EVENTS & NEWS ARCHIVE

EXHIBITIONS

JULY 1-SEPTEMBER 13
"The Old Archie Helton Store: A Tribute" - an exhibit of photos by Clyde Helton and display of some original items sold in the store.
A reception for the show will be held Friday, July 18 from 4:30-7:00 pm.

The Appalachian Arts Center is proud to announce our current exhibition The Old Archie Helton Store: A Tribute. The exhibit is a celebration of Archie and Maxie Helton’s impact on our community featuring a collection of photographs taken by Clyde Helton, one of Archie and Maxie’s sons. The photos show the store along with images of the Helton’s coal mining and wheat thrashing work. Maxie Helton, Archie’s wife, was accomplished at Bunka needlework and several pieces of hers are on display at the Arts Center as well. A special part of this exhibition is a display of cowboy hats, boots, and western belts that were purchased from the “Archie Helton Store”. These items have been donated from the community for this exhibition.

The Old Archie Helton Store: A Tribute will be on display at The Appalachian Arts Center located in the “Old Archie Helton Store” on Rt. 19—2.5 miles south of Claypool Hill.

MAY 6-JUNE 26
"The Eclectic Menagerie" - an exhibit of student art works from the Portfolio/Resume class.
Opening Reception: Friday, May 9th, 4:30-7:00 pm.

Portfolio/Resume Preparation is designed for students finishing up their emphasis in arts, crafts, or photography at Southwest Virginia Community College. Jessica Hayes, Daniel Cunningham, Johnathon Keene, Carolyn Dameron, and Peggy Herbert have worked individually to create a portfolio of work as well as a resume, artist statement, and biography. They have worked together to plan and execute this final group exhibition.

MARCH 1-APRIL 30, 2008
Carol LeBaron–Endangered Species .
Closing reception and artist's talk: Friday, April 25th from 4:30-7:00 pm. Artist's talk will begin at 5:30 pm.

The Appalachian Arts Center is proud to feature Endangered Species, a traveling exhibition of Carol LeBaron’s textile art. Pushing boundaries with textile techniques on wool, LeBaron creates large scale wall hangings. “The language of textiles becomes a material expression of my experience. I move into and away from the surface with digital processes, hand stitch, and resist dye,” says LeBaron. In Endangered Species, she is “expressing human impact on natural forms and the internal landscape of the psyche using colors taken from photographs of devastation caused by acid rain, warfare, and other environmental pressures.”

Carol LeBaron is a professional artist, educator, and curator living in Elizabethton, TN. She received her MFA from Rhode Island School of Design and completed her Art History requirements at RISD. LeBaron received a Collegiate Teaching Certificate from Brown University. Her textile work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and has won several awards. Recent venues include the State Museum in Nashville, TN, the Association for Visual Arts in Chattanooga, TN, and the Caleb Bingham Gallery in Columbia, Missouri. Her work has been published in Surface Design Journal and Fiberarts Design Book Seven. She has taught at several art schools and universities, including Rhode Island School of Design, Appalachian Center for Crafts, East Tennessee State University, and University of Illinois Edwardsville, as well as workshops at Peters Valley, Oregon College of Art and Crafts, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and Penland School of Craft. She has received a major research grant for her resist explorations on wool. She has completed several artist residencies, and her curatorial projects include the digital textile show, Recursions: a Material Expression of Zeroes and Ones, at the Atlanta Museum of Design. She teaches Art History at East Tennessee State University and Textiles at Georgia State University.

FEBRUARY 8-FEBRUARY 28, 2008
2nd Anniversary Celebration–All are invited to come and celebrate on Friday, February 8th, from 4:30 until 7:00 pm at the Arts Center. Many new items received after the New Year will be on display for sale. The Center will officially have been open for two years during this month. Starting with approximately 50 members when it opened its doors, the Center has now grown to almost 120 members and has a current inventory of approximately 1800 items.

NOVEMBER 13-DECEMBER 22, 2007
"Winter Bazaar"–a special holiday Arts and Crafts Showcase and Sale.
Opening reception: Friday, November 16th from 5:00-7:00 pm.

The Winter Bazaar will feature unique holiday gift items including hand-woven gift baskets brimming with locally made jams and jellies, candles, soap, and more. There will be a wide variety of one-of-a-kind objects including beautiful hand-knitted and crocheted pieces made by students at the Arts Center, an expanded selection of jewelry, and a large selection of hand-made arts and crafts from over 100 local artisans. This season the Arts Center also will have a wonderful collection of holiday themed work with seasonal paintings, ornaments, gift cards, stockings, and hand-made decorations.

DECEMBER 8, 2007
Holiday Book Signing–local authors will be available to sign copies of their books.
Saturday, 12:30-4:00 pm.
Come celebrate the season, enjoy homemade refreshments, and meet the authors.

AUGUST 10-NOVEMBER 10, 2007
"Second Tuesdays Quilt Guild"–an exhibit of locally made quilts.
Opening reception and artist's talk: Friday, August 10th, from 5:00-7:00 pm.
The Second Tuesdays Quilt Guild gathers together to learn and demonstrate techniques, as well as to share information, experiences and tips. The guild was initiated by Sharon Rhudy, a Tazewell High School teacher and quilter who taught a short course in machine piecing and quilting for beginners. Once the class had come to an end, the group had become friends and none of the participants wanted to stop. So, the Second Tuesdays Quilt Guild was born. The Guild has been meeting consistently for fifteen years.

MAY-JULY 31, 2007
“And This, Our Measure”–an exhibit of large scale oil paintings by Richlands native, Perry Johnson.
Opening reception and artist's talk: Friday May 11th, from 5:30-7:00 pm.
Through and beyond the visual fact, these large scale paintings deliver sharp commentary on modern workaday culture. Visual and literary puns charge ordinary settings and situations with allegorical content.

JANUARY 2-FEBRUARY 28, 2007
“Works on Paper: From Italy to Appalachia”–showcases prints and watercolors by Bluefield artist Walter Shroyer.
Opening reception and artist's talk: January 19th from 5-7 pm.
In a series of works characterized by their exuberance and musicality, printmaking techniques including woodcut, drypoint, linocut, collagraph, monoprint, and chine colle will be on display. Miniature watercolor paintings inspired by the rich history of Italian architecture and landscape will also be on exhibit.

OCTOBER 27-DECEMBER 31, 2006
“The Quilts of Grace Herald Elswick”
Opening reception: Friday, October 27, 2006, 5-7 pm.
Made in the Cove area of Tazewell County, Virginia, from the 1940’s–1960’s, these unusual vintage quilts display vibrant and daring color combinations, exquisite craftsmanship and a refined artistic sensibility. Grace Herald Elswick’s daughter, Nan Dunford, will be in attendance to answer questions about her mother’s process and the roles her father and “granny” played in the creation of these hand-pieced and hand-quilted works of art.

NEWS

JUNE 2008
Several artisans from the Arts Center participated in the Richlands Festival. Patsy Aliff, Doug Branton, Adda Leah Davis, Peggy Herbert, Mary Martin, Cassie Ogle, and William Kyle Wimmer displayed, demonstrated, and sold their arts and crafts in the local Richlands banks on June 20, 2008.

JANUARY 2008
Robyn Raines has become the new director of the Appalachian Arts Center. Robyn grew up in Cedar Bluff and relocated back to her native southwest Virginia home after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA with a major in Textile Design, and after completing a Core Student program at the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC. Robyn was a Master Artist in bookmaking for the Apprenticeship Program at the Arts Center a year ago and is currently teaching a number of courses both at the Center, in knitting and quilt design, and at the college in Art History and Portfolio Resume. She was in a two-person exhibition, Singular + Plural, at the Arts Center last March. Robyn began working at the Arts Center last November when Sarah Romeo left on maternity leave.

On November 16th, the same evening of the Arts Center Winter Bazaar and the same day that this website was placed online, Sarah Romeo, the founding director, gave birth to Thomas Francis Romeo in Richmond, VA. Thomas came a little early, but he is healthy and doing all of the things that babies do. Sarah's tireless efforts and much appreciated hard work brought the Center from idea to reality.

New Store Hours: Starting in January, the Arts Center changed its operating hours to 12 noon until 5:30 pm. It is hoped that these new hours will make it possible for people who work–who never were able to shop during the week at the Center–to have a chance to do so.

AUGUST 2007
AAC represented artist Susan Patrice Cook had her paintings on display in a members show at the Arts Depot in Abingdon, Virginia.

JUNE-AUGUST 2007
AAC represented artist Robyn Raines’ installations were included in the “From these Hills” group show at the William King Regional Arts Center in Abingdon, Virginia.

JULY 2007
AAC represented artist Marc Maiorana’s metal sculpture was included in a group show at Page Bond Gallery in Richmond, Virginia.

The idea of painting quilt squares on barns in rural America has been spreading over the last several years, ever since Donna Sue Groves of Adams County, Ohio, first promised her mom that she would have a quilt square painted on their family’s tobacco barn. As a result, under the leadership of Donna Sue and the Ohio Arts Council, the National Quilt Barn Trail, (or as some call it–The Clothesline of Quilt Barns), has been established featuring painted quilt squares on barns in Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia, and now–Virginia!

JANUARY 2007
Two Appalachian Arts Center artisans were selected by Tazewell County’s Office of Tourism and Economic Development to produce 220 gifts for the legislators of the Virginia General Assembly. Broom maker Larry Counts’ handcrafted crumb brushes and Diane Caine’s beeswax candles beautifully represented the talent and artistry found in southwest Virginia.

SEPT 2006-AUGUST 2007
The SwVCC Appalachian Arts Center was awarded an Asset Based Development Grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

JUNE-AUGUST 2006
An Apprenticeship Program was made possible through a grant from Asheville, North Carolina based HandMade in America. The following disciplines were studied over the course of the summer: dobro making, dulcimer making, mural painting, basket weaving, brick sculpture, raku pottery, book making and leatherworking. A curriculum, Entrepreneurship for Artsisans', was also developed during the grant cycle and many apprentices went on to complete coursework in business skills geared toward the self-employed craftsperson or artist.

CLASSES

 For more information about classes, please call the Appalachian Arts Center at 276-596-9188. Registration is available through the SwVCC Admissions Office in Tazewell Hall or on the internet at www.sw.edu.

TOPICS IN CROCHET: All Levels
CRF 195-37, class #71280
Monday evenings, March 17-April 22, 2008
6:00-8:00 pm (AAC) 1 credit
This 6-week class is for all levels of crocheting. All skills & techniques will be taught in project format. During the first class meeting, students will choose 2 or 3 projects to complete during the class. There will be a variety of projects to choose from for different skill levels: from very basic for the brand new at crochet to difficult patterns for the more seasoned. Every level will use patterns & leave the class ready to continue in crochet. Estimated material cost: $20-40.

KNITTING FOR BEGINNNERS
CRF 195-38, class #71901
Tuesday evenings, April 22-May 27, 2008
6:00-8:00 pm (AAC) 1 credit
This 6-week class is geared for the beginning knitter. We will cast-on, bind-off, knit, and purl. We will use single-point & circular needles. Plus, we will felt and read patterns. All skills and techniques will be taught in project formats. By the end of the class, each student will have at least 3 finished projects and the basic skills to keep on knitting. Estimated material cost: $40.

BASKET WEAVING
CRF 195-39, class #72500
Monday evenings, May 5-June 2, 2008
6:00-8:30 pm (AAC) 1 credit
Students will concentrate on two basic basket structures. Traditional baskets, such as egg baskets, market baskets, and bean pot baskets will be the focus of the course and students will learn the tools and techniques necessary to complete a variety of baskets in different shapes and styles. This class is appropriate for beginners.

TOPICS IN QUILTING: BEGINNER
CRF 195- 30, class #57208
Wednesday evenings, January 9-April 30, 2008
5:30-8:00 pm (AAC) 3 credits
This class will feature four local master quilters teaching students their specialties.  Students will learn paper piecing, machine piecing, hand-applique, chicken scratch, basic embroidery, hand-quilting, and machine-quilting. The class will go over all of the supplies and materials needed, as well as the tools of the trade. Each student will complete a sampler quilt displaying all of the skills and techniques learned in the class.

KNITTING: SPECIAL PROJECTS
CRF 195-33, class #65199
Thursday evenings, January 9-May 1, 2008
6:00-8:00 pm (AAC) 2 credit
This class is for the knitter who wants to branch out & tackle new projects with help. Each student should be able to cast-on, bind-off, knit, and purl. The class will be much like a knitting circle with individual, one-on-one instruction. With help from the instructor, each student will choose individual projects that they wish to complete. The instructor will work with each student to determine appropriate materials, skill level, and time frame. As students are working on projects, we will have group discussions on specific pattern questions, new stitches, tricks, etc. For example, if you are a master hat and scarf maker who would love to make an afghan, socks, etc.....here's your chance!!

KNITTING: WINTER ACCESSORIES
CRF 195-34, class #78366
Thursday evenings, October 18-December 13, 2007
6:00-8:00 pm (AAC) 1 credit
This class will focus on winter gear while learning new techniques. Students will have a variety of projects to choose from to make; including hats, mittens, scarves, and holiday stockings. By the end of the class, each student will have at least 2 finished projects and several new skills under their belt. Students taking this class need to already know the basics: cast-on, knit, purl, & bind-off. Estimated material cost: $25-50. *There will not be class on Nov. 1 or Nov. 22.

INTRO TO BOOK ARTS
ART 195-01, CLASS #31482
Monday evenings, July 16-August 13, 2007
5:30-8:30 pm
1 credit
Intro to Book Arts is designed for the beginner book and paper enthusiast. Students will become acquainted with the tools of the trade and how to choose appropriate materials including papers, cloth, boards and threads. Then students will jump right into making books and book components. By the end of the term, each student will have at least 5 finished books; each demonstrating a different structure or technique. The finished books can be used for anything the student wishes: journal, photo album, scrapbook or sketchbook. Estimated material cost: $50-70.

INTRO TO SURFACE DESIGN
CRF 195-01, CLASS #31056
Tuesday and Thursday evenings, July 17-August 16, 2007
5:30-8:30 pm
2 credits
This class will introduce students to a variety of techniques used to create personalized fabrics and papers. Surface design is a perfect way for quilters, seamstresses, scrap bookers, and textile artists to add another layer to their work. Students will draw, paint, dye, print, & resist on both fabric & paper. Techniques will be demonstrated and each student will create samples. Assignments and projects will incorporate each student’s outside interests with the new skills each will be learning. Estimated material cost: $50-70.

CRAFT WORKSHOPS & DEMONSTRATIONS

Black Walnuts:  Shabori and Block Printing Demonstration
Thursday, May 24, 2007
5:30-7:30 pm 
 Robyn Raines will demonstrate the use of black walnuts as a native, natural dye for block printing and fiber dyeing. The demo will begin discussing the process of making dye from the walnut. The dye will then be used in a Japanese dyeing process called shibori; which produces a beautiful, water-ripple-like pattern on silk. From there, the dye will be thickened into a paste and used to block print on silk and paper. Carving the block will be discussed and several variations demonstrated.

Basket Weaving Demonstration
Monday, April 30, 2007
9-10 am
Cheryl Kerr usually concentrates on three basic basket structures and will demonstrate each: the radiating spoke basket, the square or rectangle base basket, and the rib style basket. She favors the shapes and patterns of the traditional baskets, such as egg baskets, market baskets, and bean pot baskets and enjoys passing on that love through basket weaving classes for all ages.

Blacksmithing Demonstration and Open Studio
Saturday, March 24, 2007
2-5 pm
Maiorana’s ironworking studio is located in Baptist Valley, Tazewell County, Virginia. The studio creates sculptural and functional ironwork for exhibition and commission. Designed and rooted in basic blacksmithing procedures, Marc Maiorana emphasizes the iron’s material values in simple, refined shapes. Open to metalworking procedures, his work combines traditional ironworking techniques with more modern, industrial methods - this produces forged ironwork: (formed under heat and pressure), fabricated ironwork: (cut and welded), or a blend of the two.  Marc will demonstrate traditional blacksmithing using an anvil, forge and hammer as well as the shaping of larger metal pieces with the power hammer. His work is represented in Atlanta, Charleston, and Charlotte galleries, and can also be seen in three contemporary iron books by Dona Meliech.

Metal Craft Demonstration and Studio Tour
Friday-March 9, 2007
9-11 am
Perfect 10 Metalcraft makes a wide range of unique home décor including weather vanes, benches, patio tables, chairs, daybeds, and hanging racks. Lee Osborne, owner and founder, will give a tour of his facility and demonstrate the large scale machinery and precision technology used to craft these high quality metal plate works.  

Pottery Demonstration
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
6-8 pm
Doug Branton will demonstrate the steps involved in throwing a pot on the potter's wheel including: centering, opening, pulling, shaping and trimming. He will demonstrate the making of handles for cup and pitcher forms and the making of lids for bottle and candle lantern forms. Finishing and decorative techniques such as slip trailing, under glazing, oxidation firing, raku firing, terra sigillata and horse hair firing will be discussed and examples of each will be shown.

Jewelry Demonstration and Valentine’s Day Sale  
Saturday, February 10,  2007
2-3 pm
Susan Blansett, a wire wrap artist, will demonstrate wire wrap jewelry techniques using semiprecious gemstones, gold filled and sterling silver wire. She will also discuss the tools and materials used to design these beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. Virginia Warner will demonstrate the art of bead weaving. Using a needle, thread and tiny seed beads, Virginia weaves the beads into a graceful spiral form. Composition and color combinations will be discussed, as well as choosing quality gemstones and art glass. Resources will be shared for finding materials locally, regionally and via the Internet.

Book Arts Workshop
Saturday, December 16, 2006
12:30-4:30 pm
Robyn Raines of Penland School of Craft will lead students in the making of a handmade journal. This workshop will begin with a quick introduction to the tools and materials common to bookbinding. Participants will learn how to choose appropriate materials including papers, cloth, boards and threads. From there students will jump right into making books and book components. Each student will bind their own long-stitch journal with wrapper case from start to finish and will be given the tools needed to make more books at home.

Stained Glass Workshop
Friday, December 8, 2006
10-4 pm
Marilynn Peacock of the Glass Peacock stained glass shop in Abingdon, Virginia, will teach basic stained glass techniques. Students will make a sun catcher out of stained glass using the copper foil method. Instruction will include pattern making, cutting, grinding and foiling glass as well as soldering and finishing techniques. Students will learn to use the tools common to stained glass and will take home a finished stained glass piece at the end of the day.

Gourd Vessel Workshop
Tuesday, November 21, 2007
1-4 pm
Artisan Sue Shelor of Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market in Meadows of Dan, Virginia will introduce participants to the fundamental techniques related to hand crafting decorative gourd pieces. The versatility of the gourd, varieties to grow, ways to dry and the process of cleaning gourds both inside and out will be covered in an informal discussion. Students will be supplied with a craft-ready gourd and embellishments. Students will apply an exterior finish and learn to prepare the bowl’s rim to apply pine needle coiling. Research information and future gourd projects will be provided. Dried gourds and natural embellishments will be offered for purchase. Examples of Mrs. Shelor’s gourd art will be on display during the workshop.

From Sheep to Shawl: Spinning Demonstration
Saturday, April 29, 2006
2-4 pm
Katie Mclaughlin will demonstrate spinning and fiber preparation using the wool of her own sheep. She will discuss the shearing of wool, raw wool, skirting , washing and carding wool and will describe various wool uses and the wide variety of sheep breeds.

Woodcarving Demonstration
Saturday, June 17, 2006
2-4 pm
Richard Vogel will demonstrate the art of green wood working. He will discuss a variety of woodcarving techniques and will have his large private collection of old hand tools on display. Examples of Richard’s work, including dough bowls, hay rakes, carved walking sticks and whittled spoons, will be on view during the demonstration.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS

 'Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Network
Thursday, June 7, 2007
7-9 pm
Diana Blackburn, Executive Director of ‘Round the Mountain and Debby Loggans, Projects Coordinator, will give a power point presentation about this new, non-profit craft organization whose mission is to promote sustainable economic development of the region’s communities by assisting local artisans with marketing, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities. ‘Round the Mountain is working to build a network of trails connecting artisan studios, shops, museums and other venues featuring locally made crafts and agricultural products. The RTM web site has already been developed and may be viewed at: www.roundthemountain.org. This is great opportunity to learn more about what is being done to promote the artisans of our area as well as a chance to ask questions and network with other craftspeople.

Matting and Framing
Monday, April 9 & Tuesday, April 24, 2007
6-8 pm
Don Elmes will demonstrate matting and framing techniques for a wide variety of works, both conventional and unconventional. Different glues, tapes, adhesives and mounting processes will be discussed as well as the use of acid-free and archival materials. Favorite venues from which to source frames, mats, glass, foam core and tools of the trade will also be shared. Use of the mat cutter, glass cutter and miter box will be demonstrated.

Photographic Documentation
Wednesday, March 29, 2007 
9 am-1 pm
Sarah Darpli Romeo will demonstrate the use of the copy stand to make photographic reproductions of two dimensional work. Doug Branton will demonstrate the use of the seamless sweep to make slides or jpegs of three dimensional works. Don Elmes will demonstrate the use of the dark box set up for photographing large scale two dimensional work and work that has already been framed behind glass. Various lighting equipment and techniques will also be discussed and demonstrated. Participants should bring pieces of their work to photograph and will be given the opportunity to use the digital camera and set-ups to make professional quality reproductions of their work.

Writing for the Artisan Entrepreneur 
Monday, February 12th & 26th  2007
2-4 pm
Tom McKnight will work with participants to create a professional resume, artists’ statement and artists' bio. Topics such as business correspondence and email etiquette will also be covered.

Archiving and Documentation
Tuesday December 5, 2006
1:30-4:30 pm 
Tom Hansell, a documentary filmmaker from Appalshop, will discuss and demonstrate the equipment used in digital videography including cameras, microphones and lighting gear. He will talk about the importance of the editing process, flow and logistics coordination as well as techniques for making your subject comfortable and tips on how to get the best from an interview. Norma Meyers, head archivist for the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University will explain the legal issues associated with document collection and preservation. Text, photography, film and recorded material will all be discussed. The Archives of Appalachia contains a wealth of information for those interested in researching the rich arts and craft heritage of our region.

The Jurying Process
Saturday, November 18, 2006
10:30-4:30 pm
Visit Tamarack, “the best of West Virginia” Craft Center. We will be given a tour and will meet with Tim Pyles to discuss the jurying process, the history of Tamarack, issues of sustainability specific to craft centers, as well as programming and funding.

Marketing and Branding
Thursday, November 16, 2006
7-9 pm
Presenter Chris Cavanaugh is the founder of Magellan Strategy Group, headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina.  Magellan provides strategic marketing insight and direction, and specializes in the development of strong travel and tourism brands. The seminar will focus on the following topics: : A definition of what a brand is, and is not, presented in a way that transcends any particular category of products, services, and experiences; several examples of why the truly great brands in our lives are not always the ones that spend the most money on advertising; how great brands can be built on a small budget; how to integrate brand into daily product and service delivery, as well as the “Seven C’s of Brand Development: competitive edge, customer focused, clarity, credibility, consistency, customer service and commitment. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Marketing from a Rural Location
Monday, October 23, 2006
12:00 pm
Shepherd and fiber artist Sandra Bennett will discuss the ways in which she has successfully marketed her handcrafted woolen items using the internet. Stories and lessons learned will be shared as we tour her family farm.

SPECIAL EVENTS

“An Old Fashioned Christmas”
Saturday, December 9, 2006
10:30-5:00 pm
Come warm yourself with a cup of hot apple cider and sample delicious homemade baked goods made by the SwVCC Art Club.

Adults and children alike will be enchanted by an elaborate toy train display created by Aaron Bryant. Watch as the trains traverse magical, miniature landscapes handcrafted by Bryant and constructed over the period of 15 years.

Hand woven gift baskets brimming with locally made honey, molasses, jam, candles and soap will be available for sale. Also featured will be colorful, hand-knitted scarves, hats and mittens, felted stockings made from the wool of local sheep, hand-painted ceramic ornaments and lots more.

Holiday Gala and Open House
Saturday, December 2, 2006
4-8 pm
The SwVCC Appalachian Arts Center invites community members to “Meet the Artist”. The public is invited to come out to celebrate the season, meet our talented local artists, musicians, craftspeople and authors, and experience the beauty and diversity of their hand work.  Musicians Ron and Rory Mullennex will perform traditional Old Time tunes on fiddle, banjo and guitar, and Bristol-based author Joe Tennis will be signing copies of his book, “Southwest Virginia Crossroads”.

“Eleganza” Holiday Jewelry Showcase
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
5-8 pm
Our represented jewelry makers will have available a greatly expanded selection of “wearable art” including coral, turquoise, freshwater pearl, lapis, garnet, swarovski crystal, sterling silver and 14 karat gold wirewrap pieces. Browse and learn more about the gemstones from the makers, sample tasty hoeres d’oevres and be serenaded by the SwVCC Classical Guitar Ensemble as they play music of the Renaissance.

“A Thing of Beauty” Small Standard Flower Show
Saturday, June 10, 2006
12-3 pm
Come indulge your senses as the Seasons IV Garden club members display exquisite floral arrangements and horticultural specimens.