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Discover and Celebrate the Bliss of the Toe River Valley: Its Artists, Galleries, Art Schools, Studio Tours, Rustic Inns, Cafes... and Abundance of Activities and Natural Beauty.
Click on each of the following links to learn
more about the amazing Toe River area:
Toe River Artists: Bakersville
Toe River Artists: Burnsville
Toe River Artists: Celo
Toe River Artists: Penland
Toe River Artists: Spruce Pine
Toe River Galleries & Tours
Toe River Dining
Toe River Art & Craft Schools, Workshops
Where to Stay in the Toe River area
What to See and Do in the Toe River area
Click on each of the dozens of categories to the left to uncover what makes the Asheville area so vital, so intriguing and so, well, UTTERLY BLISSFUL!
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The Toe River Valley (named after the Toe River which flows through it) is nestled among mile-high mountains (The Roan and Mount Mitchell), and dotted with the small towns such as Bakersville, Burnsville, Micaville, Spruce Pine and Little Switzerland. It is home to hundreds of artists and artisans and the world-reknowned Penland School of Crafts.
Although you can easily drive from Asheville to Burnsville , a good starting point, in less than 45 minutes, the Toe River Valley is so rich in cultural points of interest that it deserves more than just a 'day trip'. Either plan to make SEVERAL day trips over the course of a year... or plan to spend several days taking in all that it has to offer. A good time to visit is during the twice-a-year TRAC tours that take place over the first full weekend in December and the second full weekend in June, when over 100 of these artisans open their studios to visitors. Be sure to book accommodations well in advance, as visitors arrive from all over the state for these tours.
Discover the Bliss of Art Books |
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Setting Up Your Ceramic Studio "Take a photographic tour of 10 beautiful ceramics studios, and discover exactly how and why each workspace design so perfectly meets the artist's particular needs. Every ceramist will find inspiration in Michael Sherrill's spacious and adaptable studio, so suited to his large-scale sculptures; Alice Munn's intimate and tidy atelier; and Ben Owen III's highly organized layout, arranged for volumes of production work and with a separate gallery."
Features studios of Toe River Valley ceramists: Suze Lindsy and Kent McLaughlin (Bakersville); Cynthia Bringle (Penland), and Becky Gray (Celo) |
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Highland Handcrafters: Appalachian Craftspeople is the captivating true story of both early and late immigrants to the Appalachian Mountains region and the wondrous handcrafts they have produced throughout the generations. Each profile of an individual includes a black-and-white photographs and a down-to-earth about the person's life and creations. Contemporary profiles include: Bill Brown, Metal Sculptor; Paige Davis, Metal Smith; Judson Guerard, Glassblower; Thom Kittredge and Yvonne Hegney:Potters... plus others. |
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500 Glass Objects: A Celebration of Functional & Sculptural Glass "...I bought this book purely to marvel at the shapes, originality and astonishing colours achieved by the wonderful artists whoose work is contained within. Truly luscious pieces each and everyone. Not always functional but certainly inspiring...." Contains works by Gary Beecham, Valerie and Rick Beck, and other NC Glass Artists. |
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Handcrafted in the Blue Ridge Western North Carolina is fast becoming known as the Santa Fe of the east coast. Here, tucked into the hills and at the end of dirt roads, skilled American artists and artisans are producing crafts of rare beauty and striking originality. Come visit the studios and galleries of over 150 weavers, jewelers, glass blowers, potters and wood carvers. The book includes practical information about each studio, including directions, address and phone number, hours of operation, and LISTPRICE range, as well as information about local lodging. |
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The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience "... In honor of its 75th birthday, Penland has created a very special gift that celebrates its own history and that crafters will treasure forever. It is, first and foremost, a visual delight, with 137 images of pieces created by Penland instructors and shown at an anniversary exhibition. But the volume goes beyond the Penland School, with a series of original essays that offer a fresh and inclusive vision of the power of crafting. |
| Written primarily by those outside the field—including a Nobel Laureate chemist—who came to Penland and immersed themselves in the unique experience, these articles look at crafting from the perspective of the anthropologist, scientist, folklorist, sociologist, poet, cultural historian, and critic. Their thoughts prove provocative, highly personal, and unforgettable...." |
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The Potter's Eye: Art and Tradition in North Carolina Pottery Classic North Carolina stoneware pots--with their rich textures, monochromatic glazes, and minimal decoration--belong to one of America's most revered stoneware pottery traditions. In a lavishly illustrated celebration of that tradition, Mark Hewitt and Nancy Sweezy trace the history of North Carolina pottery from the nineteenth century to the present day. |
They demonstrate the intriguing historic and aesthetic relationships that link pots produced in North Carolina to pottery traditions in Europe and Asia, in New England, and in the neighboring state of South Carolina. With hundreds of color photographs highlighting the shapes and surfaces of carefully selected pots, The Potter's Eye honors the keen focus vernacular potters bring to their materials, tools, techniques, and history. It is an evocative guide for anyone interested in the art of North Carolina pottery and the aesthetic majesty of this resilient and long-standing tradition. |
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Turners and Burners: The Folk Pottery of North Carolina "... This richly illustrated portrait of North Carolina's pottery traditions tells the story of the generations of "turners and burners" whose creations are much admired for their strength and beauty. Perhaps no other state possesses such an active and extensive ceramic heritage, and one that is entirely continuous. This book is an attempt to understand both the past and the present, the now largely vanished world of the folk potter and the continuing achievements of his descendants...." |
The best book I have ever read on folk pottery.
Warren E. Roberts, Journal of Folklore Research
Turners and Burners makes an enormous contribution to the study of North Carolina folklife. . . . North Carolinians, rejoice! North Carolina Folklore Journal
An excellent book to read if you are interested in North Carolina, American ceramics, folk life, or general craft practices. Winterthur Portfolio
Turners and Burners brings the simple utilitarian wares of North Carolina into meaningful historical and cultural context. Journal of American Folklore |
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North Carolina Pottery: The Collection of the Mint Museums "...If you have the slightest interest in North Carolina's unique pottery tradition, this book provides a lavishly illustrated catalog of the collection of the Mint Museums of Charlotte, NC. Each potter's biography, genealogy and work history is included with an example of the work of each. There are essays by pottery experts to explain the background on various types of pottery, techniques, locations, etc., as well as the history of pottery making in North Carolina...". |
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The Art of Buying Art "... For anyone leery of investing in art, anyone interested in starting collecting, and anyone simply interested in learning more about contemporary art, Ms. West's book is essential. "Buying Art" is well written, engaging and very informative and will make you a much more knowledgeable and shrewd collector...." |
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