Art prepares to bloom at Arts Center

This year the Black Mountain Center for the Arts will be celebrating 10 years of its festive, flower-filled event, Art in Bloom.

The arts center is alive with creativity during the June event, but the cornerstone element is a gallery show of regionally produced art curated by center executive director Gale Jackson. Jackson culls works from more than 10 regional galleries, including Bender Gallery, Blue Spiral 1 and The Haen Gallery in Asheville and Arrowhead Gallery in Old Fort, as well as many others.

The Art in Bloom Gallery exhibit at the center is on display through June 8 (viewing is free). Starting June 9 regional floral designers will draw inspiration from the art works to create 20 floral arrangements. The freshly installed floral arrangements are the highlight of the Gala Preview Dinner Party (6 p.m. June 9, $50). June 10 and 11 offers guests options to view the floral designs (for $5) and explore Black Mountain with a local Cottage Garden Tour (10 a.m.-4 p.m., $20) both days that includes plein air painters in each garden, as well as restaurant discounts.

The work of the plein air painters will be on display in the Upper Gallery June 14-July 8. The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is at 225 W. State St. For tickets and information, call 669-0930 or visit BlackMountainArts.org.