 At a Glance
What: The 62nd Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: Over 200 craftspeople fill two floors with fine handcrafted items, while local musicians play live on the arena stage, and craft educators share their knowledge.
Where: Asheville Civic Center, 87 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville, NC
When: October 15-18, 2009, 10am-6pm Thursday – Saturday, and 10am-5pm Sunday
Admission: Adults $7, children under 12 free. Group discounts available
For four days each July and October, the Civic Center in Asheville comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts. The Fairs, a local tradition since 1948, showcase the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and feature craft demonstrations, regional music and entertainment.
Over 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the Civic Center selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry. As members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the exhibiting artists have passed a rigorous jury process to become a part of the organization. Membership is open to artists who live in the mountain counties of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and the Virginias.
 While locals and visitors can find crafts at numerous galleries, the Fairs are unique in that they offer people the opportunity to connect with the artists by purchasing directly from them. The community this fosters is important to craftspeople and patrons alike. In an age of mass production and imports, the connection to fine American craft and the individual maker is more relevant than ever. The Fairs help the Southern Highland Craft Guild fulfill its mission to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation.
The Craft Fairs take place in beautiful downtown Asheville, NC nestled within the Blue Ridge Mountains. Long known as an arts and crafts destination, Asheville offers architectural charm, eclectic restaurants and a wide variety of lodging. People come to Asheville seeking relaxation and inspiration. The Craft Fairs of the Southern Highlands certainly enhance this experience each October.
Additional information about this event is available at 828-298-7928.
Craft demonstrations are a highlight at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Watching and interacting with highly skilled craftspeople as they create is entertaining and educational. Throughout the show, visitors will have the opportunity to observe works by over 200 members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and to learn about their inspiration and methods. There are also scheduled demonstrations to enhance the experience. Most demonstrators are Guild members while others are community artists who have been invited to the Fair.
Also see the home of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
 October Schedule of Demonstrations
Susan Sorrell: fiber art. Susan Sorrell of Greenville, SC will be showcasing a variety of surface design techniques on fabric including printing and embroidery. Susan has been a member of the SHCG in the medium of fiber since 2004. In addition to creating her own artwork, she leads workshops and teaches online classes in mixed media and fiber art.
Earth 2 Art Pottery: drum making. Judith Harwood and Melanie Robertson of Arden, NC will show the process of drum making by throwing drum pieces on the potter's wheel, attaching large pieces together, texturing and decorating, and stringing fired drums. Earth 2 Art Pottery has been a member of the SHCG in the medium of clay since 2004.
Michael Hughey: calligraphy. Michael Hughey of Asheville, NC will demonstrate the modern applications of ancient techniques such as gold, ink, pigment and vellum in the art of calligraphy. He will execute and decorate a major work of calligraphy with illuminated letters and illuminated decorations. Michael has been a member of the SHCG in the medium of paper since 1982.
Anne Freels: corn shuck dolls. Anne Freels of Clinton, TN will be making all kinds of corn shuck dolls. She will illustrate different styles and processes, as well as the history and evolution of a corn shuck doll artist's work over thirty years. Anne has been a member of the SHCG in the medium of natural materials since 1989.
Dede Styles and Cassie Dickson: natural dyeing and spinning. Dede Styles of Swannanoa, NC and Cassie Dickson of Sylva, NC will demonstrate their traditional craft outside the Civic Center. Dede has been a member of the SHCG since 2000. Cassie Dickson has been a member of the SHCG since 1998.
Alwin Wagener: blacksmithing. Alwin will be outside the Civic Center with his forge, greeting Fair goers while demonstrating the craft of using heat to transform metal into art. Alwin has been a member of the SHCG since 2004 in the medium of metal.
 October Fair Entertainment
Hear Music of the Mountains at the 62nd Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Friday, October 16
11am Southern Crescent Bluegrass Local musicians share their talent and love of bluegrass.
12:30pm Sheri Lynn and Mountain Friends Performing high energy American swing-grass, this is a strong team that combines fine musicianship and pure joy, giving audiences an entertaining show.
2:00pm Carol Rifkin Band Entertainment columnist and promoter of mountain music takes the stage with her own band.
4:00pm Hot Duck Soup Kazoos, slide whistles, banjos, guitars, ukes, an antique cornet, washtub bass, and the Cacophonium! Hot Duck Soup plays old tunes like you’ve never heard ‘em played.
Saturday, October 17
11am Common Ground Regional musicians bring the Old Fort Mountain Music tradition to the Craft Fair.
12:30pm Buncombe Turnpike Performing the region’s finest bluegrass, this group has been recognized nationally including being featured on CMT.
2:00pm Blue Eyed Girl Led my new Guild member Annie Fain Liden, Blue Eyed Girl is an all-girl band steeped in old time mountain music traditions.
4:00pm Fabulous Guildenaires The Fabulous Guildenaires play that old-time mountain music the way they learned it from North Carolina legends like Tommy Jarrell, Art Wooten and Red Wilson.
Sunday, October 18
11am Firefly This trio has a unique, fresh sound with mother and daughter harmonies and a jumping fiddle accompaniment.
12:30pm Hogtown Squealers The Squealers’ unique take on old-time fiddle music, classic honkytonk, and obscure musical miscellany has delighted listeners and dancers aged two to ninety-two in WNC for over 20 years.
2:00pm Split Rail Split Rail provides a great continuity of sound that can only be achieved from years of playing together. Strong vocal harmony is their trademark.
3:30pm Cary Fridley and Down South Cary Fridley’s strong, clear voice and song repertoire express respect for old-time singers long gone. She collects songs from old records and Appalachian field recordings, making them her own. |
