The Southern Highland Craft Guild has renovated a building in Biltmore Village and will open a gallery there on Friday, Aug. 2. Details here:
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, with headquarters at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, has a rich heritage. The Guild was formed in 1930 to promote mountain craftspeople so that they could make a living, and so that the region’s rich craft history would continue and thrive. For the last 83 years the Guild has successfully done this through educational outreach, exhibitions, the Craft Fairs of the Southern Highlands, and through craft shops. Continuing this tradition of excellence, the Southern Highland Craft Gallery will be opening this summer in Biltmore Village in Asheville.
The Guild purchased the Biltmore Oteen Bank Building, 26 Lodge St. last year and has been renovating the space over the last several months. The building was completed in 1928. An article in the Asheville Citizen-Times dated March 9, 1928, describes the building, “The exterior of the structure is of brick, trimmed with Indiana limestone. It is a monumental design of the Georgian period, the Corinthian order being employed on the façade.” The Southern Highland Craft Gallery is proud to occupy this beautiful space, bringing to it modern innovations while staying true to its rich history.
The concept of tradition and innovation will also be seen in the artists’ work represented at the gallery. To be a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild artists must prove that they are masters of their craft through a rigorous jury process. The membership represents traditional and contemporary artists living in the mountain counties of nine states from Maryland to Alabama. Visitors to the gallery will not only be able to learn about the rich craft heritage of the region, they will also learn about artists who are stretching the boundaries of their craft with modern, innovative techniques. A wide range of work will be sold in the gallery including pottery, glass, wood, jewelry, fiber, metal, paper, mixed media and natural materials.
To learn more about the Southern Highland Craft Gallery and the Craft Guild, visit www.craftguild.org, or call the gallery, 828-277-6222. After opening, hours for the gallery will be Jan. through March: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., April through December: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., All Sundays: noon to 5 p.m.
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.