in a Blue Ridge Mountain Resort

Art and Craft Guide for Western North Carolina

Of course, no discussion of downtown Asheville would be complete without mention of the arts and crafts for which our town is so well known. Dozens of galleries showcase the work of our creative class. Their work ranges from folksy crafts to glitzy jewelry, from classic landscapes to esoteric creations.

The Asheville Downtown Gallery Association sponsors Art Walks throughout the summer. The group also publishes a Downtown Gallery Guide, available at participating art galleries, Pack Place or the Chamber of Commerce. As with the shopping, there are too many possibilities to mention here. Here are a few major galleries:

Woolworth Walk – Once a Woolworth department store, this building now features more than 150 exhibiting artists. It still has an operating soda fountain and lunch counter.

Kress Emporium – Also a former department store, this two-story space also sells works from hundreds of artists.

Blue Spiral I – Often voted Asheville’s best art gallery in local magazine polls, this spot displays some of the region’s hottest names.

Asheville Area Arts Council – This patron organization operates the Front Gallery, which seems to have its finger on the pulse of the local arts scene.

Mountain Made – This is the place to go for “folksy” pieces that represent the region’s heritage with a modern flair.

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