Press release:
Weave your way through the back roads of Yancey and Mitchell counties visiting studios and meeting artists during the three-day Toe River Studio Tour.
The tour runs Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 6, and includes more than 100 artisans. Twenty-three of them are new to the tour this year.
“The tour leads you right to where the artists live and work,” says Denise Cook, executive director of the Toe River Arts Council, which puts on the tour twice a year. “This particular community is amazing with the number of artists and quality of art that is produced here.”
Participating studio owners work in a variety of media including clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, photography, painting and drawing.
Along the way, guests travel through small towns and communities, such as Burnsville, Bakersville, Penland, Celo, Micaville, Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland. Printed guidebooks contain a studio listing, maps and a brief description and photo of each artist’s work. The guides are available at both Toe River Arts Council galleries in Burnsville and Spruce Pine, participating studios and local businesses. An electronic version is available at www.ToeRiverArts.org. The self-guided tour is free.
“We compare the tour to a treasure hunt,” Cook says. “The treasures are not only the art, but also the artists.”
Each of the TRAC galleries has an exhibit displaying the work found along the tour. Although guests may begin wherever they like, the galleries offer convenient starting points for those who are new to the tour or the area. The exhibits are arranged geographically to help visitors plan their routes.
Hours for the tour are noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6. Also on Saturday, Dec. 5, the Burnsville Christmas Parade strolls through downtown at 3 p.m.
For additional information about the tour, call (828) 682-7215 or visit www.ToeRiverArts.org. For Burnsville lodging options, go to www.ExploreBurnsville.com.
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