July Rapid River Magazine 2019 Final

Art of the Abstract this July in WNC 

RAPID RIVER MAGAZINE’S 

ARTS& CULTURE 

WWW.RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM 

July 2019 • Vol. 22, Number 11 

THE OLDEST AND MOST READ ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE IN WNC

FINE ART PREVIEW 

Elizabeth Albright “defaces” classical art through reinvention of the past 

BY STAFF REPORTS • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

Since 2018 Elizabeth Albright has 

been reinventing mythological and 

historical narratives in her oil paintings 

by “defacing” classic art. 

Elizabeth’s last solo show, “Noble 

Beasts,” explored the symbolic connections 

between historical figures 

and animals by transforming renaissance 

royalty into the animal that 

best represented them. 

Her next show, “The Children of 

Dionysus,” will focus on the more 

conceptual idea of how mythological themes 

relate to concepts in classic art. 

For this show, Albright will be transforming the 

figures in Rococo paintings into animals associated 

with the Greek God Dionysus. 

Why Rococo? Why Dionysus? 

In Greek mythology, Dionysus, 

worshipped as early as 1500 BCE, 

was the God of wine, fertility, ecstasy, 

and all those other things that 

go along with frivolity and excess. 

Dionysus’ sacred animals were the 

panther, leopard, tiger, bull, horse, 

goat, donkey, and serpent. 

Rococo painting, which originated 

in early 18th century Paris, embraced 

similar concepts. The artists 

“The Swing” 

focused on pastoral or boudoir 

tableaus populated by carefree aristocrats, 

performers, and farm folk who drink, sing, 

and cavort. These characters live in a world of 

romantic encounters and lighthearted youthful 

revelry, all idyllically portrayed using pastels and 

soft lines. 

Although the myth of Dionysus and the Rococo 

art movement are separated by centuries, conceptually 

they are very similar. So why not marry 

the two and create a new narrative? Why not 

imagine what it would be like if the Dionysus myth 

were told in 18th century AD rather than 17th 

century BCE? In France, instead of Greece? 

Since the beginning of time, humans have been 

telling the same stories over and over again. With 

“The Children of Dionysus,” Elizabeth hopes to tell 

another old story in a new way. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Elizabeth Albright 

Opening Reception for “The Children of Dionysus” 

in the ZaPow Gallery Taproom, August 9, 

from 7-9pm. Free drinks, music, masquerade ball, 

prizes, parlor games, and cake (let them eat cake!). 

The show runs from August 9-September 8. For 

more information, visit ElizabethAlbrightArt.com. 

2 |RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | VOL. 22, NO. 11 JULY 2019

ART SHOW 

Maggie Valley Annual Summer Arts 

and Crafts Show July 6-7 

BY STAFF REPORTS • MAGGIE VALLEY 

The Maggie Valley Summer Arts 

and Crafts Show returns July 6 

& 7 to the Maggie Valley Festival 

Grounds. In its 28th year, the popularity 

continues to grow. 

“We have been receiving phone 

calls from visitors who plan their 

vacation around 

this event and 

want to double 

check the dates 

and make reservations,” 

says 

Teresa Smith, 

Maggie Chamber 

Executive 

Director. 

Seasonal items, yard art, paintings, 

photography, pottery, wooden 

bowls, furniture, jewelry, goat milk 

soaps, and more will be featured at 

the event. “There is something for 

everyone, from the most affordable 

handicrafts to the more expensive 

museum quality items,” says Smith. 

“Even if you don’t plan on buying 

anything, its fun just to walk around 

and see the amazing variety of 

unique items – but rarely do you see 

anyone leaving without something in 

their hands.” 

In addition to a wide selection of 

unique arts and crafts, there will be 

a variety of mouth-watering festival 

foods. 

“Because of the holiday, we 

expect a record 

crowd to be in 

attendance this 

weekend,” says 

Smith. “The 

mountains are a 

great way to escape 

the heat and 

humidity of other 

areas, and with a spectacular 360 

view of the mountains, the festival 

grounds provide a beautiful setting 

for this outdoor event,” says Smith. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

The event runs 9-4 pm both 

days. There is no admission; 

donations appreciated. Proceeds 

will benefit the Friends 

of the Haywood County Animal 

Shelter. Parking is free. For more information, 

contact the Maggie Valley 

Chamber at (828) 926-1686 or visit 

www.maggievalley.org. 

VOL. 22, NO. 11 — JULY 2019 | RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | 3

FINE ART NEWS 

‘Icons in Transformation,’ by Ludmila Pawlowska, held 

over into August 

BY STAFF REPORTS • WAYNESVILLE 

‘Icons in Transformation’ 

is the international 

exhibition 

of paintings and 

sculptural works by 

Russian-born artist, 

Ludmila Pawlowska. 

This show, installed 

at Grace 

Church in the 

Mountains Waynesville, 

was initially set to close on June 

16, is now extended into August. 

The complete exhibit, comprised 

of 152 pieces, is open to visitors, 

free of charge, on Wednesdays, 

1-3 pm, and on Saturdays, 2-5 pm, 

Abstract work 

by Ludmila Pawlowska 

through Wednesday, 

June 26th. 

Beginning Saturday, 

June 30th, visitors 

may see the partial 

installation in the 

church and narthex 

entry space. These 

two areas contain 

the most significant 

and most dramatic 

pieces. This section 

of the exhibit will continue to offer 

docent hours through Saturday, 

August 10. . 

Fifteen special events were held 

from April-June to enrich the icons 

viewing experience. These included 

lectures, concerts, workshops 

in art and sacred dance, an icon 

writing retreat, and special worship 

services of Evensong and Taizé. 

One remaining event open to the 

public will be “A Closing Conversation 

with the Artist,” on Sunday, 

August 11, 9:15. 

Response to the exhibit has been 

enthusiastic and grateful that the 

artwork is available for all to experience 

at no charge. 

Tours outside of regular docent 

hours may be arranged 

by contacting Rob Viau at 

(478) 456-2844, or Grace Church in 

the Mountains at (828) 456-6029 

INFO 

Abstract art at Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery 

555 Merrimon Ave • 828.424.7868 

www.ashevilleravenandcrone.com 

Herbal Apothecary • Tea & Reading Room 

Essential Oil Blending Bar • Bath & Body 

Events & Workshops • Local Artisans 

Books • Jewelry • Unique Gifts 

• 

Visit Us at Facebook: 

Asheville Raven & Crone 

• • 

Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery • 123 Roberts St. Asheville 

www.markbettisart.com • www.markbettisgallery.com 


CONTENTS 

ON OUR COVER 

July 2019 • Volume 22, NO. 11 

15 15 

ART AND MORE 

FEATURES 

6 

8 

12 

13 

17 

Detail of the painting “Creation,” 36x36, oil and cold wax on panel by Cindy Walton 

Abstract art – What’s it all about? 

Lisa Blackshear and Amy 

Brandenburg hold art opening of 

their newest work August 2 

“Making successful pots with 

porcelain” workshop to take place 

July 22-26 

What abstract art means to me by 

Jonas Gerard 

The NC Dance Festival’s 29th 

season is kicking off in October 

19 

A call for artists for autumn 2019 

Asheville Fine art Show 

22 3 & 4 

27 piano 

28 this August 

‘47th Annual Village Art &Craft 

Fair arrives with style this August 

AmiciMusic presents “TUTTI 

FLUTTI,” with two flutes and 

Art Show: Barbara Fisher 

exhibition ‘Memories of the Future’ 

“Sea Glass,” 36x36, Oil and cold Wax on Panel, 

by Cindy Walton 

www.rapidrivermagazine.com 

Online NOW 

COLUMNS / 

DEPARTMENTS 

10 

11 

14 

15 

16 

18 

20 

310 Art: Lorelle Bacon – Four 

phases of my creative life 

Art Classes 

Asheville Gallery of Art: 

“Abstract Art: Emancipating the 

Mind,” features the work of Sally 

Lordeon 

Cover: The Glory of God in the 

abstract — a conversation with artist 

Cindy Walton 

Downtown Asheville: 

Upcoming mosaic and picassiette 

classes with Carole Choucair Oueijan 

Waynesville: Inspired Art Ministry, 

Inc. art classes for all levels 

Health: What’s your greatest 

health worry? 

21 

24 

26 

Bill Walz: Egoism 

Summer Books: Four great 

books for summertime reading 

Books: announced New from coffee artist table Alan 

book 

25 Shuptrine, and new YA book “The 

Boy and Girl who Broke the World” 

Black Mountain: Swannanoa 

Valley Fine Arts League’s annual 

juried show 

Rapid River Magazine’s 

30 Comics 

Summer Fun: 

Montford Park Players presents 

‘Robin Hood: Quest for Justice’ 

31 & Raven & Crone suggests 

getting outside for fun and 

art 

*Red # Abstract Art in WNC 

NEXT MONTH 

22 

47th Annual Village Art 

&Craft Fair 

14 

Abstract Art: 

Emancipating the Mind 

AUGUST: THE ART OF 

NATURE IN WNC! 

ALSO: OUR ANNUAL 

2019-2020 PERFORMING 

ARTS GUIDE! 

Publisher/Layout and Design/Editor: Dennis Ray 

Poetry Editor: Carol Pearce Bjorlie 

CONTACT US: Rapid River’s Arts and Culture 

Magazine is a monthly publication in WNC. 

Mail: 85 N. Main St. Canton NC 28716 

Email: Info@rapidrivermagazine.com 

Phone: (828) 712-4752 

Distribution: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills 

Marketing: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills 

ADVERTISING SALES: 

Downtown Asheville and other areas — 

Dennis Ray (828) 712-4752 

Dining Guide, Hendersonville, Waynesville — 

Rick Hills (828) 452-0228 rick@rapidrivermagazine.com 

All Materials contained herein are owned and copyrighted 

© by Rapid River’s Arts & Culture Magazine and the 

individual contributors unless otherwise stated. Opinions 

expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the 

opinions of Rapid River’s Arts and Culture Magazine or 

the advertisers herein. 

© ‘Rapid River’s Arts & Culture Magazine’ 

July 2019 • Vol. 22, No. 11 


ART 

Abstract art – What’s it all about? 

BY STAFF REPORTS • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

There is something mystical, mysterious, and 

magical about abstract art. Jackson Pollack, 

the famous abstract painter, said, “Abstract 

painting is abstract. It confronts you. 

There was a reviewer a while back who wrote 

that my pictures didn’t have any beginning or 

any end. He didn’t mean it as a compliment, but 

it was.” While most think of painting when considering 

abstract art, it comes in many mediums 

and is done in many methods. Some of our local 

artists in the River Arts District of Asheville have 

a few words to say about their explorations into 

abstraction. 

Andrea Kulish/Studio A 

Pink Dog Creative, Suite 

100 

I love abstract art as 

everyone experiences it 

in their own way, whether 

it brings to mind non-abstract 

images, elicits 

emotions, or for the pure enjoyment 

of colors and textures. It’s 

a springboard for the imagination. 

Hand painted eggs by 

Andrea Kulish 

6 |RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | VOL. 22, NO. 11 JULY 2019 

Erin Keane 

310 ART at Riverview 

Station 

Abstract art captures 

the essence of mood 

and emotion through 

color, shape, and 

movement. “Forest 

“Forest Bathing” 40x40 

encaustic, by Erin Keane 

Bathing” is more than 

just pictures of leaves; 

it makes one feel surrounded by lush greenery, 

vibrant energy, and life force. 

Deb Williams 

Mark Bettis Studio, Wedge 

Building 

Occasionally, I venture out 

into the abstract world, 

which is quite fun and freeing 

when working in glass. 

Working with free flow forms 

and shapes allows me to 

play outside my typical glass 

box. 

“The way light falls” 

by Peter Roux 

Peter Roux 

Fused Glass Urban 

Coral 28x12, by Deb 

Williams 

Riverview Station, Studio 

I enjoy moving between 

representational imagery and 

abstraction, as I see so much 

connection between the two. 

Both are made by marks on 

a surface, creating meaning. 

We tend to comprehend 

realism in abstract terms and 

find recognizable forms in 

abstraction. When working, 

the abstract images I create, 

push ideas my way about 

more representational work, and vice versa. It’s 

fun to push paint around and see what comes 

up.

Sandy Lear 

Northlight Studios 

I love the intuitive 

nature of abstract art. It 

allows me the freedom 

to explore and assign 

“Beyond the Veil,” 

my meaning to the 

49x 49, by Sandy Lear 

piece. I begin all paintings 

with a playful application of 

drawing, mark making and lots of paint with as 

little thought as possible just responding to what is 

appearing. It’s always fun to hear what people see 

in the paintings. 

“Transcendence,” quilt, by 

Lynda Sondles 

Lynda Sondles 

Eco-Depot Marketplace 

For me, abstraction is 

more than just throwing 

paint on a surface randomly. 

It is a way of seeking 

and working with the 

divine, the world beyond 

the world we can see. 

There also must be strong 

design elements, value 

differentiation, an intellectual “yes,” and emotional 

content to the piece. 

Pam Granger 

Gale 

Eco Depot Marketplace 

I like the meditative 

quality of the 

process of marbling. 

I can get lost 

“Cool Cows” by Patricia Cotterill 

in watching the paint expand and change when 

drawn through with combs and rakes. 

Mark Bettis 

Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery, 

Wedge Building 

I love creating abstracts... When I create, I let the 

paint and canvas dictate where 

it is going and where it will end 

up. One of my favorite things is 

when the viewer interprets the 

painting, and then they tell me 

what they see in it. 

“Snow Blind Compass” 

by Dennis DiAddezzio 

Dennis 

DiAddezzio 

Foundation Studio, #14 

ART 

Without a plan, everything 

happens with the background 

first, and then I 

create a geometric form or 

shape and build on that to 

create the piece. One Juror 

commented, “He creates a puzzle he has never 

seen but knows where all the pieces go.” 

Cindy Walton 

Wedge Building, 2 nd Floor 

My goal in creating abstract 

paintings is to merge emotion, 

shape, sounds, and 

color of landscape in a way 

“Sky Meets Earth #4” 

that challenges the viewer to 

oil and cold wax by 

see something different than Cindy Walton 

traditional forms. Perhaps the 

essence or soul of the landscape. 

Jane Molinelli 

310 ART at Riverview 

Station 

Everyone brings something 

to abstract painting. When 

there is no object or subject, 

the viewer is free to feel 

the energy and emotional 

intent of the art. It is a way 

to share our humanity, the 

deep layers of being human, 

without words. 

“The Other Side” by 

Mark Bettis 

“Inner Map,” pastel, 

charcoal, graphite, and 

acrylic on canvas 36 x 26 

by Jane Molinelli 


FINE ART 

“Veil I” by Elizabeth Henderson 

Lisa Blackshear and Amy Brandenburg hold art 

opening of their newest work August 2 


“Veil II” by Elizabeth Henderson 

In her body of work, Atmospheric Perspective: 

Paintings of Lake Lure and Chimney Rock, Lisa 

Blackshear uses the natural beauty of Lake 

Lure and Chimney Rock as a jumping off point to 

discover her artistic voice. 

The sharply rising shorelines of Lake Lure, the 

breathtaking granite outcroppings of Chimney 

Rock, and the misty atmosphere of the Smoky 

Mountains offer a unique opportunity to study 

the modulating effects of distance on color. Like 

most artists, Blackshear is continually experimenting, 

trying out new ways to paint, and 

reaching for excellence. Although she has been 

influenced by the Impressionists, Monet, the 

Cape Cod School, Lois Griffel, Kevin Macpherson, 

and many other artists, in this series she 

tosses theory to the wind and goes for the direct 

approach—to paint what she sees. When on 

location immersed in the mood, she intuitively 

chooses opaque pigments to express translucent 

atmospheric effects. Stroke by stroke Blackshear 

composes a whole; her brushstrokes are 


FINE ART 

“Veil III” by Elizabeth Henderson 

“Veil IV” by Elizabeth Henderson 

her voice. Growing up with single-sided hearing 

helped Blackshear identify early as an artist. 

Painting, drawing, knitting, and sewing were 

always an essential part of her childhood, as was 

hiking and swimming in the Minnesota wilderness. 

She graduated with a degree in Studio Arts 

from the University of Minnesota while illustrating 

for the college newspaper. Thrilled that she 

could make a living with art, she moved to New 

York City to illustrate for the New York Times, the 

Wall St. Journal, and Newsweek among other 

publications. She continued to study at the Art 

Students League, Pratt Institute, and School of 

Visual Arts and exhibited her art in galleries in 

New York and the east coast. 

A move to Asheville inspired her to create 

the Asheville Urban Landscape Project to bring 

emerging and professional artists together to 

paint outside “en plein air.” 

Her award-winning paintings are included in 

collections in Minneapolis, New York, and North 

Carolina. She has exhibited widely in local galleries 

including Asheville Area Arts Council, Black 

Mountain Center for the Arts, Weizenblatt Gallery 

in Mars Hill, and the A.B. Tech Conference Center 

Gallery. Her work can be seen at Woolworth 

Walk and online at www.lisablackshear.com. Lisa 

lives in Fairview, NC with her husband and son, 

and loves camping, hiking, and painting in the 

Smoky Mountains. 

Amy Brandenburg 

Creating jewelry is Amy Brandenburg’s favorite 

means of self-expression, and sharing it with 

others gives it purpose and meaning. Personal 

adornment has always fascinated her, especially 

how it has evolved throughout history. Brandenburg’s 

jewelry is inspired by styles from the 

turn of the 20th century: predominantly Arts and 

Crafts focusing on handmade items and Art 

Nouveau which embodies flowing lines, nature, 

and an appreciation for beauty. Her pieces have 

also been influenced by her love of architecture 

and miniatures because she believes that objects 

altered from their original size provide a sense 

of magic and wonder. Made with a passion for 

design and detailed execution, the pieces are 

infused with the appeal of a rare treasure from 

the past. 

PMC (Precious Metal Clay) is Brandenburg’s 

material of choice because of its transformative 

properties. It starts as clay which allows her 

to use techniques like slab construction and 

carving, and after firing in a kiln, traditional metal 

techniques like hammering and soldering. The 

process of working with a material that goes 

through so many stages is challenging and 

allows Amy to have a very personal connection 

with each completed piece. Brandenburg’s first 

jewelry experience was enameling a piece of 

‘Woolworth Walk’ continued on page 27 


310 ART 

July Second 

Saturday 

The district will 

feature many special 

events and a free 

trolley on Saturday, 

July 13 

Copper Bracelet by Lorelle Bacon 

Lorelle Bacon – Four phases of my 

creative life 

BY LORELLE BACON • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

I did lots of crafts as a child — 

paper machete, decorating eggs, 

creating Halloween costumes. 

These were my favorite hobbies. 

One Halloween I created for myself 

a mermaid with the tail-fin costume. 

Since I could not walk in this cleverly 

designed outfit, my brother, who I 

dressed as a pirate, pulled me in a 

wagon to school. Another year I went 

as a television set with an antenna. 

As a young mother of five, I used 

crafting to keep the kids occupied. I 

added sewing to my abilities out of 

necessity. Four girl’s proms were the 

catalyst for that. 

Once the children were grown, 

I took painting classes and loved 

them. But it took another ten years 

before I took it up in earnest. Within 

two years, I launched a new life as 

a full-time painter and art teacher, 

which I have enjoyed tremendously 

ever since. Over the years, I have 

painted hundreds of works, including 

many portrait commissions of loved 

ones and pets. 

Now I am in phase four of my 

creative journey. I still teach a variety 

of painting techniques and do 

portrait commissions; however, the 

joy I always had from painting has 

waned because of painful arthritis. 

I discovered making jewelry in 

2017, using fine silver, sterling, and 

copper metal clays. That led me 

to take wire wrapping workshops 


Shop, Learn, Explore. . . Everyday, All Year Round 

Classes at 310 ART 

(left-right) Silver Wire Wrapped Pendant, Silver Metal Clay Pendant, Copper Pendant, Stone and copper Pendant, 

in WNC and Georgia. My love for creating 

continued in a new direction. I became 

fascinated that I could take a straight piece of 

wire and turn it into something of beauty. 

I’ll be 78 in a couple of months, and I learned 

a long time ago never to say “never.” I believe I 

will still be in love with the creative process as 

long as I live. I’m determined to make it to 100, 

so there’s still lots of time to feed my thirst for 

learning and creating. You, dear reader, are the 

first to know I have decided to make designing 

jewelry my primary focus. 

Today you will find me relaxing in my recliner, 

making earrings, bracelets, and pendants for 

others to enjoy wearing. I’m still using many 

things I learned along my creative path, like 

design, balance and colors. These and so much 

more go into each one-of-a-kind piece that I 

now design. 

I share my decades of knowledge about 

painting, drawing, and now wire wrapping in 

workshops and studios at 310 ART. I would 

love to welcome you to one of my classes. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

310 Art 

See the work of Lorelle Bacon, and learn 

from her at 310 ART in the River Arts 

District of Asheville, NC at Riverview Station, 191 

Lyman St, #310 (ground floor north end) Opened 

Mon-Sat 11-5 pm and Sun 12-4 pm. 310art.com 

310 ART 

AT RIVERVIEW STATION 

Marvelous Mondays with Lorelle and Nadine 

Beginner and Up! Open art studios 

Mondays with instructor to guide you - start 

and continue year round in our Monday 

classes, 9:30-12:30pm and 1-4pm. Come the 

dates that work for you! 

See 310art.com for schedule and sign up. 

Beginners welcomed! 

Workshops: Coming Soon 

Beginning Acrylics with Lorelle - July 13, 14 

Watercolor Print Magic with Denise - July 20 

Ink and Light on Paper and Fabric with 

Bridget - July 27, 28 

Wire Wrapping Jewelry with Lorelle - Aug 8 

Nature Printing and Encaustic with Bridget - 

Aug 10, 11 

Taking the Fear out of Watercolor with 

Nadine - Aug 24 

Most or all materials are provided in our 

workshops! 2019 Workshops now online at 

310art.com 

Classes for adults at 310 ART, 191 Lyman 

Street, #310, Asheville, NC 28801 

www.310art.com gallery@310art.com 

(828)776-2716 Adult classes, beginner and up, 

most materials provided. Register online or at 

the studio. 


RAD ART CLASSES 

“Making successful pots with porcelain” workshop to 

take place July 22-26 


The Village Potters 

Clay Center is excited to 

present David Voorhees 

in a weeklong, hands-on 

intensive workshop in their 

new hands-on workshop 

facility. 

This intermediate to an 

advanced level workshop 

will focus on working with 

porcelain, primarily on the 

potter’s wheel, and will 

cover many forming and 

decorating aspects of handling 

this magical clay up 

to the bisque firing stage. 

No firing is included with this 

workshop, allowing all time to be dedicated to 

exploring and improving form and finishing. 

The workshop will take place Monday – Friday, 

July 22-26, 9-3 pm each day (students will have 

the option to work in the studio until 6 pm each 

day). Attendees should plan to bring a bag 

Feather carved porcelain bottle by David Voorhees 


lunch to accommodate a short 

lunch break. The fee is $550. 

Participants will purchase clay 

at our facility as they need it, 

and bisque firing and shipping 

of bisque ware will be made 

available on request for an 

additional charge. 

David Voorhees’ parents 

were both professional painters, 

so it was natural for him 

to follow in their footsteps, 

pursuing art making as a life. 

Once he touched clay, he 

found his medium. Primarily 

self-taught, Voorhees has spent 

years producing functional wares 

and decorative pots in electric and gas kilns. The 

introduction of wood firing and the building of a 

wood/soda/salt kiln at his Western North Carolina 

studio have given a new direction to his 30+ 

year career in clay. Following his fascination for 

surface variations revealed in atmospheric firings, 

his current body of work focuses on altered, 

wheel-thrown stoneware and porcelain vessels. 

He celebrates the pursuit of strong forms and 

rich surfaces on well-made pots. 

The Village Potters are Sarah Wells Rolland, 

Judi Harwood, Melanie Robertson, Lori Theriault, 

Julia Mann, and Christine Henry. They comprise 

an intentional Collective of potters who share a 

commitment to inspire a passion for ceramic art 

and nurture creative exploration through education, 

experience, relationships, and community. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Street, #180. 

(828) 253-2424 

The Village Potters Clay Center 

Located in Riverview Station, in Asheville’s 

historic River Arts District at 191 Lyman

RAD ART 

“Vortex I,” 48x60, by Jonas Gerard 

What abstract art means to me 

BY JONAS GERARD • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

Jonas Gerard 

“Fluidity of Grace,” 56x72, by Jonas Gerard 

Abstract art is difficult to define but fascinating. 

After an extremely long progression stemming 

from the Impressionist movement beginning 

in mid-19th Century France, the “Abstract Expressionist 

Movement” as we call it today, came 

to fruition in 1940s New York City. 

Artists in that movement fully understood 

what the very act of painting was about. It was 

clear and simple, an expression of art that came 

directly from the creative energy of the universe 

and channeled through the artist onto canvas. 

They were strongly motivated to dive into the process 

of uncertainty and agreed singly, as well as 

collectively, not to use their intellect or reasoning 

for the purposes of creating art. It was a wild and 

never-before-attempted art form that shocked the 

art world. This is how I paint. 

The time it takes to create an abstract painting 

is irrelevant. Franz Kline finished a very large 

canvas within an hour; as do I (with music). 

This abstract action painting movement was so 

powerful that it offered complete painting freedom 

with no end in sight. 

This is what my work is about. With a mesmerizing 

explosion of color, contrast, movement, and 

strong music, my paintings aim to bring new life 

to the tradition of the 

abstract expressionist 

movement of the 

New York art scene 

as described above. 

My abstract work 

began in the 1970s 

in the middle of a 

nationally-recognized 

portrait painting 

career. It was an 

honored opportunity 

to present a monumental 

round canvas to President Ford, which was 

accepted as our nation’s bicentennial portrait. 

“We the People” remains part of the Smithsonian 

Institution’s permanent collection. 

My big challenge was to let go of the financial 

success of realism and portraits to pursue the 

need to be true to myself regardless of any financial 

concerns that would arise due to this drastic 

shift in style. This shift was a lifesaver to my true 

self and my progression as an artist. 

I finally gave 

up figurative 

painting and 

dove in fully to 

the world of 

abstract painting 

and joyfully 

embracing the 

excitement of 

being faced 

with uncertainty. 

The secret 

“Cool Man, Cool,” 42x84, by Jonas Gerard, 

of true abstract 

expressionism is to be able to let go — to the 

point of feeling what it would be like to be willing 

to jump off a cliff without a parachute — and 

become very comfortable allowing uncertainty to 

take over. You will not die! Instead, you will experience 

a new way of doing life, acting, and being 

‘Jonas’ continued on page 23 


Asheville’s Longest Established Fine Art Gallery with 31 Regional Artists 

Asheville Gallery of Art 's July Artist 

“Abstract in Blue III” by Sally Lordeon 

“Cheval III” by Sally Lordeon 

Detail “Window on the World” by Sally Lordeon 

“Abstract Art: Emancipating the Mind,” features the work of Sally Lordeon 


Asheville Gallery of Art’s July show, “Abstract 

Art: Emancipating the Mind,” features the work 

of Sally Lordeon, whose paintings capture her 

passion for abstract impressionism. 

“Abstract art emancipates the mind by allowing 

it to see what the eyes do not,” says the artist. 

Her unique interpretation of the world captures 

the rich textures, forms, and colors she observes 

in her powerful yet serene paintings. “Abstraction 

demands more of me than realism,” Sally says. 

“Rather than reproducing something I see, I have 

to go inward and create.” 

The artist combines her expressive brushstrokes 

with the subtlety of veiled forms. She 

creates her paintings with acrylics on canvas. 

Using a muted, earth-toned palette, Sally 

juxtaposes heavy texture, soft, blended color, and 

the suggestion of a horizon line to mimic nature’s 

vistas. She similarly shows her love of abstraction 

with her figurative works. “Abstract art feeds the 

imagination, and I intend my art to trigger the 

viewer’s creative thought.” 

Sally studied fine arts at Chatham University 

in Pennsylvania. She moved to Asheville more 

than 30 years ago. After a successful career as a 

technical writer and college textbook author, the 

artist returned to her first passion, which she calls 

the “divine pleasure of painting.” 

“I love to write,” she reveals, “but my heart has 

always been in my art.” 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Asheville Gallery of Art 

For further information about this show 

contact Asheville Gallery of Art at 

(828) 251-5796, visit the gallery website at 

www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the 

gallery Facebook page. 

The show runs July 1-31 during gallery hours, 

11-6 pm Monday through Saturday and 11-4 pm 

Sunday. A reception for the artist will be held July 

5, 5-8 pm at the gallery, 82 Patton Avenue. 


July's Cover Artist— Cindy Walton 

The Glory of God in the abstract — a conversation with artist Cindy Walton 

BY DENNIS RAY • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

Rapid River Magazine: What has drawn (no pun 

intended) you to creating abstract art? 

Cindy Walton: In the past, 

I painted in a more realistic, 

still-life, or figurative 

style. I have been to art 

school twice, and I know 

the fundamentals. I found in 

time I wanted to say more 

and speak to my audience 

at a more emotional level 

than a literal rendering. I’m 

not saying there is anything 

wrong with any style of 

painting, but I need to break 

the lines of realistic painting, 

to see and expose those 

bottom layers. I felt abstraction 

was a way to progress 

from where I was to where I wanted my work to 

grow and mature. It was an obvious choice for 

me, but there are a lot of challenges in painting 

abstractly. 

RRM: What artists have had the most considerable 

influence 

over your work and 

career as an artist? 

CW: At different 

stages in my life, 

there have been 

many artists, either 

professors or art 

Cindy Walton masters, who have 

influenced my work 

and career. My first inspiration in college was 

Georgia O’Keeffe of the 20th century. She was 

the first living female artist I can remember, and 

saying to myself, “If she can do this, so can I.” 

Now I was young, and 

the world is not that black 

and white, but it was 

exciting for me. I saw her 

work as really looking 

beyond the apparent 

landscape and looking 

deeper below the surface. 

Her influence is still with 

me to the point I have 

traveled to Ghost Ranch 

in Northern New Mexico 

and led abstract workshops. 

“Creation,” 36x36, oil and cold wax on panel 

by Cindy Walton 

There are others as 

well: John Singer Sargent, 

Joan Mitchell, Willem 

DeKooning, Lucian Freud, 

Susan Rothenberg 

and on and on. 

They are what I 

call some of the 

“Rock Star” artists 

of their time. These 

painters did something 

extraordinary 

with paint, and for 

me, the paint is 

the beginning of it 

all: how to move 

it to communicate 

drama or emotion 

of my subject, 

“Flow 3,” 12x12, oil and cold wax on panel by 

Cindy Walton 

which typically is 

nature-based. I look 

toward the wonderful, exciting environments I 

have experienced in my lifetime – mountains, 

“Garden view 2,” 24x24 oil and cold wax on panel by 

Cindy Walton 

deserts, and sea. 

RRM: Tell us a little about your working schedule? 

CW: My work schedule might surprise 

many of your readers. As a professional 

artist, I spend a good part of my 

time taking care of the communication 

with others, such as writing this article, 

as well as managing the business side. 

Early in my career, I seemed to have 

painted a 

pg. 

lot 11 more than I do now. I 

RN 

paint 3-4 days a week and “communicate” 

with the world two days a week. 

Pg. 

21 

My best advice to any creative person 

is “you have to show up for something 

Pg. 

to happen.” 25 

RRM: Where do you find inspiration to 

be as productive as you have been? 

‘Walton’ continued on page 23 


More of what Makes Asheville Special: Dining • Shopping • Galleries • Music • Fun 

D o w n t o w n A s h e v i l l e 

Upcoming mosaic and picassiette classes with Carole Choucair Oueijan 


Local mosaic artist, Linda 

Pannullo, has been bringing 

the best instructors in the 

world to Asheville, and 

this year is no exception. 

Carole Choucair Oueijan 

will be here for a 

three-day immersion into 

Mosaic Drapery, suitable 

for experienced mosaic 

artists. This California artist 

learned the essential skills of classical mosaic 

art at the hands of Greek clergymen devoted 

to preserving the art of creating religious icons. 

Carole took this exceptional art 

Keep the mountains 

with you always. 

Carole Choucair Oueijan 

into a different terrain when she moved 

to California in 1990. By tallying her 

artistic creativity and her impressionistic 

oil painting techniques, she began 

crafting extraordinary mosaics art 

pieces with three-dimensional effects, 

using stones such as marble-smalti (a 

piece of coloured glass used in mosaic) 

combination, bringing her mosaic 

art pieces closer to the modern age 

and adding a layer of innovation and 

captivating charm to her art pieces. Under 

her direction, you will be creating beautiful folds 

of clothing with watercolor and finishing it with 

glass. Join her this September 27-29. 

Popular mosaic artist Laura Rendlen returns 

October 26-27, with her new workshop, “Don’t 

Be Afraid of the Dark.” Open to all levels, this 

class discusses color theory, dimension, light 

and dark, all without using black. Traditional and 

contemporary Andamento in concert with color 

theory concepts is explored using glass or smalti. 

Discussions will cover what techniques work best 

for the emotion you are trying to articulate. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Both workshops are at Majik Studios in 

downtown Asheville (207 Coxe Ave., Studio 

13). Register at lindapannullomosaics.com 

and contact Linda Pannullo (828) 337-6749 for 

more information. 

DEFINITION: 

picassiette ( a french term -“stolen 

from plate”) – pieces of broken pottery, 

china, glass, buttons, figurines, 

and/ jewelry are cemented onto a 

base to create a new surface. 

FINE JEWELRY & DESIGN STUDIO 

828-254-5088 

63 Haywood St. Downtown Asheville 

www.jewelsthatdance.com 


Downtow Asheville 

The NC Dance Festival’s 29th season 

is kicking off in October 

Each year, the 

NC Dance Festival, 

a program coordinated 

by Greensboro-based 

Dance 

Project, brings 

professional modern 

and contemporary dance 

choreography from NC 

artists to audiences across 

the state. To represent the 

variety of ways NC artists are 

expressing themselves, we 

will present NCDF shows in 

both traditional stage spaces 

and non-traditional spaces 

that can accommodate experimental 

dance work. 

The Festival aims 

to support the 

creation of new 

choreography and 

the presentation 

of high-quality 

repertory, build 

and strengthen relationships 

between dance artists within 

the state, and provide access 

to and education about 

modern and contemporary 

dance to audiences and 

students. 

October 4-5, at the 

BeBe Theatre 20 Commerce 

St, Downtown 

Asheville • (828) 254-2621 

INFO 


Spice it up for spring! 

Over 65 Seasonings, Rubs & Spices 

Largest selection of Olive Oils & 

Balsamic Vinegar in WNC 

224 Branner Ave. Waynesville 

828-246-6868 Mon - Sat 10-6 

WILD ABOUT WAYNESVILLE 

Inspired Art Ministry, Inc. art classes for all levels 

Inspired Art 

Ministry, Inc. Art 

Classes 

Drawing classes - 

Mondays, 1- 4pm 

Painting classes - 

Tuesdays, 1-4 

All media taught 

— all levels of 

experience (or none). 

Includes: Library of books , DVD’S and other 

materials for student check out • Annual Art 

Show (part of the Apple Festival) • field trips 

to galleries, museums, working artists studios 

• student discounts at frame shops and art 

supply stores. 

Classes held at First Baptist Church, 100 S. 

Main St., Waynesville. 

Contact Char Avrunin to register or for 

more information at (828) 456-9197, 

charspaintings@msn.com or www.iamclasses.webs.com. 

INFO 

Support 

Clean / recyclable 

Newsprint 

Simple, delicious food with vegetarian 

options, Craft beer on draft, great wines, 

kids menu, to go menu, daily specials. 

112374 7376 Firefly 18 01 17 

We’re bringing brunch downtown! Sundays 10:30 til 2:00. 

Open daily except Wednesdays 11:30-9:00 

454-5400 

128 N Main Street, Downtown Waynesville 


A call for artists for autumn 2019 Asheville Fine art Show 


ART EVENT 

Hot Works produces the 

Asheville Fine Art Show. 

It’s a company that since 

2003 has earned an outstanding 

national reputation 

for top-notch, high 

quality juried fine art and 

fine craft shows in Florida, 

Michigan, and North 

Carolina. 

Executive Producer Patty 

Narozny has 30+ years’ experience 

with special events 

and working with the media. 

Institute for the Arts & 

Education is the associated 

501c3 non-profit organization that focuses on 

visual arts, cultural diversity, community enrichment 

and fostering art education among youth. 

As part of our commitment to bring art education 

into the community, a Youth Art Competition for 

grades 6-12 or ages 5-13 are integrated within 

the art show. 

Artist Testimonials: 

“I had done shows with Hot Works in Florida and 

was thrilled when they decided to add Asheville 

to their show schedule. I know to expect 

high-quality artists at Hot Works shows. But I 

wasn’t sure, as a local artist, if I should stay in my 

studio during peak tourist season. I did the show, 

and it was one of my best of the year! I did have 

one customer who lived in Asheville buy seven 

pieces. That doesn’t happen all that often but 

without the show, it wouldn’t have.” 

— Diane Dean, Painting, Hendersonville, NC 

“I’m glad we did Patty’s Asheville show. The 

perfect combination of locals and out-of-towners. 

Perfect timing for the fall leaf peepers. We’ll be 

back.” 

— John Wayne & Paige 

Jackson, Sculpture, 

Black Mountain, NC 

“For me, the Asheville 

show was a turning 

point, proving that art 

shows can be full of 

sales and the right ones 

are worth the effort. 

Hotworks does it right, 

pulling together the best 

artists, marketing to the 

right type of patron, and 

Russ Schmidt, Wood choosing 

the 

best 

locations at the best time. They 

care about the artist as much if 

not more than the customers, 

ensuring we have everything we 

need to make our day successful. 

It’s not just about collecting 

a booth fee for them. Asheville 

was a great success for me 

helping me get my work into the 

hands of fellow North Carolinians 

as well as people from all over 

the country. There were many 

follow-up sales and word from 

the locals was that it was nice to 

see new and different work from 

the norm; they were pleasantly 

surprised. Being that many of 

them have stopped going to 

these types of shows because 

they are all the same and happen 

very frequently says a lot 

about the Hotworks commitment 

to quality.” 

—Sabrina Frey, Mixed Media, 

Mint Hill, NC 

“Patty - thank you very much for creating a truly 

professional and lovely show. Your hard work, 

passion, experience, and personality are more 

than appreciated.” 

— John Mutch, Jewelry, Miller Place, NY 

NOTEWORTHY: 

• Premium location in downtown Asheville 

Asheville is, by far, North Carolina’s most affluent 

and sophisticated art-buying and art-loving 

audience 

• Limited to 165 Artists or Less – all art is original 

‘Hot Works’ continued on page 29 


WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST HEALTH WORRY? 

Your Health 

By Max Hammonds, MD 

A recent edition of a nationally-published 

“elder” magazine ran a series of articles on the 

health issues that “worry” those who are over 

70 years of age. 

They polled 500 people over 70 and asked 

them to rate their overall health status – which 

was very good or excellent in over 40% of the 

respondents. But the majority were still concerned 

about their future health issues. 

You can probably guess – without the survey 

– what the concerns of the elderly are: losing 

mobility, getting dementia, cancer, visual loss, 

memory loss, suffering a stroke, falling (and can’t 

get up), chronic pain, developing heart disease, 

and getting diabetes. If you had participated in 

the survey, your list might have been in a different 

order, but the concerns would probably have 

been the same. 

As you might expect, specific suggestions 

were made for particular areas of health fears. 

For example, to lower the risk of developing 

heart disease or stroke risk, eat less red meat, 

decrease stressors in life, and reduce your 

salt intake. To lower mental health risks avoid 

higher cholesterol levels since they are related 

to increased psychological problems and the 

developing of Type II diabetes. So manage your 

— Photo by Marisa Howenstine 

cholesterol levels carefully to reduce the risk of 

dementia. To lower the risk of cancer be aware of 

sun exposure and get cancer screenings faithfully 

if you have already had one or more brushes with 

cancer of any kind. Your body has already told 

you that it is not good at catching and killing cancer 

cells. To lower obesity and gut-related illnesses 

be mindful of what you are eating, cook at 

home (to lower salt and decrease extra calories), 

and eat a well-balanced diet for well-balanced 

nutrition – and gut biome health. 

However, several suggestions in these articles 

were applicable over the entire range of 

health concerns. 1) Genetics is only one of many 

factors in determining the risk of developing a 

health problem. While a strong family history of 

heart disease, mental health problems, obesity, 

diabetes, or cancer plays a role, multiple other 

factors are much more likely to set the stage for 

developing any of these disease processes. Your 

genetics does not doom you. Lifestyle interventions 

can overrule genetics almost every time. 

2) Do not be frightened by mild symptoms or 

advertisements that play on your fears. Everyone 

gets short of breath climbing stairs at 70+ years 

of age. Everyone forgets where they left their car 

keys once in a while. Everyone struggles to keep 

off extra pounds in their elder years. Everyone 

gets the occasion unexplained abdominal pain or 

chest pain. These mild problems should not start 

‘Health’ continued on page 29 


EGOISM 

ZEN PHILOSOPHY WITH BILL WALZ 

To study Buddhism is to study the self; to study the 

self is to forget the self. 

To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. 

— Dogen(13th century) 

In recent years, there has been a growing understanding 

that the basic problem with humanity is egocentricism 

or egoism, the placing of the idea of “me” 

and “mine” as the centerpoint of what is principally 

to exclusively significant in a person’s life. Egoism 

expresses itself in relationship with all that is not me 

and mine in a manner that ranges from appreciative 

consumption, to disregard, to exploitation, to outright 

hostility and wanton destruction. It is an approach 

to life that says happiness is achieved by maximizing 

what me and mine can get out of life without serious 

consideration or concern for the cost to all else, 

and it also makes us blind to seeing the patterns of 

interconnections and interdependence that actually 

make life work. Seeing egoism as a problem, 

however, is actually not new at all; it is at the heart of 

any true spiritual tradition, and Buddhism makes a 

very particular point of noting egoism as the source of 

human suffering, importantly not only for others, but 

for ourselves, and points out It is a very counterproductive 

strategy for life. 

In American culture, however, this notion of egoism 

as a problem is very new and very radical for we are 

a culture built on the celebration of the individual and 

the individual’s “pursuit of happiness,” a very egoistic 

notion (not that happiness is egoistic, but “pursuing” 

happiness creates an egoistic purpose to life that can 

become terribly distorted). After all, we are a nation 

built not only on many noble ideals and great industry, 

but on genocide of the native inhabitants, enslavement 

of an imported racial population, despoiling the 

environment and the extermination of many native 

species in our pursuit of happiness. Our economy is 

based in conspicuous consumption and exploitation 

of resources and labor, all to enhance status and 

wealth for those favorably positioned in this zero sum 

game. We seem to be unable to address seriously 

a growing climate-change crisis caused in significant 

part by our great industry and appetite for consumption 

because of what seems to be an addiction to this 

egoism. Egoism could well be considered the dark 

side of the American personality. 

Increasingly, however, there is growing understanding 

of the problems brought by this addiction and the 

counterproductivity of egoic consumerism as the way 

to sustainable well-being and happiness. There is a 

dawning awareness that while a certain level of material 

security is important in keeping us out of unhappiness, 

increasing amounts of ego-feeding materialism 

seems to have the opposite effect, and ancient spiritual 

traditions that offer this warning are being found 

to have much to say about our modern psychological 

health and even continued societal viability. 

Egoism blinds us to the realization that life really 

only has meaning and functions best in the experience 

of its interconnections, in appreciative loving and 

caring relationship, happiness best generated when 

we are free of self-centeredness, instead immersed 

in life with all its “myriad things,” including, of course, 

the people around us, focusing on their well-being 

and happiness. All the terrible things that humans do 

that can elicit the question, “Why do people do such 

things?” can be answered with the word egoism, the 

hopelessly small idea we have of a self that is always 

desperate to make more of itself, generally at the 

expense of the myriad things of the world including 

other people. Experiencing self in ego leaves us 

alone and small in the world and ego keeps attempting 

to build itself up by using, abusing, consuming, 

and tearing everything and everyone that is not “me” 

or “mine” down. Ego is, of course, quite blind to all 

of this, defending its right to self-interest, and is also 

quite paranoid in that it projects its own predatory 

and competitive nature onto everyone else and onto 

Nature, and since it is really only an idea of a person, 

it is hopelessly inadequate at realizing fulfillment. 

Zen, and all mystical spiritual traditions, instruct us 

that fulfillment can only be realized, as the word fulfillment 

suggests, through full-filling, but not a full-filling 

through the material aspects of life, but rather, the 

spiritual, and spiritual full-filling cannot happen when 

our minds are already filled with the story of the 

striving and anxious “me.” The sense of full-filled can 

only happen when we are empty of the egoic story of 

the dissatisfied “me” and rather, our sense of self is 

in the world, the myriad things, the morning sun, the 

wind in the trees, this simple household chore, the 

happiness of the person in front of us. To be happy is 

not in the using and consuming of the myriad things, 

but, as Dogen advises, by being actualized through 

them, that is, being filled by our sense of connection 

with the myriad things, self having been forgotten. 

This having been said, it is important to understand 

that ego in itself is not the problem, nor is ego 

bad. This is a mistake often made by those on the 

spiritual path. Ego certainly is not to be eradicated; 

it cannot be eradicated, for it is an essential capacity 

of any living organism. It is a necessary element 

of an organism functioning in the world, identifying 

and meeting its needs, of being a manifested object 

interacting with manifested objects. The squirrels and 

birds engaged in their squirrel and bird activities are 

fulfilling their needs as organisms and doing what is 

needed to fulfill their squirrel-ness and bird-ness. This 

is squirrel and bird ego in action. 

With human-beings, however, to fulfill our human-beingness 

is quite more complicated, for our 

human-beingness is not only in meeting biological 

needs, but psychological needs as well. To be writing 

these words and communicating to the reader is a 

very high-level function of the ego that creates these 

mind-objects called words and employs the invention 

of writing and word-processing with a computer, 

and fulfills the desire to communicate ideas to the 

reader who wants to experience these ideas. We are 

fulfilling an essential need of human-ness, to explore 

concepts and grow conceptually. This is all activity of 

ego that is healthy, necessary and good, even spiritual, 

for it is about connecting and valuing. 

Likewise, to have a sense of a spiritual journey and 

to make the choice to understand what that journey 

is and make the necessary commitments to engage 

and follow the spiritual path is human ego in its 

healthiest manifestation. After-all, no other creature 

needs to create a spiritual life. To pursue a spiritual 

path, however, motivated by the idea that it is attractive 

in its mysteriousness, and that its mystery makes 

me a “better” person, even a more interesting person 

to others, or because there may be intriguing rituals 

and philosophical ideas that somehow imbue me with 

some specialness, is a misapplication of ego. This is 

egoism, not fundamentally different from wanting to 

be a physician because of the status and wealth the 

profession offers, not because of the pull to healing, 

an important manifestation of selfless service. 

No, the problem is not ego; it is egoism, the misplacement 

of this natural psychological function into 

our identity, and placing ego expression and gratification 

as the purpose of life when egoism actually 

deprives life of meaning for it stands as an impediment 

to experiencing the connections and wonder 

of life, that which actually gives life meaning. Egoism 

sets humans upon a frantic and fruitless search for 

meaning in ever more egoic pursuits, seeking security 

through acquisitions, status, power and the diminishment 

of others, all in a fruitless attempt to acquire 

personal fulfillment. These are all impossible strategies 

for it is like drinking sea water to quench our 

thirst; it only makes us thirstier and sickens us. 

Egoism is what is behind racism, classism, sexism, 

nationalism, and religious and political tribalism, 

people finding identity and meaning in identification 

with collective egos that can function very destructively 

in the world. In its most malignant form, it is 

what drives criminality, sociopathy and psychopathy, 

the making more of “me” by victimizing others. In its 

most mundane expression, it is in everyday conversational 

gossip or holding judgmental opinions of others 

which when examined closely, are about elevating 

ourself through the diminishment of others. Egoism 

‘Walz’ continued on page 23 


ART EVENT 

CLOCKWISE: Annie 

Hall’s poster • Ana Barragan 

(Georgia) – Wooden 

Sunglasses (new to the show 

this year) • Lynn Hardesty 

(Florida) – Cloisonné enamel 

• Ira & Sue Lances (New 

York) – Handmade chenille 

(new to the show this year) 

• Deana Blanchard & 

Chuck Young (North Carolina) 

– Forged, fabricated & 

foraged steel, sand-carved 

glass, enamel, paint & patina 

(new to the show this year) • 

Michael Smith (Asheville) – 

Hand-dyed silk shibori 

47 th Annual Village Art &Craft Fair arrives with style this August 3 & 4 

BY STAFF REPORTS • BILTMORE VILLAGE 

On August 3-4, New Morning Gallery and Bellagio 

Art-to-Wear sponsor the Village Art and 

Craft Fair on the grounds of the Cathedral of 

all Souls in Biltmore Village. 

In its 47th year, the VACF continues a long 

tradition of bringing high-quality crafts to Historic 

Biltmore Village. 

The Fair hosts 110 artists from 20 states, 

representing the full spectrum of craft media - 

jewelry, ceramic, wood, fiber, metals, two-dimensional 

art, and more. 

The craft fair is an excellent opportunity to 

encounter new artists (25 are first-time exhibitors) 

and to talk with crafters one-on-one. 

Eighty-seven artists are from WNC. Thousands 

of shoppers from all over the southeast arrive to 

stroll through the Fair, discovering unique gifts 

for friends, family and themselves! 

Local Asheville artist Annie Hall has provided 

the artwork for this year’s poster and t-shirt 

design. Hall is a professional gardener who 

draws most of her inspiration from nature and 

her animal friends. This is Hall’s first time contributing 

her artistic vision to the Village Art & Craft 

Fair, and it features her mother’s cats, Maggie 

Mae and Mickey. 

This adorable adaptation is sure to attract even 

more fans that collect the Fair’s yearly poster. 

WHEN 

YOU 

GO 

Village Art and Craft Fair 

Fair hours are Saturday 10-7 pm and Sunday 

Noon-5 pm, rain or shine. There is no 

admission fee. Homemade refreshments are 

available at church-sponsored concession booths 

with proceeds benefiting the Cathedral’s Outreach 

program. 


‘Walton’ continued from page 15 

CW: I love painting. Don’t get me wrong it is not 

always easy, and I do get artist block, but I find if I 

show up to work consistently, things happen. This 

discipline to keep showing up at the studio, and 

my desire to paint are gifts from God. I know that 

someday I would stop if not for my faith. I know in 

my heart and mind that my paintings are for His 

glory; when I focus on why I am painting all the 

negative falls away, and I can move ahead. 

‘Walz’ continued from page 21 

can even be expressed through the sincere study 

and practice of religion and religion’s rebellious cousin, 

spiritual practices, when such practices are about 

feeding into the need to be part of an exclusive community 

or for enhancing one’s aura of specialness. It 

is even in the diminishment of everyday experience 

into restlessness and boredom, elevating our own 

importance above the commonplace and ordinary. 

In a very important way, egoism represents what is 

metaphorically expressed as “The Devil” in Western 

religious culture. It is that which entices and 

seduces us into destructive behavior, in diminishing 

RRM: At what point in your life did you decide to 

be an artist, and was that a difficult decision? 

CW: I have always wanted to be a professional 

artist. I was just not sure where to begin, and 

I did not have the confidence to call myself an 

artist. In my late 30’s, I went back to art school to 

develop more mature skills and gain the confidence 

to begin my career. I don’t think everyone 

the sacredness of life, all life, in favor of the elevation 

of me and mine. If the origin of sin is, as Jewish 

mystic Abraham Heschel describes, in “the denial of 

the sublime wonder of life,” it is egoism that whispers 

these denials, these diminishments in our ear. 

To find happiness, to find true sanity and fulfilment, 

it is quite clear, we must follow Dogen’s advice and 

forget ourselves. We must be actualized and filled 

wondrously by the myriad things, by Life in all its 

miraculous interconnections, complexity, perfection 

and balance. 

must follow this path. I found I needed the structure 

and confidence this time gave me to find my 

voice as a painter. I am an artist. 

WHEN 

YOU 

GO 

Cindy Walton 

Wedge Studios • River Arts District,129 

Roberts St, second-floor 

Thursday-Saturday 11-4pm. 

(828) 776-3034 • www.cindywalton.com 

ARTS 

Bill Walz has taught meditation and 

mindfulness in university and public forums 

and is a private-practice meditation teacher 

and guide for individuals in mindfulness, 

personal growth and consciousness. 

Information on classes, talks, personal 

growth and healing instruction, or phone consultations at 

(828)258-3241, e-mail at healing@billwalz.com Learn 

more, see past columns, video and audio programs at www. 

billwalz.com 

‘Jonas’ continued from page 13 

uncertain at the same time. That’s very exciting, 

to be sure about not being sure. Just think about it. 

In 1966 I met a great spiritual Master who 

transformed my life and taught me how to meditate. 

My life and my painting completely changed. 

I started to create from deep within me, learning 

to deal with the interference the mind can create 

with all its interruptions tricks and its various laws 

of duality. Now, after 52 years of meditation, my 

process is slowly becoming freer and involving 

less personal judgment. Another excellent resource 

for me has been Stuart Cubley’s Painting 

Experience workshop (www.processarts.com). 

After all these years, it’s like my soul is doing 

the painting and I allow it, much like the way 

a three or four-year-old paints — totally free of 

trying to look good. When I let go, the creative 

energy of the universe comes in at hurricane 

force, and I have no choice but to surrender to it 

without a goal or plan. Without it, paintings can 

end up looking very lifeless and often predictable. 

Then there’s no juice! 

That state of letting go and allowing the energy 

to take over becomes a unique and magical 

experience as if my inner eye were looking into 

a reflection of itself. That’s the positive force that 

people, who set their eyes on it, become fascinated 

and are moved without knowing why. 

At its best, that’s how powerful abstract art can 

be. There’s nothing like it because it’s just pure 

energy without a subject, without a purpose, 

without a message — and it’s very appealing. 

The heart is touched. A comment I hear often is, 

“I just can’t relate to abstract art, but I just love 

this painting.” It becomes a heart experience, bypassing 

the logical mind and all the duality tricks 

we are all familiar with. 

For me that fascination with this process is 

very addictive, it’s a high, a state of pure bliss, 

and the wonderful thing about it is that it’s 

always there ready to capture my attention, no 

matter what my mood. From the first stroke, it 

kicks in. Over the years, I found that the best 

thing I could do to relate to others what my 

experience is like is to do it in front of a crowd. 

Each second Saturday at my Riverview Station 

location, in the River Arts District, I feel as though 

I put my life on the line with full confidence as I 

paint like a madman and do what I call a Painting 

Performance with rhythmic music. Everyone is 

welcome. 

For the last 12 years, I have been, attracting 

other artists, visitors, clients, and folks from all 

walks of life to experience how fascinating life can 

be when you plan less, fearless, trust more, and 

feel comfortable with uncertainty. 

WHEN 

YOU 

GO 

Jonas Gerard 

240 Clingman Ave, Asheville 

(828) 350-7711 • www.jonasgerard.com 


BOOKS 

Four great books for summertime reading 

BY DENNIS RAY • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

Here are three books I recommend for your summertime 

getaway or lazy afternoons in the shade 

with a cold lemonade or iced tea. 

I read all four last month and found each one 

well worth the time. All four are also available on 

audiobooks through Penguin Random House 

Audio. Three of these books are relatively new, 

and the last one Educated came out in February 

of 2018, and are all exactly what I enjoy diving 

into this time of year. Have a great summer. 

Recursion by Blake Crouch 

From the bestselling author of Dark 

Matter and the Wayward Pines 

trilogy comes a relentless thriller 

about time, identity, and memory, and 

the inspiration for Shondaland’s upcoming 

Netflix film. 

Memory makes reality. That’s what New York 

City cop Barry Sutton is learning as he investigates 

the devastating phenomenon the media 

has dubbed False Memory Syndrome—a mysterious 

affliction that drives its victims mad with 

memories of a life they never lived. 

Neuroscientist Helena Smith already understands 

the power of memory. It’s why she’s 

dedicated her life to creating a technology that 

will let us preserve the most precious moments of 

our pasts. If she succeeds, anyone will be able to 

re-experience a first kiss, the birth of a child, the 

final moment with a dying parent. 

As Barry searches for the truth, he comes faceto-face 

with an opponent more terrifying than any 

disease—a force that attacks not just our minds 

but the very fabric of the past. And as its effects 

begin to unmake the world as we know it, only 

he and Helena, working together, will stand a 

chance at defeating it. 

But how can they make a stand when reality 

itself is shifting and crumbling all around them? 

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized 

World by David Epstein 

A compelling argument for how 

to succeed in any field: develop 

broad interests and skills 

while everyone around you 

is rushing to specialize. 

Plenty of experts argue that anyone 

who wants to develop a skill, play an 

instrument, or lead their field should start early, 

focus intensely, and rack up as many hours of 

deliberate practice as possible. If you dabble or 

delay, you’ll never catch up to the people who 

got a head start. But a closer look at research on 

the world’s top performers, from professional 

athletes to Nobel laureates, shows that early 

specialization is the exception, not the rule. 

David Epstein examined the world’s most 

successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, 

forecasters, and scientists. He discovered that in 

most fields—especially those that are complex 

and unpredictable—generalists, not specialists, 

are primed to excel. Generalists often find their 

path late, and they juggle many interests rather 

than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, 

more agile, and able to make connections their 

more specialized peers can’t see. 

Provocative, rigorous, and engaging, Range 

makes a compelling case for actively cultivating 

inefficiency. Failing a test is the best way to learn. 

Frequent quitters end up with the most fulfilling 

careers. The most impactful inventors cross domains 

rather than deepening their knowledge in 

a single area. As experts silo themselves further 

while computers master more of the skills once 

reserved for highly focused humans, people who 

think broadly and embrace diverse experiences 

and perspectives will increasingly thrive. 

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last 

Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep 

Reverend Willie Maxwell was a rural preacher 

accused of murdering five of his family members 

for insurance money in the 1970s. With the help 

of a savvy lawyer, he escaped justice for years 


until a relative shot him dead 

at the funeral of his last 

victim. Despite hundreds 

of witnesses, Maxwell’s murderer 

was acquitted—thanks to 

the same attorney who had previously 

defended the Reverend. 

Sitting in the audience during the vigilante’s 

trial was Harper Lee, who had traveled from New 

York City to her native Alabama with the idea of 

writing her own In Cold Blood, the true-crime 

classic she had helped her friend Truman Capote 

research 17 years earlier. Lee spent a year in 

town reporting, and many more years working on 

her version of the case. 

Now Casey Cep brings this story to life, from 

the shocking murders to the courtroom drama to 

the racial politics of the Deep South. At the same 

time, she offers a profoundly moving portrait of 

one of the country’s most beloved writers and her 

struggle with fame, success, and the mystery of 

artistic creativity. 

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover 

An unforgettable memoir about a young girl 

who kept out of school leaves her survivalist 

family and goes on to earn a Ph.D. from 

Cambridge University 

Born to survivalists in the 

mountains of Idaho, Tara 

Westover was 17 the first time 

she set foot in a classroom. Her 

family was so isolated from mainstream 

society that there was no one to 

ensure the children received an education and no 

one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brother 

became violent. When another brother got himself 

into college, Tara decided to try a new kind 

of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, 

taking her over oceans and across continents, 

to Harvard and Cambridge University. Only then 

would she wonder if she’d traveled too far if there 

was still a way home.

BOOKS 

New coffee table book announced from artist Alan Shuptrine, 

and new YA book “The Boy and Girl who Broke the World” 


I Come From A Place, by Alan 

Shuptrine and Jennifer Pharr Davis 

Following his successful twoyear 

solo museum exhibition, Alan 

Shuptrine: Appalachian Watercolors 

of the Serpentine Chain, the artist is 

embarking on a new journey. Collaborating 

with Best-Selling 

author, avid hiker, and 

sought-after storyteller, 

Jennifer Pharr Davis, Alan 

Shuptrine’s first coffee table 

book is launching in September. 

Titled I Come From A Place, the 

thematic book will contain images 

of Shuptrine’s watercolors as well as 

Pharr Davis’ prose. 

Pharr Davis, an Asheville resident, 

holds the female world record for 

fastest supported hike on the Appalachian 

Trail, claiming an average of 

47 miles per day. Pharr Davis is a 

National Geographic Adventurer of 

the Year and an Ambassador for the 

American Hiking Society. 

The Shuptrine-Davis collaborative 

book will share a spirited and 

soulful insight into what we know and 

love of Appalachia. History reveals 

that when the 18th Century settlers 

arrived on our eastern shores, 

they quickly moved inland to these 

mountains, where the rugged landscape 

looked somehow familiar. The 

concept of where one seeks comfort 

and what provides a sense of 

home is the premise for I Come From 

A Place. Whether it is from genetics 

or the possibility of living past lives, 

there is a location, a setting, in which 

everyone feels their most content; a 

place that provides a sense of peace 

and contentment. 

This collection will highlight 

over 80 Appalachian-themed 

watercolors by Shuptrine, a 

nationally recognized artist. 

Shuptrine’s paintings resonate 

with the voice of 

the mountains written by 

Pharr Davis. 

The book tour for I Come 

From A Place will launch 

in September 2019, and 

pre-orders for the Limited Edition may be 

placed at www.alanshuptrine.com. 

The Boy and Girl who Broke the 

World, by Amy Reed 

Billy Sloat and Lydia Lemon don’t 

have much in common unless you 

count growing up on the same 

(wrong) side of the tracks, the lack of 

a mother, and a persistent loneliness 

that has inspired creative coping 

mechanisms. When the lives of these 

two loners are thrust together, Lydia’s 

cynicism is met with Billy’s sincere 

optimism, and both begin to question 

their outlook on life. 

On top of that, weird happenings 

including an impossible tornado and 

an all-consuming fog are cropping up 

around them--maybe even because 

of them. And as the two grow closer 

and confront bigger truths about their 

pasts, they must also deal with such 

inconveniences as a narcissistic rock 

star, a war between unicorns and 

dragons, and eventually, of course, 

the apocalypse. With a unique mix of 

raw emotion, humor, and heart, 

the surreal plotline pulls 

readers through an 

epic exploration of 

how caring for others 

makes us vulnerable — 

and how utterly pointless 

life would be if we didn’t. 

Amy Reed is the author of the 

contemporary young adult novels 

Beautiful, Clean, Crazy, Over You, 

Damaged, Invincible, Unforgivable, 

and The Nowhere Girls. She is also 

the editor of Our Stories, Our Voices. 

She is a feminist, mother, and quadruple 

Virgo who enjoys running, making 

lists, and wandering around the mountains 

of WNC where she lives. You 

can find her online at AmyReedFiction. 

com. 

Amy Reed will be joined at Malaprop’s 

by fellow young adult authors Jaye 

Robin Brown and Amber Smith. 

Brown’s latest novel is The Meaning 

of Birds. Smith’s newest release is 

Something Like Gravity. 

Malaprop’s Bookstore, 7/24, 6pm 

Coming in August 

Miriam McNamara 

presents An Impossible 

Distance to Fall 

It’s 1930, and Birdie 

William’s life has crashed along 

with the stock market. Her father’s 

bank has failed, and worse, he’s 

disappeared along with his Jenny 

biplane. Malaprops, 8/2, 6pm 

JULY 2019 

PARTIAL LISTING 

We host numerous Readings & 

Book clubs, as well as Salons! 

Visit www.malaprops.com 

READINGS & BOOK SIGNINGS 

Lydia Fitzpatrick presents 

‘Lights All Night Long’ 

07/08 - 6pm 

Mirra Price presents ‘Tools to 

Change the World’ 

07/10 - 6pm 

Jeanne Charters presents 

Lace Curtain (Daughters of 

Ireland #2 ) — 07/11 - 6pm 

Brent Martin presents 

‘The Changing Blue Ridge 

Mountains: Essays on 

Journeys Past and Present’ 

07/14 - 3pm 

Jennifer Pastiloff presents ‘On 

Being Human: A Memoir of 

Waking Up, Living Real, and 

Listening Hard’ — 07/16 - 6pm 

Dual Author Event with Ace 

Atkins and David Joy 

07/18 - 6pm 

Julie Zuckerman presents 

‘The Book of Jeremiah’ 

07/23 - 6pm 

55 Haywood St. 

(828) 254-6734 • 800-441-9829 

Monday-Saturday 9AM to 9PM 

Sunday 9AM to 7PM 


SWANNANOA 

VALLEY 

FINE ARTS 

LEAGUE’S 

ANNUAL 

JURIED 

SHOW 

BY STAFF REPORTS • BLACK MOUNTAIN 

The countdown is beginning! Bring your artful 

eye and have a blast voting for People’s Choice 

at the Swannanoa Valley 

Fine Arts League’s Annual Juried Show. We the 

people, a colorful and exploding membership of 

league artists, will showcase our most dazzling 

works as chosen by esteemed Juror Sherry Masters, 

founder of Asheville’s Art Connection and 

(Left-right) “Where’s the Party?” oil and acrylic, by Peggy King, “Twisted Vase” clay, by Maggie Jones, “Untitled” oil, by Martin Poole 

formerly at the helm of the Grovewood Gallery. 

All mediums will be represented in this booming 

display which is being curated by Shelley 

Schenker. 2D and 3D works, including oils, fiber 

arts, metal, and graphite, will be on display. 

The opening reception will be held July 12, 

2019, from 5-7pm at the Red House Studios and 

Gallery, 310 West State Street, Black Mountain, 

NC. The show will be on display through September 

9. The Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League 

has been in existence for 51 years celebrating 

creative freedom. Membership is open to all. 

SVFAL 

The gallery hours are Monday thru Saturday, 

10-5 pm and Sunday, 10-3 pm. For more 

information, call SVAL at (828) 669-0351. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 


AmiciMusic presents “TUTTI FLUTTI,” with two flutes and piano 

BY STAFF REPORTS • BLACK MOUNTAIN 

PERFORMANCE 

AmiciMusic begins its summer season with 

an entertaining program entitled “TUTTI 

FLUTTI” featuring some virtuosic music 

for two flutes and piano with flutists Lea 

Kibler and Debby Heller along with pianist/Artistic 

Director Daniel Weiser. 

They will perform works by Debussy, 

Donizetti, Piazzolla, and Doppler along with 

a Mexican Fantasy by Zyman and three fun 

Dances by Schocker. It’s a great summer 

program that will make you smile and want 

to get up and dance. 

Flutist Lea Kibler (above) joins flutist Debby Heller for a 

great summer program that will make you smile and want 

to get up and dance. 

Pianist/Artistic Director Daniel Weiser 

There will be three different venues on the 

weekend of July 26-28, including a House Concert 

at a spectacular home in Hendersonville as 

well as a public performance at the very intimate 

St. Giles Chapel on the grounds of Deerfield 

Retirement Community. For more information 

about the program and venues and to buy seats 

in advance, please visit www.amicimusic.org and 

click on the link to Asheville Concerts at the top 

of the page. 

AmiciMusic is a non-profit chamber music organization, 

based in Asheville, dedicated 

to performing the highest quality music 

in intimate venues and non-traditional 

spaces. They also aim to break down the 

barriers between performers and audiences 

by establishing a very informal and 

relaxed atmosphere at all their concerts 

and through short talks about the composers 

before each piece to put the 

works in historical context. 

“This is genuine chamber music played 

the way it was meant to be heard,” says 

Weiser. 

AmiciMusic will return a week later from 

Aug. 2-4 for a program entitled “JAZZI- 

CAL:5” featuring the Claude Bolling Suite 

for Violin and Jazz Trio with Tim Schwarz, 

violin, Daniel Weiser, piano, Craig Sandberg, 

bass, and Justin Watt, percussion. Schwarz and 

Weiser were the 1996 U.S. Artistic Ambassadors 

and toured eleven different countries in the Middle 

East and Southeast Asia promoting American 

music. This is another excellent crossover program 

combining classical and jazz idioms. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

AmiciMusic 

For info about dates and venues, please visit 

www.amicimusic.org and click on the link to 

Asheville Concerts at the top of the page. 

‘Woolworth Walk’ continued from page 9 

metal at summer camp when she was about 

ten years old; she was immediately hooked. She 

went to a liberal arts college in Chicago, where 

she focused on jewelry, fashion, and costume 

design. It was there that she realized her passion 

for three-dimensional arts and personal adornment. 

Graduate school in New York offered her a 

background in the history of art. Introduced to 

period styles through fashion and the decorative 

arts she embraced the Arts and Crafts and 

Art Nouveau styles, apparent in her work today. 

Living in those major cities as well as Washington, 

DC strengthened her love of architecture and realism, 

which can be seen in the miniature houses 

and castles she also creates. Several years ago, 

Brandenburg and her husband, moved to Asheville. 

Here she works as a full-time artist and parttime 

teacher of Precious Metal Clay. Meet Lisa 

Blackshear and Amy Brandenburg and enjoy the 

opening reception on Friday, August 2, 5-7 pm. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Woolworth Walk 

25 Haywood St. Asheville 

(828) 254-9234 • Woolworthwalk.com 

Gallery Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 11–6 pm, Fri. 11–7 pm, 

Sat. 10–7 pm, Sun. 11–5 pm 


AUGUST PREVIEW 

Barbara Fisher exhibition ‘Memories of the Future’ this August 


Aerial views, brain circuitry, weather 

patterns, lost memories, all of these 

narratives can be found in the intricate 

meanderings and devious spaces 

of the Tangled Mapping series. 

Some evoke being lost in a big city, 

others feel like the brain trying to recall 

a distant memory or translate a twisted 

knot of thoughts into something coherent; 

still, others evoke the ecotones of climate 

change. The “change in the weather” 

subseries came about as Fisher started to 

see the cascading paint as a movement 

of micro-climates, water, ice and heat in the 

tangled atmospheres. 

All of these images presage the future while 

already being present in our consciousness, 

through collective memory or our forgotten 

“Heat Wave, 2019,” acrylic on canvas, 36x36 

by Barbara Fisher 

thoughts, 

dreams, and early 

life experiences. 

We intuit memories 

of what is 

yet to pass. The 

challenge is to 

heed our intuition 

and try to navigate 

the labyrinth, 

both within 

ourselves and out 

in the world. 

After the Flood 

depicts the chaos following a significant climate 

event - debris and organic matter fighting to 

survive amid the rubble and uprooted ecosystems. 

At the edges, simple botanical forms begin 

to appear. 

Born in New York City, educated in Colorado 

and California, Barbara Fisher lived many years 

on the West coast before settling in Asheville in 

1998. Her work, shown throughout the US, can 

be found in the collections of Bank of America, 

Capital One, Western Carolina University Fine Art 

Museum, the Asheville Art Museum, First Charter 

Bank, Bank of America, National Institutes of 

Health, Mission Hospital, The Community Foundation 

of WNC and many other corporations. 

Fisher has maintained a studio in the River Arts 

District since 1998. She was awarded a Pollock-Krasner 

grant of $17,000 in 2019. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Tangled Mapping: Memories of the 

Future 

Pink Dog Gallery, 348 Depot St. 

August 23–September 22 • Opening Reception 

Friday, August 23, 5:30–7:30 pm 


‘Health’ continued from page 20 

you worrying about some horrible disease. If they 

continue over a protracted period (1-3 months), 

they should be checked out by your health care 

provider. But they are not the harbinger of a 

death knell. 3) Several lifestyle choices had a 

significant impact on every area of health worry. 

And you can easily guess what they were: eat 

healthily, maintain an ideal weight, exercise, and 

‘Hot Works’ continued from page 19 

and personally handmade by the artist present at 

the show 

• Friday Set-up 

• Event Hours Saturday and Sunday, 10-5pm 

• Convenient parking 

• Show Director and Staff onsite during all event 

hours 

• Booth Sitters 

• Comprehensive Marketing and PR campaign – 

we understand how to reach art buyers 

• Professional Artist Awards $1,500 

• Youth Art Competition Awards $250 

• Asheville Police onsite duration of the show 

More info at www.hotworks.org. 

Upon acceptance into the show, booth rent is: 

10x10 $425 • 10x15 $650 • 10x20 $825 

be socially connected to a supportive community. 

The same lifestyle principles apply whether you 

are 30 years old or 70+ years old. 

(The specifics of these articles can be found in 

the April/May 2019 issue of AARP Magazine.) 

Asheville Fine Art Show 

October 26 & 27, 2019 • Pack Square Park 

Downtown Asheville • Outdoors 

Professional Artist Applications are at 

www.zapplication.org • Deadline July 15, 2019 

Juried Fine Art & Fine Craft Show. All Categories 

of Discipline Are Open. (Please do not apply if you 

do not make your work) If your priority is sales, then 

Hot Works shows are for you. Are you interested in 

being a part of this show? Please contact Executive 

Producer Patty Narozny at patty@hotworks.org, 

(941) 755-3088. More info at www.hotworks.org 

CONTINUED 

“Without freedom, no art; 

art lives only on the restraints 

it imposes on itself, 

and dies of all others.” 

—Albert Camus 

70 Main Street • Clyde, NC 28721 


JUly Comics 

www.brotherrock.net 

Ratchet and Spin 

By Jess and Russ Woods 

Ratchet and Spin © 2019 

Corgi Tales 

By Phil Hawkins 

Best in Show 

By Phil Juliano 


SUMMER THINGS TO DO 

BY STAFF REPORTS • ASHEVILLE 

Montford Park Players announces 

their upcoming production 

of the world-premiere 

adventure Robin Hood: Quest 

for Justice. 

Miles Rice as Robin Hood; Clara Burrus as Maid Marian. 

Montford Park Players presents 

‘Robin Hood: Quest for Justice’ 

In this sequel to last year’s 

smash hit, Robin Hood: The 

Legend of Sherwood, the evil 

Sheriff of Nottingham is stealing 

money and land from the people, 

as well as forcing the lovely 

Maid Marian to marry the despicable 

Gregory Gisborne to create 

a noble link for the Sheriff. 

It’s up to Robin Hood and his 

band of Merry Men to stop the 

wedding, save the people and 

put an end to the Sheriff’s nefarious 

deeds. With a plot right out 

of the classic legends of Robin 

Hood, this show will offer a good 

time for kids and adults. 

Although Montford Park 

Players stays grounded in the 

works of Shakespeare, classically 

inspired work, such as Robin 

Hood, has earned its place in 

the past few seasons. Family-oriented 

shows like Robin Hood 

and Peter Pan have become a 

mainstay for MPP, similarly to 

how their A Christmas Carol has 

become a holiday tradition. 

This time around, the titular 

role will be played by Miles Rice, 

who recently garnered raves for 

his star turn in Ghost at HART. 

Maid Marian will be performed 

by Clara Burrus, and the venerable 

David Mycoff will return as 

the hated Sheriff of Nottingham. 

Montford Park Players 

All performances will be 

held at the Hazel Robinson 

Amphitheatre at 92 Gay Street 

in the heart of Asheville’s historic 

Montford District, from June 

28th through July 27th on Friday, 

Saturday and Sunday evenings 

at 7:30 pm. This performance, 

like ALL of Montford Park Players’ 

shows, will be FREE to attend. 

For more information or to reserve 

seats, go to montfordparkplayers. 

org, or call at (828) 254-5146. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Raven & Crone suggests getting 

outside for fun and art 

BY STAFF REPORTS • NORTH ASHEVILLE 

Art, nature, and festivals are significant 

to the staff of Asheville’s Raven 

& Crone. 

Many items are locally made, as it 

is personally relevant to owner Lisa 

Anderson. Oils, herbs, teas, soaps, incense, 

bath salts, smudge wands, and 

candles are made locally. 

Store manager Lisa Wagoner notes: 

“I love when someone buys an item 

and I can say I know the person who 

made it.” 

Summer is a beautiful time for 

festivals, and so much time is spent 

outdoors. Before you go, stop by the 

store for a few supplies. “We have our 

own Bug Banish spray, magical beard 

oil, and more! Candles to light your 

evenings, flags and altar cloths to decorate 

your tents, teas to ice and enjoy, 

as well as tarot decks and divination 

tools to enhance your campfire time,” 

says Wagoner. 

Raven & Crone also provides over 

200 herbs to make your herbal blends, 

as well as crystals to use as decoration 

or to use with herbs to create mojo 

bags for your use or a group setting. 

A local family recently created dream 

bags for a family reunion camping 

trip, with unique crystals and herbs to 

enhance sleeping and dreaming during 

their time together. 

If your festival rains out, go by the 

store for a respite; enjoy a cup of tea 

and browse. You will be sure to find 

something to add to your summer fun. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Asheville Raven & Crone 

555 Merrimon Ave, Asheville 

(828) 424-7868 

www.ashevilleravenandcrone.com 

“Summer is the annual permission-slip to be lazy. To do 

nothing, and have it count for something. To lie in the grass 

and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds. 

— Regina Brett

July Rapid River Magazine 2019 Final

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