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Janelle Warren, Maureen Ripper, Cynthia Gonzalez, Gayle Cowdin and Joanna Marren put the finishing touches on the "Quilts!" exhibit at the Murphy Art Center downtown.
Murphy – The newest art exhibit wraps visitors in a traditional art form done in a more striking, colorful way.
"Quilts!," an exhibit of pieces made by members of the Southern Appalachian Modern Quilt Guild, opened in the Cultural Calendar Room of the Murphy Art Center on Friday. It will be presented by the Cherokee County Arts Council through Tuesday, Oct. 29.
There are two quilted pillows and 44 quilts displayed throughout the room, some hanging on the wall, others from the ceiling, some on antique quilt racks and even a couple on a metal bed frame.
There will be a reception to meet the quilters from 6-7 p.m. Thursday. There are 30 members in the guild, most who have pieces in the show, and they range in age from 20-something to 80-something. Some of the pieces are even the quilters' first quilts.
Janelle Warren, co-vice president of the guild, said they are excited to show their work outside the quilt community.
"We are over the moon excited," she said. "It's really nice to have our quilts seen in an art environment. … It's a big deal to have an exhibit at an art gallery."
This is the first time the arts council has presented an exhibit on the art form.
"We were just real pleased to do it," said David Vowell, director of the arts council.
In May 2018, the guild donated a quilt, "Sunshine Daze," to the council. Each year, the guild makes a quilt for QuiltCon, then donates the pieces to a charity of their choice. Since then, Vowell and the guild mutually agreed to present a quilt exhibit at some point.
Vowell loves that quilters are artists who work cooperatively on a piece – 23 people worked on the quilt that was donated last year – and that they express themselves through fiber art.
"I want (visitors) to appreciate an art form that is totally different," he said.
Quilts in the exhibit show non-traditional designs as well as modern twists on traditional techniques, Vowell said. There's even a section of the exhibit featuring color challenge quilts, in which the quilter started with an image and created a quilt that used colors inspired by the image.
Warren said quilters always see their work as an art. There are many choices between pattern, color, fabric and design.
"It's an art form to pull all those things together," she said.
None of the pieces in the exhibit are for sale. Most will return to the quilters' homes, and visitors are asked to not touch the pieces.
Writers & Wine fundraiser features variety of artists
Andrews – A sampling of art in the area will be featured during the Valleytown Cultural Arts & Historical Society's Writers & Wine event at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center, 125 Chestnut St. downtown.
The event, a fundraiser to support maintaining the historic building, will include readings by Loren Leith, Mary Ricketson, Joan Howard, Jim Davis, Natalie Grant and Bob Grove, as well as a dramatic reading by Sarah Hogsed.
The organization's president, Eric West, said he's glad to have writers involved in events at the center.
"These are local folks who are published writers," he said. "I think that's really interesting."
The event will also feature local musicians from John C. Campbell Folk School as well as an art show with works by Marie Gunther, Tom Vogler and Richard Greene. Wine will be provided by local wineries and is included in the ticket price.
"There's a lot going on that day," West said.
The event is raising funds for the building's air conditioning and heating fund. The former First Baptist Church of Andrews, built in 1923, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
This event is replacing the annual Harvest to Table fundraiser. While Harvest to Table had been good for the Valleytown Cultural Arts & Historical Society for the last few years, West said the board had been talking about doing something a little different.
They presented a Writers & Wine event last December, then realized later in the year may be a better time for an event. As a result, they replaced the 2019 Harvest to Table fundraiser with Writers & Wine.
"Next year, we may do something else," West said, adding that Harvest to Table could always return.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $7 for students. Tickets are available at the door or purchased online at vcahs.com. For details, call 361-2781.
School hosts carnival
Ranger – Ranger Elementary/Middle School will host its annual Fall Carnival from 5-8 p.m. Saturday. The event raises funds for school projects.
Carnival-goers may participate in the cake walk, bingo and class game booths, or brave the haunted hallway.
The night will include drawings for raffles.
Prizes include two rocking chairs, theme baskets and a gift basket from Serenity in the Mountains spa valued at more than $260. Raffle tickets are available from any Ranger student or at the event.
Admission to the carnival will be $1, and tickets for games will be available at five for $1. Assistant principal Brandy Raper said most games will cost 2-4 tickets to play. Raper said the major project the school is trying to fund is a pavilion/garden area, or outdoor learning area, on campus. They also would like to use funds raise to finish tinting the classroom windows.
Samantha Sinclair is the Scouting Around columnist for the Cherokee Scout. You can reach her by email, scoutingaround@cherokeescout.com; fax, 837-5832; or by leaving a message in the office at 837-5122.