September 2026 Roundup: Are You Afraid of the Dark?
In this issue: our fall exhibition on life and death, one-of-a-kind oddities inspired by the natural world, plus a heart-to-heart with Asheville’s most inspiring jewelry artist.
On the cusp of fall, our work this month has been a meditation on and exploration of life and death, tradition and innovation. Our virtual exhibition Body of Work explores these themes in absolute terms, examining both medium and the human form, from glass bones to earthenware lips. This month's podcast and artist interviews feature Body of Work exhibitors who have reinvented themselves after a near-death experience, brought a heritage medium into the 21st century, and crafted glowing, touch-reactive pieces inspired by bioluminescent creatures.
We pushed ourselves too, assembling two extra exhibitions and hosting the first of many quilt block workshops. We invite you to visit our gallery wall at the Ferguson Family YMCA and dig into the personal and community history behind WNC’s barn quilts to understand what we’ll lose if we don’t focus on preserving these trails (we’ll share more about that next month). The second exhibition is a partnership through our PAVE program, opening at the Folk Art Center and on our website early next month. Stay tuned!
We are so grateful for the opportunity to do this work and to shine a light on local art stories that matter. We hope you’ll join us next month at our friend-raiser and barn quilt workshop, so you can be part of this important work!
‘Body of Work’ Exhibition
As shadows grow long and the veil grows thin, ArtsvilleUSA presents Body of Work, an exhibition that bears witness to the joys and burdens of the corporeal body.
View our virtual fall exhibition here.
Michael Gates Reimagines Catawba Valley Pottery for a New Era
Drawing on a six-generation legacy, sculptor Michael Gates blends traditional Catawba Valley pottery methods with surrealism and esoteric symbolism.
Discover Michael Gates’ work here.
Out of Her Head: Bridget Fox’s Cabinet of Brains and Other Curiosities
Mudventions founder Bridget Fox transforms clay into hand-glazed brains, touch-reactive lamps, and one-of-a-kind oddities inspired by the natural world.
Read our interview with Bridget Fox here.
Under Pressure: Jewelry Artist Jeffrey Burroughs Transforms Hardship Into Hope With River Arts District Artists
RADA president Jeffrey Burroughs discusses how financial investment and community action shape the River Arts District’s recovery and Asheville’s future.
Listen to our conversation with Jeffrey Burroughs here.
News + Notes From Asheville and Beyond
Here’s where we share quick bites for busy hands and hungry minds. This month: Southern Highland Craft Guild welcomes 39 newly juried members, colorful barn quilts appear at the YMCA, and a guided sculpture tour in Boone puts sculptor Julie Slattey in the spotlight.
Exhibitions
- Southern Highland Craft Guild New Members Exhibition | October 2, 2026 - January 20, 2027 | Folk Art Center | ArtsvilleUSA Digital Magazine
ArtsvilleUSA is proud to announce the opening of a virtual showing of the Southern Highland Craft Guild New Members Exhibition on October 2, 2026, the same day the show opens at the Folk Art Center in Asheville. The virtual exhibition, available at ArtsvilleUSA.com, will complement the in-person event by providing an interactive platform to explore the works and stories of the 39 newly juried Guild members. - Barn Quilt Exhibition | Through October 31, 2026 | Ferguson Family YMCA
ArtsvilleUSA presents an exhibition highlighting the legacy of barn quilts in Western North Carolina, on display at the Ferguson Family YMCA in Candler. The show features work by Tricia Palm of Burnsville Barn Quilts and photographs by Tim Robison and Michael Freas, including images documenting the Haywood County Arts Council Barn Quilt Trail. The exhibition is free and open to the public. - Body of Work | Open Indefinitely | ArtsvilleUSA Digital Magazine
ArtsvilleUSA’s fall exhibition, Body of Work, explores the joys and burdens of the corporeal body, reflecting on what slips away and exalting what endures. Curated by Elise Wilson, the show features evocative works that blur boundaries between presence and absence, beauty and dissolution. See it here.
Events
- Guided Outdoor Sculpture Tour | October 2, 2026 | Appalachian State University
A guided outdoor sculpture tour of the Campus Arts Corridor at Appalachian State University offers the public an opportunity to explore newly installed works along the pathway connecting the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts. Led by TCVA’s Lead Preparator and Installer, Mandy Bass, the tour highlights sculptures on display through August 2028, including Julie Slattery’s “Don’t Tell Me to Get a Grip,” featured in ArtsvilleUSA’s recent summer exhibition, Open // Air. Learn more here. - Carolina Craft Day | October 3, 2026 | North Carolina Arboretum
Carolina Craft Day celebrates the Appalachian region’s tradition of crafts and art, featuring local artists and vendors offering handmade goods ranging from textiles and ceramics to woodwork and jewelry. Attendees can enjoy live music and craft demonstrations throughout the day. Learn more here. - Blue Ridge Ball | October 10, 2026 | Blue Star Gallery
The first annual Blue Ridge Ball at Blue Star Gallery in West Asheville features live bluegrass and Americana music by the Darren Nicholson Band, open-fire dining by Chef Michelle Bailey, and a silent auction of works by Western North Carolina artists. Proceeds benefit the Path Forward Foundation’s disaster relief and recovery support for local artists, musicians, makers, and small businesses. Tickets include dinner and drinks, with all funds supporting community programs. Learn more here. - Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands | October 15 - 18, 2026 | Harrah’s Cherokee Center
The 79th annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands features more than 100 juried artists exhibiting handmade works across 12 mediums, including clay, fiber, wood, metal, glass, jewelry, and more. Attendees can enjoy live demonstrations, music, and hands-on activities. Admission is $12 for adults, with free entry for children under 12. Tickets are available at the door. Learn more here.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
All images published with permission of the artist(s); featured artwork: Bridget Fox.