The Asheville Arts Scene
June 15, 2007
By Karen O. Lane
Looking for something new and exciting in the Asheville Arts scene? I went to the River District Stroll last weekend for a couple of hours. It was a graduation with family in from out of town weekend, so I didn’t have a lot of time for the stroll. We picnicked in Montreat Saturday. The weather was beautiful all weekend.
On Sunday afternoon down by the French Broad, there were people everywhere. I went to see the art and some studios in particular to see how the artists and craftsmen are getting on. My first stop was the Riverview Station at 191 Lyman Street where I discovered some amazing things are happening.
The huge red brick building now called the Riverview Station was built in 1902 and has been occupied by a variety of businesses over the years. I started there because I once had a studio in the building when it was called the Candle Station. It was very rough in 2003/2004 when I tried to paint there, first off because they replaced the roof right after I moved in. Imagine trying to paint when for three months people are banging on the roof over your head. Things fell into my studio because there are no ceilings on the second floor. Supposedly there can’t be ceilings on the spaces because of the building code or sprinkler system but I’m not sure.
The very first day after the roofers finished their work, I went back to work in my studio space for the whole day. It was raining. The rain was constant and heavy the whole day. Something was not right… I had lived in New Orleans for five years. I began to get the uh oh trouble feeling that afternoon in the studio. The ground outside the studio seemed to have reached its saturation point by mid-afternoon. I knew the sound and the look of puddles getting larger at a fast rate. That was the night of the French Broad flood. What a mess…and a long story as to why it was such a mess, but focusing on the positive changes that are occurring to a potentially great studio space is my goal, I just wanted to explain the known limitations in the area before I wax positive on the newest most exciting improvements and also it’s easier to see why I was impressed with what I saw last Sunday.
On the second floor of the Riverview Station which is where my studio used to be, I found a huge corridor that has been partitioned off into studios. These have lovely high ceilings, a skylight in each space, heat and air conditioning, ceiling fans and a wooden open lattice hanging structure. I’m guessing that it is a brilliant solution to the stuff falling overhead problem but it looks good also. The floor is concrete. They painted it a perfect grey like the grey I had in my studio. The correct grey for a concrete studio floor is very important. The walls are a soft white. The light in the spaces is very nice as well.
I was so impressed with the renovation that I went to find Trudy and Helaine (the owners) and compliment them on the great work that was being done. In speaking with them I found out that Glazer Architecture had done the remodeling. Patti Glazer is the principal architect at the firm and is known as the “Code Queen” locally. Really wonderful work is all I can say on the part of the owners and the architects. Congratulations!
There are seven spaces rented but there are more available. Leasing information can be obtained from The Real Estate Group of Asheville. Their email address is rega2@bellsouth.net and their phone number is (828) 250-9700.
The Riverview Station artists have a nice new website also.
http://www.riverviewartists.com/#coolnews
The River District has been a “street of dreams”, romantic in atmosphere with the old tannery row feel, railroads, and a few old mills. The River District has so much potential and there are many people that are working on things there which is great because there is a lot that needs to be done.
The premiere organization for the area is of course RiverLink. Many people volunteer and through the organization and they have wonderful outreach, educational and family fun programs as well as monitoring and improving the river environment. Their website for volunteering is http://www.riverlink.org/volunteer.asp
Over the Amboy Bridge there is a lovely large park called Carrier Park Recreation Area with swings, picnic tables with grills for barbecuing. Adjacent to the park is a track for exercising one’s canine friends. This past winter the old junkyard was removed and what a terrific change that has provided. It is so pretty along Amboy road now. When I had my studio there I used to sometimes take a break and do a few laps around the Amboy Park.
There will be a Fall Studio stroll in the River District sometime in November and by the look of the rapidly expanding improvements it will be something to see!
NOTE: GRANTS TO ARTISTS
For residents (as of July 1, 2006) of Avery, Buncombe, Madison, Mitchell, and Yancy counties:
A regional grant from the Asheville Area Arts Council coming up is the Regional Area Artist Grants. These are for individual professional artists at pivotal points in their career and August 17 is the deadline.
Contact Clara Shulte at clarashulte@ashevillearts.com.
Let’s all keep working!