Art + farms = one beautiful day
Hop’n Blueberry Farm and Dr. John Wilson Community Garden in Black Mountain are two of the stops in the inaugural Art + Farm Tour put on May 31 by Articulture, a new organization based in the Asheville area.
Pairing the beauty of art and farms, as obvious as that may seem, “is a different concept, in that it hasn’t been tried in our area,” said Van Burnette of Hop’n Blueberry Farm, on Right Fork North Fork. “It gives people another dimension to farms that they wouldn’t have. And we’re a great backdrop for art. My farm has been in the family for 168 years.”
He’s part of the tour also because “I just wanted to add ‘culture’ to agriculture,” he said.
From 9 a.m.–noon on the morning of the tour, participating artists will offer special workshops and demonstrations at their selected farms. Because class sizes are small to maximize participation, preregistration for the workshops is required. Workshop prices vary.
In the afternoon, from 1–5 p.m., the farms will open their doors to the public. Passholders will be able to tour the farms and view special exhibitions of the artists’ works. Many of the farms will have goodies available for sale, so bring your coolers.
In addition to Hop’n Blueberry Farms, the farms in this inaugural event are Adelbert Farm in Fairview, Blue Ridge Mountain Creamery in Fairview and Doubletree Farm in Marshall. Also included are Franny’s Farm in Leicester, Whispersholler Farms in Burnsville, Glorious Forest Farm in Mars Hill and Mudluscious Pottery & Gardens in Mars Hill. Rounding out the lineup are Addison Farms vineyard in Leicester and Whiskey Pigs in Leicester.
The metalsmiths at Black Mountain Iron Works will display their works at Hop’n Blueberry Farms. Other participating artists include painter Lorelle Bacon, glass artist Victor Chiarizia and Plein Air Painting with Asheville Urban Landscape Project. Also presenting will be photographer David Simchock, painter Olga Dorenko, ceramicist Cindy Trisler, PMC artist Amy Brandenburg and quilter Dort Lee. Other artists are Pysanky egg artist Andrea Kulish and the marionettes of Annie Schermer and Channing Showalter.
For artist and farm pairings, farm descriptions, artist biographies, plus workshop registration and tour passes ($20 per car), visit articulturenc.com.