Grovewood Gallery
Grovewood Gallery will commemorate its 30-year anniversary with two days of live demos from four renowned Western North Carolina makers.
“The artists we chose to demonstrate all excel in their craft,” says Ashley Van Matre, marketing manager for Historic Grovewood Village, which includes the gallery. “Since these artists work in different mediums, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of techniques. Hopefully, they will walk away with a deeper appreciation for what they see in the gallery.”
As much of the world unites in solidarity and support for Ukraine, first-generation Ukrainian-American artist Andrea Kulish will celebrate the traditional Ukrainian art of pysanky, a wax-resistant method of decorating Easter eggs with delicately intricate and colorful designs. Kulish has been practicing pysanky since early childhood, and has taught it to others for more than a decade. Realist painter Bryan Koontz will demonstrate plein-air oil painting techniques in the gallery’s sculpture garden, and award-winning wildlife sculptor Roger Martin will also be outdoors, creating a piece out of clay that will later be cast in bronze.
On Sunday, Charlie Patricolo — a dollmaker and member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild — will demonstrate how she sculpts the faces of her figures using needles and cloth. (The Tune Shepherds, a trio that includes Grammy-winning guitarist Bruce Nemerov, will also play traditional Scottish music throughout the weekend.)
The property on which the Grovewood Gallery stands is itself a destination, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site once housed the weaving and woodworking operations of the circa-1905 Biltmore Estate Industries. That cottage industry employed and developed local craftspeople and helped fuel the Appalachian Craft Revival during the early 20th century. Today Grovewood Gallery showcases the work of more than 300 artists and craftspeople — including ceramics, jewelry, textiles, furniture, and more.
April 9 & 10, 11am-4pm.
Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood Road, Asheville. www.grovewood.com. 828-253-7651.