The Asheville Arts Scene
March 2007
By Karen O. Lane
Writing about art can encompass everything. In order to narrow it down, I have decided that this little newsletter should at least be informative. Hopefully it will provide inspiration for those interested in the arts to participate more often and more intensely both as makers of art and as an audience to the arts.
My personal story is similar to many that I have met here in Western North Carolina. When people ask where I’m from, I say America because I have lived many places. Before moving to Black Mountain in 1998 I had lived in London, England for four years. I had at that time committed myself to living as an American ex-pat for the rest of my life, but in August of 1998 my sixteen year old daughter and I moved to a place I have always admired from afar, the mountains of North Carolina.
As far as my art background goes it stretches over almost four decades. I decided when I was fourteen that art would be my future and that is what I continue to study. I have a B.F.A. from Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Primarily a painter, I also at one time had a jewelry design and production business in New Orleans and Philadelphia. In London, I worked for an internationally acclaimed artist that produces huge glass and steel sculptures commissioned by an international and corporate clientele.
Initially my attraction to the Asheville area was that I needed some space and nature, a break from the stress and sophistication I was surrounded by in London. A little example of the sharp edge of intellectualism I was faced with in the London art world would be a show some may have seen that opened in 1998 at the Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly of the Saatchi Brothers art collection aptly titled Sensations. It was harsh, and exactly what the title suggested, sensational. Personally sensational to me in that it made me feel physically ill when I saw it. A very significant show obviously and actually I do respect that it had the impact that was intended. For a variety reasons I wanted to really get away from it all and go home to comfort in America. How exciting it was to us when we landed in the area to find out that Asheville has an exciting art scene that is relatively easy to navigate. Well it’s not so crowded, no two hour lines to get in to start with. The most difficult thing here is finding out all that is available because there is so much going on.
I’ve been running on a bit and would like to end this first newsletter with a suggested list of activities for April. In many ways this is the beginning of the busy arts season for 2007.
April 1, Sunday 4:00
Asheville Bravo Concerts
Hungarian State Folk Ensemble
April 6, Friday 5:30-8:30
First Gallery Stroll of the ’07 Season in Asheville
April 13 &14, Friday & Saturday 8:00pm
Asheville Lyric Opera
LaTraviata
Biltmore Estate in April
April 7 - May 20 Festival of Flowers at Biltmore Estate
April 10 New York Food Writers Culinary Demonstration
Biltmore Events Calendar
April 21, Saturday
Running of the 61st Annual Blockhouse Steeplechase Race
Tryon Riding & Hunt Club
FENCE in Tryon, North Carolina