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In the heart of Historic Waynesville
98 N. Main Street, Waynesville NC 28786
(828) 456-1940
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:30
Sunday 1:00-4:00 (seasonal)
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Dancing with Nature
April 2022 Issue 2 Vol 12
News, Life, and the Art Culture in the Smoky Mountains
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Spring has been an amazing show. The dogwood and ornamental cherry are putting on quite a remarkable display of white and pink. The wildflowers on the Great Smoky Mountain Park trails are exceptional with swaths of color cascading down the banks. If there is ever a time to be here, it is now. Spring in these mountains is like a secret gem as winter’s brown starts greening up the mountains and the springing up of flowers is truly magical. Winter with its late snow and freezing temps has been a bit slow to let go but summer’s heat will be here all too soon. |
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I have the greatest staff. Not only are they incredibly reliable, dedicated, and personable, we are all good friends. Together we are like a puzzle that makes a perfect picture. We come from different corners of the nation, so it makes for good conversation with visitors to the gallery as we frequently ask guests where they are from …….. perhaps in hopes of making a connection. Maybe a long-lost friend. |
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Tiffani Watts is our mid-westerner, hailing from La Porte, IN so she can walk the walk and talk the talk of a part of the country none of us are familiar with. Having that in her hip pocket, she enlisted as a Marine and was stationed in Iraq, Portugal, Cambodia, and Bulgaria ending up in New York City and then a cross country life in an RV, so she has a pocketful of stories. She is the worldliest of the bunch. |
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Melissa Burrell was born and raised in Waynesville, one of the few around, and is quick to express her continued love for her hometown. She knows the history, people, and places, which comes in very handy when we have an inquisitive customer. You may remember Melissa, along with business partners Vicki and Terry, owned Leapin’ Frog Gallery in Frog Level. Her knowledge of art is very helpful to the puzzle. |
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Lucy Gibson is our New York State person, Rochester/Lyndonville to be specific, giving the puzzle a connection to the northeast. As a jewelry artist and partner to Lucid Designs, she and Bob have been represented in the gallery since day one. That is a legacy in itself as the gallery approaches 24 years. Her creative talents are particularly helpful for a quick jewelry repair, not to mention a quick wit to keep us smiling. |
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As for me, I am the Florida native with a bit of a Georgia and Alabama connection. If you have met me, you witnessed my fondly termed LA, Lower Alabama, accent that is forever embedded as I am Panhandle Florida-born and longtime resident. This means in the fourth grade we studied the required FL history, so I am duly informed. My father was raised in Winter Haven, FL which we frequented once/twice a year to check on orange groves and visit my grandfather’s Polk Nursery. Childhood vacations were all over the state.
As newlyweds, John and I lived in Winter Park where he was with Barnett Bank on Park Avenue. Our daughter Heather was born and four weeks later we skittered back to hometown for both of us, Marianna, a rural community west of Tallahassee, where, as a teenager, post-MHS graduation, I vowed to never live again. “Never say never.” We lived there 16 years then moved to Niceville (near Destin/Ft Walton Beach for those getting their bearings) calling it home for 11 years. But the mountains had been and were calling and here we are, in love with our decision. Needless to say, I am the gallery’s lower SE connection.
We may not each be perfect, but together, we are the perfect puzzle and for that I am both grateful and blessed.
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ART AFTER DARK is back after a 2-year covid hiatus. We are cautiously excited to bring back a beloved event now under the direction of downtown Waynesville. There are nine galleries and numerous downtown merchants ready to celebrate its return. Check out the events section for particulars.
Spring has sprung, summer is upon us, and we look forward to your being here. If we ask you where you are from, it is totally out of love and hope. It has been a long 2 covid years and we are encouraged that you can once again feel comfortable visiting. But if that comfort is not yet there for you, we totally understand and look forward to the day when it is. Know that you are missed.
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May You Walk in Beauty ~ Carrie
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SPOTLIGHT ARTIST:
Julie Bagamary
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Julie Bagamary’s passion is to offer beautiful and uplifting fiber art that combines time-honored quilting and embroidery with modern techniques, vibrant colors and arrangements that example her love for nature.
Julie’s first remembrance of hand sewing was at age 9 while visiting her Granny. Then at the age of 12 she received her first sewing machine as a Christmas gift. Later, on her honeymoon, she fell in love with the mountains of NC and moved here shortly afterward where the beauty of nature and four seasons greatly influence her art.
Creations primarily use specialty batik, hand-dyed and painted fabrics while hand and machine stitching complete each piece. Antique buttons often show up in her art as well.
“My goal is for others to be encouraged by nature represented in fiber arts.”
View more work by Julie in the gallery or on our site here.
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Stroll the galleries from 6-9 pm
every first Friday, May - December 2022
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Presenting landscape photographer John Smith and jeweler Kristie MacGregor of LeGrande Jewelry for Art After Dark Friday evening, May 6th, 6-9 pm with LeGrande Jewelry preview beginning at 1 pm.
Inspired by the mountains of Western North Carolina, John Smith’s photographs capture the beauty and majesty of the Smokies. John’s images are printed on specially coated paper and framed requiring no glass.
Kristie MacGregor specializes in hand-knotted nylon jewelry featuring pearls and gems. Kristie's signature piece is a hand-knotted long necklace: One Necklace Worn Three Ways.
Friday evening, as you stroll through the gallery’s 120+ primarily regional artists enjoy live piano music by Forrest Ransburg and delight in savory hors-d'oeuvres.
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**PLEASE NOTE THAT DATES AND EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO CHANGES IN COVID GUIDANCE. PLEASE CHECK WITH US BEFORE TRAVELING. WE WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED** |
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Haywood County Arts Council
Mother Earth Month (April-May)
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The Mother Earth Exhibit will celebrate Earth Day and challenge HCAC artist members to create artwork with a sustainability and stewardship theme, using recycled materials if possible. In particular, artists will be asked that their work illustrate the successes of sustainability in Haywood County and act as a call to action for residents and visitors to be stewards of Haywood County’s natural resources.
Stop by on a Saturday in April to learn about a local environmental group’s efforts to increase the sustainability of Haywood County.
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Lake Junaluska Annual Plant Sale
Saturday, April 30th, 2022
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The Lake Junaluska Annual Plant Sale and the Corneille Bryan Native Garden plant sale will be held together on Saturday, April 30, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the open-air Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym.
The landscaping team at Lake Junaluska will have more than 2,500 plants for sale including annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, and house plants. They range from plants propagated from Lake Junaluska’s Biblical Garden to colorful, original Coleus cross-bred on the grounds. Also at the sale will be several varieties of plants from the Corneille Bryan Native Garden.
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Downtown Waynesville
Spring Rockin' Block Party
Saturday, May 28th, 2022, 7-10 pm
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Annual Festival of the Peonies
May 2 - May 31, 2022
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Head to Wildcat Ridge Farm in Clyde during the month of May to enjoy beautiful peonies in bloom. We are a Certified Appalachian Grown Peony farm specializing in growing, propagating, and selling the finest herbaceous and intersectional peony plants and peony cut blooms.
It will be open every day, from 10 am to 4 pm.
It’s free and we are inviting all peony lovers to visit the farm and enjoy our blooming peony paradise.
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Keep tabs on more upcoming regional events here
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98 N. Main Street
Waynesville, NC 28786
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