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…
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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…
The Couple That Clays Together … Gets to Quit Their Day Jobs
byWhoever warned that spouses shouldn’t work together was brooding about cubicles, not clay wheels. Ann and Sandy Batton create harmoniously in a studio next…
Recycled-Linen Burial Shrouds Bring a Delicate Topic Down to Earth
byIn her former career as a fashion designer and pattern maker, Christi Whiteley faced the daily task of tailoring fabric to size. First for…
Her Sensual Oils Are All About Naked Emotion
byShe moves dreamily between abstractionism and realism, often combining the two. “I love to paint everything and anything,” says Sandra Bottinelli. “It depends on…
It’s a Trial By Fire — and That’s After the Kiln Does Its Work
byRaku pottery is an ancient Japanese art form that requires a meticulous process. But the final step is pure chance, and for Steven Forbes-deSoule,…
Twirling Molten Glass in Public Wasn’t Asheville Enough, So They Added Beer to the Action
byThose ripples and waves in antique window panes were likely formed by human breath. That’s because glassblowers of old were relied upon to create…
He Answered the Demands of a Whole Different Animal
byWorking from The Lift Studios, a converted biscuit factory in the River Arts District, Daniel McClendon paints wild canvases of wild animals. From alligators…