Gerton artist's exhibit one of two opening at The Flood Gallery

Gerton native Saige Hopkins will be one of two artists featured at The Flood Gallery in a pair of exhibitions that open from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 and run until Dec. 8. 

Hopkins work will be featured in the main gallery at the fine art center in Black Mountain, while Asheville artist DeWayne "B-Love" Barton will be featured as part of the grand opening of the Gateway Center. 

Hopkins will exhibit a collection of monoprints inspired by science, daydream, drama and Western North Carolina folklore. The result is a cast of whimsical characters she interacts with in the woods near her hometown. 

Prints and journals by Hopkins will make up the exhibit, which is titled "hunky-shanky-piddygutt."

After growing up in Gerton, Hopkins attended Cooper Union in New York City, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The upcoming show at the Flood Gallery will be her first independent exhibition in a gallery. 

Barton, who is widely recognized as "B-Love," is an Asheville native who grew up in Washington D.C. His exhibition, "Ancestors in the Garden," will feature three-dimensional sculptures made from objects he's found and trash. 

The artist is active in social justice and environmental issues, and a founder of several community organizations. He is a member of the board of the Flood Gallery, Blue Ridge Sustainability Institute and the City of Asheville's Neighborhood Advisory Committee, among others. 

All exhibits and events at the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center are free and open to the public. For more information visit floodgallery.org.