225ºF Encaustic Encounters

225ºF Encaustic Encounters, Boone, NC
(all photos: Troy Tuttle)

I have been writing for months about the 225ºF Encaustic Encounters show at the Turchin Center for Visual Arts located on the Appalachian State University campus; well it opened on Friday, November 6, 2009. The attendance, approximately 1700, astounded all artists present.
This show is quite stunning in the Turchin’s cathedral-like space. If you have not had the opportunity to see a large encaustic installation I urge you to make a trip to Boone, NC. You will be greatly rewarded by a jaw dropping show. The show will close on Feb 6, 2010.



Interview with Anna Parker-Barnett of Gallery Minerva, Asheville, NC
I sat down with Anna Parker-Barnett to seek her thoughts on Asheville and its art scene. Here’s what she had to say:

Farmer: “Anna, having recently made the move myself, I’m curious about how you decided to settle in Asheville?”

Parker-Barnett: “Our family made a decision to move to Asheville because it has a year round population, physical beauty and great schools. I was traveling to Los Cabos, Mexico from Hickory and felt we needed to settle into one place as our children neared high school age.”

Farmer: What? Los Cabos?
Parker-Barnett: “Yes, I had a furniture, rug, lamp, gallery and design business, The Baja Design Center, that served the Canadian and American market in that area. The Art gallery became the Parker Collection which I sold in 2004.”

“When we made the move to Asheville I decided to focus solely on fine art. In Asheville I have found the warmth, acceptance and support to flourish.” Parker-Barnett goes on to say, “Ashevillians embrace newcomers and have great regard for their regional artists.”

Of her early influences, Parker-Barnett reflects, “My childhood is steeped in the memories of my mother’s design flair; she was young and experimental. Life was like being inside a Steve St. Claire painting; she was very daring with her design sense."


Our discussion touched on some of economic considerations in the local art world we specifically talked about the ECONOMIC IMPACT of the PROFESSIONAL CRAFT INDUSTRY in WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA study. This study has revealed our craft industry as a significant economic engine with an estimated $207,000,000 annual economic impact. “While the economic impact of fine art has not been specifically studied we can surmise that the fine art impact, with so many more outlets, easily surpasses this $207 million figure.” Parker-Barnett further asserts, “So far none of the Asheville galleries have closed during the recent economic downturn.”

When asked what she sees in our arts future, Parker-Barnett passionately reveals her desire to see a visual arts center in Asheville. “Asheville has a sophisticated population who will support a visual arts center downtown. Plus, we have a significant pool of artists right here in WNC. Our artists are highly innovative and creative. The artists strive to be accessible--take the River Arts District and the Downtown Art Walk as examples. A visual arts center would bring more of the artists to downtown, they would then draw more visitors to the Asheville area.”

“We could start by integrating a city guide of galleries that highlights the three main gallery districts, Historic Downtown Asheville, River Arts District and Biltmore Village.”

Farmer: “Is Asheville on the right track?”
Parker-Barnett: “Asheville is moving along with good direction. We offer great variety to art lovers.”

Farmer: “What are your thoughts on running a successful gallery?”
Parker-Barnett: “It is sheer magic when you witness someone’s connection with a painting turn into a need. This keeps me motivated.”

Farmer: “What qualities do you admire or look for in an artist?”
Parker-Barnett: “Confidence without ego, comfort with what they say, professionalism and flexibility--being open to suggestion.”

Farmer: “I’ve been wondering, why the name Minerva?’
Parker-Barnett: “I wanted the gallery to stand on its own, I didn’t want it to be all about me and Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and the arts.”


Free Planet Radio, Jan 30, 2010
"World Music Supergroup" in concert at the Arts Center. Saturday January 30th, at 8:00 pm. Tickets $10 and available by phone (828)649-1301 or online at http://www.madisoncountyarts.com/mcac/

Free Planet Radio, based in Asheville, NC is becoming one of the most exciting partnerships in world music today. Their world-jazz-classical fusion is a trans-cultural canvas that is at times deeply reflective and at other times rhythmically mind-bending.

This ensemble is composed of River Guerguerian, Armenian-Egyptian born in Canada, an award-winning multi-percussionist / composer whose lyrical percussion style earned him a long-standing tenure with Turkish flutist virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek; Eliot Wadopian, a two-time Grammy-award winner, proficient on string and electric basses, a 17 year member of the Paul Winter Consort. He’s also worked with Hal Galper, Glen Velez, and Eugene Friesen; Chris Rosser, an accomplished pianist, composer / producer, renown for his outstanding performances on a variety of indigenous stringed instruments. He studied under the master Ali Akbar Khan.

Savannah, Atlanta and Asheville - Worth a look

Savannah
Teaming with SCAD influences the opening of contemporary art spaces in Savannah is quite refreshing. It's such a lovely place to walk about and stumble into things like to gardens, quaint shops and yummy eateries. It's an unexpected pleasure to find interesting and compelling contemporary art in history steeped Savannah.

2carGarage

During my visit in early Feb, an excellent show of Chris Kienke's work was up. His work covers a lot of territory, figures, animals, abstraction, fish, water and yet is all recognizable as Chris Kienke. I liked the variety in the scale of work as well,this variation provided unexpected delight from large diptychs to more personal, small work.

Color abounds, Kienke's visual language is evolving over each piece you see the strokes change, the palette changes, and the content. In his own words, "...I recognized the value in the unintended". Thanks for this show.

Up next at 2carGARAGE is Betsy Cain's strong and decisive mental landscape work. Stop by, you'll be glad you did.

Atlanta
Meeting fellow artists and reacquainting is sheer delight. I love how artist's minds work and how we look at the world. It was my great pleasure to me John Folsom.

John Folsom
Folsom has just received confirmation of a show at the Gibbes Museum in Charleston; well deserved I might add.

John's photo based work lends a dreamy quality to the bucolic settings he photographs; his work is visually arresting and expertly crafted. Folsom reminds us why our landscape is important. This is especially significant to me as I've just seen some of George Masa's, the Ansel Adams of Appalachia, remaining photos of the Blue Ridge (c. 1922-1933). Much of this landscape has been preserved in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Where it could have gone so terribly wrong, this beauty has been preserved.

We depend upon George Masa and John Folsom to help us remember what was.

Asheville
Asheville has more galleries than Charlotte, hmm. What does that say for this jewel of a town?

Gallery Minerva
Anna Parker-Barnett and Heidi Gruner--this is the gallery staff with whom I'd love to work. They do not hide behind computer screens and desks, they get up and greet you when you visit Gallery Minerva. Anna and Heidi speak with great authority about each artist in their gallery, I'm not talking art-speak either. It is so refreshing. Thank you both.

I'm happy to report the expansion of Gallery Minerva into a second space on Biltmore Ave. Anna is a great resource for starting or expanding your collection. If you are a first time art buyer and feel a bit intimidated, ask Anna, she will deftly guide you through the art purchase process. I urge you to support this downtown expansion and spend time and money in Asheville. This is a courageous move for Gallery Minerva and I applaud their grit and hope for their continued success.

Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts
Another Asheville treasure is Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts. I'm not sure how many artist work in this fine space, but let me say, it's a beehive of activity.

I attended a recent opening, "Ceramic Artists Members Show" and was thrilled to see the large crowd there. The show runs through March 6. Good food, great music and best of all excellent clay work. The show is beautifully curated by the resident artists. They are all versed in the complexities of ceramic art and willing to share this information with you.

Odyssey is one of those unique places that fosters artistic achievement; you'll find studio space with all the necessary equipment, classes, seminars, lectures and workshops.

Here I'll share the work of two Odyssey artists, Jillian Wolf and Kat McIver. Stop by Odyssey, see the show, be dazzled by the quality work made right here in Asheville.