Inventive High Country Sculptor Puts the “Tile” in Reptile
byThe studio of ceramic, textile, and sculptural artist Shae Bishop is in rural Spruce Pine. But the multimedia artist, who’s also an amateur herpetologist,…
Wearable
How to Gain Serious Momentum on Flat Tires
byThe rubber hit the road when former anthropology professor Dr. Alysia Fischer began experimenting with discarded inner tubes. Veering from academia to the full-time…
A Stitch in Time Saves Art for Future Generations
byErin Castellan was exposed to the full spectrum of textile art by her mother, “who was involved in natural dyeing, spinning, knitting, quilting, [and…
Fifty Cents Says You’re on the Right Side of the Tracks
byThree-dozen creatives in almost as many genres call Trackside Studios their artistic home. All of them have to work shifts in the gallery as…
As Cosplay Took Off, So Did Her Career
byWhen it comes to Sarah Lambert’s wearable wings, birds of a featherdon’t necessarily flock together. “Phoenix Out of the Ashes,” for example, is a…
These Shoes Are Made For Proving What Real Footwear Looks Like
byDeborah Robertson is a German folk dancer who used to perform at Oktoberfests throughout Texas Hill Country. In Asheville, she dances on Tuesday nights…
Long and Arduous is the New Dress to Impress
byTyler Lavenburg is the head instructor at Weaverville’s Holistic Survival School. He uses his environment as material for his craftsmanship — hardcore homesteading skills…
For the Sake of Drama, She Sets Fashion on Fire (or Puts it in a Blender)
byBetsy Puckett has been an eclectic stage performer since age 8. Last decade, she gained regional fame as the bawdy belle Augusta Wind —…
To Sustain Minimalism, She Maximizes Community
byIn Barbara Zaretsky’s world, craft and community flow as one. Pots of dye bubble as visitors and colleagues drop by. Zaretsky studies a wall…
A Search for Spiritual Leggings Took Her to Tibet and Back
byAsheville photographer and fashion designer Wendy Newman incorporates intricate mandala patterns into her signature apparel-and-accessories line, including scarves, leggings, kimonos, and umbrellas. Inside…