut’ at PUSH Gallery features previously unexhibited artists

Posted on June 13, 2017June 8, 2017 by Alli Marshall

“I had this slot for a show and I thought, ‘I’d like to pass this opportunity onto a lot of people,’” curator Severn Eaton says. He’s doing just that with the group show ‘Debut,’ opening at PUSH on Friday, June 16.

Smart bets: Heartbeats community art and music show

Posted on June 8, 2017June 1, 2017 by Emily Glaser

The benefit show takes place at The Mothlight on Wednesday, June 14.

PUTTIN’ ON THE FRITZ: Local funk band The Fritz will take the stage at Xpand Fest on June 10. Other performers include indie-rocker Ian Ridenhour and 1960s-inspired Carpal Tullar.

Three free summer festivals worth visiting

Posted on June 6, 2017June 2, 2017 by Lauren Stepp

This season, two new events — the Better Dads Festival and Xpand Fest — are launching in downtown Asheville. A little further out in Hot Springs, ballad singers and hikers are coming together to celebrate the Bluff Mountain Festival’s 22nd year.

PAINTING WITH PURPOSE: Saints of Paint artist Tony Corbitt gives a live painting demonstration during last year’s Wild Art event. Corbitt will be returning as one of the 14 artists participating in the 2017 show. Photo by Appalachian Wild

Conscious Party: Wild Art

Posted on June 4, 2017June 2, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: An art show fundraiser for Appalachian Wildlife Refuge WHEN: Sunday, June 11, 1-5 p.m. WHERE: The Boathouse at the Smoky Park Supper Club WHY: Art lovers and animal enthusiasts alike will have the chance to make a difference in the care of injured animals by attending the Wild Art art show and fundraiser. Appalachian […]

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO AESOP: Artists Mark Bettis and Christine Kosiba pose in front of their respective works, inspired by the ancient Greek storyteller Aesop and his fable, "The Owl and the Grasshopper."

Asheville Art Talk: Fables come to the RAD

Posted on June 2, 2017June 1, 2017 by Thomas Calder

‘Parables in Clay and Paint,’ is a themed-collection by Asheville painter Mark Bettis and Brevard-based sculptor Christine Kosiba.

STRINGS ATTACHED: The story of "Kibwe: A Marionette Puppet Performance" centers on Asha, a character who “must journey forth to find ancient relics in order save their nation.” The marionettes — there are three, one of which is a bird — were a school project for artist Devin Lancaster, center. But from the beginning, he knew the undertaking would expand into a production.

‘Kibwe’ convenes marionettes, myth, music and visual art

Posted on May 29, 2017May 25, 2017 by Alli Marshall

“Kibwe is a Swahili word for ‘blessed,’” says Devin Lancaster. He chose it because, regardless of what we go through, whether positive or negative, the opportunity for the experience is a blessing, he says.

Smart bets: Mark Flowers

Posted on May 29, 2017May 22, 2017 by Emily Glaser

Flowers’ exhibit, ‘Signs of Life,’ opens with an artist reception on Friday, June 2, at at Pink Dog Creative.

Eventgoers sit outside during a past Golden Garden Party. This year's party will feature live music, a raffle and an art sale. Photo courtesy of the Prem Rawat Foundation.

Conscious Party: Golden Garden Party

Posted on May 28, 2017May 26, 2017 by Molly Horak

WHAT: An outdoor party to benefit the Food for People program WHEN: Sunday, June 4, 2-6 p.m. WHERE: 21 Clearwater Creek Road, Leicester WHY: For the last decade, local artists Ron and Rachel Clearfield have opened their home to Asheville residents for the annual Golden Garden Party, an outdoor celebration with live music, handcrafted art […]

Smart bets: Margaret Curtis

Posted on May 28, 2017May 23, 2017 by Emily Glaser

Curtis will host an opening reception for her solo show ‘Collide-O-Scopic/Conflate-O-Matic’ on Friday, June 2, at The Satellite Gallery.

Smart bets: Kenilworth Art Studio Tour

Posted on May 23, 2017May 18, 2017 by Emily Glaser

Explore Kenilworth’s studios on Saturday and Sunday, May 27 and 28.

ON A SAUNTER: Claxton Elementary School third-grader Elise Carson painted this watercolor of an elephant and friend.

Kids Issue 2017: Music to my ears

Posted on May 21, 2017May 23, 2017 by Xpress Contributor

More lively art and writing from our spring 2017 Kids Issue. In this installment, writing from The Learning Community School and art from Claxton Elementary School.

BELOVED TREE: Claxton Elementary School fifth-grader Kessie Ragland used paint and buttons on canvas to create this artwork.

Kids Issue 2017: The disappearance

Posted on May 13, 2017May 23, 2017 by Xpress Contributor

More engaging art and writing from our spring 2017 Kids Issue. In this installment, writing from The Learning Community School and art from Claxton Elementary School.

ON THE WIRE: Asheville native Viola Spells crafts unique crocheted wire jewelry for her business, Zenobia Studios. She will make jewelry on commission for those with specific ideas and, "Most of my statement necklaces are one of a kind," she says.

Two local artists follow their passions in the RAD

Posted on May 11, 2017May 4, 2017 by Alli Marshall

The River Arts District’s Spring Studio Stroll takes place over Mother’s Day weekend — Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21.

THE MORE, THE MERRIER: Big Brother Big Sister of Henderson County's outreach coordinator Steve Kirkland, far left, calls the nonprofit's upcoming fundraiser "a combination of an agency event — where we're naming the Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year — and a community social event." Proceeds will support more mentoring for youths, most of whom reside with a single parent or other relative.

Conscious party: A Taste of the Vineyard

Posted on May 6, 2017May 8, 2017 by Kat McReynolds

Proceeds from the event will support the Henderson County chapter of Big Brother Big Sister, which currently serves 75 matches (a big and little) with mentoring in community and school settings.

Dream Wanderer mobile gallery visits the RAD for the weekend

Posted on May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 by Alli Marshall

The “touring virtual reality gallery showcasing all-original virtual reality artworks by Buffalo-based arts collective Flatsitter” will be open to visitors Friday through Sunday.

GOOD SOUNDS, GOOD CAUSES: Ghana-born musician and humanitarian Rocky Dawuni has performed with Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monae, John Legend and others. He’s also joined forces with Product (RED), UNICEF, the Carter Center and the United Nations Foundation, among other global organizations. He and other LEAF performers will not only play the festival but will work with local students while in the Asheville area.

The 44th LEAF features ‘Legends of Africa’

Posted on May 4, 2017April 26, 2017 by Daniel Walton

The program that emerged from Pickering’s trip, LEAF International Rwanda, is now sending four of its performers to LEAF. The young Rwandans will join over 400 other artists at the festival’s 44th edition, which takes over Camp Rockmont from Thursday, May 11, to Sunday, May 14.

Smart bets: Weaverville Art Safari

Posted on April 25, 2017April 20, 2017 by Emily Glaser

This spring’s safari takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30, with a preview party on Friday, April 28.

WAY TO GROW: The film Seed: The Untold Story talks about how, after less than a century of industrial agriculture, seed diversity has been diminished to a handful of mass-produced varieties. See a free screening of the film at Lenoir-Rhyne University’s local campus as part of Asheville Earth Week.

More than a dozen ways to celebrate Asheville Earth Week

Posted on April 19, 2017April 14, 2017 by Alli Marshall

This year, the city of Asheville and its partners got serious about the environment, scheduling not just a mere Earth Day celebration, but a full roster of activities for Asheville Earth Week.

At the drawing table, Tina White talks with attendees organizing for the Science March. Photo by Cindy Kunst

SignsUp Asheville aims to pair activists with artists

Posted on April 19, 2017April 21, 2017 by Cindy Kunst

Part protest-sign-making party, part community art event, SignsUp Asheville held its first pop-up party in the gym of Odyssey School on Saturday, April 15. The gathering of artists and activists provided everything someone attending a political rally, demonstration or march could need to make make a point — artfully.

Visual Art