Painting a Life of Next Levels
When watercolorist Claire Simpson Jones first committed to renting a studio in the River Arts District and painting full time, she had no plan…
Everything is Sculptural, Even the Process
Though Eleanor Annand was born in Wilmington, NC, her family was living in Germany when she began kindergarten. She met the challenge of not…
She Refused to Be Torn Between Papermaking and Printmaking
Printmaking isn’t an art form that flourishes in solitude. “It’s a very social practice,” says Georgia Deal, “with people who like to be in…
Paint on the Right Doors and You Might Find Them Opening
Had he followed the money, Aaron Fields’ ongoing path to becoming a full-time artist could have gone in an entirely different direction. “In sixth…
The Beguilement is in the Shadows
When Andy Levine adopted the name John Nebraska about 25 years ago, he was not having an identity crisis. Quite the opposite. The editorial…
Portrait of the Artist as a Restless Survivor
Amar Stewart knew Asheville was an art-centric town, but when he relocated from Brooklyn in 2019, he quickly learned a couple of things. “I…
The Persistence of Memory, Pyromaniac-Style
Nabil El Jaouhari says growing up in the mountains outside of Beirut, Lebanon, he was the child who stayed inside to doodle. In the…
Digging the Roots of an Ancient (and Up-and-Coming) Tradition
It wasn’t easy for Ramona Lossie to decide which of the hundreds of baskets she’s woven in her lifetime to include in the Center…
On Utility and Elevation
“Sometimes unexpected things happen, and I have to work around it. You might come into some cracks or a hole and it’s, ‘Oh, didn’t…
Nearly Out of Buttons But Still Full of Ideas
“My hands are always doing something,” says Barbara Bryan — sewer, knitter, weaver, spinner, and quilter, just to name a few of the craft…