For the month of June, local artists David Hadden and Jane Voorhees will be showcased in the F. W. Front Gallery at Woolworth Walk. David Hadden became a woodworker at the age of ten, when his cousin and him built a fort from fruit crates: sawing, nailing, measuring and designing as best they could. After numerous days of work, he remembers stepping back and admiring their creation. He was hooked. David’s only formal training consisted of a few years of high school shop classes. After college, he began buying tools, eventually developing the skills and confidence to start his own business. Working with wood for the past 35 years has been a consistent pleasure for him. With all the challenges of delivering a quality product, the beauty of a finished piece is its own reward. His cutting boards were originally designed in an attempt to utilize scrap woods that were being tossed in the dumpster where he worked. He climbed in, picked out the scraps and created his first cutting boards as gifts for family in the 80’s. For the past 10 years David has worked from his small woodshop, which he built next to his home in East Tennessee. Nestled in the woods between the Clinch and Smokey Mountains provides the perfect setting to return to handcrafted custom woodworking. An old tobacco barn provides ample storage for an incredible variety of wood. Scrap wood from just one manufacturer in East Tennessee approaches 70 different species. He transforms wood considered too small for any practical use, ultimately making the cutting boards a green product. The boards are built with an Arts and Crafts theme–linear symmetry. David’s furniture includes traditional proud mortise and tenon, live edge, design contrast and contour– incorporating a contemporary twist on Arts and Crafts Furniture.
Jane Voorhees is a watercolor and pastel artist who has called WNC home for over 30 years. Jane grew up on the back bays and beaches of coastal NC, one of a large family of artists. She developed a love for drawing and painting while very young. She received her first lessons in watercolor from her father, Edwin Voorhees, a well-known painter of NC coastal scenes. As her father’s paintings reflected the beauty of the NC coast, Jane continues his legacy here in WNC where the inspirational mountains and valleys of this area offer endless opportunities to artists with an eye for light, color, and the drama of an ever-changing landscape. Jane studied art at Eckerd College before attending the Art Student’s League in NYC. In 2002 Jane started her own business, Voorhees Studio Designs, selling cards, prints, and original artwork. More recently she has begun teaching watercolor classes and teaches regularly at John C. Campbell Folk School. “Through a dedicated daily sketching practice in pencil, pen & ink, and watercolor, my painting has broadened in definition and depth. More than any other daily practice, sketching has honed my skills and awareness to everything around me – the beauty of simple things.” Come meet David and Jane and enjoy the opening reception and Art Walk on Friday, June 3rd from 5-7 p.m.
Woolworth Walk
25 Haywood Street Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 254-9234
Gallery Hours: Mon- Thurs.11-6, Fri. 11-7, Sat. 10-7, and Sun. 11-5
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.