Last Minute and Local
Doe Ridge Pottery in downtown Boone is one of many local galleries offering ideal gifts for the holiday season.
If you are reading this and have not finished all of your Christmas shopping, you officially qualify as a last minute shopper.
Let’s face it, some of us do our best work at the last minute when the pressures on and the deadlines are looming.
When you are looking for that last minute, one-of-a-kind present that will keep on giving all through the year, consider purchasing a painting by a local or regional artist, CD by area musicians or book by an author in our midst.
Alta Vista Gallery, Carlton Gallery, Art Cellar Gallery, Art and Artifacts, Hands Gallery, ArtWalk and Morning Star Gallery are among the local galleries that specialize in local and regional artists.
If you want to give the gift of art but feel uncomfortable picking out something that your friend or family will feel obligated to hang on their wall, you might want to think about giving a membership to the Watauga Arts Council or the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum (BRAHM).
The High Country’s newest addition to our art scene, BRAHM features numerous art galleries, video presentations, an education center, gift shop and much more. Yearly BRAHM memberships come in a variety of forms, including Student ($25), Individual ($40), Young Professional Couple ($50) and Family ($75). Membership includes free admission to the museum, regular email newsletters, and a 10% discount on museum programs and classes. For more information, call BRAHM at (828) 295-9099, ext. 3007.
Another way of giving the gift of art is by giving art supplies or art classes to that special someone. Both Art Mart (828-264-3135) and Cheap Joe’s Art Supplies (828-262-5459) offer gift certificates that can be used for both art materials or art classes.
If you’re looking for music by local artists, a great place to start would by the Jones House Community Center in downtown Boone, home of the Watauga Arts Council. There you will find CDs by many of the musicians who make the Arts Council’s summertime Concerts on the Lawn series such a success.
Currently, the Jones House has CDs by Crys Matthews, Steve and Ruth Smith, the Worthless Son-in-Laws, the Crooked Road Ramblers, Diana & Sarvis Ridge, Lost Ridge, Brian Yerman and the Bloomin’ Yermaniums, Surefire, Southern Accent, Joe Val, Deeper Roots, Lazybirds, the Sheets Family Band, Jay Brown, the Dashboard Hula Boys, the Forget-Me-Nots, Robby Norris, Echo Park, Jessica Presnell, the Dollar Brothers, Monica Woodward, Lisa Baldwin and Dave Haney, Cora Beth Bridges and Rick Brockner, the Neighbors, and the Blue Notes Dixieland Jazz Band.
CDs by area musicians at the Jones House are $15.
The Jones House’s front parlor also features a number of books by local authors, including J.J. Brown, Maggie Bishop, Donna Akers, Tom Fowler, Lila Hopkins, Keith C. Powell, Marian Coe, Pat Mattaini Mestern, Charles F. Price, Orville Hicks, and Michaele Haas and Jane Wilson.
To contact the Jones House about gifts by local artists, call (828) 264-1789.
While you’re in downtown Boone, be sure to check out the local artwork at Doe Ridge Pottery and Hands Gallery. Both stores have been representing local artists for decades.
Hands Gallery currently has a wide selection of handmade pottery, jewelry, fabric arts, Christmas items, woven baskets, mosaics, and much more. For more information, call Hands Gallery at (828) 262-1970.
Doe Ridge Pottery now has a wide selection of wheel-thrown and hand-crafted pottery created by local artists. One of the featured artists at the gallery is the sculptural pottery by Connie Cox. Her whimsical face pots are unique and continue a tradition of sculpting faces in pottery that goes back in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. For more information, call Doe Ridge Pottery at (828) 264-1127.
High Country Galleries
Banner Elk
Clark Gallery
393 Shaneehaw Ave.
(828) 898-2095
http://www.clarkgallerync.com
Blowing Rock
Art & Artifacts
159 Sunset Dr.
(828) 414-9402
http://www.artandartifactsbr.com
Blowing Rock Frameworks & Gallery
7935 Valley Blvd.
(828) 295-0041
http://www.blowingrockgalleries.com
Rock Galleries of Fine Art
1153 Main St.
(828) 295-9752
http://www.thomaskinkadeasheville.com/blowingrock
Boone
ArtWalk
611 W. King St.
(828) 264-9998
http://www.artwalkboone.com
Doe Ridge Pottery
585 W. King St., Suite D
(828) 264-1127
doeridgepottery.homestead.com
Hands Gallery
543 W. King St.
(828) 262-1970
http://www.handsgallery.org
Jones House Community Center
604 W. King St.
(828) 262-4576
http://www.joneshousecommunitycenter.org
The Open Door Global Gifts
703 W. King St.
(828) 355-9755
Crossnore
Crossnore Fine Arts Gallery
205 Johnson Lane
(828) 733-3144
http://www.crossnoregallery.com
Foscoe
MoonStar Gallery
112 Clubhouse Drive
(828) 963-6600
http://www.moonstargallery.com
Linville
Avery Arts Council Gallery
77 Ruffin St.
(828) 733-0054
http://www.averycountyartscouncil.org
87 Ruffin Street Gallery
87 Ruffin St.
(828) 733-6449
Valle Crucis
Alta Vista
2839 Broadstone Rd.
(828) 963-5247
http://www.altavistagallery.com
West Jefferson
The Artists’ Theatre
8 E. Main St.
(336) 846-3355
http://www.theartiststheatre.com
Ashe Arts Council
303 School Ave.
(336) 846-2787
http://www.ashecountyarts.org
Ashe Custom Framing & Gallery
105 S. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 846-2218
http://www.ashecustomframing.com
Bohemia
106 N. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 846-1498
http://www.bohemianc.com
Broomfields Gallery
414 E. 2nd St.
(336) 846-4141
http://www.broomfieldsgallery.com
Originals Only
3-B N. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 846-1636
http://www.originalsonlygallery.com
R.T. Morgan Art Gallery & Glass by Camille
120 N. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 246-3328
http://www.rtmorganartgallery.com
Ripples Gallery
101 N. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 246-2607
http://www.claytonproctor.com
River Rock Gallery
101 N. Jefferson Ave.
(336) 219-0089