Art for all, in time for the holidays

ART FOR ALL - IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS  by Lisa Wasoski

What if you could do all of your holiday shopping in one place, at one time?

The Old Depot Association in Black Mountain will host its 20th annual juried arts and crafts show, Art by the Tracks, on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. along Sutton Avenue in downtown Black Mountain.

This year Art by the Tracks will feature more than 50 artists and fine crafters selling work that includes pottery, jewelry, paintings, photography, woodwork, handmade soaps and fiber arts. Artists will be there to talk about their work. 

The Old Depot is a nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to protect and maintain Black Mountain’s historic train depot and to nurture and preserve the arts and crafts of the Swannanoa Valley.

Art by the Tracks raises the funds that the Old Depot Association gives away in art grants to schools throughout the Valley. The Old Depot annual grant program has given away more than $10,000 for art, music, dance, and drama classes in the public schools of the Valley. The grants have become an important part of programs and projects in our local schools.

By supporting the artists at Art by the Tracks, the public also helps support art in our local schools. The poster art this year was made by a local high school student, Noah Sulzman, who was commissioned to draw the poster image. The poster is up all around town.

 “It is wonderful to bring so many people down to Sutton Avenue to buy great artwork at the show,” local business owner Stephanie Wilder of Chifferobe said. “It always helps our businesses as well, since people come eat and shop along Cherry Street. This show helps showcase Black Mountain as a community that values high-quality art.”

“I think the craft level is very high, and I enjoy seeing all of the artist’s work,” said Fred Feldman with Found Object Art. His Black Mountain business will again have a booth featuring his folk art, particularly his handmade wooden greeting cards made from recycled materials.

Gloria Cascio will have her Wiggle Baby collections. “My sewing desires blossomed once my first daughter was born in 2012. Thus began Wiggle Baby,” she said. “In between my kiddos keeping me on my toes, I get to do what I love - sew!”

Throughout the day of the event, there will be music under the Old Depot landing by local musicians, including local artist Jimmy Landry. Landry has been featured on stages around the country and is a fixture on the Asheville music scene.

Art by the Tracks is always a fun time to see what creations the Old Depot Association’s artists are making.

Sponsors whose contributions go toward the association’s grants to the Swannanoa Valley schools are Seven Sisters Gallery, My Father’s Pizza, Dripolator Coffeehouse, Black Mountain Ale House, Black Mountain Yoga, Phidella’s Nail Spa, Periwinkle’s Unique Boutique, Mark Kleive DDS, Roeder Orthodontics, Leslie and Walter Applewhite, Sky Dental, Precision Graphics and Ingles.