Creative vocations take up a lot of square footage. Hobbyist woodworker and furniture maker Matthew Smith made this realization several years ago when he and his wife relocated to a new city, and he had to downsize his studio. Tight on space, Smith shifted his attention to a more compact medium: jewelry. Today, the Asheville-based maker crafts earrings, necklaces, and other adornments that are clean, simple, and decidedly modern. “My work is inspired by the designers of the mid-20th century,” he writes in his artist’s statement. “I’m drawn to how design of that era can be so uncluttered and sparse but also playful and optimistic.” This June, Smith will show his wares at the FW Gallery at Woolworth Walk. He will be joined by Cindy Chenard, a Black Mountain artist who creates multi-dimensional landscapes and abstracts using thin layers of shaped wood. According to Chenard, her pieces are “inspired by the deep sense of space and ever-changing colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Both creatives will display their work through June 29.
Matthew Smith and Cindy Chenard: June 1-29; Opening Reception: Friday, June 7, 4-6pm
FW Gallery at Woolworth Walk / 25 Haywood St., Asheville