Holiday Open House at Carlton

Carlton Gallery begins its 29th Winter Exhibition in a festive ambiance with a two-day Holiday Open House on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gallery owner Toni Carlton invites everyone to visit the seasonally decorated gallery and enjoy light refreshments, hot cider and holiday spirit. The Holiday Open House on Saturday closes the Avery Tour de Art for 2011.

During the Holiday Open House, the gallery is filled with gifts for the holidays, including small wood bowls with contrasting bands by Robert Gunter, small secret boxes with solid wood inlays by Heartwood Creations and wine stoppers, oil lamps, ikebanas and wood vessels by Allen Davis, along with turned and hand carved wood bowls by Allan Hollar.

Spirited selections also include recycled and assembled glass candle holders by Fred Mead, hardwood drums by Michael Thiele, wallets, purses and eyeglass holders in jewel toned fabrics by Erda and raku bowls and vessels by John Turner along with handcrafted jewelry in 14-22 K gold and silver by designers Mia Katrin, Laura Fly, Don Haywood, Carol Francis Goode and Tana Acton.

The 29th Winter Exhibition also features two distinct exhibitions – “Small Works” and “Embracing the Light.”

The “Small Works” exhibit contains a varied collection of original art in paintings, glass, wood, pottery, woven wearables and fine jewelry from the local, regional and national artists represented by the gallery. This collection of small scale works of art reminds one that wonderful things can come in small packages.

Small paintings by Marion Cloaninger, Holt McLean, Sharon Rusch Shaver, Charlotte Foust, Jossie Fox Nichols, Kate Worm, Betsy Bohrer and Freeman Beard are original works embracing all mediums, styles and price ranges. Subject matter for this art ranges from landscapes and non-objective abstracts to figurative.

The “Embracing the Light” exhibit is a collection of gallery artists’ paintings in various media on canvas and paper that projects the serenity, quiet introspection and beauty found this time of year. Artists Kevin Beck, Anderson Giles, Debbie Arnold, Andrew Braitman, Vae Hamilton, Mike Grady and Toni Carlton, along with other gallery artists, render individualistic interpretations for the winter season and the theme of “Embracing the Light.”

The Holiday Open House takes place Nov. 25 and 26, but the 29th Winter Exhibition runs through March 15, 2012.

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

For more information about the gallery, artists or workshops, call (828) 963-4288 or visit http://www.carltonartgallery.com.

Gallery Times

Gallery Times is a weekly news feature of The Mountain Times, featuring short news items submitted by local galleries.

For more information or to make a submission, contact editor Frank Ruggiero at (frank@mountaintimes.com) or (828) 264-6397.