Beaverdam Studio Tour returns to North Asheville
Last fall, Hurricane Helene forced organizers to cancel the Beaverdam Studio Tour after downed trees, damaged studios, and weeks without power upended the North Asheville neighborhood. This year’s “bounce-back tour” returns October 25-26 with 25 artists opening their doors across the valley. Among them is jeweler Tamela Wells, who grew up in Knoxville and moved to Asheville in 1990. Trained in metals and ceramics at the University of Tennessee, Wells began in fabricated sterling before shifting toward polymer clay, noting, “In the late 1980s, I discovered the vast malleability and colorful possibilities of polymer clay.” Her current pieces pair polymer with sterling and pure silver, often echoing rock forms and natural textures. According to the artist, process drives her work: “In the studio, I am constantly seeking the adventurous creative path. Often, the journey that begins with ‘what if?’ leads me to fresh ideas and designs.”
8th Annual Beaverdam Studio Tour: October 25, 10am-5pm, and October 26, 10am-4pm
beaverdamstudiotour.com