Anyone who’s ever spent any time in Asheville can feel it: that creative current that pulses throughout the city and beyond. Dozens of fine art and craft galleries dot downtown and Biltmore Village. The graffitied warehouses of the River Arts District, aka the RAD, is a nexus of some 200 makers working in virtually every medium. And the creativity emanates outward, through the thousands of artists and studios scattered across the Blue Ridge Mountains. Asheville may be the hub in this colorful wheel, but the entire region is truly a mecca for art and craft. Now, thanks to the recent completion of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, visitors have even greater access and opportunities to dive right into that giant creative pool of energy.
Developed and curated over a four-year period by the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, the Craft Trails is an online resource that guides visitors to over 300 artist studios and galleries across 25 counties in Western North Carolina. The database is searchable by area and medium, and is set up so that anyone can build a mapped-out route that they can even send to their smartphone for easy navigation. There’s also curated itineraries that incorporate dining, accommodations, and other points of interest.
“The goal is three-fold,” says BRNHA executive director Angie Chandler. “We want to connect artists to buyers, bring visitors to our small towns, and to preserve traditional and contemporary craft in Western North Carolina.”
Whether your idea of a craft adventure involves a scenic mountain drive to catch a glassblower in the hot shop or a potter at their wheel, or shopping the galleries of Asheville, no doubt there’s ample inspiration and one-of-a-kind artworks to be had.
3 Must-visit Asheville Galleries
3 Must-visit Asheville GalleriesBlue Spiral 1 has been a driving force behind Asheville’s arts scene since it opened in 1990, at a time when the city’s landscape was a mere shell of what it is today. Works by more than 100 contemporary artists from across the Southeast fill three floors of this spacious gallery, which also presents over 25 shows annually. 38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, (828) 251-0202, bluespiral1.com
One of Asheville’s newest galleries, Momentum showcases works of the highest caliber that blur the lines between art and craft, a place where process and material are more about expression than function. About half of the artists represented are local, while others are from across the country. 52 Broadway St, Asheville, (828) 505-8550, momentumgallery.com
Asheville is ground zero for the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a juried group of over 900 artisans from nine Appalachian states. The guild has two galleries in Asheville showcasing its members’ handicrafts: The newest is inside a gracefully renovated historic bank building in Biltmore Village. The other is at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Both galleries offer the opportunity to shop for beautifully glazed ceramic mugs and servingware, blown-glass drinkware, statement art jewelry, wooden furnishings, woven scarves, blankets, and more. Milepost 382 Blue Ridge Parkway and 26 Lodge St, Asheville, (828) 298-7928, southernhighlandguild.org
Spend a Day in the RAD
With over 200 artist studios and galleries, The RAD is worth devoting at least an entire day. Four clusters of buildings are spread across a mile along the riverfront that’s connected via a greenway, though since parking is ample and free, it’s also easy to drive. There are no “open hours” in the district, but you’re almost guaranteed to find open studios almost any time a day, some which offer demonstrations and hands-on classes. There are also plenty of great restaurants, bars, breweries, and even a couple of music venues in the RAD—enough to fuel your exploration from day into night. Find a map, browse the artists, and search for hands-on creative opportunities at riverartsdistrict.com.
Hit the Blue Ridge Craft Trails
Map your own well-crafted road trip or set off on one of the suggested itineraries. Visit blueridgeheritage.com/blue-ridge-craft-trails to explore the artists and regions and build your own Blue Ridge Craft Trails adventure.
