Volume 9 • Issue 4 April / May 2014
Bringing You Great Reading In
2014
Our Arts Councils The Life and Times of Wiili A Woodworker, a Risk Taker, a Violin Maker
April / May 2014
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We’ll bring you great local journalism – right to your computer. With 35 years of experience covering the news, the events and the stories that have been the High Country, you can count on HCPress.com to keep you up-to-date with what’s going on. Now, with our website, we have an unlimited amount of space to bring you all the stories, with all the photographs and words necessary to give you the full picture. Everyday we post breaking news and events as they happen, along with news stories and press releases in an easy to read format. Come visit us to see why HCPress.com has become the favorite local website in the High Country.
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April / May 2014
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C O N T E N T S Communities 14 Impacting Through Art For more than 30 years, the High Country – Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties – had three arts councils. Now only two exist, serving the community in more ways than one through art.
Troubled and Triumphant Life 28 The of The 'High Country Van Gogh' Ironing boards, bed sheets and tire rims are things you would expect to find in your basement or on the side of the road, but items like these currently reside in the galleries of the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum as part of the newest exhibit, "The Painted Song" which showcases the work of the late Wiili Armstrong. But Armstrong, the man, the poet, the artist and the enigma was so much more than just his medium.
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The Italian Masters 40 Somewhere, are Smiling Master craftsman and luthier David Finck’s passion for woodworking, love of music and devotion to his musical family turned what was once his father’s dream into a reality in the form of beautiful, handmade violins. What his work eventually became, however, was beyond the family’s wildest imagination.
Autism: Making a Difference
56 in Nature
Inspired by observations of his grandson, Charlie, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, and his career in special education, Dr. Jim Taylor and his wife Sue started a truly special camp that serves other children with autism. With positive energy, focus on the family unit, great activities and dedicated volunteers, KAMPN gives children with autism a safe place to be themselves in nature.
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on the cover Lonnie Webster Lonnie Webster has a passion for capturing life through photography and believes each picture should tell a story, bringing out the character and nature of the image in front of the camera. He's available for all types of photography and even lessons. Visit his website at: www.lonniewebster.com
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Blowing Rock Library Grounds 4
High Country Magazine
April / May 2014
READER SERVICES
CARLTON GALLERY Celebrating 32Years
ABOUT US
The first High Country Press newspaper was published on May 5, 2005, and the first issue of High Country Magazine went to press in fall 2005. In March of 2012, the newspaper made the transformation to an online newspaper at our new website: www. HCPress.com. Our new “webpaper” is still packed with information that we present and package in easy-to-read formats with visually appealing layouts. Our magazine represents our shared love of our history, our landscape and our people. It celebrates our pioneers, our lifestyles, our differences and the remarkable advantages we enjoy living in the mountains. Our guiding principles are twofold: quality journalism makes a difference and customer care at every level is of the greatest importance. Our offices are located in downtown Boone, and our doors are always open to welcome visitors.
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Our magazine is a wonderful way for businesses to advertise to our readers. Our magazines tend to stay around for a long time, on coffee tables and bed stands, and shared with family and friends. To find out about advertising, call our offices at 828-264-2262.
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Writers and photographers may send queries and samples to the editor at hcmag@highcountrypress.com.
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FRO M T HE PUB L ISH ER
A Publication Of High Country Press Publications Editor & Publisher Ken Ketchie Art Director Debbie Carter Graphic Designer Jacob Voigt Contributing Writers Ken Ketchie
Bringing You Great Reading In 2014
W
elcome to our first magazine issue of 2014. Five more issues will follow with the next one released in June, kicking off our ninth summer season publishing High Country Magazine. We've published a staggering number of stories since that first issue in 2005, presented with spectacular photographs and awesome layouts. And we just keep getting more ideas brought to our attention from folks all around the High Country who either want to tell us their story or know someone who does. Our list of story ideas keeps growing even as we cross them off our list. We’ve been told many times that our stories are a rare and intimate look at a place so many call home, and we hope that you will look forward to yet another year of High Country Magazines. Here’s what we have in this issue: first we take a look at state-chartered art councils and how they have impacted our communities for the past three decades. While the Avery County Arts Council dissolved for a variety of reasons in 2012, the arts councils in Watauga and Ashe counties remain, steadfast in their mission to enrich the quality of life through encouraging the arts to both children and adults alike. Then, we will peer inside the private life of the late folk artist Wiili Armstrong, whose artwork is currently showcased in an ongoing exhibit at the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum. Many will remember him as the peculiar artist who sold his artwork outside of Boone Drug on King Street, but few know his real story. The story that follows the tale of one of the High Country’s most eccentric artist is about another talented and creative soul – a luthier that resides in Valle Crucis. While the Forget-Me-Nots are near celebrities around these parts, did you know that David Finck, the father of two of the three now women that comprise the band, hand-carved and built their violins in his workshop? Now from Valle Crucis to Deep Gap, where KAMPN’s Camp Clogger is located. K.A.M.P.N. stands for Kids with Autism Making Progress in Nature and is the creation of Dr. Jim Taylor, whose inspiration for the camp came from observing his 10th grandson who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at an early age. Not only is KAMPN an awesome setting for the kids to let loose in the great outdoors, but it provides parents a comforting and welcoming atmosphere. And we also have a “Gardening and Landscaping Section” where we introduce you to businesses that can help you make your house and lawn beautiful this summer. We hope you enjoy our spring issue. Next up is our “Welcome Back Summer Residents” issue where we give a preview of all the things to do this summer. Until then – Happy Spring! 6
High Country Magazine
April / May 2014
Jesse Wood Madison Fisler Allison West Chelsea Charping Contributing Photographers Katie Warren Lonnie Webster Finance Manager Amanda Giles High Country Magazine is produced by the staff and contributors of High Country Press Publications, which serves Watauga and Avery counties of North Carolina
www.HCPress.com HIGH COUNTRY MAGAZINE P.O. Box 152, Boone, NC 28607 828-264-2262 Follow our magazine online where each issue is presented in a flip-through format. Check it out at:
HighCountryMagazine.com Reproduction or use in whole or part of the contents of this magazine without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Issues are FREE throughout the High Country. © 2014 by High Country Press. All Rights Reserved.
WE SUPPORT
SHOP LOCAL
April / May 2014
High Country Magazine
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Calendarof Events Calendar # 1
APRIL 2014 10-13
Blue Ridge Wine & Food Festival, Blowing Rock, blueridgewinefestival.com
11
Tweetsie Railroad's Opening Day, Blowing Rock,
828-264-9061 11-13
Kiss Me, Kate, ASU, Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, 828-262-4046
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Ashe Arts Council Presents: Spring Fest,
West Jefferson School Gym, 336-846-ARTS
12
Ensemble Stage Presents: Resort to Murder,
Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock, (828) 414-1844
12
Easter Egg Festival and Hunt, Memorial Park,
3
West Parking Lot, Boone, 828-355-4918
Blowing Rock, 828-295-5222
19
Easter Egg Hunt, Tate-Evans Park, Banner Elk,
3
New River Marathon, Starts at Riverside Restaurant, Todd, www.newrivermarathon.com
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Music on the Lawn: Buck Haggard, Inn at Ragged
(828) 898-5398
19
Easter Egg Hunt, Buckeye Recreation Center on
Gardens, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703
Beech Mountain, 828-387-3003
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Ashe Arts Council Presents: Artifacts Yard Sale,
16-18
MerleFest, on the Campus of Wilkes Community
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Music on the Lawn: Soul Benefactor, Inn at Ragged Gardens, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703
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Art in the Park, American Legion Grounds, Blowing Rock, (828) 295-7851
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College, Wilkesboro, 800-343-7857
26
Blowing Rock Walkabout with NC Brews, Assorted
places in Blowing Rock, www.blowingrock.com/ ncbeermonth
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4/30-6/7
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Music on the Lawn: Supa Tight, Inn at Ragged Gardens, Blowing Rock, 828-295-9703
MAY 2014
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Ashe Arts Council Presents: Night of the Spoken Word, Ashe Arts Center, West Jefferson, 828-387-3003
1
Beech Mountain Town Birthday Party, Buckeye Recreation Center, Beech Mountain, 828-387-3003
30-6/1
Nature Photography Weekend at Grandfather Mountain, Linville, 828-733-2013
2
First Friday Art Crawl, Downtown Boone, 828-262-4532
30-31
Boone Bike Rally, High Country Fairgrounds, Boone,
2-4
Boone in Blossom Festival, High Country Fairgrounds,
gativisions@gmail.com 8
Blowing Rock Farmer's Market Opens, Downtown,
828-295-4636
Ashe Arts Council Presents: A Norwegian Legacy,
Ashe Arts Center, West Jefferson, 336-846-ARTS
Mountaineer Mud Run, High Country Fairgrounds,
Boone, 828-733-8060
Relay for Life: Spring Thaw 5K, Greenway Trail, Boone, 828-297-4876
Naturalist Weekend at Grandfather Mountain, Linville, 828-733-2013
West Jefferson School Gym, 336-846-ARTS
24-27
Watauga County Farmer's Market Opens, Horn in the
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P.B. Scott;s Reunion Party, Canyons, Blowing Rock
High Country Magazine
April / May 2014
828-733-8060
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Mountain Home Music: North Sea Gas,
St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Boone, 828-964-3392
DON’T FORGET
EVENTS
2014 Farmers Markets The High Country is known for the great farmers markets that showcase local produce, crafts and more. Check out the one closest to you, like the Watauga Market on Saturdays starting May 3, the Blowing Rock Market on Thursdays starting May 22, the Avery County Market with two locations starting Memorial Day Weekend on Fridays in Newland from 5-7 p.m. and Thursdays in Banner Elk from 5-7 p.m. and so many more. You just can’t go wrong with local!
Second Annual Mountaineer Mud Run
DISCOVER OUR POSITIVE ALTITUDE!
Play tennis, hike, shop, tube, zipline or just relax while enjoying some of the best views around! From nature lovers to adrenaline junkies, there is so much to do and see in the area, and staying in Seven Devils makes everything easily accessible from our great central location. You will find an array of lodging choices... whether you stay for a weekend, a season or a lifetime!
If you like to get a bit muddy, the second annual Mountaineer Mud Run might be for you. The second annual event takes place May 17 at the High Country Fair Grounds in Boone and offers three miles of muddy, crazy obstacle course with mud pits, rivers, climbing obstacles and more! Check it out at www.mountaineermudrun.com
MAY 17
Town of Seven Devils For Zip Line: 828/963-6561
For Information on the Town of Seven Devils: 828/963-5343 • www.SevenDevils.net Ad Sponsored by the Seven Devils Tourism Development Authority April / May 2014
High Country Magazine
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Appalachian State University
Welcomes First Female Chancellor
Introducing Sheri Noren Everts
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1980 with a bachelor’s degree in English instruction and secondary education. After a career teaching middle and high school English in Nebraska and Kansas, Everts returned to the University of NebraskaLincoln where she continued her education, culminating in a master’s degree in English and literacy education in 1991 and a doctorate in administration, curriculum and instruction in 1994. Shortly after earning her doctorate, Everts began her higher education career as an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska Omaha the very same year. In 2000, she was named Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, and in 2003 she rose to Associate Vice President and in 2006 named Interim Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. In 2008, Everts became Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois State University.
ppalachian State University will welcome a new chancellor for the first time in nearly a decade and the very first female chancellor in the school’s long history. Sheri Noren Everts was announced as the university’s first female chancellor during a special meeting of the UNC Board of Governors in Chapel Hill on March 19. “Following a talented and wildly popular chancellor may seem a daunting task,” said Everts after her position was publically announced. “But I would offer that I am very fortunate to be able to build on the strength of the Peacock legacy.” The university body formally welcomed Everts to the university on March 20 at a special ceremony held in Central Dining Hall on the school’s campus. Board of Trustee Members, professors and members of the student body and community filled Rivers Street Café with applause and excited banter as the new chancellor-elect to the university. “There is something in the water in Boone,” Everts said. “And I am very anxious to drink a lot of it!” Sheri Noren Everts, a native Chancellor Peacock introduces chancellor-elect of Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Everts to ASU on March 20. Photo by Madison V. Fisler 10
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Everts is married to her husband, Jay Noren, himself a physician and former President of Wayne State University in Michigan. Together the couple has four adult children: Elizabeth (27), Justin (29), Olin (36) and Kris (41). Scheduled to assume her duties on July 1, Everts was chosen after Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock announced his decision to step down from a decade at his post on April 18, 2013 once a suitable successor is found. Following the announcement, the Chancellor Search Committee was formed to seek out the best candidates to fill the position, conducting the first of many meetings on Aug. 27, 2013. The search was conducted as a closed search in order to preserve the privacy of the candidates until one had been chosen. Everts represents the seventh chancellor in Appalachian State University’s history and the first female chancellor that has ever presided over the school. By Madison V. Fisler
Past Presidents Dr. B.B Dougherty (1899-1955) Dr. J.D. Rankin (1955-interim) Dr. William H. Plemmons (1955-1969) Dr. Herbert Wey (1969-1971)
Past Chancellors Dr. Herbert Wey (1971-1979) Dr. Cratis Williams (1975, acting) Dr. John E. Thomas (1979-1993) Dr. Francis T. Borkowski (1993-2003) Provost Harvey Durham (2003-2004, Interim) Dr. Kenneth E. Peacock (2004-2014)
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High Country Magazine
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Watauga Teachers of the Year B
ecause of the plethora of outstanding educators in the Watauga County Schools system, tough decisions are made every year when it comes to narrowing the teachers of the year from a pool of about 400 to nine – one for each school in the district. This year their fellow professional colleagues chose Melissa Miller of Bethel, Janet Orr of Blowing Rock, Cynthia Townsend of Cove Creek, Kirbi Bell of Green Valley, Erin Selle of Hardin Park, Lauren Dotson of Mabel, Susan Suddreth of Parkway, Leslie Howser of Valle Crucis, and Mary Kent Whitaker of Watauga High School as the finalists for overall 2014-15 WCS Teacher of the Year. In May, a selection committee consisting of teachers, administrators and school board member Barbara Kinsey will announce the 2014-15 WCS Teacher of the Year after a rigorous selection process of interviewing, unannounced classroom observations and a review of written statements of teaching
The Watauga County Schools Teachers of the Year for 2014-15 include (from left) Janet Orr, Leslie Howser, Lauren Dotson, Kirbi Bell, Susan Suddreth, Erin Selle, Cynthia Townsend, Mary Kent Whitaker, and Melissa Miller. philosophy prepared by each finalist. Referring to the strong professional qualifications of WCS teachers and impressive student test results when commending the 2014-15 WCS Teachers of the Year, interim Supt. David Fonseca said, “Our teachers are remarkable people who demonstrate
excellence not just through their credentials and student test results, but by the caring and commitment they bring to their work every day. We are truly grateful for all that they do, and we respect them both for what they achieve and for who they are.” By Jesse Wood
BREDL - Still Protecting the Blue Ridge 30 Years Later more than 50 merchants and homemakers, farmers and teachers at Mission House of the Holy Trinity Church to oppose the highlevel nuclear waste dump. This group, which was instruPeri David, Laura Johnson, Sandy Adair, Virginia MacLeod mental in the reand Mary Gray are some members of BREDL-Watauga moval of the site’s consideration for erving communities across the Southeast on a variety of environmental radioactive waste in late 1986, formed concerns, Blue Ridge Environmental BREDL’s first chapter in Watauga. Many volDefense League (BREDL) celebrated its unteers helped Wataugas’s chapter achieve success and build environmental awareness. 30th anniversary in March. BREDL began in the High Country Along with founder Janet Marsh and Lou when citizens opposed a proposed nuclear Zeller, those include Sandy Adair, Susan dumpsite in Ashe County and Grayson Sharpe, Linda Lonon, Peri David, Virginia County, Virginia. A study project by St. MacLeod, Peggy Setzer, Mary and Richard Mary’s Episcopal Church Women’s Group Gray, Harvard Ayers, Loren Raymond, Rick in West Jefferson led to a public meeting of Abott, Jim Rice, Rev. Chuck Blanck, Laura
Johnson, Rita Storie, Lynn Coulthard, Judy Sink and Dr. Bill Horn. Now, 30 years later and with over fifty active chapters in six states BREDL continues to assist communities facing environmental justice concerns and public health threats. For more info, click to www.bredl.org or call 919-982-2691 for Marsh or Zeller.
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Janet Marsh, founder of BREDL, and Lou Zeller have been environmental activists for decades.
April / May 2014
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By Jesse Wood
the
Arts for All
Councils in High Country Promote Creativity
U
p until recently, Ashe, Avery and Watauga counties hosted an arts council that has played a vital role in the High Country for more than 30 years. Whether it has been through sponsoring mural projects throughout the heart of a downtown district; partnering with local school systems to encourage and promote the arts to children; providing local artists an avenue to exhibit and sell their art; 14
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or dispersing grants to fund the creative process, these councils have had a major impact on the overall development of the region – whether it be culturally, socially or economically. The Avery County Arts Council, for various reasons, folded less than two years ago, but the organizations in Ashe and Watauga counties remain steadfast in operating for the betterment of the community.
New Home Reinvigorates Watauga County Arts Council
Formed in 1981 by Residents Who Loved the Arts and Wanted to Protect the Culture and Crafts of Watauga
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ollowing almost two years of turmoil, the Watauga County Arts Council will celebrate its one-year anniversary this summer in its new home dubbed the Blue Ridge ArtSpace thanks to the Watauga County Board of Commissioners for providing the county-owned building. For Executive Director Cherry Johnson and the arts council, the past two years have been difficult to say the least, but first, let’s go back a few decades, where you will see that the initial mission is the same as it is today. In 1981, a group of Watauga County residents who loved the arts and wanted to protect the culture and crafts of Watauga and greater Appalachia gathered and formed the Watauga County Arts Council. “Their goal was to create activities and events: sharing their love with the community, educating children, continuing the tradition of artistry and craftsmanship in the High Country and providing artists with the assistance they need to grow and develop their voice,” according to an online history of the council. Mike Wise, a multiple-term president with the Watauga County Arts Council, became involved with the arts council in the mid ‘80s and was selected as the fourth president in 1988. Thinking back to the early days, Wise’s recollected that the local arts council movement was in its infancy. Wise recalled that before the Watauga Arts Council formed, state legislation was amended, so that each county would have an arts council. Even though the Arts Council of Winston-Salem April / May 2014
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Watauga County Arts Council’s Executive Director Cherry Johnson (fourth from left) takes part in the ribbon cutting of the council’s new home – the Blue Ridge ArtSpace in Boone – in summer 2013
"It blew me away how excited people are here all the time. To see that fresh excitement and joy of discovery has been really fun to watch."
– Watauga County Arts Council Executive Director, Cherry Johnson
& Forsyth County was the first established such council in the entire United States in 1949, Wise said smaller cities and rural areas in North Carolina were still learning how an arts council operated and grew. “For all the arts councils in the state with the possible exception of the big cities and Winston-Salem … we were feeling our way in being an arts council and what it should do for a community,” Wise said. Wise was one of the individuals involved in selecting Cherry Johnson, the veteran executive director who was hired in 1992. Some 20-plus years later, Johnson is still at it, though she operates in a different locale. Several years before she became leader of the nonprofit, the Town of Boone had acquired the Jones House from Mazie Jones Levenson, who stipulated that the
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downtown property be used as a cultural community center, which led to a 25-year lease on the property between the Town of Boone and the Watauga County Arts Council. The Jones House and arts council were synonymous with one another for more than two decades before the relationship succumbed to irreconcilable differences. Even though the rocky relationship was noticeable for some time, the longterm relationship between the town and the arts council officially ended in spring 2012 – at about the same that the Town of Boone created its Cultural Resources Board, which among other responsibilities now manages the Jones House and offers some programming at the facility that resembled what was offered by the Watauga County Arts Council.
April / May 2014
Following the exit from the Jones House, the Watauga County Arts Council moved its offices to the Appalachian Enterprise Center and opened a gallery in a downtown building at the intersection of King Street and Water Street. Rent for a three-room suite at the enterprise center was donated by the Committee of 100; the gallery space was provided by local businessmen John Winkler, Kenneth Wilcox and Roger Wright; and Cheap Joe’s offered storage space for the arts council. But this was all short lived, and Johnson began the search for a new home a year later. Johnson then approached the Watauga County Board of Commissioners about a vacant, county-owned building on Shadowline Drive to open the Blue Ridge ArtSpace. She requested a recurring five-
The Watauga County Arts Council celebrated its 20th Summer Arts Camp (opposite page) in 2013. The Blue Ridge ArtSpace (opposite page and above) is such a “cool place,” in the words of Executive Director Cherry Johnson, with four galleries, nine classrooms, a gift shop, a “pickin’ porch” for small concerts, a fenced-in yard for outside activities and so much more. year lease on the building, but because the building was on the market to be sold, the commissioners kept the length of the lease, which was for $1 per year, to two years. Even with the prospects of having to make another move in the summer of 2015, Johnson was thrilled. This move has reinvigorated a naturally-motivated Johnson, who said that the moves, albeit challenging, have bred a “new energy, a new excitement” with new partners. A center for all of the arts, the Blue Ridge ArtSpace serves as the home of the Watauga County Arts Council, Appalachian State University’s Community Music School and the Michael Patricelli Craft Enrichment Program. The Blue Ridge ArtSpace has four galleries, nine classrooms, a gift shop, a meeting room, a full kitchen, room for offices and storage and a sculpture garden. It even has a “pickin’ porch” for small concerts and a fenced-in yard for outside exhibits, demonstrations, children’s activities and plein-air painting. “This is a cool place,” Johnson said, add-
ing that things have finally settled down so the complete focus is on the mission and not worrying about temporary quarters. “People are starting to find us, starting to really look forward to coming here. It blew me away how excited people are here all the time. To see that that fresh excitement and joy of discovery has been really fun to watch.” Just scroll down the Watauga County Arts Council’s Facebook page or website and you will see a plethora of events, workshops and activities to engage both children and adults of all skill levels. An Arts Festival is planned in June to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Blue Ridge Artspace. Drawing, knitting, woodcarving, and creative journal making are just some of the hands-on classes offered. For career-oriented artists, workshops such as record keeping and digital imaging, for two examples, are taught to assist artists establishing a business. The arts council also partners with the Economic Development Commission to offer
Handmade in America workshops to assist artists. In 2007, the Watauga County Arts Council launched its version of the Barn Quilt Project. It created the Concerts on the Lawn series at the Jones House, which ran for two decades before the Town of Boone enacted a similar series under a different name. The council has offered music lessons, square dances, weekly jams and a number of arts programs in the local grade schools. Also, the council disperses funds to organizations for Grassroots Arts grants and to individuals for Regional Artist Project grants. And as a new program coinciding with its new home, the Watauga County Arts Council sponsors a “Celebration of the Arts” known as the second Saturday Studio and Gallery Hop that ends with a two-hour program at the Blue Ridge ArtSpace where you can meet the artists with work in the four galleries, listen to live music, experience art demonstrations and, of course, shop in the gift shop. See you on Shadowline Drive!
April / May 2014
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Creating an Art-Niche Community The Ashe County Arts Council Formed in 1977 to Focused on Impacting the Quality of Life of its Citizens and Making a Difference
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hen you ask Cabot Hamilton, the director of the Ashe County Chamber of Commerce, what comes to mind when you mention the Ashe County Arts Council, he doesn’t hesitate. He describes how the Ashe Arts Council has been instrumental in the “repositioning” of the Town of West Jefferson during the past decade or so into an “art-niche community.” Hamilton cited the council-sponsored 14 murals on downtown commercial buildings depicting the heritage of the area with mountain landscapes, farmland, old-time musicians and historic train depots. He mentioned that West Jefferson has 17 art galleries now and that the Ashe Arts Council was the major organization behind the barn quilt program, which livens up the countryside with colorful artwork on old barns. “The Arts Council and its board of directors and Executive Director Jane Lonon deserve a major part of the credit for West Jefferson becoming an art-niche community. They have played a huge role in that effort,” Hamilton said, adding that this evolution has been a “big positive for other niche businesses coming to the community.” In 1977, the Ashe Arts Council formed – after Ashe County broke away from the tri-county Blue Ridge Creative Activities Council that formed two years earlier with adjoining counties Avery and Watauga, according to a newsletter of the Ashe Arts Council in 1997. In the beginning, the 18
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April / May 2014
“Arts on Fire” is a program that livens up downtown West Jefferson by having artists paint fire hydrants.
The exhibits in the gallery of the Ashe Arts Center (left) change every six weeks and feature painting, photography, sculpture and crafts. Ashe County Arts Council also has programming that supports the musical heritage of Ashe County. arts council had 13 board members; now it has 20 people on the board of directors and six advisors. Just a few years after the council officially formed, Jane Lonon, the veteran executive director of the arts council, began volunteering in 1981. She would become – and remains – the second executive director of the Ashe Arts Council. Not only was this early in the history of the Ashe Arts Council, but it was early in the overall arts council movement in North Carolina – especially in rural parts of the
state. As Mary B. Regan, executive director of the N.C. Arts Council from 1976 to 2012 wrote in an essay, “In the 1960s and ‘70s, government support for the arts was a new unproven idea.” When the Ashe County Arts Council formed, Lonon said it was a ripe time for a community organization to be developed and nurtured – especially one such as the arts council, which was focused on impacting the quality of life of its citizens and making a difference. Lonon added that the
structure of the organization as a nonprofit with a board of directors and committees creating a “long-range plan with a longrange vision” contributed to a “very slow and steady growth.” In the beginning, the arts council had a budget of $5,000 and no paid staff. Today, it has a budget of roughly $300,000, three full-time employees and a plethora of programs for kids and adults, alike, to enjoy. Just last year, the Ashe Arts Council celebrated three notable milestones: the
April / May 2014
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"We’ve found different and creative ways to use the arts as a vehicle to make an impact on the community and people’s lives."
– Ashe County Arts Center Executive Director, Jane Lonon
35th anniversary as part of the community; the 75th anniversary of the WPA building project that now houses the Ashe Arts Center; and the 20th anniversary of the Ashe Arts Center operating in that WPA building. The arts council staff operates out of the Ashe Arts Center, which is located in the West Jefferson “Arts District,” which was established in 1988. The gallery in the Ashe Arts Center has year-round exhibition space that showcases artworks by local and regional artists and a gallery shop that sells arts and crafts made by local arti-
sans. The Ashe Arts Council also manages the Ashe Civic Center, which is a 300-seat performance venue that is the home stage for the Ashe County Little Theatre that brings a variety of high quality programs to the Civic Center and is a facility that “attracts an audience that is as varied as its performances,” according to the council’s website. Lonon added that the art gallery also sits 100 people for concerts in a more intimate setting. In addition to the mural project and organizing the barn quilt tours, the council
has also produced “Arts on Fire,” which is a cute public-arts project that involves painting fire hydrants around town, and the Painted Pedestal project, which consists of painting numerous former streetlight concrete pedestals from when the town removed two center red lights and replaced them with four-way stop signs. The Ashe Arts Council recently took over responsibility for organizing and managing the Ashe County Bluegrass and Old-Time Fiddlers Convention, which will be held in August, and sponsors – in tandem with the
The gallery shop in the Ashe Arts Center (left) features locally produced art and crafts. Ashe County Arts Council holds regular committee meetings (right) to organize the wealth of programming it produces or sponsors – such as the 46 public-school programs (above) held in 2013-14.
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April / May 2014
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High Country Magazine
Ashe County Public Library – the On the whether it be the growing second-home Same Page Literary Festival in September. and retiree population or those who were And don’t forget about the festive gallery born and raised in Ashe. Lonon said that art crawls held in downtown West Jeffer- staff and the board of directors “listens to son on the second Fridays in June through the community and takes a pulse of what is important” and reflective of Ashe’s October. Along with all of the above, the Ashe broad and diverse demographic, age, Arts Council also brought 46 programs to population and business connections. the Ashe County Schools district during “We’ve always really tried to listen to the the 2013-14 school year. While Lonon said community and be reflective of the comthe Ashe County Board of Education and munity’s wants and needs. We’ve found school system has “held its own” in main- different and creative ways to use the arts taining the arts in the schools, she said that as a vehicle to make an impact on the the Ashe Arts Council plays a role in expos- community and people’s lives,” Lonon ing the children to a diverse mix of profes- said, specifically noting that the organisional, touring acts that range from musical zation reveres the traditional, mountain styles of traditional, bluegrass, jazz, blues, heritage and culture of Ashe County. symphony, orchestra, and classical music to other varied performances such as theatre, literature and dance through the Mountain Arts Program, which provides a hands-on experience in a variety of art media. The council also cosponsors with the Ashe County 4-H Afterschool program Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) that passes on the local tradition of old-time music and teaches kids wanting to learn banjo, fiddle and guitar. The diverse mix of art that grade school kids see each year is mirrored in the programming Zaneeta, the Ashe Arts Center’s mascot, sleeps offered outside of the school among selections for On the Same Page Literary system to the general public – Festival, held in West Jefferson in September.
April / May 2014
The Barn Quilt Tour and Town Murals T
The Barn Quilt Tour
he quilt is a symbol of comfort and family. Barns are symbol of our heritage and community. What would be better than combining the two and creating a visual image of who we are and where we come from? The Ashe County Arts Council has brought together community members to design, paint and mount quilt block paintings on barns throughout the county for the Ashe Arts Barn Quilt Project. To date, 150 documented Barn Quilts exist in Ashe County. Want to see them all? Grab a map of the Barn Quilt Tours on the Ashe County Arts Council website and take a drive to see art liven up the countryside.
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Town Murals
est Jefferson has 14 murals located on commercial buildings. The downtown mural project began in 1996 when McFarland and Company commissioned local artist Jack Young to create the mural “History of Ashe Through the Ages.” The mural is located on the Regency Properties building next to the Ashe Arts Center. Two years later, Ashe County Arts Council was instrumental in establishing “The Arts District” in downtown West Jefferson by working with the West Jefferson Revitalization Committee to complete two murals, “Spring Wildflowers on Mt. Jefferson” and “New River Traditions.” Since then a number of murals have been painted that depict the heritage of the region – from mountain landscapes to old-time music.
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Avery County Miles Away, A World Apart
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here as the arts councils in Watauga and Ashe counties Arts which hosts An Appalachian Summer Festival, and the Turchin continue to serve the community despite speed bumps Center for the Visual Arts, which offers a variety of programming, along the way, the Avery County Arts Council, which had too. As Wise said, “This creates a little bit of a different dynamic than just celebrated its 35th birthday, dissolved in September 2012. When they might have in Ashe County.” Because of this, Wise said that Wathe move was announced, the gallery director Caitlin Morehouse tauga County Arts Council has had to find its “niche.” He said that told a local newspaper that the decision came about because of lack the Watauga County Arts Council has focused on supporting arts in of support from within the council, which led to gaps in fundrais- education – i.e., working in public schools of the county – because it has been a trend that education systems ing and service. The initial board had 10 have ignored the arts in favor of math and members but when the unanimous vote science. Wise noted that the arts council took place to end the Avery Arts Council, has passed over the “high culture” that only three members were left. ASU sufficiently supplies in its program“It has truly just run out of steam,” ming and focused on local artisans and Morehouse said in 2012. While the Toe musicians that may not receive as much River Arts Council, based in Mitchell and attention as they deserve. Yancey counties, took over Avery Arts But one essential thing that is similar Council’s fiscal responsibilities mandated between the arts councils of Avery and by the state, the Watauga County Arts Watauga counties is the hard work that has Council agreed to foster artists that Avery spawned the success and good work that Arts County had already approved into its has occurred. While Lonon and Johnson galleries and gift shops. Unlike Watauga Until the school made plans for a visitors center have led the councils to success, without and Ashe counties, the Avery Arts Council had an unusually high-turnover rate at the at the historic "Cheese House," the Avery County consistent effort and passion from volunArts Council occupied the little red building at teers, support from the board of directors director position in the years that Lonon Lees-McRae College from 2007 to 2010. and funds from the local businesses and and Johnson solely maintained the role in their respective counties, and Johnson observed, in her opinion, a lack donors, the arts councils in Watauga and Avery may have dissolved in a fashion similar to what happened in Avery County. Wise said that of unity between the year-round residents and summer residents. And similarly, the successful arts councils in Watauga and Avery are while Johnson is the only paid staff member, “It’s her leadership, vastly different, as well. For one, Ashe County doesn’t compete with along with the involvement of a dedicated force of volunteers that a major university that has the Schaefer Center for the Performing keeps the arts council going.”
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April / May 2014
Shining a Spotlight on Cherry and Jane Cherry Johnson of Watauga and Jane Lonon of Ashe are among the longest-tenured county arts council executive directors in the state, and this stability has without a doubt contributed to the success of the two organizations. While the two have vastly different personalities, both are passionate about the arts and have mutual respect for each other.
Cherry Johnson in Watauga
J
ohnson was hired in August 1992. She has a bachelor’s degree in visual arts, teaching thereafter, before obtaining a master’s degree in public administration and winding up as executive director of the Watauga County Arts Council. When asked what has kept her going in this profession for more than 20 years, Johnson said, “I just really care about what happens in the arts in this community. I love to watch people engage in the arts and be pleasantly surprised, delighted and excited when they see themselves succeed – not when they walk in, but when they leave – as artists.” Wise called Johnson “the face of the arts council” and a very creative individual who has always looked for ways to expand. Wise mentioned it was partly Johnson’s idea to deliver a variety of cultural programs to the schools through an artist-in-residency program, so students could experience what it was like to be a part of the creative process. Lonon added, “Cherry’s tenacity and her work ethic and her vision have contributed to the success of the Watauga Arts Council. I am glad she’s next door.”
Jane Lonon in Ashe
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hile Jane Lonon has been the director since 1988, she first became involved in the Ashe County Arts Council in 1981, just a few years after it formed. Lonon has a background in music and elementary education and noted that she has a background in theatre. “I have always had a strong love for arts and education,” Lonon said, adding that she feels it’s important for children to have the arts in their lives. Mentioning that the arts councils in Western North Carolina are “kindred spirits” because they face similar problems, Johnson said, “Jane and I became quick friends back in 1992.” Johnson described Lonon as a “very calm, very nice and sweet person … that the community [in Ashe County] loves dearly,” and Ashe County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director called Lonon’s “work ethic unbeatable” and described her as the “driving force” of the arts council.
Board & Advisory Members Of The Arts Councils Ashe County Board of Directors Chris Arvidson & Henry Doss Michael Bell Fowler & Jennie Bush Judy & Cameron Current Jane Davis Lynne & Dave Eastburn Jane Glass Connie Hardison Kathy Howell Diane & Wayne Johnson
Sharon Kasel Cynthia Kastl-Harless John MacConnell Becky Marsten Ed and Ellie Perzel Barbara Sears Becky Stragand Pam Tapp Fontrina Wray Ashe Advisory Board Doyle Brown
Joy Campbell Burt Prange Theresa Early Curd Judy Dancy June Weaver Dana Johnson Watauga County Board of Directors Patt Lanno, President Steve Frank, President Susan Lutz,
Jennifer Teague Judy Clarke Beth Carrin Pat Moritz Marsha Holmes Betty Womack
Velma Burnley Andrea Capua Harry Davis Hank Foreman JoAnn Hallmark Sandy Kadyk Shelby Lane Watauga Advisory Joe Miller Council Roland Moy John Bond Jimmie Owen Kay Borkowski Barbi Quatrano Unal Boya Jonnie West April / May 2014 H i g h C o u n t r y Mike Maga zine Wise
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Ashe Arts Council Summer Events
APRIL EVENTS
JUNE EVENTS
Saturday, April 19, 2014 West Jefferson School Gym Annual yard sale fundraiser
June 11 - July 5, 2014
Artifacts Yard Sale
A Norwegian Legacy April 30-June 7, 2014 Five generations of art from the family of Susan Dahlin Basford Exhibit: Ashe Arts Center Free
MAY EVENTS
Night of the Spoken Word Saturday, 24, 2014 7:30 Ashe Arts Center Local writer read their latest works Free
Shadow of the Hills Annual exhibit by the Blue Ridge Art Clan Ashe Arts Center Free
Gallery Crawl
Friday, June 13, 2014 5 pm -8 pm Open house at downtown galleries and shops Free
Coffee House Live!
Saturday, June 14, 2013 7:30 West Jefferson Methodist Church Hensley Hall Music, song and stories from local performers $10 adults, $5 students
JULY EVENTS
Christmas in July Children’s Activities Saturday, July 5 Downtown West Jefferson Face painting and arts and crafts
Gallery Crawl
Friday, July 11, 2014 5 pm -8 pm Open house at downtown galleries and shops Free
Carolina Chamber Symphony Players Friday, July 18, 2014 CCSP perform songs of Hoagy Carmichael with special guest vocalist Martha Bassett 7:30 Ashe Civic Center $16 adults and $5 students
AUGUST EVENTS Ashe County Arts Council Sponsors the Ashe County
Bluegrass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention Friday and Saturday, August 1 and 2 Competition, jam session, entertainment, food and more!
Gallery Crawl
Friday, August 8 5 pm -8 pm Downtown West Jefferson Open house at downtown galleries and shops Free
Tickling the Ivories
Saturday, August 16 Local and regional pianist perform on the 9ft Steinway on the stage at the Ashe Civic Center 7:30 pm Ashe Civic Center $14 adults and $5 students
Coffee House Live! Saturday, August 23 Songs, Stories and More 7:30 West Jefferson Methodist Church Hensley Hall $11 adults, $5 students
Watauga Arts Council Multi Day Workshops Drawing Classes for Children Every Thursday 5-6:30pm (ages 8-14) FEE $16/ session Creating Wonderful Painting Textures w/ Ordinary Items Wednesdays (6.18.14, 6.25.14, 7.9.14, 7.16.14) 4-6pm (ages 14 & up)
April
Alcohol Ink –Thursdays (4.29.14, 5.6.13, 5.13.14, 5.20.14, 5.27.14) 5:30-8pm Double the Fun! (Adults) FEE $180 + $40 materials fee paid to instructor
Introduction to East Asian Brush Painting (Adults) Wednesdays (5.14.14, 5.21.14, 5.28.14, 6.4.14, 6.11.14, 6.18.14) mornings 9:30-noon / evenings 6:308:30 FEE $180 + $40 materials fee paid to instructor
Painting Flowers in Watercolor (Adults) Thursdays in July (7.3.14, 7.10.14, 7.17.14, 7.24.14) 10am-noon FEE $25/ session OR $60/ all four sessions
Alcohol Ink: Third Time Around! (Adults) Tuesdays (7.22.14, 7.29.14, 8.5.14, 8.12.14, 8.19.14) 1-3:30pm FEE $40/ session OR $190/ all sessions
Watauga Council Gallery Exhibits
Second Saturday Celebration of the Arts – 4.8.14 Main Gallery: Regional Artist Project Grant Winners Carley Eisenberg and Tommy Lee McGhee Open Door Gallery: Paintings and Sculpture by Shirley Hampton Serendipity Gallery: David Richardson (outsider art) woodworking, sculpture Tarheel Footprints Children’s Gallery: Chad Safferstone? Bethel, Hardin Park?
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FEE $35 + $10 materials fee paid to instructor
May
Second Saturday Celebration of the Arts – 5.6.14 Main Gallery: "Mae in May"……featuring the artwork of Mae Trapp Open Door Gallery: "Mud Slingers" - featuring the creations of our area potters. This will be the inaugural exhibit of the newly formed High Country Potters Guild. Serendipity Gallery: "Ready, Set, Draw"- a collection of drawings of the Serendipitous Artists Tarheel Footprints Children’s Gallery: Rae Filsinger - Parkway and Mabel
High Country Magazine
April / May 2014
June
Second Saturday Celebration of the Arts – 6.10.14 Main Gallery: "Petal Pushers" - this is an Open Exhibition. Any member artist may submit a work of art which fits a floral theme. There will be prizes awarded and there is a $10/ piece entry fee. Open Door Gallery: Marion Cloaninger - Paintings, collage, and mixed media. Serendipity Gallery: "Be Still" - Still Life and Floral Works by the Serendipitous Artists Tarheel Footprints Children’s Gallery: Holly Soukup? John Bond?
July
Second Saturday Celebration of the Arts – 7.8.14 Main Gallery: "Wood You Believe It?" - Any member artist who has created something (functional or non-functional) made of wood may submit it to this open exhibition. There will be prizes awarded and there is a $10/piece entry fee. Open Door Gallery: High Country Fiber Guild is being invited to share the creations they make from just about every type of fiber imaginable. Serendipity Gallery: "Spirit of America; Celebrations" - by the Serendipitous Artists
Tarheel Footprints Children’s Gallery: Pegge Laine? Rosa Powers? Turchin Art Classes?
August
Second Saturday Celebration of the Arts – 8.5.14 Main Gallery: High Country Watermedia Society's Annual Juried Competition Open Door Gallery: (tentative) Brad Douglas - Paintings and Photography Serendipity Gallery: "02: Plein Air" - Outdoor paintings by Serendipitous Artists Tarheel Footprints Children’s Gallery: Summer Arts Camp or art teachers
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Self Portrait, acrylic on canvas
By Madison V. Fisler
His Troubled and Triumphant Life
I
roning boards, bed sheets and tire rims are things you would expect to find in your basement or on the side of the road. But items like these currently adorn the galleries in the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, along with many other items as part of the museum’s newest exhibit, “The 28
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Painted Song,” which showcases the work of local folk artist, the late Wiili Armstrong. The collection represents pieces from the personal collections of several donors including Beth and Web Alexander, Pam Ayoub, Jeff Eason, The Harwood Family, Lou Ann Kitchell, Tim Miller, Mary
Shuford, Ginny Stevens, Sylvia and Cullie Tarleton, Cathy and Bill Williamson and an unnamed private collector. Armstrong, who passed away in 2003, did the majority of his artwork in acrylic, but also utilized watercolor, pen and paper and mixed media among many other mediums. Armstrong’s colorful works and bold painting style have led to him being dubbed “The High Country Van Gogh.” Twenty-five of the pieces included in the exhibit are from the collection of Tim Miller of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery. “He was a very sensitive guy, and of course he had some disabilities,” Miller said. “He lived on
A young Wiili Armstrong, known then as Billy, hard at work painting a piece of artwork. Wiili would go on to be a prolific artist, painting more than 1,000 individual pieces.
In one of his favorite spots, artist Wiili Armstrong stands outside of Boone Drug on King Street. He is remembered by many as the peculiar and kind hearted artist who sold his art outside of this local establishment. April / May 2014
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In 1976, young Billy was represented in his first ever art show, showcasing his artistic abilities to the world for the first time. Later in life, he would go on to be featured in many art galleries throughout the High Country.
the streets some of his life, he lived in shelters and public troduced Wiili to animals and nature. Wiili loved to paint housing. If you look at his work you see inspiration from birds and always took special care to paint their song as many artists, including van Gogh. In Wiili’s words, he was well. He was an exceptionally emotional person, and his art was how he felt most connected with nature.” a poet and then an artist. He loved his poetry.” But Wiili Armstrong, the The exhibit includes a multiman, the poet, the artist and the media component that features enigma was so much more than a recording of Wiili himself readhis medium. While his unique ing some of his poetry aloud, artistic style was well known and the exhibit also includes throughout his career, few peoone of his poems on a huge ple really knew the true depth scale, taking up the majority of of the talented poet and artist’s one of the gallery walls. numerous demons. One of Wiili’s most notable “I met Wiili in a coffee shop characteristics was his affinin Boone in 1994,” said Tim Millity for nature, and in particular er of Blowing Rock Frameworks birds and butterflies. A recurand Gallery, who befriended ring theme throughout the exthe troubled artist. hibit is a bird in flight that leads “In the beginning, our relamuseum visitors from room to tionship was just professional, room where they can follow but it is hard not to become Armstrong’s inspiration throughpersonal with Wiili. He had a out his years as an artist. The Armstrong children around Christmastime in “There are vinyl birds in each 1959. From left to right, Mark, Marcie, Billy and Lori. way of bringing you into his room,” said Allyson Teague, life, into his world. Everything exhibits director at the Blowing Rock Art and History was so personal with him, and it was hard not to get Museum. “That’s his father’s influence shining through. involved with him, because Wiili was such a mess from His father was an ornithologist and veterinarian, and in- the beginning.” 30
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Armstrong was a familiar sight along King Street in Boone from the time he moved to the High Country in 1993 until his death in 2003. He could frequently be found selling his artwork on the street.
Wiili Armstrong was born William H. Armstrong, Jr. on cause nobody thought that he could. Wiili, especially in his Aug. 18, 1956. From an early age, Wiili demonstrated an youth, never had very many friends, mainly preferring to incredible level of intelligence and an overwhelming pro- keep mostly to himself and living most of his life a loner. “We were told when he was in grade school that he pensity for creativity. His first brush with painting came in was genius level,” said early childhood when his Jean. “One of the teachmother, Jean Armstrong, ers called me and said, provided him and his sib‘you’re going to have a lings with painting lesproblem with him.’ His sons. Latching onto this teachers just really didn’t newfound form of self-exunderstand him, and he pression, Wiili would conwas probably smarter than tinue to paint, draw, sketch most of them.” and compose poetry for From an early age, his the remainder of his life. father, a well-respected “He drew from the time ornithologist, would take he could pick up a pencil,” him to Central and South said his mother, Jean ArmAmerica on bird watchstrong. “He would always ing trips, which began a find something to draw lifelong obsession with with. He would always nature. From this unlikely find a pencil or a pen and childhood, Wiili developed would find a way to make Wiili became known for his painted car that he decorated himself the ability to distinguish something.” and drove for many years. Shown here alongside his colorful autobetween bird species by From a young age, Wiili mobile, Wiili was famous for making art with unlikely canvases. their song, appearance showed a sort of social dependency. According to his mother, Jean Armstrong, he and migratory patterns. Wiili, then known as Billy, was very active in Boy had an obsession will showing that he could succeed, beApril / May 2014
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Drunken Dancers, acrylic on canvas panel
Scouts and stopped just shy of becoming an Eagle Scout. According to his mother, he presented very few real problems up until he was a sophomore in high school. “Billy went to church camp his sophomore year along with some of his friends, and when he came back something was just different about him and we didn’t know why,” said Jean. “From there it was just one thing after another. We knew there was something else going on. We later found out that was when he first started experimenting with marijuana.” Even though he was fiercely intelligent, Billy Armstrong, dropped out of his high school in Parkersburg, West Virginia. During his adolescent years, Billy started to further display many symptoms of underlying mental health concerns. He was evaluated shortly following high school at institutions including Ohio State University, and he was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depressive disorder. “We tried for many years to find out what was going on with him,” Jean said. “Nobody would really tell us what was going on. Back then, things like that were not talked about like they are today. It was frustrating going all those years without an answer about his diagnosis. He was in his 20s when we finally got answers and he got diagnosed as bipolar.” But many who knew him believe that he suffered from other mental illnesses as well, including schizophrenia and agoraphobia. “He hated crowds of people,” Jean said. “Once I went to Raleigh with his sisters for one of his art shows and we wanted to surprise him. When we pulled up to the gallery that night, Billy was sitting parked in his car, which was easily recognizable because it was all painted. He was drinking heavily that night because he didn’t want to be around groups of people at all. We went inside and left him alone for a while, Angel with Grapes, acrylic on canvas
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Angel, acrylic on circular saw blade
Ironing Board, acrylic on metal
Cherub, acrylic on furnace door
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but I finally went out there and he talked to me for a few minutes. He just broke into sobs and it nearly broke my heart. I understood him then. I knew he was drinking because he just couldn’t face all those people in there. I told him ‘Billy, you need to come talk to these people’, because they all bought his pictures and had never met him.” His bipolar disorder disrupted not just his social life, but his professional life as well. “The bipolar disorder was hard to deal with at times,” Miller said. “When Wiili was on, he was really on. But when he was in a depressed state, you couldn’t get him to paint for months. With Wiili, it was really hit or miss.” After his diagnosis, Wiili’s life was a continuous cycle of ups and downs. During his manic stages, he would paint for hours on end, painting and writing poetry all day and through the night without feeling the need to rest. Eventually, he was able to obtain an associate’s degree in wildlife management from Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville, Ohio Einstein, acrylic on canvas while spending much of his free time writing poetry and producing illustrations for the school magazine. He was even married, however briefly, in 1976, Miller said. Unfortunately, the union was not to be, and ended almost as soon as it began. On his good days, Wiili was the epitome of artistic voracity and proliferation. His paintings were composed of warm, vibrant colors and fluid shapes with much of the inspiration coming from the nature that he loved so much.
April / May 2014
But during his depressive states, a completely different Wiili emerged. During hard times, Wiili often turned to alcohol and drugs for solace from his many demons, and took his medication only sporadically due to undesirable side effects. Wiili found himself checked in and out of various mental institutions. His work while in his depressive states is characterized by dark colors including dark blues and blacks, an introspective inspiration and preoccupation with death. Where his medication so often failed him, Wiili found unfailing solace and boundless comfort in his poetry and in his art. Painting and writing, especially about the nature and the animals that inspired him, provided a sort of therapy for the troubled man, and it allowed him to escape his pain or express his joy when social interactions were too much for him to bear. His obsession with birds, butterflies and other delicate pieces of nature, especially those with the ability to fly, dominated his artwork during his manic states. Wiili lived mostly on the streets, unable to hold a substantial job to pay rent and served more than a few stints in mental institutions including Dorthea Dix and Broughton Mental Hospital. After residing in the Raleigh area for six years, Wiili made his final move to the High Country in the early 1990s. “Wiili really loved the mountains,” Miller said. “In his earlier pieces, he made references to the mountains being very spiritual to him, because they were closer to birds and nature.” And it was the mountains that really inspired Wiili, who now had unbridled access to the nature that inspired his creativity. Throughout his artistic career, Wiili produced more than 1,000 pieces of artwork, poetry and even a book, which Wiili sold on the streets of Raleigh to make extra money. Wiili seemed to really come into his own when he finally settled down in Boone. Though known by most for being the eccentric man selling art outside of Boone Drug, Wiili became much more than that for the many whose
lives he touched. “He was very happy in Boone,” said Jean. “While he was there he joined alcoholics anonymous because I will admit he had an alcohol problem. The doctors there were great too.” Wiili began to be showcased in many different galleries around the High Country. Though he was frequently unable to fulfill his obligations due to his bipolar disorder,
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The Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in Blowing Rock has dedicated five galleries full of work by Wiili Armstrong, the High Country’s Van Gogh. The exhibit showcases not only his paintings, but also drawings, sketches and poetry. His colorful paintings are often reminiscent of Chagall, Van Gogh and Gauguin and were often painted on any surface he could find, including fence posts, ironing boards and much more. The collection represents pieces from the collections of several donors including: Beth and Web Alexander, Pam Ayub, Jeff Eason, The Harwood Family, Lou Ann Kitchell, Tim Miller, Mary Shuford, Ginny Stevens, Sylvia and Cullie Tarleton, Cathy and Bill Williamson and a private donor. The exhibit has been on display since Nov. 8 and will continue until May 3.
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his unique style of art and vibrant personality made Wiili a highly respected artistic entity and a wellknown face around the High Country. Though the majority of Wiili’s work, which eventually numbered more than 1,000 individual pieces, was sold by him on the streets, many pieces were also showcased in popular area galleries and are how housed in numerous private collections. The artist’s life came to an end all too soon over Christmas in 2003. Wiili was found in his apart- Although Wiili is best known for his paintings, he always considered himself a poet first. The exhibit ment in his bed, as if he acknowledges this fact with a poem on a grand scale put up on the wall in the gallery. The exhibit had simply fallen asleep also features a station where guests can listen to a recording of Wiili reading his own poetry. and never woken up. Christmas, because we talked to him on Dec. 26. We think Though nobody knows for certain what happened to him in his last moments, many that he probably died the night of the 26th but we don’t know hope that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by the the exact time he died. My anniversary with my husband is the 26th and so we prefer that he died on Dec. 27.” artwork and poetry that brought him such happiness. But although Wiili Armstrong the man is no more, his “It is true that we have the date of his death set at Dec. 27,” Jean said. “We know for a fact that he did not die on life is remembered and his legacy lives on through his
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art and his poetry. Where the material world failed him, his inspirations for his work continue to serve as a reminder for the extraordinary man that he was. “I am absolutely proud of him,” Jean said. “Many great artists are bipolar and many have similar troubles. He didn’t have any control over it at all. He was a loner for most of his life, but he wasn’t at all estranged from his family. We were never estranged from him. His sisters and I and his father always stood by him and tried the best that we could. I have some pieces that he did that I wouldn’t trade for anything. One of my favorites is a portrait he did of his vision of Bill and I. Most of his artwork you really have to decipher. He would do a piece and say, ‘What do you see?’ Because you could look at his art for days and find new things everyday.” After his death, Wiili was returned to nature, forever joining what remained of Wiili’s worldly being with the nature that comprised his true soul. And so, the man who lived a life of torment, continually struggled with debilitating mental illness and existed very much alone on the fringes of society left in the wake of his death a legacy of unbridled creativity, unfathomable beauty and an intriguing legend that truly nobody could completely understand. He created a world of vibrant color, meaningful words and mythological beauty all his own, and left the rest of us to merely attempt to decipher his painted song.
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Artwork, previous page: 1) Butterfly Release, acrylic on cabinet door wood
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3) Death's Door, acrylic on closet door wood
4) Distorted Circle, acrylic on metal 5) Angel Painting, acrylic on canvas 6) Self Portrait, acrylic on cardboard
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7) Firefly Symphony, acrylic on particleboard
8) Distorted Woman and Moon, acrylic on panel Photography of artwork by Lonnie Webster.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. April / May 2014
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For the last 30 years, David Finck has been a master craftsman of high-end furniture, jewelry cases and acoustic guitars. For the last year, however, he has parlayed his talent as both craftsman and musician into building violins of exceptional quality.
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A Woodworker, a Risk Taker,
a Violin Maker Story by Allison West
Photography by Katie Warren
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Master craftsman David Finck’s latest endeavor turns his father’s dream into reality
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mati. Maggini. Stradivari. Guarneri. … Finck? The lat- ing guitar and singing, first pop music, then blues, ragtime and ter name, it’s safe to say, is never mentioned in the same classical. But it was a few years later before his musical passion breath as that of the former, whose violins are heralded collided with one he wasn’t even aware he had: woodworking. and spoken of with a reverence verging on the religious. While lending a hand on his folks’ remote land in West Virginia So what could David Finck, a woodworker from Valle Crucis, NC, one summer during college, Finck stumbled upon a guitar that his father Henry, an anatomy professor possibly have in common with those who was also an avocational woodEuropean violin makers of the 16th to worker and violinist, had stopped 18th centuries? Plenty, it turns out. just short of completing. The guitar For starters, they are all masters of was step one in his very methodical their crafts – experimenting, honing, father’s three-step plan. “My father perfecting. Stradivari’s instruments, had a lifelong goal of building a viofor instance, are considered the epitlin,” says Finck. “[His plan was] first ome of the luthier’s art, prized by he would build a guitar, then a viothe world’s greatest musicians and la da gamba, and finally, the violin. collectors, and valued today at hunThese instruments represent a prodreds of thousands to several million gression in woodworking.” U.S. dollars. On a smaller but no less Finck recalls that his father had devoted scale, Finck, who studied for begun working on that guitar a coutwo years under internationally reple of years before Finck the younger nowned teacher James Krenov at The ever thought about playing one, so College of the Redwoods Fine Woodwhen he saw the incomplete instruworking Program in Fort Bragg, Cament, along with extra wood and lif., has been building custom highhow-to books, Finck thought he hit end furniture, jewelry cases, lamps, upon a brilliant plan. “If I started tables, desks and guitars for the last making a guitar of my own, maybe 30 years. And his skill commands its [my dad] would get inspired to start own relative high figures: According back on his and I would end up with to Finck’s website, www.davidfinck. a decent guitar. Well, that part of my com, a dreadnaught steel-string guiplan failed,” he recalls, laughing. “I tar is priced at $3,500 while an arts A scroll is the decoratively carved end of the neck of think it was another 10 years before and crafts-themed walnut buffet runs certain stringed instruments, mainly members of the my father completed the guitar. But $6,100. But where the fine woodworker’s life truly intersects with that violin family. The scroll is typically carved in the shape something unexpected happened: I of a volute (a rolled-up spiral) according to a canonibecame absolutely passionate about of the Italian masters is in his latest cal pattern, although some violins are adorned with woodworking.” endeavor: making violins. carved animal or human heads. The quality of a scroll Following that revelation, Finck Finck’s interest in music ignited readily admits he wasn’t much help in high school, when he began playis one of the things used to judge the luthier’s skill. April / May 2014
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Finck recalls that when working on his first violin – which took 200 hours – sometimes an entire day’s work resulted in one tablespoon of shavings from just perfecting the right thickness. to his parents the rest of that summer, but he did catch a glimpse of the path his life would take. The then 19 year old returned to the University of California at Berkeley with a guitar of his own making and graduated two years later with a degree in Environmental Science. The next step was obvious. Finck was off to woodworking school where he “had the experience of a lifetime” and, incidentally, met his future wife, Marie. After they both finished school, the couple moved back to West Virginia and set up shop on his parents’ property, where Finck went full-time into designing and building fine furniture and acoustic guitars. To date, he has crafted more than two dozen acoustic guitars, including the one he plays as sideman in the local Celtic group the Forget-Me-Nots, an acclaimed trio of fiddle players that includes his two daughters, Ledah, who is working toward a degree in music performance at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Willa, a high school senior, as well as their good friend Maura Shawn Scanlin. (Since the girls are residing in three different cities at the moment,
a reality. Just over a year ago, a confluence of both personal and professional circumstances provided the impetus to Finck’s successful shift to violin making. And the personal was never far removed from the professional. Having toyed with the idea of making each of his daughters a violin at one time or another, Finck says his wife finally “lit a fire under me” when the time came for Ledah to return an exceptional contemporary violin she had received on loan as one of the benefits of winning a national music competition put on by the University of Delaware. Purchasing a new one of the same caliber would be costly, plus his father had bequeathed him a two-foot library shelf full of violin making how-to books and the requisite tools needed to do the job. If ever there was a time, urged Marie, it was now. Inspired to honor the legacy of his father and to not upend his own bank account, Finck got to work. While Ledah “was rightfully skeptical that it would be anything other than something [she] might play an occasional fiddle tune on,” remembers Finck, “Marie kept the
“I am trying to make a beautiful object that also feels just right to the player and produces a beautiful sound.”
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the group is currently on hold; however, the Forget-Me-Nots are scheduled to play Music in the Park at the Valle Crucis Park on May 23 at 7pm.) Finck’s father Henry passed away in 2011 and, sadly, never achieved his lifelong dream of making a violin. Henry’s son, however, has turned that dream into
April / May 2014
David Finck, Woodworker The Con-Sho Lantern rejoins Arts and Crafts sensibility with Asian roots. The design features locally harvested red oak, bamboo and Japanese maple inclusions from Finck’s own yard
The cherry Garden Bridge Hall Table (2004), with exposed joinery and sculpted legs, was architecturally inspired
The Coopered Showcase cabinet (2007 ) was crafted of ash, red oak and kwila woods. Coopering is a means of preserving the grain pattern that would otherwise disappear
Made of Macassar Ebony, Swiss Pearwood, Gaboon Ebony and Hard Maple, the Bedside Chest of Drawers (2008) photo credit “Nicholas Photography”
blends modern eclecticism with classical elements
View his collection of high-end furniture, jewelry cases, lamps, tables, desks and acoustic guitars at www.davidfinck.com
faith.” Finck wasn’t particularly confident, though. “Initially I just wanted it to be something for [the girls] to keep as a memento of their old man.” What it became, however, was beyond the family’s wildest imagination. Finck was instantly hooked. “I am not a figurative carver, but I have always enjoyed carving detailed handles and parts for my furniture or carving the neck or the bridge on a guitar. Violin making is nothing if not one intense carving job. I was enthralled,” he says. For his induction into violin making, Finck was enthralled for more than 200 hours. Most of us couldn’t get a single flat wall painted in a week, much less whip
up a violin from scratch. But like any good painter knows, it’s not about speed, it’s about precision: These days sometimes an entire day of work will result in one tablespoon of shavings from getting just the right thickness. “Naturally,” Finck notes, “as I gain experience, the time invested in each violin decreases,” before recounting a tale about Picasso meant to underscore the irrelevance between time and price: “Picasso is said to have charged a woman the equivalent of about $5,000 for a napkin doodle that took him about two minutes to create,” says Finck. “When questioned about the charge, he told her it took him his whole life to make the sketch.
I can relate to that in the sense that my violin building draws upon woodworking skills that I have been developing for three decades. Unfortunately, I am not nearly as fast, talented or marketable as Picasso.” But Finck’s training certainly paid off handsomely, and not only monetarily, because what happened next, Finck says, was “stunning.” The day arrived for Ledah to play a recital her freshmen year at Chapel Hill, and afterwards the group went into a rehearsal room for a showdown between the top-notch loaner and Finck’s handiwork. First she played the loaned instrument. “Then she took out mine,” remembers Finck, “tuned it up and set bow to
Surrounded in his workshop by tools, patterns and works in progress, Finck is dedicated to providing passionate violinists with a superb tool for making music, but most importantly, his aim, he says, “is to make delighted violinists.” Visit his website at www.davidfinckviolinmaker.com
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her new violin for a test run, remembers Finck, “her first comment was, ‘It’s good.’ Period. With not much more excitement than that. I was a little disappointed,” he admits. “However, the next day, after a few hours of practice using the new violin, she came out with her eyes sparkling and pronounced, ‘I love it!’” That double success was more than
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string. We were all amazed and kind of in shock. This first-time instrument was without a doubt the better sounding violin. Ledah put away the other and sent it back early. She’s been playing mine ever since.” A week later Ledah was using her new instrument for her solo debut with the Durham Symphony Orchestra, for which she played the Vieuxtemps Violin Concerto Number 4, first movement. The Finck family understandably bubbled with pride as Ledah stood before the orchestra, “the violin soaring above the entire orchestra and filling that hall with beautiful sound,” recalls Finck. Because what was happening at that moment transcended the present -- it reached back into the past, grabbing the dream of a father, a grandfather, and foreshadowed the possibilities of the future, for both player and creator. “I decided to just keep going with it,” says Finck. “I dove right into the next violin.” Of course, with two daughters, did he really have any choice in the matter? Let’s face it, violin #2 was inevitable. But Finck was motivated, as he “felt like I had a newfound calling in woodworking.” Still, like any parent knows, the reaction of one child does not guarantee the same reaction from another. So when Willa took
enough to propel Finck down the violin making path, but one with a more personal footprint. Rather than number the violins as is the traditional practice, Finck chose to give them Yiddish names to honor his father and daughters. Ledah’s violin is “Gelibt” -- “Beloved” -- and Willa’s is “Neshomeh” – “Soul” or “Darling.” Since then he has completed two more violins and has
“Violin making is nothing of not one intense carving job,” says the woodworker, so it helps that Finck has always particularly enjoyed carving detailed handles for his furniture or carving the neck or the bridge of a guitar.
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The family all together, from left: Willa, David, Ledah, and Marie
two more in the works, and hopes to devote himself to violin making in the years to come. His goal for this year is 10, he says, and he’s on track to reach that target. Underscoring the passion that lies beneath this trade, Finck does not plan to build on commission, instead imbuing each of his creations with its own unique personality and thereby building a stock of instruments so musicians have a range from which to try. This sounds very Ollivanders Wand
Shop, but that approach certainly worked out for Harry Potter and his friends. Though a violin can be used to perform any sort of music – Baroque, classical, jazz, folk, rock and roll, and soft rock, for example – Finck says he is “primarily focusing on classical musicians who often have very demanding requirements for their violins.” They obviously don’t need to defeat world-domineering wizards, but they do need to conquer various performance
When Finck’s father Henry (who never achieved his lifelong dream of building a violin) passed away in 2011, David inherited a shelf full of how-to books and a complete set of unique tools required for the precision involved in making violins. 46
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challenges. “Besides sounding good to the musician,” Finck explains, “the instrument may need to project well in a concert hall or blend well with an ensemble. It also needs to play well and make a good sound right to the high end of the fingerboard on every string.” Simply speaking, Finck’s “aim is to produce instruments that satisfy world-class musicians.” That’s a tall order, but given his background and available resources, Finck’s vi-
Shellac, oil and pumice are some of the materials Finck uses to finish a violin in the “French polishing” method, which is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface, with a deep color and chatoyancy, an optical reflectance effect seen in certain gemstones. olins have started out at an extraordinarily high level; in fact, his violins command $7,400 each (peruse his work at www.davidfinckviolinmaker.com). Violin making in its current form dates back to the early 1600s, “so there is no need to reinvent the wheel here,” he acknowledges. “My goal as a builder is to stay firmly within the tradition of famous early makers such as Stradivari and Guarneri, but without being a literal copyist. There are numerous small and subtle ways to assert one’s own personality into this traditional form while staying true to the tradition. I am trying to make a beautiful object that also feels just right to the player and produces a beautiful sound.” When asked exactly what that sound
is, Finck goes into vocational, scholarly mode, discussing types of wood (spruce, fiddleback maple, hard maples, soft maples), “open and robust” sounds, “clarity of tone,” “dark and throaty” low notes, “complex sympathetic vibrations”, “shimmery tones” on the E-string, placement of the violin bridge and soundpost, “projection.” But it’s Finck’s summarization of “responsiveness,” meaning how much work it takes for the player to achieve the desired sound, which best encapsulates the builder’s philosophy: “A good violin gives up the sound easily.” A description so simple yet teeming with such artistic complexity that novices can appreciate it and virtuosos will cherish it. Finck’s passion is palpable. He radiates
integrity. Which makes sense considering how he reached this defining moment in his life: his father, his mother (a music teacher), his wife, his daughters. In short, family. After years spent crafting exquisite furniture and guitars, his first two violins are, without question, he affirms, “the best things I have ever built. Hearing [Ledah and Willa] perform on them is simply a joy. But perhaps even more meaningful to me is knowing of the endless hours they spend with those instruments in hand in the practice room. I don’t believe there is anything I could make that is so integral to their lives and as a bonus also touches the lives of so many other people.” Somewhere the Italian masters and Henry Finck are smiling.
Willa took her new violin for a test run, remembers Finck, “her first comment was, ‘It’s good.’ Period. With not much more excitement than that. I was a little disappointed,” he admits. “However, the next day, after a few hours of practice using the new violin, she came out with her eyes sparkling and pronounced, ‘I love it!’”
April / May 2014
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April / May 2014
It’s Gardening Time!
Let us introduce you to the local gardening and landscaping businesses that are ready and waiting to assist you with making your house and lawns look as beautiful as they can be. Over the next seven pages, check out the great, local experts that offer the products and services you are looking for to help get your spring projects done right the first time. Visit their websites or give them a call. Your yards and gardens will thank you. April / May 2014
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Shady Grove Gardens and nursery “Your LocaL FLower Farmer”
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Look here for Local Businesses that can help you with Gardening Time Mountaineer Landscaping
LINVILLE. Nestled along the side of the road in the quaint little town of Linville you’ll find Mountaineer Landscaping. While located at the foot of Grandfather Mountain this design center and landscape company offers unique and unusual garden treasures from pottery to shrubs, outdoor pillows to bird feeders, garden tools to soils & fertilizers, with everything else in between. How do we begin to describe the garden wonders and beauty of Mother Nature that lurks around every corner here at Mountaineer Landscaping? Beautiful, amazing, and intriguing! Mountaineer Landscaping is locally owned and operated by Wayne and Terry Brewer. They have combined their talents and experience into a unique combination of landscape design and products to meet the needs of their customers. Whether you are looking for a special accessory or plant for your lawn, garden or home; or if you need custom landscaping to turn your yard into the garden of your dreams, you will find it here in Linville. Mountaineer Landscaping and Design Center is the place to visit. The owner of Mountaineer Landscaping, Wayne Brewer, has a lifetime of experience in landscaping, both residential and commercial. Wayne enjoys being outdoors and taking raw or overgrown properties and turning them into serene gardens to escape from our hectic lives. These treasured areas provide a place to rest and rejuvenation. The beauty that comes from Wayne’s visions and the team’s hard work is very satisfying as they leave the property knowing it will be enjoyed by all that visit us, specially the clients! Waterfalls are a specialty for Wayne and his team. As a young boy into manhood, Wayne was an avid trout fisherman on the rivers, creeks and streams of Avery County. His wife Terry, suggests that his natural waterfall designs comes from his childhood experiences and love for the local waters. The natural appearance makes you think that Mother Nature herself designed and placed it there. What could be better! Terry’s love for landscaping & decorating enhances the landscape with garden accents and features. The home of Moun-
April / May 2014
taineer Landscaping in Linville holds everything you will need to personalize your time in the garden and make you smile. Beauty and inspiration surprise you as you stroll through the store and find the perfect accessory. This year, we will have a huge selection for fairy gardeners down to miniature plants, garden furniture, lanterns and so much more. We offer container gardens and deck plantings, orchids, house plants and custom fresh cut flower arrangements. Some of Terry’s specialties are orchid arrangements, weddings and events that spur her creativity. Our staff is local and experienced at gardening in this beautiful part of our world and can offer words of wisdom as you plan your vegetable garden or add to your landscape. The shrubbery selections are the hardiest (some to zone five) for our area here in the High Country. We never know when temperatures may reach 15 degrees below zero or when the wind chill will send temperatures down even lower. Customers return year after year knowing they’ll find just what they’re looking for tucked within, waiting on them to arrive. So this year come visit Mountaineer Landscaping in Linville, It’s the big RED building. We’re more than a store to furnish all your landscaping needs, it’s a SCENIC attraction! 828-733-3726.
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BLOWING ROCK. The Mustard Seed Market is the High Country’s favorite destination garden center, rooted since 1992 on Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock. We offer a beautiful selection of unique plants, landscaping services, wonderful relics for your garden and home, and inspiration for gardeners and nongardeners alike. Robb and Danielle Stewart combine their creative talents and horticultural expertise within each corner of their beautiful shop. Let them design and plant your seasonal containers, give a consultation at your home, or professionally install your landscape … all while using the hardiest & healthiest plant stock and organic soil amendments. Our shop is loaded with hand-picked
Rent-All & Parties Too in Boone and Avery Rent-All in Banner Elk have been helping the High Country “Do Spring.” The whole idea behind renting equipment is there are some things that you only need on occasion and it doesn’t make sense to own them. It makes sense to rent them. Tillers, aerators, dethatchers and spreaders are examples. You save money by only paying for the time you use it. You have no maintenance or storage hassles and you get top quality equipment. It’s a great deal! But there is some equipment you should own. Things like lawn mowers and string trimmers. At Avery Rent-All we offer the full line of Stihl outdoor power equipment for sale and service. And at Boone Rent-All & Parties Too we offer the full line of Husqvarna outdoor power equipment. So for the equipment you use on occasion we offer our extensive line of rental equipment. For the equipment you own we offer the absolute best equipment available Husqvarna and Stihl and the best service anywhere. So Spring into your chores with help from Boone RentAll in Boone and Avery Rent-All in Banner Elk. Boone Rent-All. 828-264-5000 or
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terflies and birds, the texture and breezy movements of grasses, and the winter architecture and bark of deciduous trees naturally led to the creation of a nursery an landscape design and installation. We, locally, innovated the organic, sustainable landscape. For 29 years, we have been building divine, nutrient rich well drained soils while dressing the curves with enduring colors and textures. We are horticultural fanatics. We focus on the natural affinities between plants and recreating unique niche environments. Doing so, we create healthy, living art. This same passion floods our stone and boulder work. Strongly influenced by our Blue Ridge Mountain landscape and by the gardens of mountainous Japan, or stone walls, paths, patios, massive steps, and boulder gardens unite art and function with the dance of joy in our labor. An artisan’s integrity is the foundation of our design and construction. We have fun and consider each project a unique gift to you. We hope to do more than construct. Employing a small crew of dedicated crafts persons, our backgrounds in classical and contemporary horticulture and our deep commitments to the ageless tradition of dry stonework inspire our clients in a common creative process. Each landscape and stonescape project is a unique outgrowth of the immediate and surrounding physical environment and personal interests of the clients and their home. A free consultation would be a time for us to listen to you and find where our visions merge. (828) 773-3763 or (828) 964-
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BOONE. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment is the High Country’s one-stop shop for equipment rental, sales and service since 1986. Farmers Rentals offer a wideranging rental inventory with top name brands, complete parts and service department and a very knowledgeable staff to assist you. Whether you require general tools, contractor hardware, outdoor power equipment, contractor supplies or repair parts—we have all the tools you need to get the job done right, at the right price! From power tools to snow blowers, to ex-
April / May 2014
cavators and forklifts – we are proud of our wide selection. Farmers Rentals and Power Equipment is a family owned and operated business. When we opened our doors back in 1986, our mission was to provide expert advice, service, and top-quality equipment sales and rentals. To this day, we continue to expand and strengthen our services by offering contractors and do-it-yourselfers a high quality tool selection. We know that when you have a job to do, choosing the best equipment for your home or business is essential. At Farmers Rentals you can count on our experienced and friendly staff to help you decide which product is ideal for your job, saving you time and money. We are always ready to serve your needs – for your next project, take advantage of our convenient hours, competitive rates, advance reservations, and delivery / pickup service. Whether you need our services or equipment for your home or business, call or visit us today. 828.264.6044. www.farm-
ersrentals.com
SHADY GROVE GARDENS
VILAS. Shady Grove Gardens is 'Your Local Flower Farm'. For twenty-eight years Shady Grove Gardens have been growers of perennial and flowers. Thirteen years supplying brides with locally grown wedding flowers. Both flower grower and designer, Susan Wright of SGG is at the forefront of the new trend of locally grown, farm direct flowers. The 'Slow Flower' movement is a resurgence of florist as growers, sellers, and designers of flowers and plants. Her unique, rustic designs use all seasonal, locally grown flowers. While 80-90% of flowers used in USA are from foreign sources, here in the High Country you have a choice. Brides may order standard wedding arrangements or DIY seasonal flowers by the bucketful. As the premier 'Specialty Cutflower Grower' in the region Shady Grove Gardens sells over 200 types of flowers for weddings, event florist, and the Watauga County Farmers Market. Often called 'wildflowers' these are all cultivated on 5 acres in Watauga and Ashe counties. The rest of the farm is managed as conservation lands. Shady Grove's Farm in Creston, NC is
Gardening, Landscaping and Nurseries on the NC Birding Trail. For a small fee, you can see many unusual birds, including the Golden Winged Warbler. At the nursery in Zionville, NC stock up on locally grown perennials, hardy to the High Country. Visit their searchable Blog or Facebook for more information about flowers, gardening and special sales. www.shady-grove-gardens. bogspot.com As one of the most senior members of the Watauga Co. Market, Shady Grove Gardens offers, vegetable transplants, flowers arranged to order, herbs, wreaths, dried and preserved flowers and perennial plants. You will find flowers such as Dahlias, Dianthus, Lilac and Lisianthus. All plants and flowers are non-certified organically grown.
828.297.4098. shady-grove-gardens.com
vaughAn'S nursery, greenhouse AND FLOWER SHOP
PINEOLA. Since 1956 Vaughan's Nursery Greenhouse & Garden Center has been taking care of all your flower, shrubbery and landscaping needs. Vaughan's is situated on 12 acres with 18 greenhouses and an acre dedicated solely to perennials. The nursery offers the best variety of flowers and shrubs of any business of its kind in the High Country. Vaughan's is also the only nursery in the area that grows all their annuals right there on the property. While some businesses bring in plants fully-grown and ready to go, it starts with the bulbs or seeds at Vaughan's. Vaughan's does both wholesale and retail business and offers some great specials on the retail side. For Mother’s Day customers can get four-inch geraniums at a discounted rate. There will also be discounts on various products throughout the summer. As of 2014, Vaughan's has added an addition to make all your floral needs a one stop shopping experience. Vaughan's has incorporated a full service retail florist division. "The Flower Shop" is located inside Vaughan's main greenhouse and can be reached at 828-733-2425. Vaughan's is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. They are located at 726 Old Jonas Ridge Road in Pineola. (828) 733-4323 • (828) 733 - 5150
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They're ready! Check out our local vendors' greenhouses and shops for what you need for springtime gardening and landscaping. CHARLOTTE'S GREENHOUSE
VALLE CRUCIS. Charlotte's Greenhouse in Valle Crucis has been growing plants for 38 years, and Charlotte is 90 this year, solid proof that gardening is good for your health. They offer a diverse selection of annuals, vegetables, and herbs with a knowledgeable service that will excite any green thumb. Added to the extensive list this year are several new vegetable container cultivars and two cold-hardy basils. They also have many deer resistant plants and cut flower varieties. The greenhouse is open seasonally on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 9-1 and on Friday 9-6; or call for an appointment. 828-963-5974. www.charlottesgreenhouse.
com
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN NURSERY GARDEN CENTER AND LANDSCAPING
BANNER ELK. Since 1976, Grandfather Mountain Nursery Garden Center and 54
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Landscaping has been passionate about plants and creating pleasant outdoor environments in which you can live, play and relax in. We offer much more than “the big guys” because we have maximum product knowledge, a greater variety of product, and many special services to aid our customer and can offer value priced products. We are a team of Landscaping professionals dedicated to making your landscape garden a success. Our success is evident in the many long-term relationships we have developed with our clients and their landscapes. Our vision and passion makes us the landscape leaders in the High Country and we are recognized as one of the most progressive green industry businesses in the area. The Garden Center offers a vast array of lawn and garden merchandise and related accessories. We are constantly on the look to stock the finest quality in plant materials and garden products. We are pleased to offer dwarf, rare, unique and hard to find varieties of plant material as well as
April / May 2014
the more common varieties. By maintaining a personal relationship with our suppliers, we obtain the “pick-of-the-crop” and are able to provide premier plants to our customers. Our stock is hand cared for and maintained by our superb garden center staff. We continually update our garden accessories and stock the classical to the whimsical garden accessories. And of course, we keep on hand specialty fertilizers, chemicals, pavers, statuary, fountains, gardening books, tools, a wonderful array of gardening gloves, arbors, plant markers, and lots more. Our garden center staff can provide you with a wealth of information about your gardening questions and help offer solutions and suggestions. Delivery service is also available. Come peruse the offerings at the garden center - it truly will be your breath of fresh air. 828-963.5025. www.grandfa-
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April / May 2014
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A Unique, Family Experience in Deep Gap
By Jesse Wood and Chelsea Charping
W
three years old. When onderful the younger Charlie things would visit his grandhappen parents Jim and Sue in w h e n the mountains, Taylor children – with or withnoticed a particular out autism – are imjoy and happiness emmersed in the great outanating from Charlie doors, and of the many when he was explorbenefits that nature ing outside. “Charlie provides to the overall helped give me a vision development of kids, of how I could provide KAMPN founder Dr. others an opportunity Jim Taylor noticed that to enjoy the benefits of one boon is the sense of nature,” Taylor said. awe and wonder that na“Almost everything ture elicits in children – I have done, I have particularly those with asked God for a direcautism that the camp tion to take in my life. serves. Whether it is the This time, Charlie inibarefoot feel of a woodtiated this direction chip-covered trail weavas I observed his reacing through the 25-acre tions and behaviors in camp in Deep Gap and this natural setting.” the sensation of rubbing While KAMPN pinecones and tree bark incorporated and obin the forest or splashtained nonprofit status ing through cool creeks on May 1, 2011, the in the summer months, camp didn’t open until KAMPN’s Camp Cog2013. Since the incepger provides the sensory tion of the KAMPN experience that kids Campers pose for a picture together at KAMPN, organization, Taylor with autism relish. It also struggled to raise enough provides, for a change, a where enjoyment in nature is a priority and families feel welcome. funds to open the camp, setting for the families to so it would be free of cost to the families. The subsidy was a prifeel comfortable and relaxed. Taylor’s inspiration for KAMPN, which stands for “Kids ority because raising a child with autism is expensive and Taywith Autism Making Progress in Nature,” derived from ob- lor wanted families to be able to relax and enjoy their stay withserving his 10th grandson named Charlie, who was diagnosed out worrying about financing the trip. Along with individual several years ago on the autism spectrum when he was nearly donors, KAMPN has also received financial support from 56
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A happy camper at KAMPN's Camp Clogger enjoys his time at the outdoor-based autism camp in Deep Gap. And one parent who stayed at the camp last year wrote, “We local business such as Sunrise Grill, Bojangles, Mast General Store, Hawksnest Resort and Footsloggers, all of which have co- wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for providing the amazing sponsored the camp’s major fundraisers – KAMPN Konopoly, family experience we enjoyed. We felt welcomed… well normal. ZIPPIN for KAMPN and the annual fish fry in Boone. While It was so refreshing to be surrounded by such positive energy with more funding, of course, would be helpful to further the cause, folks who embraced us and genuinely cared about our experience. operation costs remain low. For example, instead of fancy cabins We don’t get too many opportunities to enjoy places as a family for the campers, good ol’ fashioned tents exist and help authenticate the experience KAMPN’s Camp Cogger is a nature-based overnight camping program that is very similar to any other camp experience. It has the welcoming ceremonies, evening cookouts, marshmallow roasts, camp songs and more. It provides hiking, music, art and other activities for children to pursue; it provides a place for parents of the children with autism to interact and discuss the daily rewards and challenges of raising a child with autism; and it provides university students from App State and beyond studying in the area of special education an excellent opportunity to receive hands-on experience in their field of study. Both educators, parents and volunteers, alike, have praised this program, which is unique to the region and perhaps beyond. See a few testimonials below: Dr. Charles Duke, former dean of the Reich College of Education at Appalachian State University, wrote a statement of support for KAMPN, a portion of which Dr. Jim Taylor said that his grandson Charlie, who is diagnosed on read: “The uniqueness of your program – its focus on the the autism spectrum, was his inspiration for founding KAMPN. family unit, not just the individual child – is one which Adam sits with Charlie by a stream on the 25-acre camp. we would like to see replicated many times over.” April / May 2014
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“
Dr. Jim and Sue Taylor at the KAMPN's annual fish fry, which is a major fundraiser of the nonprofit.
It’s a great cause.
I just can’t say enough good about what Jim and Sue are doing for these families and kids that have autism.” KAMPN Board Member and Watauga Sheriff Len Hagaman
without the worry about how are son with autism will react and how people will respond. Our daughter said it was the best camping trip she ever had! And I’m sure if JD, our son with autism, could find words, he would say the same. Jim and Sue and the volunteers really made us feel special and encouraged.” One volunteer exclaimed: “Thanks so much for all that you are doing and planning on doing. Y’all are truly inspiring and encouraging to all of us. Keep up the awesome work and thank you again for the opportunity.” Taylor’s introduction to autism wasn’t through his grandson Charlie. No, that occurred much earlier. Taylor began his career in special education in the ‘60s and has since served in various related positions: teacher, principal, consultant, advocate in the court system and professor at various universities. In addition he was director of a university preschool program, administrator of a large multi-faceted program for individuals with disabilities and a developer of domestic and international preschool programs. Just prior to moving to Deep Gap, Taylor served as professor and director of a preschool program for children with special needs at East Carolina University. He first noticed how kids with autism reacted positively in nature during a two-year sabbatical leave from East Carolina in the
early ‘90s, when he returned to the classroom to teach preschool children with developmental disabilities, including two with autism, on an island in the Pacific. The classroom was practically on the beach, and it was there that he noticed the two students with autism enjoying moving their toes in the sand and picking up seashells. In an essay titled, “Why Can Nature Be So Important in the Life of a Child with Autism?” Taylor wrote about the experience: “The small building where my preschool was located was encased in a natural environment, even having the ocean a stone’s throw away. It was there I began to observe what a difference being outside of the four walls of the classroom in nature made to the development of the child with special needs.” Several years later, in the fall of 1999, Taylor and his wife, Sue, relocated to Deep Gap after their home was destroyed by the fifth hurricane in four years. In the 80s, the Taylor’s had purchased land in the High Country with plans to build their retirement home, and in the summers of 1997-98 they actually lived in a tent on the property while building their cabin, hiring local people to help in the process. Little did Taylor know how this tent living would lead to sharing an enriched experience in the great outdoors with his grandson – and other families immediately affected by autism – nearly 15 years later.
BELOW AND OPPOSITE PAGE: The outdoors provide a complete sensory experience for the campers — whether it is from walking the wood-chipped trails, feeling pine cones, swinging or hugging a tree.
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WHY CAN NATURE BE SO IMPORTANT IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM? Dr. Jim Taylor Over the past 45 years of my professional career working with children with developmental disabilities, I have had many opportunities to observe, teach and be with this special population in a variety of learning environments. The learning environment which I have been so impressed is nature and the benefits it has for children on the autism spectrum. Taking a sabbatical leave from East Carolina University for two years in the nineties, I returned to the classroom to teach preschool children with developmental disabilities including those with autism on an island in the Pacific. The small building where my preschool was located was encased in a natural environment, even having the ocean a stone’s throw away. It was there I began to observe what a difference being outside of the four walls of the classroom in nature made to the development of the child with special needs. Almost 20 years later, I have again had the opportunity of observing children with autism interacting with nature. For the last two years I have volunteered at Camp Crinkleroot, a day camp program for children on the autism spectrum conducted by Appalachian State University. Along with this over the past four years, my wife and I have hosted children on autism spectrum and their families here at our cabin on 25 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Boone, NC. I am now even more firmly convinced of the value nature has in the development of the child on the autism spectrum. With the latest statistics being released in March of 2012, the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 88 children in the United States are being diagnosed with autism — nearly doubling of the prevalence since the CDC began tracking these numbers — autism can be now officially be declared an epidemic in the United States. When I began my career in Special Education in the sixties it was 1 in 2000!! Being a program developer, not a biological scientist, I find there is a crucial need to develop programs for this population. Having the conviction of the values and benefits that the nature environment provides for children on the autism spectrum, KAMPN (Kids with Autism Making Progress in Nature) was incorporated on May 1, 2011, receiving its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status on that same date. KAMPN will be a family affair with siblings and parents being involved with the experience. It is not only for the child with autism. Parents and siblings need to be a part of it in order to see just how valuable and fun being together, sharing and trying something new can be. It is projected to begin operation in July of 2013. There have been innumerable articles written and much research conducted over the past several years emphasizing the benefits for the body, mind and spirit that the outdoor natural environment has for all children. More recently focus is developing on what this rich natural environmental setting can mean to a child on the autism spectrum. On the following page I have referred to just a few of these studies. April / May 2014
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“
Once Jim Taylor puts his compassionate
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Karen Brown, founder and president of New Life Mobility Assistance Dogs, a Wilkes County nonprofit that the Taylors volunteered with for 10 years before delving into KAMPN.
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Taylor praised the hard work of volunteers from Appalachian State University. As seen below, these two helped bench trails. On the opposite page: A volunteer interacts with a camper.
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Advantages of Being Outside in Nature • Nature encourages the expansion of important skills by providing a place to support the development of the social and communication skills that children with autism are often weak. Since movement provides a wonderful way of stimulating the verbal centers of the brain, providing them a relaxed environment to do this can be very helpful in enhancing these skills. • Nature offers restorative experiences that can feed the soul. Outside in nature provides solace and comfort while being in a quiet space restores calm and thoughtful reflection. • Nature utilizes all five of the senses. A good sensory diet is important for children on the autism spectrum and being immersed in nature can provide a calming and stimulating experience based on the child’s needs. • Nature is broadcast in a 3-D spectrum. You can’t get any better than being in the three-dimensional world of nature with the abundance of rich experiences it has to offer children.
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Facts about Autism from the Autism Society of North Carolina Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a group of developmental disabilities that affect a person’s ability to understand what they see, hear, and otherwise sense. It is a brain disorder that impacts communication, social interaction, and behavior. Individuals with ASD typically have difficulty understanding verbal and nonverbal communication and learning appropriate ways of relating to other people, objects, and events. No two people with ASD are the same. As its name implies, ASD is a spectrum disorder that affects individuals differently and with varying degrees of severity. People with ASD may have problems with social, behavioral, and communication skills. They might repeat behaviors and might not understand change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Although it was first identified in 1943, to this day no one knows exactly what causes ASD. However, research to discover its cause is ongoing. Many researchers believe that there is a strong genetic component. Some research suggests a physical problem that affects the parts of the brain that process language and information; other research points to an imbalance of brain chemicals. A variety of possible external or environmental triggers are also being studied. It is possible that ASD is caused by a combination of several factors. ASD is the second most common developmental disability following intellectual disability. ASD is more common than childhood cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined. It is estimated that up to 1 out of every 88 children born today has some form of ASD. Evidence suggests that the prevalence rate in North Carolina is even higher than the national average, at 1 in 70. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 million Americans (children and adults) have ASD today, and that more than 15 million Americans (loved ones, caregivers, educators, and health-care professionals) are directly impacted by the disorder. In the state of North Carolina alone, there are over 60,000 individuals living with ASD. The overall incidence of ASD is consistent around the globe, but it is five times more prevalent in boys than girls. ASD knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries, and family income, lifestyle, and educational levels do not affect the chance of occurrence. While ASD is typically diagnosed in children, it is a lifelong disorder that affects individuals of all ages. At this time, no cure has been found for Autism Spectrum Disorder. However, with individualized treatment, education, and support, children and adults with ASD can improve and develop skills that will allow them to live and participate in their community. For more information, click to www.autismsociety-nc.org. 62
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During the summer of 2014, KAMPN offers the following dates for overnight camping experiences: • • • • • • •
July 4 – 6 July 8 – 9 July 11 – 13 July 15 – 16 July 18 – 20 July 22 – 23 July 25 – 27
Reservations are required and there are NO FEES for participating families. For further information in participating as a family in one of the sessions offered, contact Dr. Jim Taylor at 828-264-0054, KAMPN4autism@gmail.com or www.KAMPN4autism.appstate.edu For those interested in volunteering prior and/or during camp, contact Dr. Taylor. Donations can be sent to 1255 Wildcat Ridge Rd., Deep Gap, NC 28618.
A camper and his mother walk the trails of KAMPN's Camp Clogger.
KAMPN's Camp Clogger is just like any other camp. Campers roast marshmallows and play camp songs.
A
s captured in the adjoining photos, KAMPN held its major fundraiser, an annual fish fry in March, to the delight of many stomachs in the High Country. In the past, previous fundraisers for the outdoor camp for kids with autism include ZIPPN for KAMPN, held at the ziplining course at Hawksnest Resort in Seven Devils, and KAMPN KONOPOLY, which is a monopoly tournament sponsored by Footsloggers. Other major supporters include Mast General Store, Sunrise Grill and Bojangles in Boone. This year, Dr. Jim Taylor, founder of KAMPN, said discussions are in the works for possible fundraisers such as HIKN 4 KAMPN, which would be completed on the Watauga County section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and a BIKN 4 KAMPN event. Taylor said these events will have a team competition component to them as well as individual challenges – and, of course, a “just for the fun of it” component. Be on the lookout for these fundraisers in the future.
Top photo: Volunteers man the fryers cooking up fresh fish flown in from Alaska specifically for this KAMPN fundraiser. Middle photo: During the annual fish fry in March, Andi Gelsthorpe (middle), a KAMPN volunteer, and Melissa Shore (right), a parent and KAMPN board member, and Dr. Jim Taylor, founder of KAMPN, serve Alaskan cod and fixings to raise funds for KAMPN. Bottom PHOTO: KAMPN founders Dr. Jim and Sue Taylor serve food at the annual fish fry fundraiser held each year in Boone. Finally after years of their hard work, KAMPN is a reality!
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Parting Shot...
By
Lonnie Webster
Mountain Home Music founder Joe Shannon (third from right) sits next to his brother Frank, who holds Joe's Order of the Long Leaf Pine award at a farewell concert in March.
Joe Shannon's Final Show At Mountain Home Music by Jesse Wood
J
oe Shannon recently returned to Florida to live out his remaining days with family. He was raised in the Sunshine State but spent the past 35 years or so in the High Country, where he became beloved as an educator and founder of Mountain Home Music, an Appalachian music series that was formed 20 years ago to showcase the vast talents of local musicians. Shannon was diagnosed with cancer near the end of 2012. While initial chemotherapy caused the cancer to stop spreading for about six months, subsequent treatments weren’t effective and his health is declining rapidly. Shannon announced his condition for the first time publicly at the last MHM show of 2013 – which was shocking and saddening for all. A soft-spoken and humbling individual, 64
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Shannon has been described as a quiet leader, one who was passionate about education and, of course, music. In the past few months, he has received a number of recognitions and awards including the Appalachian Cultural Enrichment Award and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the governor’s office. The Town of Boone – which is where the first MHM concert was held to a small, yet enthusiastic audience in the Our Daily Bread restaurant on King Street – recognized Shannon at a council meeting in March, adopting a resolution of appreciation for enriching the “community by preserving and promoting the artistic heritage of the Appalachian Mountains.” Shannon attended his last MHM gathering during the annual St. Patrick’s Day concert. While Shannon wasn’t in the condition
April / May 2014
to attend the whole event, he was assisted into the music hall halfway through the event, where he was met with a “spontaneous roar” from the more than 200 attendees who came to experience a final MHM concert with Joe. As MHM board member David Finck said, the air was filled with “tremendous joy and bittersweet sorrow” – smiles for the man that Joe was and tears because Joe had to leave. Although Shannon stepped down as executive director of the nonprofit music series because of his declining health, MHM will continue. He gave his blessings for the board to continue his legacy. “We do want to continue Mountain Home Music. That’s his wish,” MHM Chair Ada Webster said. “So we really want to do a good job for Joe.”
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Upturn. Downturn. BACK PAGE - 68 PAGES Your Turn.
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