From the First Day, his Jewelry Career was Set in Stone
byMost makers chase various muses en route to a career. Not Roberto Vengoechea. “I was born to do this,” says the jewelry designer. “I…
MEDIUM
His Work is über-Meticulous, but his Studio is a Raging Hot Mess
byPatrick Ober of Ober Metalworks has worked with metals since 1992. But while most machinists use computerized pneumatic tools, Ober does everything manually, with…
The Woman Who Wouldn’t Retire Found Herself Reinventing the Basket
byAfter years of operating Eat No Evil, a natural-foods restaurant in New Orleans, Patti Quinn Hill retired in 1987 and moved to Western North…
The Idea of Limited Editions Opened an Unlimited Career
byBill Hall wasn’t attracted to printmaking because of its long history or many iterations. Instead, he liked its reassuring accessibility. “I was too intimidated…
One, Two, Three
byOne looks mischievous. Another seems grumpy. A third merely considers the viewer, eyes locked, demanding honesty or an explanation. Animals in art have always…
Former Navy Financier Went “All In” to Man Up the World of Fiber Art
byTony Embrey’s textiles transcend gender. And that’s by design. He laughs playfully about the name of his business and signature garment — Man-Made Textiles…
Print is Far From Dead — Just Ask Asheville BookWorks (and Steamroller Operators)
byIt’s safe to say that Laurie Corral is the unofficial matriarch of Western North Carolina’s book-arts and print scene. In 2004, she founded Asheville…
To Make It as a Healer, Speak Softly and Carry a Big Talking Stick
byWhen you call yourself a healer, you can’t be squeamish. Desiree DeMars has crafted amulets from metal plates and screws that came from clients’…
She Draws a Knife on the Notion of Age Limitations
byMarion J. Kaminkow, 96, tries to deflect any recognition of her wide-ranging artistic endeavors — including painting, mosaic making, enameling, and needlepoint. But examples…
Feeling the Love is Only a Sip Away
byHoney is already close enough to liquid gold as a foodstuff: wonderfully sweet, practically nonperishable, and impossible to replicate artificially. The alchemists of yore…