FLOW and All Creatures

The word “flow” carries a lot of meaning for Asheville multi-disciplinary artist David Sheldon. At its most literal, the single syllable refers to water — the cool, dark eddies of a High Country stream, the thunderous roar of a Pisgah waterfall, the lazy lapping of a mountain lake. But psychologically speaking, “flow” refers to the mental state Sheldon achieves when painting or sculpting. All concepts of time and self slip away, and nothing exists but the task before him. This September, Sheldon will dive into these nuances during FLOW, a solo show at Mark Bettis Gallery in the River Arts District. The exhibition will be followed by All Creatures, a group display featuring 11 local and national artists working in mixed media, clay, glass, and painting. Pieces included in the exhibit will pay homage to a full spectrum of animals — from red-cockaded woodpeckers to milk snakes. “We created this show to honor all of those creatures, big and small,” reads a gallery statement. “… Furry, winged, and crawly, each one represents a special presence and relationship on this Earth.”