Spring in the Mountains, Opening May 1

Coined by cardiologists Meyer Friedman and R.H. Rosenman in 1985, “hurry sickness” is a modern phenomenon characterized by a persistent sense of urgency. Individuals experiencing hurry sickness may feel anxious, become easily irritated, and even suffer from physical manifestations like headaches, muscle tenseness, rapid breathing, and gastrointestinal issues. Unfortunately, there is no panacea for this contemporary conundrum. However, Asheville artist Casi Fordham’s watercolors come close. Ethereal and dreamlike, her pieces transport the viewer to lush woodlands where lady slippers grow, gnomes roam, and deadlines are but distant whispers in the rustling leaves. “My work has been described as fantastical. I think that’s probably accurate,” says Fordham. This spring, the artist will spotlight a series of seraphic scenes at the FW Gallery at Woolworth Walk. The show culls inspiration from the unhurried hikes she takes with her six-year-old son, Wilder. “Having a small child really forces you to slow down because they want to examine every little thing,” says Fordham. “It’s no longer about going from point A to point B. It’s about the journey in between.”