HandMade in America Week of Feb. 13th -17th

Come join us at the HandMade in America Gallery Monday for HIA's Craft Lab series, Wednesday for HIA's Textile Study Group, and Friday for the Opening Reception of In Our Own Words: Language as Craft. Also don’t miss out on the 25th National Grove Park Inn Arts & Craft Conference and the Arts and Craft Heritage Week February 12-18th.

---

Monday Feb 13 Craft lab 6-8pm - How to Tell Your Story.

Telling stories is how we identify, learn, and share our history. If your goal is to educate, persuade, or simply connect in a meaningful way with a particular audience, storytelling is the single most powerful communication tool available to you and can be your best selling tool. Come learn how to tell your story as a craft maker. Executive Director, Gwynne Rukenbrod will teach you the importance of learning how to tell your unique story and hone your skills at story telling. Gwynne will talk about the three steps in a good story and group exercises will lead you through each step of YOUR story.

---

Wednesday Feb 15 Textile Study Group 5:30-7 pm - Tencel, Bamboo, Modal…. What are the? By Karen Donde.

This study group will be primarily educational, and will promote interest in and knowledge of textiles amongst interested individuals and the community.

---

In Our Own Words: Language as Craft Opening Reception 5:30-8pm Friday Feb. 17th. 

Artists describe finished works with carefully selected language, but can craft depict language when words are chosen before the act of physical expression?  Inspiration was found by a community of local WNC artists, by asking just that. February 13 through May 4, 2012, HandMade in America presents a collection with distinctly different artistic process. In Our Own Words: Language as Craft features eleven local craft artists that share the results of this creative experiment.

Personally-resonant words chosen by each artist as the impetus for making the object. “We find not the phrasing to describe our work, but rather the craft to depict our language”, says one of the artists.  From fine furniture and woven sculpture to exquisitely created wall pieces, In Our Own Words is a playful exhibit with visual, verbiage and vital messages. Artists featured in this exhibition are: Fatie Atkinson, Caryl Brt, Hayley Davison, Melissa Engler, Carla and Greg Filippelli, Wayne Fowler, Susan Link, Journel Thomas, Jenna Weston, and Jamie Womack.

Opening Reception will be Friday February 17 from 5:30–8 pm at the HandMade in America Gallery at 125 South Lexington Avenue, Suite 101, beside Storm Restaurant on Hilliard Avenue.

---

25th National Grove Park Inn Arts & Craft Conference and Arts & Craft Heritage Week What began twenty-five years ago as a small gathering of Arts & Crafts antiques dealers and collectors at the historic Grove Park Inn overlooking Asheville, North Carolina has grown into what the New York Times has declared "the most important weekend of the year for Arts & Crafts collectors."

Mayor Bellamy Proclaims February 12-18 As "Arts & Crafts Heritage Week". Citing the role the American Arts & Crafts movement has played in the "artistic, architectural, aesthetic and economic development of the City of Asheville," Mayor Terry Bellamy recently signed an official proclamation earmarking the week of February 12th-18th as Arts & Crafts Heritage Week.

for a full schedule of events go to http://www.arts-craftsconference.com/acheritageweek.html