April 2026 Roundup: The Abundance Around Us

Before meeting ArtsvilleUSA founder Louise Glickman and discovering my passion for Artsville’s mission to promote the art and artists of Western North Carolina, I spent my days immersed in corporate sustainability with acronyms coming out of my ears. (I served as the ESG lead for a $1B B2B CPG manufacturing company.)

Alphabet soup aside, sustainability simply means the ability to sustain ourselves through environmental management (respecting nature and our place in it), social impact (treating others ethically), and responsible governance (being transparent and principled). These values remain at the heart of how I live and how ArtsvilleUSA operates. What better moment to spotlight WNC artists who embody and champion these principles than Earth Day (April 22)?

This month, we celebrate the abundance around us: sharing community and art resources with Amanda Wilde and ReMix It; exploring how to incorporate natural materials into our closets and daily lives with Jessica Kauffman of WAXON Batik Studio; and considering ethical art production with artists from all over WNC.

This year’s Earth Day theme centers on the power of collective impact. Let’s continue to intentionally support our communities and approach both our art and our daily lives with care and purpose.

How to Give Your Closet a Second Life: Inside WAXON Studio

If the phrase “fast fashion” makes the skin under your thrifted t-shirt crawl, you’ll find a kindred spirit in WAXON Studio Founder Jessica Kaufman. In her workshops, beginners and seasoned makers gather to learn shibori, tie-dye, and the house specialty, batik, using eco-friendly dyes safe for septic systems and the water table. In this Maker’s Guide, she shares her approach to building a wardrobe that’s as gentle on the planet as it is on your skin.

Read the full story for Jessica Kaufman’s guide to an eco-friendly wardrobe.

West Asheville’s New Art Supply Thrift Shop Wants Your Forgotten Materials

Earth Day saw the grand opening of ReMix It, West Asheville’s creative reuse center and art supply thrift shop. The new nonprofit welcomed the community with donated materials, inviting folks to sift through bins of brushes, embroidery hoops, and the odd spool of ribbon. Earlier this month, founder Amanda Wilde sat down with us to share her vision for ReMix It as one of Asheville’s growing third spaces—a place where the community gathers to create, donate, and collaborate.

Want to learn more about ReMix It? Read the full story for details on Amanda Wilde’s vision and community impact.

Sustainable Craft in WNC: Preserving Tradition, Protecting the Earth

Across Western North Carolina, artists are trading tubes of acrylic for river cane cut from creek banks, and store-bought canvas for locally sourced clay. Makers like Arizona Jane Blankenship, José Pablo Barreda, and Melanie Risch keep heritage techniques alive by adopting and passing them down, all while minimizing their environmental impact. This month, former Asheville Made contributor Tom Kerr spends time with them, tracing the roots and future of sustainable craft in WNC.

For an in-depth look at sustainable craft in WNC, read the full feature by Tom Kerr.

News + Notes From Asheville and Beyond

Here’s where we share quick craft bites for busy hands and hungry minds. May arrives with a pop-up craft fair, fiber artists claim a day for themselves, and a new exhibition invites us to trace pottery’s roots through generations.

Exhibitions

• The Emotional Residue of Dreams | May 1–30 | Studio 116: Next month, Hendersonville gallery Studio 116 presents abstract photography by David Day. This exhibit, accompanied by a May 1 opening reception, supports the Blue Ridge Humane Society through a share of proceeds. More information here.
• 14th Annual Face Jug Show | May 6–May 27 | American Folk Art & Framing: Folk Art & Framing presents the 14th Annual Face Jug Show, featuring historic and contemporary face jugs by artists such as Jim McDowell and Joel Huntley. The event includes a gallery opening and evening reception, highlighting the tradition's deep roots and cultural significance. More information here.
• Connecting to Place: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational | May 16–July 25 | The Bascom: This annual group invitational from the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area highlights Western North Carolina’s craft scene and the artists’ connection to local natural materials. Various mediums are on display, celebrating both innovation and tradition in the region’s handicraft economy. More information here.
• mapping: bias & paradox | May 23–June 6 | Little Animals: Little Animals hosts mapping: bias & paradox, a group exhibition curated by Kenn Kotara and Jeff Kinzel. The show invites visitors to consider how maps reflect bias and shape perceptions in an age of information, with an opening reception on May 23.

Events

• Pop-up Mini Craft Fair | May 2 & 6 | Folk Art Center: Hosted by the Southern Highland Craft Guild, this Hurricane Helene fundraiser features 25 booths of regional handmade works by Guild artists. Visitors can shop a rotating selection of ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, and metal, with free admission and direct access to local craft excellence. More information here.
• Fiber Day | May 9 | Folk Art Center: The Southern Highland Craft Guild hosts Fiber Day, an annual celebration of fiber arts featuring live demonstrations, interactive activities, and a showcase of crafts like weaving, quilting, and spinning. The event is free and invites all ages to explore textile traditions and meet local artists. More information here.
• Deep Roots | May 30 | Pisgah Brewing: LEAF Global Arts presents Deep Roots, a family-friendly, one-day festival focused on community, resilience, and connection through world-class music, workshops, and local vendors. The event offers intergenerational activities, cultural engagement, and a celebration of belonging for the LEAF community. More information here.

In the News

• Asheville’s River Arts District recently claimed the top spot on USA Today’s list of best arts districts in America, less than two years after Hurricane Helene decimated the area.

Special Thanks to Our Partners

All photos published with permission of the artist(s); featured image: “American Alligator” by José Pablo Barreda.