February 2020 Issue

Works of art defining the contemporary age in WNC 

RAPID RIVER MAGAZINE’S 

CULTURE 

ARTS& CULTURE 

RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM 

February 2020 • Vol. 23, Number 6 

ALSO: History of the Biltmore House • Gardening • Book events & more 

THE OLDEST AND MOST-READ ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE IN WNC

2 |RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | VOL. 23, NO. 6 — FEBRUARY 2020

FINE ART 

Grovewood Gallery presents works 

by Asheville native Bryan Koontz 

BY STAFF REPORTS • NORTH ASHEVILLE 

Grovewood Gallery in Asheville 

will present Life Along the Blue 

Ridge, featuring landscape oil 

paintings by Bryan Koontz, on view 

from February 15 – April 5. 

The gallery hosts an opening reception 

with the artist in attendance 

on Saturday, February 

15, 2-5pm. 

Koontz will return 

to the gallery on 

February 21 and 

22 to demonstrate 

traditional oil painting 

techniques 

from 11-5pm on 

both days. The 

reception and live 

demos are free to 

attend and open to the public. 

Koontz is an Asheville native who 

can date his ancestry in Western 

North Carolina back to the late 

1700s. His deep appreciation for 

mountain culture, heritage, and 

the scenery is evident in his work, 

which he paints in a realistic style 

similar to that of the mid-to-late 

19th-century American landscape 

painters. Most of his work is begun 

en plein air and finished in the studio, 

using photos to aid his memory. 

Employing traditional methods 

and archival materials, Koontz says, 

“He aims to produce works of art 

that will endure and be cherished 

for many generations.” 

In Life Along the Blue Ridge, 

Koontz puts to canvas some of his 

favorite places. “Places flavored by 

memory, where I have explored, 

traversed, raised my family, and 

lived my life since youth,” he says. 

His hope is that he can preserve 

a touch of the heritage he loves 

through his art. 

Koontz first picked up a paintbrush 

when 

he was about 

eight, under the 

guidance of his 

grandmother, 

who influenced 

his love of 

painting. He 

went on to feed 

Sunset Over Linville his creative spirit 

at Appalachian 

State University, where he earned a 

degree in commercial design. After 

years of working in the print and 

graphic design industry, Koontz 

became a freelance artist in 2008. 

Notable projects have included pen 

and ink drawings for the Mast General 

Store, as well as their annual 

Christmas card paintings, and book 

illustrations for author Nadia Dean. 

In 2018, he was chosen to create 

the artwork for the Biltmore Estate’s 

Christmas wine labels. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Grovewood Gallery 

Hours are Monday through 

Saturday from 10am – 

5:30pm, and Sunday from 11am 

– 5pm. Free parking is available on 

site. For more information, visit 

www.grovewood.com. 

VOL. 23, NO. 6 — FEBRUARY 2020 | RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | 3

BEER AND MUSIC 

PONDER THIS . . . WITH MARK ABEL 

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 

• • 

It was Sunday afternoon, and the 

Vikings were engaging the Saints 

for a chance to continue their 

season in hopes of making it to the 

Super Bowl. 

I believe it’s called Wildcard 

Weekend; I’m not altogether sure as 

I was more focused on my surroundings, 

the bar at Four Peaks 

Brewery, loaded with jovial fans 

cheering their gladiators. Have you 

ever seen it? No, not football. The 

cascade of a nitro beer, in my case, 

it was the Oatmeal Stout. Elevated 

at half arm’s length, it churned in 

cascading waves of effervescent 

froth, overlapping and bursting forth 

in a crescendo of pulsating glory 

as it lifted to form a thick creamy 

cap. Drawing a sip, I savored the 

pungent yet silky-smooth libation. 

“Incredible.” Placing my cold pint on 

the coaster, it pricked my ears, and 

I realized my thumb and forefinger 

were rapping against my knee. The 

tune—Feel it Still—by Portugal and 

The Man. My head followed my 

body, slightly delayed, it rocked side 

to side as the music moved me. I 

was drifting as I recalled a trip to the 

beach from summer’s past. And a 

thought began to emerge. 

Music, it’s the universal language 

of all cultures and all times. There’s 

no denying it. Music has always 

been with us, whether it be villagers 

in the deepest of jungles, 

dancing to the flame of drums in 

the darkness. Or, Mozart with his 

fingers flying across the keys of a 

harpsichord. Think about it, jazz 

and country, rap and reggae, not to 

mention rock and disco, punk and 

what is it again, salsa, oh yes and 

don’t forget classical and big band. 

Music has always moved the minds 

of humans, mitigating the loads 

of life while bringing us together, 

even when we don’t understand 

the language. But when and where 

did it all begin? Was there ever a 

time without music? I thought of 

ancient art and stone carvings, all of 

which depict men and women with 

instruments in hand, be it drums 

or horns, harps, and flutes. And I 

thought of the oldest books of all 

and how Scripture describes heavenly 

creatures who forever praise 

The Almighty, singing. “Holy, holy, 

holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who 

was, Who is, and is to come.” And it 

struck me. If God exists and Scripture 

is true, it says He created us in 

His image, and the music was there 

also in the core of our being. Music 

has always been and will always be 

part of who we are and part of who 

He is. 

The cheer surged as I drew 

another sip, half the room erupting 

in ecstasy, and the other in agony 

as a Viking caught the winning 

touchdown pass. And I continued 

to ponder, His love for us must be 

quite incredible, certainly beyond my 

ability to even comprehend. After 

all, He gave us the gift of music to 

express our every emotion, whether 

it be to lift or drown our spirits 

while also bringing us together. I 

was smiling, again swaying to the 

rhythm, this time my fingers tapping 

to the tune — California Dreaming. 

And I noticed others swaying with 

me, some clad in purple and others 

in gold. Now, what does this say 

about humanity and who we are, 

and more importantly, what does 

this say about God’s character and 

who He is? Stroking my chin, I 

nodded and drew another sip. 

Mark Abel is an architect by 

trade who has dreamed of 

becoming an author over most 

of his life. He lives in Tempe, 

Arizona, with his wife, Cheri. They 

have three grown children and one 

grandchild. Ephesus: A Tale of Two 

Kingdoms represents Abel’s debut 

novel. His passion for writing 

Ephesus — and hopefully more 

books to follow—is summarized in his 

mission statement as an author: Exploring 

the Mysteries of God Through 

Story. 

INFO 


CONTENTS 

ART AND MORE 

FEATURES 

COLUMNS / 

DEPARTMENTS 

February 2020 • Volume 23, NO. 6 15 

6 

8 

12 

13 

10 

11 

14 

15 

16 

An art lover’s guide to contemporary 

art in the RAD 

Grace Carol Bomer of Soli Deo 

Gloria Studio in the River Arts 

District 

19 (part three of four) 

18 

20 

How to determine if you need 

dental implants 

Trackside Studio: Artists 

working in contemporary styles 

History: Meet the Cecils: The 

Legendary Family behind the 

Vanderbilt/Biltmore Estate name 

310 Art: Being an artist does not 

always require a lot of space 

Art Classes 

Asheville Gallery of Art: 

“Spring Awakening” for February 

Cover: Two new artists are now at 

Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery 

Downtown Asheville: TThe 

longest-running musical in history, 

‘The Fantasticks,’ comes to ACT this 

February 

Wild About Waynesville: 

Learn to make Valentine’s Day 

origami gift boxes 

Health: Every part of our body is 

important 

Publisher/Layout and Design/Editor: Dennis Ray 

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 • (office) 828-646-0071 

22 

26 

21 

24 

25 

27 

28 

Inside Mark Bettis Gallery 

Bill Walz: Managing negative 

emotion 

Books: February book 

picks: ‘Home Making’ and 

‘Wilmington’s Lie’ 

Books: Bestselling author, Erik 

Larson, visits Malaprop’s, February 28 

Black Mountain: Flora, 

Fauna & Figure at the Red House 

Studios and Gallery this February 

Rapid River Magazine’s 

30 Comics 

31 

What is Contemporary Art? A 

candid talk with Jonas Gerard. 

Peter Loewer: When Google 

tried to get rid of your public library 

Creativity: A metaphor for 

universal awareness 

The Magnetic Theatre offers 

comedy, Burlesque and more this 

February 

Distribution: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills 

Marketing: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills 

NEXT MONTH 

*Red # Contempory Artists in WNC 

ADVERTISING SALES: 

Downtown Asheville and other areas — 

Dennis Ray (828) 712-4752 

Dining Guide, Hendersonville, Waynesville — 

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

ON OUR COVER 

15 

15 15 

‘Downtown,’ 24x24, by Mark Bettis 

rapidrivermagazine.com 

Online NOW 

13 

Trackside Studio artists 

working in contemporary 

styles 

MARCH 2020 

22 

What is Contemporary Art? A 

candid talk with Jonas Gerard. 

OUR SPECIAL HOME & DECOR ISSUE. 

DECORATING WITH LOCAL ART AND 

FINE CRAFTS OF WNC. PLUS OUR 

ANNUAL SPRINGTIME IN ASHEVILLE 

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’ 

February 2020 • Vol. 23, No. 6 


RAD FINE ART 

1 2 

3 

An art lover’s guide to 

contemporary art in 

the RAD 

BY CATHERINE CERVAS HEATON • 

RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

The River Arts District offers the art of many styles 

and genres, including some of the most contemporary. 

Whether you are looking for contemporary 

art in the flair of abstract, modern, and unusual, or 

contemporary in the realm of current, leading-edge 

creations--you will find it in the RAD. 

These are a sampling of what you can find in the 

district. Enjoy! 

Second Saturday: February 8, 10 - 6pm Visit 

RAD Second Saturdays 

Learn about more upcoming events at 

RiverArtsDistrict.com Events. 

Lori Jusino 

Philip DeAngelo 

Wedge Building, 1st Floor 

Lori Jusino creates mixed media assemblage & 

jewelry. For the 2nd Saturday Event on February 

8th, she will demo how an assemblage art piece 

is made, as she creates another one inspired by 

faith, imagination, and whimsy. Spirit Songs Art 

Studio: (828) 989-2470 

Philip DeAngelo 

Wedge Studios / Philip DeAngelo Studio 

Philip DeAngelo is a Contemporary Landscape 

acrylic painter in the Wedge Building of the River 

Arts District. Come visit our studio to see the 

vibrant colors and incredible textures for yourself! 


RAD FINE ART 

4 

1. “The Majestic One,” by Angela Alexander, arylic on 

canvas, 20 x 20 

2. “Cotton,” by Claudia Moore Field, recycled 

aluminum wire on handcrafted barnboard, 22 x 22 

3. “Ashen Silver,” by Tess Darling, mixed media, 

20 x 20 

4. “Ready for Take-off,” by Lori Jusino, Assemblage, 

8 x 5 x 9 

5. “Joined,” by Philip DeAngelo, acrylic painting, 

24 x 24 

6. “Green Abstract with Red,” by Catherine Cervas 

Heaton, acrylic, 10 x 20 

6 

5 

Claudia Moore Field 

Wedge Studios 

Philip DeAngelo Studio 

In this wire and metal sculpture, Claudia Moore 

Field recreates the beauty of the trees and 

animals that are in her backyard. Her work 

represents the flora and fauna that she sees all 

around her every day here in WNC. 

Tess Darling 

Northlight Studios 

Tess Darling sketches wildlife in various media, 

creating a gestural quality that keeps the animals 

moving and breathing. There’s a study-like nature 

to her style, like something from a sketchbook. It 

creates a sense of catching something that 

happened in a moment, and then it’s gone. 

Tess Darling Fine Art 

www.tessdarlingfineart.com 

Catherine Cervas Heaton 

Riverview Station 

Catherine Cervas Heaton uses quick brush 

strokes and splashes of color in her abstract 

work, creating a feeling of energy on canvas 

with the bold and bright. Visit Riverview Station, 

Soul Sidewalk, 191 Lyman Street, upstairs south, 

Studio #213. 

Angela Alexander 

Northlight Studios 

Angela Alexander specializes in contemporary 

animal art. She uses vibrant colors and broad 

brushstrokes to capture the energy of her 

subjects. Her studio is located in the River Arts 

District. www.angelaalexanderart.com 

(828) 273-4494 

March 2020 Theme: Home Decor 


RAD FINE ART 

The Crossing 12 x 12 oil and wax and gold on panel 

The Prodigal 48 x 48 inches 

Grace Carol Bomer of Soli Deo Gloria Studio in 

the River Arts District 

BY DENNIS RAY • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

Asheville artist, Grace Carol Bomer creates 

intimate images integrated with words and The 

Word. Her work has been called “A silent form 

of poetry.” 

As an English / Art Major, Bomer says, “My 

paintings are inspired by poetry, novels (Tolstoy, C 

S Lewis, Michael O’Brien, “Island of the World”), 

but most importantly by the Scriptures, the Word 

of God.” 

She read Augustine’s Confessions, translated 

from the original Greek after she received a copy 

from the publisher who asked her permission 

to use her painting of The Prodigal as its cover. 

It was required reading and published for the 

philosophy department at the University of South 

Florida. 


This cold wax and oil painting was inspired by a quote from St. 

Augustine’s Confessions.“The House of My Soul Is Too Small For 

You To Enter. Make it Spacious. It Is In Shambles. Restore It.” 

18 x 24 inches oil and cold wax and gold on panel. 

The Hebrew word, damah, means a metaphor 

that transforms; an art form that starts with a 

commonly accepted way of looking at the world 

and adds a surprise or unexpected twist that 

results in a new perspective to inspire and transform 

the viewer. We’re surrounded by metaphors 

that point us to the unseen world, and the eternal 

narrative and The Word made flesh. 

Contemporary Art / Word and Image / Incarnation 

Words and images are interconnected for us 

humans, as Dorothy 

Sayers wrote: “…for 

man is so made that 

he has no way to think 

except in pictures.” I 

juxtapose images and 

text to create connections 

and metaphors 

that may not be 

predictable or seen 

immediately. 

The image interacts 

with the foundational 

text, allowing the viewer to consider a story transcendent 

and always relevant – pointing to the 

One who is both Word and Image. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Grace Carol Bomer 

OPEN STUDIO every 2nd Saturday of the 

month 140 D Roberts Street in the River 

District of Asheville. (828) 545-2451 

www.carolbomer.com 

RAD FINE ART 


310 ART Gallery 

Being an artist does not always require a lot of space 

BY FLETA MONAGHAN • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

How can you declutter, downsize, 

and add art to your life? It can be 

done. 

This article is not about the insand-outs 

of decluttering; there are 

plenty of books and articles about 

that. But as you make your life more 

straightforward this year, and I bet you 

are doing that now, remember you 

can always create a space for art. It’s 

easy and will enhance your life. 

First, let me say that everyone has 

an artist inside. I hear over and over 

the comment, “I just do not have 

any talent.” 

Well, let me tell you that the 

concept of talent is a myth. 

Learning, practice (even if it is in 

short 15 minute segments), and a 

joyful, optimistic attitude is all that 

is required to make lovely art and 

have a fun and peaceful experience 

every day. Not sure how to start? 

Take some classes. 

But for now, let’s talk about 

creating space — your creative 

spot. 

First, choose a comfortable 

space in your home to be creative. 

You will use it if you pick a location 

you already use frequently. Find an 

art form that suits both you and 

Its easy to work on a small tabletop. A small folding table could be the solution. They are lightweight and 

easy to fold and slide into a closet when not in use. 

your space. Many mediums require 

little area to work and store. Some 

options are watercolor, pastels, 

colored pencils and drawing 

materials, oil pastels, small collage, 

and small printmaking. Even oils 

and acrylics in smaller container 

sizes are easy to set up and store. 

Explore different materials. Simply 

starting with a pencil and pen works 

wonders. 

Your dining room table might 

provide plenty of space to set up in 

one section. 

An end table can be covered and 

used for paints while you have them 

out. (Get rid of those knick-knacks). 

A small folding table could be the 

solution. They are lightweight and 

easy to fold and slide into a closet 

when not in use. Get a reusable 

plastic table cover that you can fold 

up and store in your toolbox. Be 

creative. 

Many artists work flat on a 

tabletop, so consider what you 

need. There are small tabletop 

easels for as little as $10. 


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

Classes at 310 ART 

Scratchboard takes up very little space. 

Artwork by Lorrel Bacon 

Some options for keeping your art supplies 

organized might be a suitcase on wheels or a 

rolling toolbox. You can move to a corner or 

closet when not in use and quickly roll out when 

needed. 

With these few items, you can set up a simple 

work area on a semi-permanent basis for a few 

days or a few weeks. For company, you can 

quickly pack up your small home studio and put 

supplies away in a designated space. 

This type of small space studio is suitable for 

working in a smaller format. Once your work is 

complete, you can put it into a box or portfolio 

and slide it under the bed. 

Better yet, give handmade gifts, make 

donations to your pet charity auctions, or even 

think about selling your work. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

An artist, Nadine Charlsen, is working on a three-foot table (the 

Burrito is a mixed media artwork and not to eat.) 

310 Art 

Come see the 2020 Artistic Vision show, 

an exhibition of student work. The gallery 

is opened every day, 12-4. The closing reception 

is Saturday, Feb 29, 2-4 pm. 191 Lyman St 

#310 ground floor. See www.310art.com for a 

complete class listing and gallery information. 

310 ART 

AT RIVERVIEW STATION 

Marvelous Mondays with Lorelle, Denise, Susan, 

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! 

Coming Soon 

Super Sunday Afternoon Watercolor classes 

are resuming this fall.. see 310art.com for 

dates, times and to sign up! 

Workshops are: 

Pastels - Photos to Paintings – Feb 1 

Watercolor Beyond Tradition – Feb 15 

Beginning Oils – Mar 15, 16 

Print it Collage it! – Mar 14 

Dont be Afraid of the Dark Watercolor - Mar 15 

Linoleum Block Printing – Mar 27 

Pastels, Flower Power! – April 4 

Beginning Acrylics one day - Apr 24See 

2020 listings 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. 


HOW TO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED DENTAL 

IMPLANTS 

SELF HELP WITH TERI GORE 

A missing tooth or a broken one can lower 

your self-esteem, especially if it is in the 

front of your mouth. 

you a permanent solution. 

4) Bone Loss in Your Jaw 

Missing teeth make eating a problem, and 

even dentures do not seem to solve the 

problem permanently. So, how do you know 

if you need dental implants or not? You can 

find an answer from the reasons below. 

1) Having a Broken or Cracked Tooth 

If general dentists’s techniques cannot 

restore your broken or cracked tooth, then 

an implant can help. You can consult a 

dentist from a reputable Denville implant and 

cosmetic dentistry center to get a proper 

diagnosis. The dentist will advise if you can 

salvage the tooth or if it is beyond repair, you 

replace it with an implant. 

A right clinic will have professional doctors 

who can assess the problem and tell 

you what procedure is proper for your teeth 

condition. It should also have a cost-effective 

program that has reduced appointments, 

fewer implants and decrease the need for a 

bone graft. 

— photo by Freddy G. instagram.com/freddygthatsme 

Trauma, tooth loss, tumors, among 

other reasons, can cause bone loss 

in your jaw. To remedy the condition, 

you can visit your dentist for dental 

implants. The root of a dental implant 

tooth contains titanium, which bonds 

naturally with your bone tissue. 

With the insertion of the implants, 

the bonding process takes place and 

allows the growth of the jawbone 

since the case would be with the 

natural teeth intact. 

5) Aching Tooth 

If you experience a toothache, it 

will be best if you visit your dentist. 

An aching tooth can be a nuisance, 

and it has several remedies. It can 

have a filling applied to it, crowned, or 

extracted depending on the damage 

extent. If it gets removed, the best 

solution would be to have an implant. 

2) More Than One Missing Natural Teeth 

Trying to cover your mouth when you talk or 

laugh is a behavior you adapt after losing teeth. 

You suffer low self-esteem, and you no longer 

find yourself attractive. Luckily for you, a solution 

is there since implants can be a perfect replacement 

for them. 

3) Loose Dentures and Partials 

Partials and dentures are a temporary replacement 

for your missing natural teeth. However, 

they can be embarrassing if they fall or get loose 

when you are eating or talking. For loose dentures 

and partials, you can have implants to offer 

6) Sunken-In Face 

Loss of teeth and not replacing them can lead 

to your face having a sunken-in look. You may 

have dentures, but the jawbone does not recognize 

them like real teeth. Loss of bone in the 

jaw area starts taking place, and as you age, the 

bone loss intensifies, which results in the sunken-in 

face. 

Dental implants, on the other hand, can solve 

the problem. Implants tend to stimulate your 

jawbone, causing the bones to grow just as they 

would with your natural teeth. You can now enjoy 

your smile and be proud to look at the mirror and 

smile at the world. 


Trackside Studio artists working in contemporary styles 

BY STAFF REPORTS • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

The field of contemporary art is vast and varied, and 

the Trackside artists working in contemporary styles 

and themes represent many of the aspects of its 

visionary and experimental nature. 

CHALKLEY MATLACK 

Matlack is an interdisciplinary 

artist, using what 

he sees in the world 

“Interior,” by Matlack 

around him to create 

and share experiences. 

Proficient in multiple media, he combines varied 

experimental techniques, exploring the power of 

shapes and sometimes layering poetry on painting. 

“Encircled,” by 

Campbell 

and darks. 

MICHAEL ALLEN CAMPBELL 

“A study of the life of shadows” is 

Campbell’s description of his recent 

works of acrylic on canvas. 

Placing curated objects, colored 

white to emphasize their texture, 

onto a white background, he 

invites the viewer to consider 

and enjoy the interplay of lights 

VINCE McGAHAN 

“Paint can do astonishing things if you let it drip, 

splatter, flow, and move freely.” McGahan’s abstract 

Trackside Studios 

work conveys the fluidity of that 

movement where colors mix and 

blend in fascinating ways. He uses 

acrylics to emphasize texture and 

create depth within the canvas 

boundaries. 

DONA BARNETT 

“Comfort All Who 

Mourn,” by Barnett 

workshops in printmaking 

and drawing and creates 

upcycled clothing. 

“Celestial Wanderer,” 

by McGahan 

A printmaker working in 

multiple techniques, Barnett 

assembles numerous layers 

of materials “and always 

lots of layers of meaning… 

I pair opposites, sometimes 

subtly, and work to create 

resolution.“ She also teaches 

MARCOS MARTINEZ 

Martinez “pays homage to 

the beauty of Nature” in his “Bird and Earth,” by 

Martinez 

plein air paintings infused 

with surrealism, inspired by 

“a state above thought” and dreams. He reminds 

us that “part of the purpose of the human experience 

is finding joy in the endless beauty around us.” 

ELAINE LACY 

Lacy’s wall-mount ceramics 

always relate to aspects of the 

natural world. “While trained as 

a painter, I love working with 

clay because I love touching 

the earth and representing 

its creatures.” Her surface 

designs are created using 

terra sigilata, underglazes, 

glazes, and copper wash. 

MICHELLE HAMILTON 

“The versatile nature of encaustics 

has allowed me to delve into 

mixed media and texture, opening 

my mind and making me feel 

even more passionate about my 

work,” Hamilton says. “I try 

“Lost in Space,” by 

not to limit myself to one particular 

theme because I want 

Hamilton 

to be mutable in my creativity, growing and changing 

along with my work and my proficiency.” 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Trackside Studios 

375 Depot St #4310, Asheville 

(828) 545-2904 

www.tracksidestudios375.com 

“Bird and Earth,” by 

Martinez 


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

Asheville Gallery of Art 's February Artists 

“Spring Awakening” for February at 

Asheville Gallery of Art 

BY STAFF REPORTS • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

“Travel and art share a powerful partnership in 

my life,” says artist Terrilynn Dubreuil. “I have 

a passion for exploring new places and creating 

art that expresses strong emotions and spiritual 

sensitivity. I use color, light, and texture to convey 

a balance between Impressionism and Realism. 

All things are connected.” 

Dubreuil has taught various media and art techniques 

for 30 years. In 2020 she will be teaching 

at the Asheville Art Museum. 

Lisa Natasha Sousa, with roots in both the East 

and West of the US, is influenced by the flora of 

these disparate regions. 

“I primarily work in oils, slowly building up layers 

of saturated color, avoiding the use of solvents and 

mediums. My process entails focused attention, 

building patience, and fostering appreciation.” 

Sousa came to painting from working in community 

media and film in the San Francisco Bay 

Area. 

“Capturing the nuances and shifting light of 

landscapes in pastel or oils, is always an exhilarating 

and challenging experience,” says Alison 

Webb. 

“Much like Renaissance old masters painted 

a window in their compositions, I’ve framed my 

paintings of iconic images of familiar landscapes 

to evoke windows that look at the outside world.” 

Webb was a design forecaster and color expert 

for major corporations in the international textile 

industry. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Asheville Gallery of Art 

For further information about this show, 

Clockwise: 

“Bowl of Succulents,” by 

Lisa Natasha Sousa; 

“Pemaquid Awash,” by 

Terrilynn Dubreuil; 

“Meadow Pond,” by 

Alison Webb 

contact Asheville Gallery of Art at (828) 251-5796, 

visit the gallery website at: 

www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or their Facebook 

page. Asheville Gallery of Art’s February show, 

“Spring Awakening,” features diverse, visually rich 

works by three new members, Terrilynn Dubreuil, 

Lisa Sousa, and Alison Webb. The show runs February 

1-29 during gallery hours, 11-6 pm Monday 

through Saturday and 11-4 pm. Sunday. A reception 

for the artists will be held on February 7, 5-8 

pm at the gallery, 82 Patton Avenue. 


February's Cover artist Mark Bettis 

Clockwise: 

Mark Bettis, (photo by Matt Rose); 

Victoria Pinney; 

Cason Rankin; 

“Rolling Sunset,” by Mark Bettis; 

“Leave a Light In,” 40 x 40, by Victoria Pinney; 

Inside the Mark Bettis Studio and Gallery 

Two new artists are now at Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery 


Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery, located in the 

heart of the River Arts District, at 123 Roberts 

Street, offers contemporary art from emerging 

and mid-career artists. 

The gallery is easily accessible on the street-level. 

His mission is to provide thought-provoking, 

museum-quality, beautiful art to the public. 

Featuring exceptional paintings, original prints, 

and innovative glass and metal sculptures, Mark’s 

gallery also has art openings throughout the year, 

check out his website at www.markbettisgallery. 

com for more information. 

This year Mark is welcoming two new artists 

to his studio/gallery at 123 Roberts Street in the 

WEDGE Building. Joining painter Mark Bettis, 

glass artist Deb Williams, sculptor, and painter 

David Sheldon and collage artist Grant Penny are 

Victoria Pinney and Cason Rankin. 

Victoria Pinney’s brightly colored abstractions 

have been shown in galleries from coast to coast 

and are in private collections across the country. 

Art Galleries and Artists of the South recently 

identified Victoria as an “emerging artist”. 

Pinney says, “I’ve always been moved by 

color and texture. With the elements I use in my 

painting - oils, wax, and sand - I build up layers 

and layers of ‘history’ which I scratch through 

and then build up again until the image reveals 

itself. To me, my paintings feel ancient, as though 

they contain all of history. They allow peeks at the 

past through erosion of the present - each layer 

partially visible through the next. The textured 

surface is as essential in appreciating the painting 

as color or shape.” 

Cason Rankin creates paintings of figures and 

faces. This can be either people or wildlife. The 

emotional impact of a portrait is just as essential 

as the image. The painting is exactly right when 

it’s as if the essence of that person or animal has 

entered the room. She conveys the intensity of 

what the person or animal is feeling in a single 

moment in time. 

Rankin has participated in numerous national 

and international shows, including the National 

Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor 

Society of America, Florida Watercolor Society 

Exhibition, the International Miniature Art Society, 

and the World Federation of Miniature Art. She 

was also included in the National Watercolor Society 

traveling exhibition and have been fortunate 

to have received awards in numerous national 

and state shows. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery 

123 Roberts St., Asheville 

(941) 587-9502 

www.markbettisgallery.com 


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 

The longest-running musical in history, ‘The Fantasticks,’ 

comes to ACT this February 

BY STAFF REPORTS • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

The Fantasticks is a funny and 

romantic musical about a boy, a girl, 

and their two fathers who try to 

keep them apart. 

The narrator, El Gallo, asks the 

audience to use their imagination and 

follow him into a world of moonlight 

and magic. The lovers fall in love, 

grow apart and finally find their way 

back to each other after realizing the 

truth in El Gallo’s words that, “Without 

a hurt, the heart is hollow.” The 

story is punctuated by a series of 

catchy, memorable songs, many of 

which have become classics. 

The Fantasticks is directed by 

Mark Jones with music direction by 

Rob Blackwell and choreography by 

Jessica Garland Lowe. 

The current production at Asheville 

Community Theatre stars a cast of 

‘The Fantasticks’ photo by Studio Misha 

13 actors from across Buncombe 

County. Emma-Leigh Brookshire, a 

senior at TC Roberson High School 

plays Luisa, opposite Alex Daly as 

Matt. Dillon Giles of Asheville stars 

as El Gallo. Stan Reeley of Mars Hill 

and Brian Weber of Weaverville are 

both making their ACT debuts as the 

fathers of Luisa and Matt. 

The Fantasticks holds the title as 

the longest-running musical in history. 

It ran for more than 42 years in New 

York, for a total of 17,162 performances. 

Jones has discovered that 

people are eager to see this beloved 

show, whether they’ve seen it before 

or not. 

Asheville Community Theatre 

The Fantasticks opens on the 

Mainstage February 7 and runs 

through March 1 with performances 

Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 

pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 

pm. Two additional performances are 

scheduled for Thursday nights February 

20 and February 27 at 7:30 pm. 

Tickets are available online at 

www.ashevilletheatre.org, over the 

phone at (828) 254-1320, or in person 

at the Asheville Community Theatre 

Box Office. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 


Downtown/Montford 

95 Cherry Street North 

Asheville, NC 28801 

828.258.2435 

South: 

200 Julian Shoals Dr 

Suite 20, Arden, NC 28704 

828.687.8533 


WAYNESVILLE 

Learn to make Valentine’s Day origami gift boxes 

BY STAFF REPORTS • WAYNESVILLE 

* Extra Virgin Olive Oils 

* White & Dark 

Balsamic Vinegar 

* Infused Olive Oils 

* Specialty Oil & Vinegar 

* Bread Dip Seasonings 

* Specialty Salts & Rubs 

* Seasonings 

* Handcrafted Pottery 

224 Branner Ave. Waynesville, N.C. 

828-246-6868 www.cornerstationoliveoil.com 

Support 

Clean / recyclable 

Newsprint 

Come to a special craft workshop to help get 

ready for Valentine’s Day. 

Learn to make beautiful origami boxes to hold 

Valentine’s cookies, candies, trinkets, and treasures. 

You will create and decorate four origami 

boxes: Four-sided Heart, Box with Rosette Flaps, 

Box with Curved Flaps, and Box with Square 

base. 

The teacher is the popular Margot Dale, who 

has extensive experience in origami box making 

design and fabrication. 

The cost of the 

workshop is $28 and 

includes all materials. It 

will be held on Thursday, 

February 6, from 

1-4 pm at First Baptist 

Church, Waynesville, 

100 S. Main St. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

To register or for 

more information, 

contact Char 

at (828) 456-9197 or 

charspaintings@msn.com. 

Margot Dale 

Happy 

Valentine’s Day 

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 


HISTORY 

Meet the Cecils: The Legendary Family behind the Vanderbilt/Biltmore 

Estate name (part three of four) 

BY BILL BRANYON • ASHEVILLE 

Asheville’s New Zoning Czar 

While Gascoyne was considered a 

leading conservative, another Cecil was 

called by historian Susan Pedersen in 

her book The Guardians, a “maverick 

Conservative and internationalist.” 

America’s largest privately-owned home, the Biltmore Estate. Owned by William 

Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil Jr. (Photo in public domain.) 

This was Lord Robert Cecil, who 

Pedersen claims became [Woodrow] 

Wilson’s leading British partner in establishing 

the League of Nations.” The 

sixth son of Gascoyne, he was awarded 

the 1937 Nobel Peace Prize for his 

tireless efforts to establish and make the 

League effective. 

In his 1912 Memorandum on Proposals 

for Diminishing the Occasion of Future 

Wars, Robert stated that a world peace league 

would need to use “sanctions, including blockade, 

… to force countries to submit to peaceful 

procedures. If overwhelming naval and financial 

power could be combined in a peace system, 

no modern State could ultimately resist its 

pressure.” The rise of Nazism put a major crimp 

in Robert’s certainty of this. Still, he remained 

optimistic enough to enthusiastically support the 

establishment of the United Nations to replace 

the League of Nations after World War II. 

A branch of the Cecil family finally moved to 

America and Asheville in 1924 when John Cecil 

married Cornelia, daughter of George Vanderbilt 

— the Biltmore Housebuilder. According to 

Britannica, John was the third son of the third 

son of [sic] of the Third Marquess of Exeter. Even 

title-mad England balked at granting titles to 

third sons twice removed. And John’s father was 

merely the “Groom in Waiting” to Queen Victoria 

and the “Extra Gentleman Usher” to George V. 

There was hardly any chance that John was 

going to inherit the family mansion called the 

Dillington House, but then he met the artistic, enchanting 

Cornelia Vanderbilt while serving as 1st 

Secretary of the British Ambassador to America. 

Thus, when they married in 1924, John became 

the titular head of a home almost twice as big 

as either of the family leviathans of Burghley and 

Hatfield. Those two mansions are about 90,000 

square feet compared to the 179,000 square 

foot Biltmore House. 

According to Denise Kiernan, author of The 

Last Castle, Cornelia continued to partly own 

the mansion even after she divorced John and 

moved to England while changing her hair to 

pink and her name to Nilcha. However, in 1950 

she received the last payment of a $2 million settlement 

completely divesting her of any shares in 

the Estate. The Cecil family from thenceforward 

controlled the mansion. 

America’s largest privately-owned home, the 

Biltmore Estate. Owned by William Amherst Vanderbilt 

Cecil Jr. (Photo in public domain.) 

The elder son of Cornelia (Nilcha) and John 

was George, who chose to inherit the vast lands 

surrounding the Biltmore Estate when John died 

in 1954. That left his brother, William, with the 

Biltmore Mansion. William returned to America 

at the end of World War II, serving with 

distinction in the British navy, and continued 

his father’s legacy of making the 

Biltmore Estate the incredibly popular 

tourist destination that it is today. 

In the book, Lady on the Hill about 

the Biltmore House, Howard Covington 

tells how William hooked up to America’s 

de facto royalty — to Camelot 

no less — in 1957 when he married 

Jackie Onassis Kennedy’s first cousin, 

Mary Lee Ryan. This proved even 

more important when it became known 

that the trajectory of a new interstate, 

I-40, was headed directly for the Biltmore 

House property. William hoped to utilize 

his Jackie K. connection to discuss the 

road with JFK, but the President was assassinated 

before William could arrange it. However, 

he did eventually negotiate with the U.S. Department 

of Transportation, and the Biltmore Estate 

remains the serene oasis it is today. William died 

in 2017, and his son, William Jr., currently runs 

the property. 

It’s beyond the scope of this article to track 

down how much land the Asheville Cecils 

owned. But if you subtract the 86,000 acres, 

Edith V. sold to help found Pisgah National 

Forest from the 125,000 acres that George V. 

originally bought, that leaves 39,000 acres — 61 

square miles. The city of Asheville covers only 45 

square miles. 

It’s true that Edith also sold the land for Biltmore 

Forest and Village, and some land was lost 

to the Blue Ridge Parkway, I-26, and I-40. Still, 

her children and grandchildren bought many 

additional acres, as well as numerous hotel and 

office properties. 

Some of this land has been transformed into 

‘Cecil’s’ continued on page 23 


EVERY PART OF OUR BODY IS IMPORTANT 

Your Health 

By Max Hammonds, MD 

Sometimes it is the little things that puzzle 

us the most. Why is that thing there? Of 

what use is it? Why not just take it out of 

the way? 

Such questions have plagued and confused 

health care providers for thousands of 

years. But we have had to wait for advances 

in medicine to help us understand small 

parts that we thought were useless – but 

weren’t. Such as: 

The pineal gland is a small, cone-shaped 

appendage attached to the base of the 

brain, which has stymied anatomists for 

hundreds of years. What does it do? Many 

thought it served some metaphysical, mystical 

function. Some thought it was the seat of 

the soul. Others thought it was a “vestigial” 

remnant of a now-lost larger organ. 

In 1958 a hormone was isolated from the pineal 

body and called melatonin – because it was 

thought to be useful in treating skin diseases. 

Through more rigorous hormonal and anatomical 

research, scientists discovered that the pineal 

body was a gland that secreted the hormone 

that modulates sleep cycles. Besides, this hormone 

– still called melatonin – also influences 

the pituitary’s secretion of two sex hormones – 

Those who have had the fifth toe amputated report great difficulty in 

walking and a loss of stabilization in the normal step. 

— Photo by Tyler Nix 

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing 

hormone (LH) – which affect the ovulation cycles 

in females and testosterone production in males. 

Most importantly, modern research has shown 

that blue light – that which emanates from 

tablets, computers, and cell phones – severely 

decreases the production of melatonin by the 

pineal gland. This particular wavelength of light 

interferes with the ability to fall asleep, to stay 

asleep, and to go back to sleep once awakened. 

Suddenly, the small, mysterious gland at the 

back of the brain is essential in our modern 

age. And one of our good preventive health 

habits is to avoid those “blue-light” emitters 

during the last three hours before we go to 

bed. 

The appendix is a short finger-like extension 

of the first part of the colon (the cecum). 

It is located in the lower right quadrant of 

the abdomen, where it usually sits quietly 

– unless it should develop inflammation 

(appendicitis) and require removal. Over the 

centuries, no one seemed to know what 

its function was. Again, many thought the 

appendix to be a “vestigial” leftover from a 

larger organ now no longer present. 

Current medical research tells us that the 

appendix is a “safe home” for storing beneficial 

bacteria to re-colonize the colon should it 

experience a severe inflammation (like cholera) 

or an acute loss of its healthy bacteria (heavy 

antibiotic use). The appendix is also a significant 

contributor of white cells that are stationed there 

to defend against deadly viruses and bacteria 

that might invade that area of the gut. Who knew 

that the lowly appendix was so important? 

‘Health’ continued on page 29 


MANAGING NEGATIVE EMOTION 

ZEN PHILOSOPHY WITH BILL WALZ 

“No self, no suffering.” - Buddha 

Buddha is said to have stated, “I teach suffering, 

its origin, cessation and the path to its transcendence. 

That’s all I teach,” but what this is also saying 

is that The Buddha taught entering into a deep 

examination into negative, problematic human 

emotions - what causes them, and the means to 

effectively managing them. This is so important 

because no matter how “smart” we may be, there 

seems very little correlation between the kind 

of intelligence that makes a person an expert in 

some field of study, in the academic or professional 

worlds, and emotional stability. There may 

even be, in many cases, an inverse relationship 

where with higher and more complex intelligence, 

there is little practical wisdom and little of what is 

sometimes called “emotional IQ.” 

The Buddha taught that in all of Nature, humans, 

because of their evolved brains, are unique 

in their ability to create a virtual reality called 

culture and to develop techniques and tools for 

living in a complex and exploitive relationship with 

Nature. This is a good thing from the standpoint 

of greatly freeing humans from the dangers and 

limitations of Nature while releasing us to be 

creative, making ever-more complex culture and 

tools. But Buddha also realized there is a very big 

problem connected to this evolutionary human 

trait of complex brain function. To borrow from a 

modern paradigm drawn from the very complex 

tool of cybernetics, humans live in very much 

what are virtual realities constructed of information 

manipulated by these complex brains, and 

this virtual reality generates a sense of a virtual-reality-sense-of-self 

that psychology calls ego that 

is quite disconnected from our true nature and 

from Nature itself with serious consequences for 

both us humans and for Nature. 

Buddhism teaches a model of mind that considers 

thoughts and emotions to be mind-objects 

or forms that exist within the formless energy 

of mind-consciousness that individuates into 

awareness, the faculty for directing consciousness 

energy with its inherent intelligence into 

the examination of experience. In recognizing 

this multidimensional model of mind, Buddhism 

then gives us a methodology from which we can 

train in building skill at managing the contents of 

the mind by directing awareness into this examination. 

The Buddha further taught that having 

realized this dimension of awareness that can 

examine the contents and activity of mind, the 

insight becomes natural that we then must not 

be the contents, the thoughts and emotions, as 

most people assume and our culture reinforces. 

Rather, if awareness can examine the contents 

and activity of the mind, then who we fundamentally 

must be IS this awareness and not the 

contents and activity. We are not egos that have 

awareness; rather, we are awareness that has 

an ego structure so as to engage the world. This 

shifts our experience of mental activity from one 

that seems helpless in its management to one 

that is interactive and opens the way for skillful 

management. 

While Western education focuses intensely on 

feeding the mind full of information and ideas 

along with methods of logic for putting these 

ideas together effectively for utilitarian application, 

it teaches nothing about managing these 

contents in a manner so as to maximize mental 

stability, serenity and wisdom. The Buddhist 

model, on the other hand, emphasizes that we 

can manage mind through meditative techniques 

where mind examines mind, shining the light of 

awareness on the content of mind giving us perspective 

and insight, while developing awareness 

of awareness, allowing us to explore its potential 

for intuitive insight into the nature of existence. 

We discover that as awareness, we are free of the 

contradictions and imbalance of the egoic mind, 

and we can deepen the exploration of life lived as 

awareness, the dimension that is the true source 

of intelligence, creativity, wisdom and insight. 

To continue borrowing metaphor from the 

cybernetic world, as the saying goes: “Garbage 

in, garbage out” and any crazy thing can be 

programmed into these computer-brains of ours, 

much of it being completely contradictory and at 

odds with actual reality. Most importantly, these 

reality-virtualizing brains generating a virtual-self 

experiences itself as unique and separate from 

all else in the world, and this virtual-self is acutely 

aware of its vulnerability and its mortality; living in 

a story of itself in time, the past defining us and 

the future challenging us. This sense of limitation, 

vulnerability and dependency on the external 

world for stability and validation, and the too-often 

failure of the external world to provide consistency 

and validation, causes the contents of mind 

to be all too often marked by anxiety, frustration 

and unhappiness. 

At the core of most negative emotional experience 

- of depression, anxiety, anger and loneliness 

- is an exaggerated sense of this virtual-self 

in personal isolation along with a time-focus in 

the past or future. Most of the time, our focus of 

attention is on our “self” in our story-line in time 

that is too often distressing. Even anger, which 

in a given moment seems to be present-moment 

activated, has a strong component of residual 

past distress and disappointment brought into 

the present situation and is often carried quite 

inappropriately into the future, the ego chewing 

on its grievance over and over. The world, with 

the exception of whatever or whoever may be 

the focus of stimulating the emotion, has receded 

far into the background of our attention. Even 

the stimulating event or person is being experienced 

principally in its distressing connection to 

self, not in its larger context which would give 

the experience more sense and proportion, and 

thus greater acceptability. The world has to some 

inappropriate degree collapsed into the situation, 

thoughts and emotions orbiting our focus on our 

self. 

Buddhism recognizes this and teaches us to 

realize the antidote to such a perception is to 

‘Walz’ continued on page 23 


ASK THE ARTIST 

The Secret of Abstract Art 

Many define abstract 

art as having nothing 

to do with observable 

realities in the physical, 

mental, emotional, 

psychological, or any 

conceptual aspect 

of what this life is all 

about. I agree with that! 

That definition explains 

what abstract art is not. 

The mind views abstract 

differently. If it’s not 

one of the above, then 

what’s left? It is art created 

by one’s uneducated intuition, gut feeling, some 

inner voice from your soul. It’s the same kind of 

method that young child creates from, with no 

developed ‘consciousness,’ no duality. The child 

has no judgment, so they are free to create from 

whatever comes through them. Their actions are 

pure and innocent, and innately divine. This is 

what abstract art is! 

Now that we have learned so much in our 

lives, has anyone taught us how to unlearn 

“Romancing The Now #2,” 36x72 acrylic on canvas, by Jonas Gerard 

BY JONAS GERARD • RIVER ARTS DISTRICT, ASHEVILLE 

that knowledge? 

Picasso did it, de 

Kooning did it, and 

many other painters 

have. If somehow, 

we can get to that 

point, where we feel 

comfortable with 

uncertainty, where we 

can control the mind 

and temporarily shut it down, 

then duality disappears. This is 

where intuition kicks in — allowing 

that gut feeling mentioned 

Jonas Gerard 

above, which includes having fun 

and playing. 

It takes practice to trust that voice, which the 

child does so perfectly. It is all about allowing the 

process of making the art, not about the result. 

Again, the child paints 100% as a process. They 

are actually in a state of pure bliss and divine 

ecstasy — really. 

In The Painting Experience Workshop 

(www.processarts.com), I once took with Stewart 

Cubley, he stated: 

22 |RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | VOL. 23, NO. 6 — FEBRUARY 2020 

‘Joy & Delight #14,’ 24x36 acrylic on wood, by Jonas Gerard 

“In art, to look within is an act of courage.” 

“To be present requires letting go of judgment.” 

“The artist’s task is to be released from 

the pressure of performance, interpretation, 

comparison, and judgment.” 

“True painting is very simple yet, at the 

same time, radical. By nature, it’s unpredictable, 

because we don’t plan our destination 

ahead of time.” 

“Allowing whatever needs to happen to 

happen, meaningful, and satisfying images 

emerge. You don’t have to be trained to 

experience this; it’s your birthright.” 

‘Jonas’ continued on page 29

‘Cecil’s’ continued from page 19 

CONTINUED 

elegant subdivisions. In the 

last 20 years, the Cecils 

have established Biltmore 

Lake, The Ramble, Fox 

Run, and Southwood — 

and even created an entire 

spec city in Biltmore Park. 

They’ve built an amazing 

3,100 sumptuous housing 

units according to their 

various web sites. 

Compared to many 

developments around 

Asheville that involve 

clear-cutting huge swaths 

of forest and jamming 

together as many identical 

houses and apartments as 

Lord Robert Cecil, Winner of the 1938 Nobel 

Peace Prize for his work on the League of 

Nations 

possible, the Cecil’s developments 

are models of verdant 

variety whose bottom line is 

gracious living — not profit 

maximization. Though their 

houses generally start in the 

high $300’s and can cost up 

to $2.2 million, many of the 

developments retain almost 

50% of the land as green 

spaces. 

A Cecil would be the 

obvious best choice to chair 

Asheville’s soon-to-be rewritten 

Uniform Development 

Ordinance — as well as our 

Planning and Zoning Commission 

and Board of Adjustment. 

George V.’s grandson William did just that as 

chairman of Asheville’s Metropolitan Planning 

Commission in the late 1960’s, according to Lady 

on the Hill. 

And given the apparent fact that the Asheville 

five-county metro area will continue to have dramatic 

increases in population, think how pastoral 

it would be, even with a half-million more people, 

if the Cecils were made Czars of Zoning for the 

entire metro. 

Bill Branyon is one of the founding members 

of the Western NC weekly, Mountain Xpress. 

Now a free-lance historian, his books include 

Asheville NC, Circa 2000 AD. Chapters of 

this and other books and journalism can be found 

at www.BranyonsUltimateFreethinking.com, or 

contact at billbranyon@Yahoo.com 

INFO 

‘Walz’ continued from page 21 

expand the field of awareness to deliberately 

include what is NOT about our virtual-self and 

our distressing situation, thus preserving context 

and perspective. It teaches us to give full 

awareness and attention to what is NOT our 

emotional quagmire, our self-imposed exile from 

Life. Rather, Buddhism teaches that we must 

direct attention into the sublime everyday with 

such presence that the miracle and wonder, the 

interconnectedness of who and what we are with 

everything, begins to be increasingly apparent. 

Here, we re-enter the flow of Life, and the emotions 

associated with our perceived isolation then 

fall into the background, realized as either illusory, 

or now, much more manageable. 

Very importantly, when a human is in this flow 

of Life, there is very little of the preoccupation 

with the ego or virtual-self. Awareness blends like 

a surfer riding a wave with the present moment. 

These are the moments of our greatest adaptivity, 

balance and skill. In a very real sense, the egoself 

disappears, leaving behind what is a genuine 

and intelligent human organism that IS the 

moment in flowing consciousness. There is no 

isolated “self” struggling with “out there.” There 

is only the blending of self and the moment, of 

meeting the challenge. 

With training in Buddhist meditation we begin 

to transfer our sense of self from the activity of 

the mind reacting to the world “out there” into the 

awareness that witnesses the activity of the mind. 

We move our sense of who we are from the virtual-self 

to the authentic-self, a unity with what is 

happening. Once this state of being as witnessing 

discerning awareness begins to actualize as 

our operational self, we increasingly can engage 

the world in a manner that Buddhism refers to 

as “mindful,” and we can begin to live more and 

more in a sane and adaptive manner. 

We will continue to have negative emotional 

states, but now rather than being helpless in their 

grip, we know them for what they are and what 

they are not. Most importantly, they are not who 

we are. We know ourselves as awareness, and 

this awareness is trans-personal. In a very real 

way we become what Zen refers to as “nobody,” 

not identified with the virtual-self. And where 

there is no virtual-self, there is, as Buddha said, 

no suffering. Yes, there will be pain. Pain is a 

natural part of Life, but there will not be as much 

suffering over our experience of physical and 

emotional pain. Nor will there be this self telling 

itself over and over of the unfairness of having 

to endure pain. Pain translated into suffering will 

not blot out all the beauty and miracle of Life, but 

rather the painful takes its appropriate place in 

the dance of everything that is real Life, and we 

can manage the emotional pain with much greater 

skill and acceptance. 

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 


BOOKS 

February book picks: ‘Home Making’ and ‘Wilmington’s Lie’ 

BY DENNIS RAY • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

Lee Matalone’s Home Making 

is simply put — incredible. 

Her style is reminiscent of Pat 

Conroy and Flannery O’Connor 

yet uniquely her own. 

Her characters are well-drawn, 

and after a few pages, you feel as 

if they were old friends coming to 

visit for a couple of days. 

The book begins in Japan a few years after the 

Second World War with Cybil, who is the result of a 

brief affair between a young Japanese woman and a 

French soldier—who at a young age is transplanted 

to Tucson, Arizona, and raised by an American officer 

and his rigid wife. After a rebellious adolescence, 

she grows up to become a successful ob-gyn. 

Chloe, Cybil’s daughter, is adrift in an empty house 

in the hills of Virginia. Her marriage has fallen apart, 

and her estranged husband is dying of cancer. 

Room by room, Chloe makes her new house into a 

home, always grappling with the real and imagined 

boundaries that limit her as a single, childless woman 

in contemporary America. 

Beau, Chloe’s closest friend, is in love with a 

man he’s only met on the Internet, who lives across 

the country. Shepherding Chloe through her grief, 

he is often called back to his loud, humid, chaotic 

childhood in Southwest Louisiana, where he first 

reckoned with the intricate ties between queerness, 

loneliness, and place. What is most impressive with 

this book is how Matalone weaves the idea of having 

a home and what it means to belong through each of 

the subplots, without over-emphasizing our human 

need not to be alone. 

Home Making is more than a metaphor, more than 

an idea or a story. It’s a piece of literary magic. The 

kind that reminds you exactly how enjoyable reading 

can be. This book will undoubtedly be on my top-10 

list for 2020. It’s just that good. 

Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous 

Coup of 1898 and the Rise 

of White Supremacy 

By the 1890s, Wilmington was 

North Carolina’s largest city and 

a shining example of a mixedrace 

community. It was a bustling 

port city with a burgeoning 

African American middle class and a Fusionist 

government of Republicans and Populists that 

included black alder-persons, police officers, and 

magistrates. There were successful black-owned 

businesses and an African American newspaper, 

The Record. But across the state--and the South 

— white supremacist Democrats were working to 

reverse the advances made by former slaves and 

their progeny. 

In 1898, in response to a speech calling for 

white men to rise to the defense of Southern 

womanhood against the supposed threat of 

black predators, Alexander Manly, the outspoken 

young Record editor, wrote that some relationships 

between black men and white women were 

consensual. His editorial ignited outrage across 

the South, with calls to lynch Manly. 

But North Carolina’s white supremacist Democrats 

had a different strategy. They were plotting 

to take back the state legislature in November 

“by the ballot or bullet or both,” and then use the 

24 |RAPIDRIVERMAGAZINE.COM | RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE | VOL. 23, NO. 6 — FEBRUARY 2020 

Manly editorial to trigger a “race riot” to overthrow 

Wilmington’s multi-racial government. Led 

by prominent citizens including Josephus Daniels, 

publisher of the state’s largest newspaper, 

and former Confederate Colonel Alfred Moore 

Waddell, white supremacists, rolled out a carefully 

orchestrated campaign that included raucous 

rallies, race-baiting editorials and newspaper cartoons, 

and sensational, fabricated news stories. 

With intimidation and violence, the Democrats 

suppressed the black vote and stuffed ballot boxes 

(or threw them out), to win control of the state 

legislature on November 8. Two days later, more 

than 2,000 heavily armed Red Shirts swarmed 

through Wilmington, torching the Record office, 

terrorizing women and children, and shooting 

at least sixty black men dead in the streets. The 

rioters forced city officials to resign at gunpoint 

and replaced them with mob leaders. Prominent 

blacks — and sympathetic whites--were banished. 

Hundreds of terrified black families took 

refuge in surrounding swamps and forests. 

This brutal insurrection is a rare instance of a 

violent overthrow of an elected government in the 

U.S. It halted gains made by blacks and restored 

racism as official government policy, cementing 

white rule for another half-century. It was not 

a “race riot,” as the events of November 1898 

came to be known, but rather a racially motivated 

rebellion launched by white supremacists. 

In Wilmington’s Lie, Pulitzer Prize-winner David 

Zucchino uses contemporary newspaper accounts, 

diaries, letters, and official communications 

to create a gripping and compelling narrative 

that weaves together individual stories of 

hate and fear and brutality. This is a dramatic and 

definitive account of a remarkable but forgotten 

chapter of American history. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

David Zucchino will be at Malaprop’s 

Tuesday, 2/11, 6pm 

Lee Matalone will be at Malaprop’s 

February 26 • 55 Haywood St. Asheville

BOOKS 

Bestselling author, Erik Larson, visits Malaprop’s, February 28 

PREVIEW BY STAFF REPORTS • DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE 

In The Splendid and 

Vile, Erik Larson 

shows, in cinematic 

detail, shows how 

Churchill taught 

the British people 

the art of being 

fearless. 

It is a story of political brinksmanship 

but also an intimate domestic 

drama, set against the backdrop of 

Churchill’s prime-ministerial country 

house, Chequers, and his wartime 

residence, Ditchley, where Churchill 

and his entourage go when the moon 

is brightest and the bombing threat is 

highest. 

Drawing on a wealth of untapped 

sources, including recently declassified 

files, intelligence reports, and 

personal diaries only now available, 

Larson provides a new lens on London’s 

darkest year through the dayto-day 

experience of Churchill and 

his family: his wife, Clementine; their 

daughters, Sarah, Diana, and the 

youngest, Mary, who chafes against 

her parents wartime protectiveness; 

their son, Randolph, and his beautiful 

yet unhappy wife, Pamela; her illicit 

lover, a dashing American emissary; 

and the cadre of close advisors who 

comprised Churchill’s “Secret Circle,” 

including his dangerously observant 

private secretary, John Colville; 

newspaper baron Lord Beaverbrook; 

and the Rasputin-like Federick Lindemann. 

The Splendid and Vile takes readers 

out of today’s political dysfunction 

and back to a time of authentic leadership 

when in the face of unrelenting 

horror, Churchill’s 

eloquence, strategic 

brilliance, 

Jerry King 

and perseverance 

bound a country, 

and a family, 

together. 

Denise Kiernan, 

author, journalist, 

and producer 

will be there in 

conversation with 

Larson. Kiernan’s 

latest book, 

The Last Castle 

(September 2017), 

was an instant 

New York Times 

bestseller in both 

hardcover and paperback 

and was 

also a Wall Street Journal bestseller. 

Her previous title, The Girls of Atomic 

City, is a New York Times, Los Angeles 

Times, and NPR bestseller and 

has been published in seven languages. 

She lives in North Carolina. 

ABOUT ERIK LARSON: 

Erik Larson is the author of seven 

books, five of which became New 

York Times bestsellers. His latest 

Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of 

the Lusitania, hit #1 on the list soon 

after launch. His saga of the Chicago 

Worlds Fair of 1893, The Devil in 

the White City, was a finalist for the 

National Book Award, and won an 

Edgar Award for fact-crime writing; it 

lingered on various Times bestseller 

lists for the better part of a decade. 

Hulu plans to adapt the book for 

a limited TV series, with Leonardo 

DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese as 

executive producers. His In the Garden 

of Beasts, about how America’s 

first ambassador to Nazi Germany 

and his daughter experienced the 

rising terror of Hitler’s rule, has been 

optioned by Tom Hanks for development 

as a feature film. Learn more at 

eriklarsonbooks.com 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

An evening with Erik Larson 

This is a ticketed event. Ticket 

sales are final. Tickets are transferable 

but not refundable. 

Friday, February 28, 6:30pm 

Event address: UNC Asheville 

Highsmith Student Union • Blue Ridge 

Room • 1 University Heights, Asheville 

www.malaprops.com 

FEBRUARY 2020 

PARTIAL LISTING 

We host numerous Readings & 

Book clubs, as well as Salons! 

Visit www.malaprops.com 

READINGS & BOOK SIGNINGS 

Phoebe Kilby and Betty Kilby- 

Baldwin discuss ‘Slavery’s 

Descendants: Shared Legacies 

of Race and Reconciliation’ 

2/05 - 6:pm 

Monette Chilson presents 

‘Original Resistance: 

Reclaiming Lilith, Reclaiming 

Ourselves’ - 2/06 - 6:00pm 

Aleah Wicks presents ‘Fat 

Dog Farm: Tails of Farm 

Failures’ 2/10 - 6pm 

David Zucchino presents 

‘Wilmington’s Lie: The 

Murderous Coup of 1898 and 

the Rise of White Supremacy’ 

02/11 - 6pm 

‘CRAFT: Andre Frattino, author 

of Simon Says: Nazi Hunter 

Volume 1’ in conversation with 

Denise Kiernan at Little Jumbo 

02/23 - 3pm 

TICKETED: An Evening with 

Erik Larson, author of ‘The 

Splendid and The Vile’ 

02/28 - 6:30pm 

55 Haywood St. 

(828) 254-6734 • 800-441-9829 

Monday-Saturday 9AM to 9PM 

Sunday 9AM to 7PM 


BOOKS 

When Google tried to get rid of your public library 

BY PETER LOEWER • NATIONAL 

Last week when somebody told me about the 

worth of Google, my deeper memory bank 

suddenly opened its vault door. 

It allowed me to recall how Google attempted 

to start a massive file that would eventually contain 

all the books ever written, thus making them 

available to all the computer users in America, 

and ultimately the world. 

Their original plan was to make a deal with the 

University of Michigan to provide their library and 

a place to install a fleet of scanners and begin 

what I called at the time, Operation Scan Scam. 

Google’s idea began to meet reality in the year 

2002 when they would begin digitizing about 25 

million books, using books held by major university 

libraries, including Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford 

universities, and the 

New York Public Library. 

It was meant to be a 

Google-plan, something 

that a few wizard Geeks 

thought up while enjoying 

their Ivory Tower life atop 

of the Google Institution, 

probably in luxury offices 

overlooking the great 

Golden Gate Bridge, as 

they turned the bridge 

into an icon for spreading 

knowledge and rescue 

humankind from falling 

into the pit of ignorance 

where it usually wound up in any reading of the 

future. 

I didn’t discover their fascinating attempt at 

stealing the worlds’ knowledge and putting it all 

into a Google Wisdom Bank and, in so doing, 

ended any chance of writers making a living from 

royalty sales. 

Luckily, a friend of mine who knew I had written 

a new book about Henry Thoreau looked it up 

online to check one of my reference books and 

found the entire volume, Thoreau’s Garden, 

including well-reproduced illustrations, with all 

the illustrations reproduced, while the book was 

still available for sale in bookstores and from the 

publisher. 

Amazingly, while I was wondering what to do, 

a message arrived from my New York agent, 

telling me about Google’s plans and because I 

had 15 books in print and available in libraries 

and often, bookstores, it was necessary for me 

to write 15 individual letters telling Google that I 

wrote each book in the list, including the date of 

publication and the ISBN as it appeared on the 

copyright page. 

And so, I did. I wrote 15 separate letters and 

mailed them to an address my agent had supplied, 

and eventually, the books vanished from 

sight. 

Now, along with that operation, 

Google publicly made the 

following announcement: “All 

libraries would cease to exist 

within 15 years. ” They would 

close their doors because 

storing books in publicly-funded 

buildings would no longer be 

needed, and the books of yesterday 

and today, not to mention 

tomorrow, would be waiting for 

you, the faithful reader, online. 

But enter the Authors Guild 

(of which I am a member), other 

publishers, and other author’s 

organizations who launched an epic battle that 

went on and on and on for years. A settlement 

that would have created a Book Rights Registry 

and made it possible to access the Google 

Books through public-library terminals ultimately 

died, rejected by a federal judge who dismissed 

the case in 2011. 

Unfortunately, in 2013, that same judge handed 

Google a victory that allowed it to keep on scanning, 

but while these hawkers of dreams scanned 

away, the libraries of America began to achieve 

greatness again, and new buildings were built, and 

new books were published, and new books were 

read, and today your local library is there for you, 

and will continue to be there as the years go by. 

Another victory for the book. 

Peter Loewer has been writing about Asheville 

gardening and politics, plus the occasional 

movie that needs attention, since 

1990. He also teaches art courses in Continuing 

Education at AB-Tech. His garden comments are 

heard on Asheville-FM as The Wild Gardener. 

INFO 


Happy 

Valentine’s Day 

“Jesse,” watercolor, by Lisa Steffens “Girl with red hair,” by Martin Poole “Poke Weed,” by Stephanie Sipp 

Flora, Fauna & Figure at the Red House Studios and 

Gallery this February 

BY STAFF REPORTS • BLACK MOUNTAIN 

Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League’s gallery 

blooms this February for the show Flora, Fauna, 

and, Figure. Enjoy the wonders of the league’s 

artists, including that of figurative studio artists 

and botany-driven journalists, February 11 – 

March 9 at The Red House Studios and Gallery. 

Reception, Friday, February 14, 5-7pm. Open: 

Monday through Saturday, 10-5pm, Sundays, 10 

-3pm. 310 W State St., Black Mountain. 

www.svfalarts.org 


CREATIVITY: A METAPHOR FOR UNIVERSAL 

AWARENESS 

CREATIVITY WITH MARIJO MOORE 

Satire is the trickster of the creative realm. Ambiguous 

in nature, the trickster hopes to improve 

humanity by exposing what needs to be changed. 

The essay below, written by Zoey M. Jaynes - a 

senior at TC Roberson High School in Asheville, 

who will attend Brevard College to study English 

with a journalism concentration in the fall of 2020 

- is an excellent showing of the satirical trickster 

in action. Her creation joltingly reminds us that we 

must listen to our youth. They are the designers of 

the future, of which some of us are dreaming. 

This is normal: a satirical exposure of 

modern society — by Zoey M. Jaynes 

In modern-day, our most significant issues usually 

stem from one greater source, the political 

divide. 

Upon hearing others opposing beliefs on 

things, we tend to get a nasty taste in our 

mouths. This is normalcy now. We have become 

accustomed to hating others for opinions taught 

to them for generations upon generations. Our 

media oversaturates us with false representations 

of the other side, vilifying them into horrible monsters 

that we must keep our children away from 

— pulling their arms in crowded places, pulling 

them apart, to keep them safe. We live divided, 

with grand prejudice against our own people. 

This is normal. 

And to celebrate our new-found identities, I 

have a grand proposal; we should separate ourselves 

into separate societies — What better way 

is there to live than that? — completely detached 

from those horrible monsters that lurk near your 

doorstep. For this grand step forward, we will 

again need to split our nation, but indeed a worthy 

price to pay for such needed peace. Loss of 

family homes, lifestyles, are only a small price to 

pay. We shall separate in a way similar to the civil 

war division but splitting the nation all the way 

and letting California decide upon joining one 

side or splitting in two. Oh, what glorious prosperity 

we shall soon obtain! We shall fly our flags, 

scream our thoughts, wear our armbands, build 

our walls never once hearing any opposition, no 

other opinion, no voice. This will be normal now. 

Oh, but of course, those monsters will be 

something we still can’t free ourselves from. Our 

children will never be safe. They might hear the 

old ideals of the other party and become swayed 

in their stances, their morality quivering. There 

could be spies lurking in the streets, spouting 

their nonsense. We must wipe them out of 

history books. Out of our history, to protect our 

children from the dangerous treachery residing in 

the places that we do not dare go. 

Our tensions, our disgust, our hatred shall 

not die. We will warn our children of that evil, 

disgusting monsters, ones of colors, nose rings, 

spray tans, what have you. Sitting there typing 

hypocrisies, blatant lies against everything we 

have ever known, what we have always stood 

for — ripping apart our beliefs because they feel 

so inclined to do so. But no more shall we stand 

for this tyranny, this abuse of free speech. We 

must rise against their evil and spare our future 

generations; we must wage a most glorious war 

that has been dying to break loose since the very 

dawn of our dear nation. But this war will have a 

victor, a champion to decide our fate. We must 

wipe out monsters, the oppressors, the villains, 

and start anew. Separate, sophisticated, but so 

much better than they were. 

Our grand battle will be one of the new age, 

a nuclear war. Bombs shall scream through 

the skies, and one after one, flag after flag, 

wall after wall, home after home the other ugly, 

disgusting, hateful side shall fall. All shall fall. 

It may take months or even years, thousands 

of lives lost in the snap of your fingers. It is a 

righteous war, one we’ve always known would 

come upon us. We will have two families chosen, 

families of honor or respect. They will fight to the 

death, and whichever has 

the most or at least one 

person remaining shall get 

to choose the destination 

of the first bomb. The face 

of the new nation, a better 

one. A normal one. 

When the bloodshed has 

finally ended, the smoke 

clearing, we shall have 

drones sweeping the land. 

However, many remaining 

from each side shall be 

called to the designated 

quarantine areas, safe from 

the nuclear waste, the 

decay, the ugly places we 

dare not look upon. And 

they shall fight to the death 

once more; the living side 

shall be named victorious, 

the heroes of the new pure 

nation. And as a prize shall 

be responsible for repopulation. 

We shall forge a new 

government, a whole one 

unseparated by beliefs or 

ideals. 

So will you sign for my 

Art copyright © by 

modest proposal? And join 

MariJo Moore 

the coalition to make the United 

States exactly as it should be, separate? 

MariJo Moore (Cherokee/Irish) is an author/ 

poet/anthologist/seer/medium. She has authored 

over 20 books, the most recent being 

Crow Quotes Revisited. Currently, she is working on 

an anthology titled Power of the Storm: Indigenous 

Voices, Visions, and Determination - Dedicated to 

John Trudell, which will be released in early 2020. 

She resides in Asheville. www.marijomoore.com 

INFO 


‘Jonas’ continued from page 22 

This is one of the most important 

aspects of abstract 

art. Once freedom to create 

form shows up, it is natural 

for the intuition or the soul to 

manifest another version of a 

similar type of composition. 

The soul has now developed 

its language, for now. That can easily change in the 

next painting because intuition says so. 

Transport yourself into a state of being and be 

open to allowing the art to flow through you without 

involving the ego, if possible. Be immersed in the 

process from moment to moment and feel the art 

becoming your reason for being 

This may sound easy, but it is not! It took me 

years to transition from representational art to the 

world of abstraction. So many doubts and fears 

show up. When we do this work, we begin to 

analyze why there is so much fear in making art. 

It is a lot easier not to go so deeply within and 

paint nicely-staying on the surface. Will the artist 

stay true to themself and create deeper, or will 

they continue trying to “look good” and stay on the 

surface? The true artist will have to face vulnerability, 

take bold risks, and the magic will happen. 

‘Health’ continued from page 20 

While we do not know how to protect our 

appendix from developing life-changing inflammation, 

we can choose health patterns that promote 

a healthy gut – avoiding pro-inflammatory substances 

(excess sugars and saturated fats, red 

meats, and highly processed meats) and adopting 

a gut-healthy lifestyle (maintaining a healthy 

weight and BMI, getting regular exercise, drinking 

adequate water intake, and eating a high fiber 

diet). 

And finally, consider the smallest actor of all 

– the fifth toe, the “pinky.” Of what possible use 

could it be? What if it were amputated, would that 

make any difference at all? 

The natural action of the foot during a normal 

stride is: the heel strikes the ground, followed by 

Trust yourself. Taking 

risks takes courage, even 

if it means painting over 

“a nice corner.” Fears 

will arise with feelings of 

uneasiness, impatience, 

and lack of trust. 

A combination of 

deep experimentation, being daring, and being 

courageous produces fresh, original, potent art. 

Interestingly enough, people are attracted to this art 

without having any idea why. Paintings done under 

these courageous moments are full of life, the 

colors, and composition are divinely inspired. The 

work bypasses the intellect and is uncontrollably 

targeted directly to the soul of the viewer. 

In my humble opinion, that’s what art is supposed 

to do. 

“Children have no judgment, 

so they are free 

to create from whatever 

comes through them. Their 

actions are pure and innocent, 

and innately divine..” 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

Jonas Gerard Fine Art 

240 Clingman Ave, Asheville 

(828) 350-7711 

CONTINUED 

Jonas Gerard At Riverview Station 

191 Lyman St, Asheville • (828) 255-6300 

www.jonasgerard.com 

the outside of the foot touching the ground down 

to the outside ball of the foot – the fifth toe, then 

rolling across the balls of the toes to the great toe 

for the push off for the next step. Throughout the 

normal stride, the fifth toe provides critical stabilization 

for the foot and ankle. Those who have 

had the fifth toe amputated report great difficulty 

in walking and a loss of stabilization in the normal 

step. Even your little toe deserves healthy choices 

of correct shoe styles, healthy foot habits, and 

caution when walking to protect this small, but 

essential body part. 

The Designer of our bodies understood that 

even small things could have a significant impact 

on our health and well-being. Our goal should be 

to protect and preserve as best we can even the 

least of these. 

70 Main Street • Clyde, NC 28721 


February Comics 

www.brotherrock.net 

Ratchet and Spin 

By Jess and Russ Woods 

Ratchet and Spin © 2020 

Corgi Tales 

By Phil Hawkins 

Best in Show 

By Phil Juliano 


WE LOVE LIVE THEATER 

The Magnetic Theatre offers comedy, Burlesque and more this February 


The Magnetic Theatre prides itself 

on offering a wide variety of original 

programming, ranging from 

comedy, burlesque, and horror 

to new plays about social change. 

In each case, we strive to support 

creativity in our community, particularly 

for emerging artists. 

This February, Magnetic is bringing 

Asheville fun-filled shows, workshops, 

and more. 

On February 7 at 8 pm, Deb au 

Nare presents Funny & Bare. A delicious 

mix of classic burlesque and 

comedy featuring headlining stars, 

May Hemmer and Evelyn Vinyl. 

Hosted by “The Glittering Guffaw,” 

Deb au Nare, bringing her signature 

mix of wit and sass to the mic as 

well as burlesque performances. 

Also featuring performances by 

Rebel Vitale, Sue Meringue and 

Snickersnee. Tickets are $30 and 

can be purchased at 

debaunare.com/funnyandbare 

Deb au Nare is a glamorous, 

goofy, and highly professional burlesque 

performer currently based 

in Asheville. She has been teasing 

her way across the country since 

2007 and has won awards for her 

back-bending chair acts. She is the 

headmistress and founder of the 

Burlesque Academy of Asheville 

and produces several shows locally, 

including Risque Monday, Pineapple 

Peep Show, and Funny & Bare. With 

big hair and an even bigger personality, 

her signature style of glamorous 

classic burlesque costuming 

mixed with hilarious storylines 

always leaves the audience laughing 

and longing for more. 

Stand-up comic and storyteller 

Cameron Davis will present his delightfully 

satiric and playful one-person 

show Lying to Strangers, on 

February 8 at 7:30 pm. 

This year-in-review show features 

character-based stand-up sets, storytelling, 

and video sketches created 

by Davis. 

“When you meet someone for 

the first time, you are developing 

your character,” he says. “You have 

the potential to play with people’s 

expectations because we take 

everyone at face value when we first 

meet them. This has been a huge 

inspiration in developing my solo 

characters, that I, too, am another 

character who can wander into 

someone’s life. My truth, personality, 

demeanor, are a small sketch of 

myself that I imprint on someone as 

they drift away and continue with 

their lives.” 

Davis is a writer, producer, and 

comedian from Miami. He moved to 

Chicago in 2012 to pursue comedy. 

Now, 29, he is considered old by 

millennial standards. It’s all good 

though because his favorite phrases 

were ‘Friends was pretty problematic 

looking back on it’ and ‘Which 

ska band did you watch at Warped 

Tour 2002?’ anyway. 

Davis’s journey has gone through 

the existential poetry phase, straight 

into the sloppy college sketch 

phase, then into the intellectual 

stand-up phase, on to the improv 

love-fest phase, and has recently 

moved into the silly, bare-boned 

world of a solo sketch. At his heart, 

he is a lover of performance and will 

write until the final, whimsical wisdom, 

deathbed phase of his career. 

IF 

YOU 

GO 

The Magnetic Theatre 

375 Depot Street in the River 

Arts District. Patrons can call 

the Box Office at (828) 239-9250 or 

visiting www.themagnetictheatre.org 

For questions, please contact Artistic 

Director Katie Jones: 

kjones@themagnetictheatre.org or 

call (828) 239-9250.

February 2020 Issue

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