“It’s all happening!” ~The Bandaids from Almost Famous

I LOVE that movie, not only because it reminds me of my groupie days with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Widespread Panic, but also because I fancy myself a writer (though not nearly as motivated as Cameron Crowe).  

me and Sonny

First the most exciting news:  Planet Art was asked to donate picture framing for Dancing for Dan, a benefit for a lovely man (and his family, Nader and Amy who own Enter the Earth, the most excellent rock shop in the Grove Arcade) to raise money for an experimental cancer treatment.  It was a beautiful evening with many beautiful folks, including my old buddy Clint from Falling Creek Camp and his lovely wife Jane, at The Handlebar in Greenville.  “Brandy and Dave from Planet Art” was listed right next to “John Bell” of Widespread Panic in the thank you list…very exciting….and I got to give Sonny and Todd of WSP Planet Art/Asheville Homegrown tshirts!  The first person to spot either of them in these shirts and send me a photo gets a FREE Planet Art/Asheville Homegrown t-shirt!  Email us at discoverplanetart@gmail.com to send us your photo. Thanks to Shawn for hooking us up and Amy for being on it with the camera…and the boys in WSP for 25 years of great music and booty shaking. 

But I digress…and a proper writer wouldn’t start out a blog post with a digression…or would they?…

Who said summer was the busy season, here in WNC, it’s LEAF SEASON!

I will be at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway with fellow Southern Highland Craft Guild members (hee hee!  I’m in the Guild!) demonstrating laced cane Sept 17 and 18 from 10-4.  Don’t forget to head upstairs to the main gallery where I have two chairs on display in the Raising Standards exhibit!  This exhibit ends on Sept 18. 

2nd Saturdays in the River Arts Galaxy will be lots of fun and much cooler these days.  Many studios have special events and demos.  It’s a great time to visit if you are intimidated by the throngs of folks during Studio Strolls.  We will be open regular hours 12-5.  Come meet David Simchock, a total badass and very motivated business person, who will generously donate coffee in the morning and wine in the afternoon to be sipped on whilst viewing an amazing slideshow of his Vagabond Vistas adventures,stunning music photography, and other Studio 375 artist’s work. 

Vagabond Vistas chill spot

Speaking of Vagabond Vistas…it’s Party Time!  David will be hosting a studio-warming party Thursday Sept. 22nd 7-10pm.  David will be offering one-on-one “pay as you can” specials on hourly photography instruction, Asheville photo tours (they’re fun…we did a West Asheville one last weekend!), and stimulating conversation about the joys of travel & music. 

Also meet Michael Ball who used to have his awesome eyeball face jugs on Planet Art and is now our next door neighbor in the studio.  He is creating some twisted, wonderful works of freaky face art with clay he dug himself!

October 8, 2011…..10am-6pmHighland Lake Cove, Flat Rock, NCThe fun continues into October with The True Nature Country Fair in  its new location.  I will be demo-ing laced cane (again!) Saturday morning from 10:30-11:30 then swinging back to Studio 375 for 2nd Saturday fun.  Click on the above link for more information.

The Southern Highlands Craft Guild Fair closes out my month o’ madness October 20-23 at the Civic Center.  Come see my hero Scott Woody of Woody’s Chair Shop and many other woodworkers, weavers, jewlers…BUY LOCAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS!  Support local economies, heritage, the arts, etc.  Get inspired! 

Speaking of buying local for the Holidays:  The November Studio Stroll is happening the 2nd Saturday12th and Sunday 13th of, well November, of course! More details to come.  The Studio 375 2nd Annual Holiday Sale will be happening the 2nd Saturday of December…and well, that’s more than enough calendar action for the moment.

HOLY CHAIRS! Classes and potential employees, it’s time!

Back when Dave and I took the Mountain BizWorks Foundations Class, I had this image in my head of the commercial where the new business people are surrounding their computer.  They click a button and say, “okay, we’re live!”  with a smile.  They get an order, there may have been some high-5’s.  Then it blinks and blinks and the orders exponentially multiply.  To their shock and surprise, they are suddenly (to use my waitressing lingo) in the weeds. 

Pile of Chairs by PouletFritesMayO Boucher

That’s what it’s like these days on Planet Art.  My hands hurt.  My back hurts…it’s only been a year!  Yesterday I caned 10 hours, the day before 8 hours, the day before 8 hours, a few days before that 5 hours, a few days before that 3 hours….just on the same seat!  Oy vey!  The chairs keep coming in and so do the phone calls.  A tidal wave of chairs. 

The gist of this is, we need an employee…on contract terms, per chair.  The thing is it takes a while to learn and perfect the art of the many types of chair caning.  And we are perfectionists.  We do not let sub par work go out the door.  So my thought is we need to teach classes and if someone shows promise, they may be called upon to do a chair for us. 

Classes:  beginning rush (stools in square or rectangle), seat rush (angles add a different element), natural rush, beginning pressed cane, beginning laced cane (simple chairs with larger strands of cane), advanced laced cane, advanced pressed cane, splint weaving….and more!

Pricing: $50 (basic rush)-$150 (laced cane takes several days) per person, includes supplies.  BYOC if you have one you are particularly interested in fixing.  Otherwise, we will scour antique stores for a chair for you to work on.  If you want to keep your chair and we have supplied the chair, we will add the cost of the chair to your fee….(usually chairs are around $40 for a quality laced cane or $6 for a bargain rush chair. 

Dates & Times:  that is the million dollar question!  I’m thinking around November so I have time to get ads worked up and materials/chairs sorted out…and figuring out how to legally pay contract employees and workers comp issues. Fun times.  

Anyone interested call Planet Art at 707-4553.

GO CHAIR REPAIR!

MY CHAIRS ARE AT THE FOLK ART CENTER! 

Y’all go check ‘em out next time you’re on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  They’ll be there through mid-September.  Thanks to Nikki Joseff and all the nice people at the Folk Art Center.  It was really exciting to see visitors stop and read my bio and lean in to see the detail of the chairs!  I even got called out for trying to take this photo.  It’s the big time, folks!

Me and my chairs.

Depot Street Rocks!

The Grand Opening of The Junction and Pink Dog Creative on Depot Street

Good times on Stroll weekend in the River Arts Galaxy….new neighbors, posh studio displays, good folks, grand openings, special exhibits, great food and drinks…we are lucky to be on Depot Street!

 Planet Art would like to welcome David and Beth to the front studio.  David Simchock is a transcendiary photographer and has traveled the world capturing images that make National Geographic shots look like an amateur photography contest.  Check out Vagabond Vistas and save lots of money on traveling this summer!  He is located where Fly Coop Studios used to nest.  True to the studio’s name, Angelique Tassistro recently moved into the Curve Studios upstairs in Constance Williams Gallery.  We miss you.

Also new to Depot Street (the most happening street in the Galaxy if I didn’t mention that already) is Northlight Studios, recently purchased by the most excellent Wendy Whitson.  Her studios are upstairs from Greenworks at 357 Depot St. Nature photographer and graphic genius Laurie McCarrier relocated downstairs in Northlight Studios in the back of the Greenworks office.(Laurie did a fantastic job on my Wanderlust Images notecards, and made me look like a real photographer!) 

Northlight Studios and AVL LED sign pointing out the largest installation of LED streetlights in the Southeast!

Denise Wolcot is my neighbor both at home and in the River Arts Galaxy!  She makes stunning bead jewelry and finally has a beautiful space upstairs with Wendy in which to show off her work…Laissez les bon temps rouler! Last but not least is Margaret Couch Cogswell, tiny postmistress and artist extraordinaire.  Margaret was responsible for the Tiny Mailbox exhibit by the Cotton Mill Studios this weekend.  DEPOT STREET ROCKS!

THE JUNE STROLL IS COMING UP!

Or Galaxy Stroll...whatever!

Lots of deliciousness is happening in the Galaxy as well:

- Roots Cafe [located inside the Grey Eagle; 185 Clingman Ave] featuring locally sourced meats & cheeses and fantastic vegetarian fare. 

 
- The Junction [located in the Pink Dog Creative Buildings at 348 Depot Street] Featuring house-made soups, salads & sandwiches from regional farms & a full bar with fresh squeezed cocktails. My favorite is the vodka, hibiscus, and basil…delish! Did I mention SUPER NICE FOLKS?

 
- White Duck Taco Shop [the Hatchery, 1 Roberts Street] Affordable, creative & quick tacos, soups & snacks. Can’t wait to try it!

 
- The Magnetic Field [372 Depot Street] It’s a cafe, it’s a bar, it’s a theatre! Enjoy a delectable meal & a wonderful performance.  They catered the Big Bang and there was not a single bit of leftovers for us! 

 
Nourish & Flourish Organic Juice Bar [347 Depot] Fresh squeezed juices with ingredients from local farms & award winning rashi teas.  A fantastic and guilt free option to getting an iced mocha…you are what you eat…and drink!
 
The Classics:
 
- 12 Bones [5 Riverside Drive] Best BBQ in town, nuff said.
 
- Clingman Cafe [242 Clingman Ave.] All I can say is YUM! Organic coffee, breakfast, lunch & now dinner (Thurs & Fri!) 

 
- The Wedge Brewing Co. [125 B Roberts Street] Sunset views & amazing brews. Check out one of the reasons Asheville was recently voted Beer City USA (3rd year in a row!)
 
So there you have it; the rundown. More reasons to visit the River Arts District; a district of creation, passion & dedication. Where 160 artists make up an eclectic community in 19 historical rehabilitated buildings along a 1 1/2 mile stretch of the French Broad River. Come visit the district & see creation at its best! (and grab some grub while your at it…)

Planet Art would like to thank Laurie McCarrier for this post and for generally being awesome!