Gallery Times

Tour de Art returns Saturday

The Avery Tour de Art returns this Saturday, offering the next to last chance to take in the wide range of art featured on the tour of 11 art venues, ranging from Shull's Mill Road to Valle Crucis to Pineola.

Participating galleries and studios host a day-long open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring art and artists of the region.

Some locations feature special events or visiting arts, while others host demonstrations and offer refreshments. Each, however, gives visitors a generous glimpse of art in the High Country.

Maps are available at each location to direct visitors to participating locales.

The Avery Tour de Art is held the fourth Saturday of each month, from June through October, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Participants are Kevin Beck Studio, Art Purveyors, Carlton Gallery, Linville Gallery, The Art Cellar Gallery, Sally Nooney Gallery, Alta Vista Gallery, 87 Ruffin Street Gallery, Avery Arts Council Gallery, Linville River Pottery and Crossnore Gallery. For more information, call (828) 898-5175 or (828) 963-7246.



Jewelry by Sandra Vawter at ArtWalk

This week, ArtWalk is featuring one of its newest jewelers, Sandra Vawter.

Vawter has a large selection of her jewelry for sale at ArtWalk, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces and lockets. Her pieces are made using delicately sized glass, metal and gemstone beads.

The glass beads, which make up the majority of the pieces, are unique in their quality and detail. Many of the glass beads are gracefully enhanced by iridescent foil or crackling.
She offers a wide variety of colors and color combinations, including several oranges and olive greens, perfect for fall.

Sandra Vawter's jewelry is located on ArtWalk's main level.

ArtWalk is located at 611 W. King St. (across from Mast General Store) Boone, N.C. 28607. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. For more information, call (828) 264-9998, e-mail (artwalkboone@yahoo.com) or visit http://www.artwalkboone.com.



Treasures & Wildlife at Carlton

Carlton Gallery plans an inspiring Avery Tour de Art event on Saturday, Sept. 25, with a "Treasure Hunt" for oils, acrylics and mixed media from the paintings in storage by artists Vae Hamilton, Andrew Braitman, Roy Nichols, Mary Dobbin, Peter Paglen, Joe Barthet, the late David McCaig and Jim Crompton in the Studio/Alternative Gallery.

The artists' subject matter ranges from traditional and abstract landscapes, still lifes and equine art to musicians rendered in many styles, colors and textures.

A painting demonstration is also planned for the Avery Tour de Art event by wildlife painter, Brian Carney. He is noted for his impressionistic and semi-abstract wildlife art. Carney's choice subject matter is whitetail deer, cougars, birds and other members of the American wildlife family.

Carlton Gallery is located 10 miles south of Boone and 7 miles north of Linville on N.C. 105 in the Grandfather Community. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.



Sculptor Nathan Blank at Art Cellar Gallery

The Art Cellar Gallery in Banner Elk presents the sculpture of artist Nathan Blank, featuring his award winning piece, "Totem," now installed in the front of the gallery.

Blank received the Judges Merit Award at the 25th Anniversary Lenoir Sculpture Celebration on Sept. 11 for "Totem," which was created in wood and steel, and impressed the judge for both its rich detail and form.

Blank creates interior and outdoor sculptures, along with wall pieces and small functional work, such as his sculptural candle holders and platters. He is known for attention to detail and the rich surfaces he creates in all his sculptures.

Along with the new work by Blank, the gallery will feature new paintings by David Birmingham, Norma Murphy and Gregory Smith, during this Saturday's open house as part of the Avery Tour De Art event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Art Cellar Gallery is located on N.C. 184 in Banner Elk. For more information, call (828) 898-5175.