Rapid River Magazine March 2018 by Rapid River Magazine

SPECIAL ART & ARTIST ISSUE

ARTS & CULTURE R A P I D RI VER MAGAZINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

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March 2018 Vol. 21 No.7

THE OLDEST AND MOST READ ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE IN WNC

COVER ARTIST

All photos by Cathey Bolton

Art on Depot showcases the functional pottery of Cathey Bolton

By Staff Reports

Cathey Bolton is a ceramic artist

specializing in functional pottery for everyday use.

She has been learning and honing her pottery craft in NC for over 25 years. Bolton is an NC native raised on 100 acres in what was once considered rural north Raleigh. Her passion for creative arts came at a young age where she could be found in her dad’s workshop or up in her mom’s sewing room preferring to make furniture or clothes for her dolls. “It was never about playing with my dolls, but what I could make for them,” says Bolton. For her, artistry became a career choice after she took her first art class as a

junior in high school. The following summer Bolton attended NC School of the Arts’ Visual Arts program where she was asked to submit her portfolio at the end of the summer. She was accepted and completed her senior year in high school at NCSA with a concentration in Visual Arts. From there, she attended East Carolina University where she earned a BFA in Studio Ceramics and minors in Sculpture and Fiber Arts. Bolton made a move to WNC and began her professional career as a studio potter. November of 2008

she opened her current gallery and pottery studio, Art on Depot located in Waynesville. Here customers can watch her create one-of-a-kind pottery as well as, ask questions and shop the gallery. Bolton comes from a long line of entrepreneurs on both sides of the family. Her great-grandfather started his business, a gas & service station, in Waynesville back in 1928. Bolton is currently expanding her business enterprises by opening a new store, Corner Station Olive Oil Company, in the family’s old gas station. “It was a natural choice as I already create a line of pottery that I sell to olive oil stores up and down the east coast, besides I have a huge passion for cooking and sharing my foodie experiences,” Bolton explains. Corner Station Olive Oil Co. will house an olive oil and balsamic tasting bar and retail shop; which will

2 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

also sell Bolton’s pottery and local & regional gourmet foodie favorites. Look for her new olive oil store to open later this spring. Bolton expanded her creativity to encompass a wide range of work. She has more than 16 glaze colors to choose from and produces a line of handmade ceramic jewelry, custom dinnerware sets, custom logo mugs, wall & table décor pieces, wholesale lines, wedding registries and more. Art on Depot (828) 246-0218 250 Depot St, Waynesville Also don’t forget to follow Cathey Bolton online; Instagram @catheybolton, Facebook as “Cathey Bolton Design & Claywork” as well as Etsy @artondepot. Check out her newest e-commerce website at catheyboltondesignandclaywork.com.

IF YOU GO

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up” — Pablo Picasso

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 3

PERFORMING ARTS

The famous and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse

Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with Irish quintet at TFAC Main Stage on March 9

By Staff Reports

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The charm of the Emerald Isle comes to Tryon, NC with the Saturday, March 9 performance from Irish quintet Goitse at Tryon Fine Arts Center. The famous and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse was forged in the white-hot creative crucible of Limerick’s Irish World Academy. Named Live Ireland’s “Traditional Group of the Year,” Chicago Irish American News’ “Group of the Year,” as well as winning the prestigious “Freiburger International Leiter 2016” award in Germany, Goitse has become a leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles. Goitse has released four critically

acclaimed recordings and maintains a year-round touring schedule that includes performances throughout Ireland and the UK, Germany, France and the United States. Their distinctive sound lies in the quality of their compositions interspersed with traditional tunes from the countryside of Ireland and abroad, which make each performance unique. Laying the foundations for the music is World and All-Ireland Bodhrán champion Colm Phelan and Conal O’Kane, who is fast making a name for himself as one of the most beautiful guitarists of his generation. The gripping rhythm section sets a powerful drive for the music while the sweet, charismatic voice of Áine

4 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

McGeeney draws audiences into a song the way few performers can. Together, the quintet Goitse makes what Irish Music Magazine calls “Music that’s brimming with energy and creative zeal.”

Goitse Tickets at Tryon Fine Arts Center are available now at tryonarts.org or (828) 859-8322. Goitse is sponsored by New View Realty. The 2017-2018 Main Stage Series is sponsored by Parsec Financial. Image Attached: Goitse (pronounce go-WITH-Ya) brings infectously enthusiastic Irish music to Tryon on Friday, March 9.

IF YOU GO

CONTENTS

10 11 14 19 21 22

Volume 21, NO. 7

Conductor Nicholas Hersh and Itamar Zorman tackle Beethoven to Classic Rock with the ASO, March 17 Beautiful new works by David Brendan Hopes shows March 3 April 7 at the Flood Fine Art Center Mother/Daughter exhibit celebrates 10 years of Painting in Asheville “Top of the Morning” quiltthemed exhibit March 15-17 to honor National Quilting Day Grovewood Gallery hosts ‘Sip & Shop’ March 23-24

310 Art: Celebrate the Arts and Spring in the River Arts District

Art Classes Asheville Gallery of Art: “Black, White, and Shades of Gray” for March at Asheville Gallery of Art Food/Drink: ‘Wood-fired pizza served delicious in the River Arts District Bill Walz: Evolving God Health: Too Many Prescriptions

Publisher/Layout and Design/Editor: Dennis Ray Poetry Editor: Carol Pearce Bjorlie CONTACT US: Rapid River’s Arts and Culture Magazine is a monthly publication in WNC. Mail: 85 N. Main St. Canton NC 28716 Email: Info@rapidrivermagazine.com Phone: (828) 646-0071

Cover Photo: Bright Red Cruet with Yellow pitcher Cathey Bolton

Detail of the pottery by Cathy Bolton

16 17 20 28 23 24 25 26 30 31

Asheville Chamber Music Series presents St. Lawrence String Quartet March 23 AmiciMusic rings in the New Year with a “Celebrate 2018” Music Festival

www.rapidrivermagazine.com Online NOW

Teri Leigh Teed ‘Healing Spirit Art’ selected for Manhattan Arts International Renee Kumor reads from her new book – ‘500 Kisses’

Fine Art in the RAD: Green Cathedral – Trees in Pastel, Anne Allen, artist

Photography by Teri Teed

Poetry Books: Chris Bohjalian comes to Malaprop’s March 15 & Promise’ a novel about race and relationships Black Mountain: {Re} HAPPENING celebrates 8th year with Grammy-winning Ensemble Rapid River Magazine’s Comics Young Adult: Brendan Reichs latest ‘Genesis’ arrives March 6

NEXT MONTH

ART AND MORE FEATURES

6 8 9 12 15

COLUMNS / DEPARTMENTS

March 2018

ON OUR COVER

*Red Art and Artist Guide

Distribution: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills Marketing: Dennis Ray/Rick Hills ADVERTISING SALES: Downtown Asheville and other areas — Dennis Ray (828) 712-4752 • (828) 646-0071 Dining Guide, Hendersonville, Waynesville — Rick Hills (828) 452-0228 rick@rapidrivermagazine.com

Nesting Ball

APRIL: DINING OUT IN WNC AND OTHER REASONS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE THIS SPRING

All Materials contained herein are owned and copyrighted © by Rapid River’s Arts & Culture Magazine and the individual contributors unless otherwise stated. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rapid River’s Arts and Culture Magazine or the advertisers herein. © ‘Rapid River’s Arts & Culture Magazine’ March 2018, Vol. 21, No. 7

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 5

PERFORMING ARTS

CUSTOM

Conductor Nicholas Hersh and Itamar Zorman tackle Beethoven to Classic Rock with the ASO March 17 By Staff Reports

REPAIR “I like to call this program ‘Romanticism: Redux,’” says conductor Nicholas Hersh of his upcoming March 17 concert with the Asheville Symphony.

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“We explore how the Romantic voice resonates in the 21st century.” And explore he will, with a program that spans more than 200 years and ranges from Beethoven and Freddie Mercury. The full menu of musical offerings for the evening includes Beethoven’s fiery Leonore Overture, Jonathan Leshnoff’s 2015 Chamber Concerto for Violin & Orchestra featuring guest violinist Itamar Zorman, Hersh’s musical interpretation of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2. The concert takes place on at 8 p.m. in downtown Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. Hersh is the fourth of six finalists for the Asheville Symphony’s music director position to conduct an audition concert. The audience will be asked to give feedback via a survey after the show. The two remaining finalists will hold concerts in April and May. Beethoven’s fiery Leonore Overture No. 3 begins the program. Ever the perfectionist, Beethoven composed four different overtures for his opera Fidelio, and all four are still popular in the concert hall. The third overture was composed in 1806

Itamar Zorman Photo by Jiyang-Chen for an abridged performance of the opera. It is a musical summary of the opera and contains many of its most important themes including torment, confusion, and ultimately euphoria. Next, guest soloist Itamar Zorman joins the symphony for Jonathan Leshnoff’s Chamber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (2015). Leshnoff writes of his composition process, “When I write a concerto, I have to become the instrument. It’s double refraction: it has to go through me and then through the solo instrument.” His musical language is lyrical and accessible, and bears a resemblance to that of Samuel Barber, with an Eastern European Jewish cast. Itamar Zorman emerged with the top prize at the 2011 International

6 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

Tchaikovsky Competition and had wowed audiences all over the world with breathtaking style ever since. He is the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Borletti-Buitoni Trust award, and, in addition to receiving top prize at the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition. Zorman has performed with major orchestras around the world including the American Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Israel Philharmonic, and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. He has given recitals at Carnegie Hall in the ‘Distinctive Debuts’ series, the Louvre Recital Series in Paris, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Muziekgebouw Frits Philips in Eindhoven, ‘ASO’ continued next pg.

Artists Breakfasts Draw Crowds Artists, collectors and patrons are gathering in Asheville’s River Arts District for monthly socials. Artists’ Breakfasts are held on the last Thursday of each month. Up next: March 29, 10-1pm at 362 Depot. Organizer Richard Baker of Richard Baker Studios says he is pleased with the turnouts for the first two events. “It’s good to see the artists networking. And it’s also nice to meet Asheville’s art patrons.” Many of the 10 artists of 362 Depot are on hand to talk to those who attend for the

By Staff Reports

camaraderie and food and to see new works. “People are coming in,” Baker says, “meeting the artists and purchasing artwork.” Coffee is provided and guests are welcome to bring food to share. Recent events have drawn attendees from Asheville and points beyond including Saluda, Hendersonville, Waynesville and Weaverville. IF YOU GO

For more information, follow 362 Depot and Richard Baker on Facebook or call (828) 234-1616.

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‘ASO’ continued the HR-Sendesaal Frankfurt and the nov on the podium in St. Petersburg Kolarac Hall in Belgrade. in January 1908 to great applause. Following the concerto is Nicholas Considered semi-autobiographical, Hersh’s arrangement of Queen’s the piece combines Rachmaninoff’s instantly recognizable “Bohemian 19th-century Russian roots with a lush, Rhapsody,” which will also feature 20th century orchestral sound. This Zorman on violin. Hersh says of this symphony followed the dismal failure work, “A piece with the title ‘Boof Rachmaninoff’s first symphony, and hemian Rhapsody’ might as easily its tone mirrors the artist’s redemption, have been a tone by Dvořák as a Nicholas Hersh moving from somber to energetic to Photo by David Colwell epic, and ultimately ending with a feschart-topping rock single by the British band Queen—but Freddie Mertive and joyous finale. cury’s genre-bending composition is probably closer to Czech Romanticism than it was to his IF Masterworks 5: Reborn YOU rock contemporaries when it was released in GO Saturday, March 17 • 8 p.m. 1975.” Originally intended as a one-off encore Thomas Wolfe Auditorium for a concert during Hersh’s grad school years, Nicholas Hersh, conductor the arrangement became a YouTube sensation Itamar Zorman, violin Single tickets for all concerts prompting him to orchestrate it for both solo are $24-69, depending on seating section (reviola and violin and to continue to perform it to duced youth pricing is available). Individual tickets the delight of audiences. and season ticket packages can be purchased To conclude the evening’s program is Rachonline at ashevillesymphony.org, (828) 254-7046, maninoff’s Symphony No. 2. This expansive or in person at the US Cellular Center box office at work, reflecting the composer’s love for long Ro- 87 Haywood St. Downtown Asheville mantic themes, was premiered with Rachmani-

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His plays Abbott’s Dance, 7 Reece Mews, Edward the King, and, most recently, The Loves of Mr. Lincoln have been produced in New York. The Black Mountain Press will be releasing his new book titled, Night, Sleep, and the Dreams of Lovers, a novel placed in Asheville, NC, in the Spring of 2018. About his new paintings, Hopes relates, “I find that the quality of my backings affects what I paint and how I paint it. One of my favorite supports is plain old industrial strength Lowe’s plywood, the roughness and irregularity of which inspires strategies that would be unnecessary

8 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

on a fine surface. Lots of monsters and fabulous birds . . . .” Hopes also wears other hats: He runs a theater company called Black Swan, acts locally, and is a professor of literature and humanities at UNCA. IF YOU GO

David Hopes: Works on Wood

Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served at the Opening Reception Saturday March 3, 6 - 9pm. For more information, please contact (828) 273-3332 or email carlos@floodgallery.org. David Hopes: Works on Wood, will be exhibited at the Flood Fine Arts Center from March 3 - April 7, located at 2160 Hwy 70 near Swannanoa, NC.

ART SHOW

Local artists Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle

Mother/Daughter exhibit celebrates 10 years of Painting in Asheville An opening reception and exhibit of new paintings by local artists Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle during March at the Wedge Brewery’s newest location, Wedge at Foundation. While their painting styles are entire‘Abounding 2 Corinthians 98,’ 36x36 by ly different, they compliment each other Molly Courcelle beautifully. Courcelle’s abstract paintings tend to be peaceful and serene. “They’re based on flowers and plants but have a spiritual quality to them,” says Courcelle, whose Christian faith plays an essential role in her art. Sieburg’s representational and impressionist style is free and energetic. “I like to paint things that make my heart sing,” she ‘Margaret’s Barn’ 30x40 by Bee Sieburg says. Her works are largely based on photographs she takes, often landscapes, rustic buildings and farm animals. This marks the 10th year the mother/daughter duo has painted in their working studios on the second floor of the Wedge Studios in Asheville’s River Arts District. Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle Opening reception March 01, 5:30 - 7 pm. The exhibit displays through April 1. Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street, Asheville, NC 28801 For further information about Bee Sieburg and Molly Courcelle’s work www.beesieburg.com and www.mollycourcelle.com. IF YOU GO

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 9

310 ART

Fleta Monaghan at 310 ART painting with Encaustic

Celebrate the Arts and Spring in the River Arts District By Fleta Monaghan

In March everything begins to turn green as spring tiptoes in between a few cold spells.

Artists, who have been at work all winter, are happy to have days with studio doors flung open. The “District” is well on its way to being even more green with new landscaping along the riverfront. While this may cause a few minor traffic slowdowns, the results are much anticipated as new greenways, walkways and bike paths are being created. Visitors can see art everywhere in the River Arts District. Art can’t be contained by just studio walls. Artists have painted outer building facades, and outdoor sculptures can be found on sidewalks and tucked inside 10 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

alcoves. As you walk or drive around the district, have a camera ready art will greet you at every turn. Inside the studios, you can get a look at the results of months of work artists have put in during the winter. Studios are opened every day in the RAD, and all are welcome to come in, chat and browse. It is fun for visitors to the RAD to see artists in action, enjoy some special celebrations and refreshments too. Every Saturday is a day for celebration, and this year on the Second Saturday of each month you can find unique parties and events from block parties to fun demos and activities inside the studios. You will see paintings, sculpture, pottery, ‘Art’ continued next pg.

Shop, Eat, Explore. . . Everyday, All Year Round Classes at 310 ART

Nadine Charlsen completes a new Experimental Watercolor Painting at 310 ART.

‘Art’ continued fiber, glass, metal, wax, basketry and more. There are many teaching venues, and you may just pick up a paintbrush or get your hands dirty in clay. Riverview Station at 191 Lyman Street is kicking off Second Saturday with ART MADNESS on March 10th. 310 ART at the north end of “The Station” is celebrating Woman’s History Month by honoring our favorite “Art Hero”. Each artist is creating work that reflects the influence of their favorite woman artist. There will be refreshments

and demos all day from 10-6 pm and afternoon libations starting at 4 pm. At Trackside Studios, 375 Depot Street, the artists are partnering with Aurora Studios & Gallery for Zelda Fitzgerald week. Saturday, March 10, there will be a reception for Aurora Studios artists between 11 am and 5 pm. Aurora Studios & Gallery is a supportive art studio for artists who have been affected by mental health needs, homelessness or are in recovery from addiction. ‘Art’ continued on pg. 29

310 ART AT RIVERVIEW STATION

Marvelous Mondays with Lorelle and Nadine Beginner and Up! Open art studios Mondays with instructor to guide you - start and continue year round in our Monday classes, 9:30-12:30pm and 1-4pm. Come the dates that work for you! NEW: Watercolor Wednesday Evenings, all levels, 6-9pm See 310art.com for schedule and sign up. Beginners welcomed!

Workshops: Coming Soon

Waxagrams (photo encaustic) - Mar 3,4 Evening Collage - Mar 8, 15 Demystifying Watercolor - Mar 17 Needle Felting Mini - Mar 29 Encaustic Comprehensive - Apr 7, 8 Eco Printing - Apr 12 Dramatic Light in Watercolor - Apr 14 Classes for adults at 310 ART, 191 Lyman Street, #310, Asheville, NC 28801 www.310art.com gallery@310art.com (828)776-2716 Adult classes, beginner and up, most materials provided. Register online or at the studio. Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 11

FINE ART

Connie Brown discusses the process of assembling quilt blocks and squares.

“Top of the Morning” quilt-themed exhibit March 15-17 to honor National Quilting Day By Staff Reports

Lovers of Irish culture and St. Patrick’s celebrations will have the opportunity to quilt their luck at the

Folk Art Center.

Up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Southern Highland Craft Guild member Connie Brown will be showcasing a “Top of the Morning” quilt-themed exhibit from March 15-17 from 10-4pm daily. In honor of National Quilting Day and the beloved

patterns and icons of Irish culture, Brown will share antique quilt tops and blocks in the center’s lobby. Visitors are invited to bring in their own antique or vintage quilts as Brown is a quilt historian and AQS Quilt Appraiser. Her exhibit will feature unfinished items as “quilt tops give a unique look at the fabric and construction methods used during

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” —Aristotle 12 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

their time. Rarely has an antique quilt top been laundered. This leaves the fabrics unaltered, in their original state. The quilt tops and fabrics are more than quilt history; they are a part of American history and textile mill history.” This opportunity to have an antique quilt evaluated by a quilt historian will allow one to find out the age, pattern and any interesting facts. Brown will answer questions about care, storage, display, appraisal services, repair, and whether to quilt and finish an old top. Contemporary quilts can be found throughout the Folk Art Center in the shop and upstairs in the galleries. Throughout the three days, Brown will also be demonstrating hand quilting, and visitors of all ages are welcomed to give it a try. Basketmaker Susan Taylor will also be explaining her processes at the Folk Art Center. Both makers avidly participate in the Guild’s daily craft demonstrations held from March-December. These educational interactions are part of the Southern Highland Craft Guild’s mission to cultivate the crafts and makers of the region for shared resources, education, marketing, and conservation.

FINE ART

Fabrics donning Irish and St. Patrick’s day themes and colors.

Southern Highland Craft Guild www.craftguild.org. National Quilting Day visit quiltalliance.org/ nationalquiltingday. To learn more about Connie Brown visit www.craftguild.org/conniebrown. Admission to the Folk Art Center is free. The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville. The Center also houses three galleries, a library, a craft shop and a Blue Ridge Parkway information desk and bookstore.

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Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 13

Asheville’s Longest Established Fine Art Gallery with 31 Regional Artists

Asheville Gallery of Art 's March Artist

Jane Molinelli, “Genesis,” acrylic on paper 36 x 42 inches

Jane Molinelli, “Passages” charcoal and acrylic on paper 36 x 42 inches

“Black, White, and Shades of Gray” for March at Asheville Gallery of Art

By Staff Reports

and rhythm of the pieces. “It gave me time to reassess my values, in both an artistic and life sense, as I got to the core of the emotion I was Known for expressive, colorful, non-objective hoping to convey.” The artist believes non-objecpaintings, the artist presents new works in a tive art is a spectrum of dialogue. “I start the dialimited palette. logue by responding to the energy of the marks, “The idea for the show came when a collector lines, and colors I lay on the wanted a commission in black, surface. I hope those who see my white, and shades of gray,” says work start their dialogue with the the artist. “I hadn’t consciously pieces and remain open to what worked in that way and was exciteach says during the encounter.” ed about the challenge.” Molinelli The artist settled in Asheville found it to be an incredibly rich after attending Penland School of world. She mixed her blacks, Crafts where she studied weaving. rather than grab the standard tube “I spent years as a craft book ediJane Molinelli “Resonance” of carbon or ivory black. “When I tor but realized my heart belonged acrylic on paper 36 x 42 inches grayed the colors with white, I got back with the visual arts. Once I a whole range of beautiful shades.” started painting, I knew I was truly As she painted, she focused on the expression home.” Molinelli lives in Asheville with her husAsheville Gallery of Art’s March show features the work of Jane Molinelli.

14 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

band, Jim LaFerla. Her work is found both in private collections and corporate settings and can be found at Asheville Gallery of Art in downtown Asheville and 310 ART in the River Arts District. “Black, White, and Shades of Gray” Show Jane Molinelli’s work, as well as the paintings of the other 30 gallery members, will be on display and for sale through March. Gallery hours, 11-6 pm Monday - Saturday and 1-4 pm Sunday. AGA, 82 Patton Avenue in Asheville (across from Pritchard Park) hosts a reception for the artist on Friday, March 2, 5-8 pm. Everyone is cordially invited to stop by the gallery.

IF YOU GO

INFO: Asheville Gallery of Art (828) 251-5796, www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the gallery’s Facebook page.

FINE ART

(L-r) Andrea Kulish hand designed Ukrainian Easter eggs using the ancient art of pysanky, fiber art by artist Karen Kennedy, and ‘Fred and Archie,’ 36”x36” Oil, by Patricia Cotterill

Grovewood Gallery hosts ‘Sip & Shop’ March 23-24 Grovewood Gallery’s annual Spring Sip & Shop event takes place 10-5:30 pm, March 23-24. Shop a unique collection of American-made art and crafts while enjoying complimentary wine and treats. All gallery merchandise will be 10% off, and local artists will be performing craft demonstrations and interacting with guests from 11-4 pm each day.

On March 23, Andrea Kulish demonstrates the ancient art of pysanky, a Ukrainian craft, and tradition that involves a wax-resistant method in designing and decorating Easter eggs. Each egg is intended to be a wish, with symbols and colors intended to bring the person who receives it love, health, success, or whatever attribute the artist selects. A first-generation Ukrainian-American, Andrea learned the intricate art of pysanky as a

By Staff Reports

young girl. Now, she not only creates these beautiful objects with unique folk-inspired designs, but she also teaches classes in this art. On March 23 and 24, Asheville fiber artist Karen Kennedy, a graduate of Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program demonstrates needle felting using locally dyed wool to create birds nests. Pre-made versions will be available to purchase. ‘Grovewood’ continued on pg. 27

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 15

More of what Makes Asheville Special: Dining • Shopping • Galleries • Music

D ow n tow n A s h ev i l l e

Asheville Chamber Music Series presents St. Lawrence String Quartet March 23 By Staff Reports

was soon playing hundreds of concerts per year worldwide.

They established an ongoing residency at Spoleto Festival USA, made The St. Lawrence String Quartet prize-winning recordings for EMI of music of music by Schumann, Tchaikovsky, and Golijov, Haydn with more intelligence, earning two Grammy nominations and a host of expressivity, and force...” other prizes before being appointed ensemblein-residence at Stanford University in 1998.

For well over half a century the ACMS has taken its place as a valued cultural resource in Asheville, bringing world-renowned chamber artists to the city. As one of the nation’s oldest continuous performing chamber music

1. AMERICAN FOLK ART & FRAMING 2. APPALACHIAN CRAFT CENTER 3. ARIEL GALLERY 4. ASHEVILLE AREA ARTS COUNCIL 5. ASHEVILLE ART MUSEUM 6. ASHEVILLE GALLERY OF ART 7. aSHEville MUSEUM 8. BENDER GALLERY Haywood 9. BLACK MOUNTAIN COLLEGE MUSEUM + ARTS CENTER

10. BLUE SPIRAL 1 19. THE SATELLITE GALLERY 11. THE CENTER FOR CRAFT, 20. SUSAN MARIE DESIGNS CREATIVITY & DESIGN 21. TRACEY MORGAN GALLERY 12. CONTEMPORANEO ASHEVILLE 22. VAN DYKE JEWELRY & 13. THE HAEN GALLERY FINE CRAFTS 14. HORSE + HERO 23. WOOLWORTH WALK 15. JEWELS THAT DANCE 24. ZAPOW! 16. LEXINGTON GLASSWORKS I - 240 25. ZEST JEWELRY ART 17. MORA 18. MOUNTAIN MADE DOWNTOWNASHEVILLEARTDISTRICT.ORG

16 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

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The Friday, March 23 program will include: Haydn: String Quartet, Op 20, #3 in G minor Sibelius: String Quartet, Op 56, in D minor, “Voces Intimae” Beethoven: String Quartet, Op 135, in F major

Merrimon

earned acclaim at

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Downtown Asheville — Dining • Shopping • Galleries • Music organizations, it has been recognized for its outstanding programs and for its unique education component through a collaboration with the strings program of the Asheville Buncombe Schools and other cultural partners in the community, including the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra. The Asheville Chamber Music Series (ACMS) The St. Lawrence String Quartet in concert on Friday, March 23 at 8pm. Tickets are $38 general admission. Youth under 25 are free. The concert welcomes back the acclaimed ensemble to Asheville and will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville. To purchase tickets or for more information please visit the ACMS website: www.AshevilleChamberMusic.org or call (828) 575-7427 or email support@AshevilleChamberMusic.org IF YOU GO

“Songs of Love” March 1-4

Concerts in Asheville, Hendersonville, Biltmore Forest, and Saluda PROGRAM INFORMATION Thursday, March 1, 7 pm Isis Restaurant and Music Hall 743 Haywood Rd | Asheville, NC Tickets: $20. For dinner reservations, call Isis at (828) 575-2737. Friday, March 2, 7:30 pm Home of Daniel Angerstein and Jerry Schultz 1998 Randy Dr. | Hendersonville Tickets: $35, includes light food and drinks.

100 Orchard Inn Ln | Saluda, NC Tickets: $50, includes hors d’oeuvres. Beverage tickets were available at the door. *Note This will also be a fundraiser Simone Vigilante, soprano for the Saluda Depot, which seeks to preserve and restore the historic train Depot in Saluda. Tickets also available at the Orchard Inn and the Saluda Depot.

Saturday, March 3, 7:30 pm Home of Rebecca Morgan 63 Forest Rd | Biltmore Forest, NC Tickets: $35, includes light food and drinks. Sunday, March 4, 4 pm Orchard Inn

Local Support Local Businesses

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For information about all concerts and to purchase tickets in advance, please visit www.amicimusic.org and click on the Asheville Concerts link.

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Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 17

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“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” ― Virginia Woolf, ‘A Room of One’s Own’

18 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

Drinks&Dining Guide

Wood-fired pizza served delicious in the River Arts District Nestled in the Pink Dog Creative Building, Fresh Wood Fired Pizza of Black Mountain found a second home in the River Arts District of Asheville, NC. Fresh West opened its doors to the public two years ago and has been making artisanal woodfired pizza for art lovers ever since. Fresh West’s atmosphere blends in with its picturesque surroundings. Light dances inside through large windows on a modern Tuscan inspired décor finished off with paintings, ceramics and handcrafted

wood pizza peels made by local artists. At Fresh, Italian Naples tradition reigns with a commitment to local ingredients creating a menu brimming with creative interpretations of the staples we love from pizza to salad, craft soda to craft beer. Handmade dough topped with veggies, meats, and cheese, transforms in the Italian imported wood fire oven into the bubbling and charred pizza, giving folks the chance to taste the wood smoke flavor we crave as soon as its smelled walking through their

front door. Each server has their favorite pizza and will be quick to tell you when you ask. My waitress recommended the Chica Bella pizza or the Alaskan. A pesto base topped with ricotta and mozzarella finished with walnuts, and fresh arugula or olive oil base topped red onions, mozzarella and smoked salmon, with a dill and caper cream sauce, where could one go wrong? If you are drawn to Fresh West in pursuit of one of these two white pizzas, make sure you bring a friend to swap a slice for a slice,

By Staff Reports

as you do not want to miss out on their crushed Italian plum tomato red sauce (see the Rose’s or the Napoli). And in that case make sure you bring a few friends and try their delicious salads, paninis, and dessert. Fresh West: Wood Fired Pizza, 342 Depot Street, Asheville Open Mon. Wed. & Thurs - 11-9pm Fri. & Sat 11-10pm and Sun 12-9pm Closed Tues. • (828) 552-3917

IF YOU GO

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 19

FINE ART Teri Leigh Teed ‘Healing Spirit Art’ selected for Manhattan Arts International

By Staff Reports

Her photographs capture her reverence for nature, celebrate mountains of WNC. the change of Now, she feels blessed to live seasons, and pay near Sylva and be immersed homage to the in the beautiful scenery and breathtaking vistas creative opportunities of that are unique to her Shaconage, what the Cherokees region. She brings call the land of the blue smoke. viewers to positive, For her and many others, the contemplative and healing qualities of living in calming places that the Blue Ridge Mountains are transcend the physical indeed a dream come true and realm. an inspiration. Teed’s “Healing Teed states, “I like to start my Spirit Art” reveals the day with positive affirmations life-affirming presence “Blue Ridge Parkway, Foggy Christmas Day” and a cup of tea. My favorite by Teri Leigh Teed of a power higher times to photograph are early than us in the manner mornings and late in the day, in which she captures to catch the light at its best. Living next to a tranquil landscapes, woods, water, clouds and national forest gives me a fabulous start to the the sky. As a photographic artist and storyteller, day by taking a stroll along paths from my home. her inspiring artwork deftly blends light and There is no greater sanctuary than a forest. The shadow to create visual textures and invites us to filtered light and sounds from Nature are healing, connect with the Divine in all. soothing, energizing and stimulate creativity.” As a child, Teri Leigh Teed

spent summer vacations in the

20 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

Manhattan-based art critic Renee Phillips has written, “I’m not saying art is a cure for all medical conditions, but being awe-struck by an extraordinary painting of mother and child by Gustav Klimt or a photograph by Teri Leigh Teed can alter your state of mind. Don’t you agree?”

About Teri Leigh Teed Teri Leigh Teed is a featured artist (photography, literature, and music) in the NC Artist Council and her photography is featured in numerous publications including the Editor’s Picks on BlueRidgeParkwayDaily.com. A graduate of Sotheby’s Institute, London, Teri received her M.A. Decorative Arts and Historic Interiors from the University of Buckingham, England and was employed by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Her artwork has been exhibited in juried shows in North and South Carolina, including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and the Smoky Mountains Sampler exhibition, and she is a recipient of Awards of Excellence in Manhattan Arts International juried exhibitions. For more information please visit www.terileighteed.com

IF YOU GO

EVOLVING GOD “A new type of thinking is essential if mankind is to survive and move toward higher levels…” - Albert Einstein, 1946 It is clear that humans need religion since there is no incidence of a culture in all of human history in which there has been no religion, even if, as with the communist regimes of the 20th century, the religion of the society became the state, or as with atheists, intellectualism and/or humanism takes the place of God. These exceptions prove the rule in that these totalitarian governments sought to harness the archetypal human need for religion to the service of the state, and atheists have placed intellectualism or humanism where the god archetype resides within the human psyche. There is, it seems, a deep and unconscious instinct in humanity to recognize and be in reverence of the source of all things. This instinct can, however, be perverted. Those religions have been the source of so much conflict and misery throughout history points to how the inclination to religion (which, when experienced in its pure and inexpressible dimension, can be the source of profound comfort) has been so often distorted into something very untrue and destructive. In all cultures since humanity evolved beyond being centered in nature with gods envisioned as natural forces such as mountains, thunder, the sun and the moon, deity has been conceived to be very much like a supreme human ego that ruled over lesser levels of ego-manifestation with a theology that places human ego as the centerpiece and purpose of existence. For thousands of years, the religions of the West and the social/political/economic order of their equal societies have been joined, in a sense making them one within unquestioned dogmas about the why and the how of the way things are. This created the perfect conditions for the rise of nation-states built around hierarchical power systems. This is also why since the 18th Century, and the development of commerce as the linchpin of Western society, replacing the previous cultural religion of divine-right agrarian aristocracy, the doctrines of the scientific, commercial cultures on the planet have been molded to support this mercantile, mechanistic and resource exploitive view. This evolution of the deity impulse projected from nature and nature’s web of holistic interconnectedness where all of life is considered sacred, to a deity as a kind of spiritual ego and the perception that allthat-exists occur in descending levels of hierarchical separateness where nothing of this world is holy, is what Einstein was addressing. He understood this egoic, materialistic and dualistic view lacked the compassionate identification with nature and the planet that is necessary if abundant and diverse life is to flourish, and without which, the quality of human life would inevitably deteriorate into catastrophe. This abusive relationship with nature had not been a survival issue for humanity as long as the resources of the planet were more significant than humanity’s devastating and destructive power, but with the technological advances of the 20th century, it became clear to Einstein that a crisis of survival proportions had become inevitable. And so, I ask, has not our American society, like the communists, placed an economic and political system, in this case, the consumer capitalist system, in

ZEN PHILOSOPHY WITH BILL WALZ a role analogous to religion as the source and meaning behind life, and that among our society’s institutions, the churches, and particularly many churches that identify as fundamentalist, hold that the questioning of the economic and political system of capitalism is a kind of heresy? So when Einstein calls upon us to realize the need for a new type of thinking if we are to survive and move toward higher levels of existence, isn’t he urging upon us to rethink, along with other cultural themes, the nature of the religion and the god we worship without examination? It would seem that the deification of material power, possessions, profitmotive and consumer materialism in an antagonistic and exploitive relationship with nature, supported by the dogmas and institutions of our society, including the churches, and to which we give religious loyalty, is an essential aspect of what he is questioning. Einstein saw the terrible consequence of human ego assuming itself as central in the cosmos and offered to us the corrective perspective when he wrote in 1950: “A human being is part of a whole, called by us the “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our desires and affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” Thus, Einstein declared in essence what is the necessary cosmology, the required religion into which humanity must evolve, and enter a new phase of human experience wherein human technology and the realm of nature are in harmony rather than in tension and conflict. Einstein was capable of seeing the Universe as a manifesting singularity, comprised, at a deeper level than the human senses, of pure energy. He was capable of understanding the planet Earth as an organism within the body of the Universe that required balance to manifest good continuation. Einstein saw that the reductionistic cosmology of Newton that preceded modern relativity and quantum discoveries and that prevails today as the cultural matrix of human interaction with all life on the planet as fatally flawed. He was able to see that this prevailing dualistic, materialistic, egoistic ethic and behavior of humans could only lead to the destruction of life integrity and quality on the planet either through unimaginably horrific atomic warfare or more slowly through environmental degradation, resource depletion and the breakdown of compassionate social and political life. In counter-balance, he was able to see an inherent intelligence in the miracle of the mysteries of the Universe and to intuit this balance, interconnectedness, and wonder as the only valid orientation for humanity if it were to break free of the terrible violence and resource depletion that heretofore has marked “civilized” human history and was accelerating in the twentieth century. What Einstein’s call to sanity makes clear is that humanity will be unable to find its way to enduring equilibrium, to enduring peace, prosperity of spirit, and material security until there is a change of cosmology and of cultural understanding of humanity’s place and purpose in the cosmos that is the equivalent of a profound change in religious perspective. Evolution in

our understanding of the concept of Sacred Source is essential if humanity is to continue, and so, the growth of humanity is in essence tied to the development of our notion of God and religion. Mystical religious traditions have always known that God and Nature and the Universe are all one, within which humanity is, of course, also included, but has self-imposed itself in exile to celebrate its egoic self to horrifyingly bad effect. That this separation is the root of “sin” has been a central understanding of religions since their beginning, but humanity has paid very little attention to this insight as it is fundamentally subversive of the underlying power structures and materialistic values of the societies the churches functioned within. Yet, in recent times, there is a growing convergence of non-dogmatic spiritual mysticism with quantum and ecological science that offers a new direction for the instinct to religion that can evolve into identification of The Sacred Source as the Universe itself experienced as a quantum, intelligent singularity that can, I think, successfully guide human society. This new evolutionary era of humanity could do well to draw on an ancient intuitive symbol - a star – or more accurately a view of the heavens that includes billions of stars in billions of galaxies declaring us as children of an intelligent, evolving Universe, for every atom in our bodies, every atom of every element of our world was born in those stars and has coming led in countless forms for eons. There is no contradiction between “intelligent design” and evolutionary theory. The intelligent design is found in the evolution of an intelligent Universe, within which, human intelligence is an instrument of the manifesting Universe coming to know and celebrate itself. With the dedication of religious conviction behind and supporting such a vision, humanity can naturally turn its science and technology from exploitation to the exploration, protection, and celebration of Nature while ensuring a future of expanding equal equanimity for humanity and Nature. Einstein’s call to “widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty” can be realized for countless generations into the future. This can be the ancient Tao, The-Way-that-needs-no-name, brought into a modern technological world that can propel and support humanity into a limitless future with a religious underpinning that celebrates all life as sacred.

Bill Walz has taught meditation and mindfulness in university and public forums and is a private-practice meditation teacher and guide for individuals in mindfulness, personal growth and consciousness. Information on classes, talks, personal growth and healing instruction, or phone consultations at (828)258-3241, e-mail at healing@billwalz. com Learn more, see past columns, video and audio programs at www.billwalz.com

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 21

HEALTH

Too Many Prescriptions As Al walked through the emergency room’s waiting area, he thought he saw a familiar profile. The man was hunched over, holding his head in his left hand. “Doug, is that you?” Doug raised his head, his face lined with worry, his eyes slowly focusing on the man and the voice. “Yeah,” he said with a sigh, then, “Oh, Al. Yeah, it’s me. Here with my mother. She fell again.” “Oh, man, I’m sorry. What happened?” “The doctor in there,” Doug gestured toward the door to the treatment rooms, “he said it was too many prescriptions. Mom was just in the hospital, you know. And she got more pills for her high blood pressure — on top of the ones she was already taking for her heart.” He shook his head. “I guess they reacted with one another or something. Anyway, she’s been

dizzy every time she stands up since she got home. And tonight, she fell.” “Wow. I’m sorry to hear that, man. It sounds like what almost happened to us.” Al sat beside his close friend, placing a hand on his knee. “Whadda you mean?” Doug looked up, his brow wrinkled with interested curiosity. “Well, I was reading in the papers about older people taking too many medications. And I thought about all the medicines Eunice’s mother is taking.” “Yeah, you guys have been caring for her at home,” Al said, “for what – three years now?” Doug nodded. “And I thought about all those medicine bottles on her dresser. Pills for pain, pills for sleep, pills for memory, pills for agitation – plus all the pills for her heart and her bladder problems. All kinds of stuff just got added, you know. She had a problem and got a

By Max Hammonds, MD

pill, which caused another problem and got another pill, which created another problem. She ended up with a bunch of medicines after seeing several different doctors over the years. “Well, Mom landed in the hospital with her heart again, upstairs here. So, I asked the nurse about all her medicines. She told the doctor who called the pharmacist and some other team together and reviewed all her medications with something called Beer Criteria (www. geriatriccareonline.org/access-freecare). Funny name. Anyway, they decided to discontinue a bunch of her medicines, some that were prescribed years ago but weren’t doing anything for her – except reacting with her other pills. And some that were duplicates of others. “The doctor came in just now and said ‘thank you” for calling that to his attention. He was unaware

Mom took some of these. Said she could have fallen or had a reaction. Or some of them just might be the reason she’s been more confused lately. Anyway, I was thrilled I saw that article.” Doug rubbed his forehead. “Yeah, that’s what the doc just said in there. Only now my mother has a broken hip.” “That’s bad, man. Sorry. But seriously, talk to your mom’s doctor. Have him check out her medicines.” Al stood up to go, then turned. “Oh, and the doctor upstairs said if we find any other medicines at home, don’t just stop taking them abruptly. That could cause a bad reaction too. Just – call him and let him know. So . . .” He shook his head and took a deep breath. “Anything I can get you, man?” “No, I’m good.” Doug ran his fingers through his hair. “And thanks for the tip.”

“If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days.” — Kris Carr taken from www.brainyquote.com

22 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

FINE ART in the RAD

(L-r) “Deep Calling,” 6x6, pastel, “Green Cathedral,” 17x14, pastel , “Falling Upward,” 14x11, pastel by Anne Allen

Green Cathedral – Trees in Pastel, Anne Allen, artist Anne Allen has always been intrigued by trees. Even as a child, her quiet personality, and connection with nature led her to explore life in drawings.

“Playing alone in the woods was my retreat as a child. I carried a paper notebook, sized to fit in my metal lunch box. Drawings of trees and fallen logs over streams were rendered in soft charcoal and colored pencil.” Years later, Allen develops her art from small color studies often painted on location and from her photographs. She often recalls being captivated by the dead trees and wind-blown juniper bushes in the high desert of Abiquiu, New Mexico. “Georgia O’Keeffe country, as the locals call it, is stark and still. At 8,300 feet, trees emerge from the red desert like petrified men and women.” Always awake to inspiration, Allen is rarely without her camera. Photographs from three painting trips to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico (1999-2013) are pinned around her studio and the subjects of early work. “My life in art is also is also influenced by an immersion in classical and sacred music

beginning in early childhood. Trips to art museums, combined with early baroque music concerts on the terrace, continue to spark bittersweet memories when I am by myself in my studio. I often paint listening to classical music.” Allen describes her painting process as contemplative. “I keep a journal. I reflect on a subject and keep notes alongside miniature ‘thumbnail’ color sketches. It’s essential for me to pause before reaching for a pastel stick. Sometimes, it is challenging not to rush into a painting.” Modernist painters, including Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse and recently, Casey Klahn influence Allen’s thinking about art. “Introspection is looking at the olive trees rendered by van Gogh, or being absorbed by a forest of unexpected hues painted by colorist Khlan. I long to see my trees in the window paintings of Matisse.” After satisfying careers in marketing and arts administration, Allen came entirely into her art eight years ago. She serves on the board of the Appalachian Pastel Society where she is the chair

By Staff Reports

of non-juried group exhibitions. She joined the Southeastern Pastel Society, Atlanta, in 2017. Her works have been in juried group exhibitions in Florida and NC. Allen makes time to participate in professional studio critiques at 310 Art Gallery, led by gallery director and art mentor, Fleta Monaghan. A recent accomplishment was “being invited to exhibit a painting in the Appalachian Pastel Society National Exhibition in 2017. Juror of entries and awards was nationally recognized pastel artist, Dawn Emerson.” Allen’s studio in WNC overlooks a hillside of huge boulders and stately trees. “My earliest memories of carrying sticks of charcoal and colored pencils into a wooded ravine are still within reach.” Anne Allen Pastel Paintings at 310 Art Gallery Riverview Station, River Arts District 191 Lyman Street, Suite 310 Asheville www.310Art.com • (828) 776-2716 anneallenart.com

IF YOU GO

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 23

THE POET'S VOICE

By Carol Bjorlie — “The Poet behind the cello”

VOICES My ancestor’s come from Germany, England, and Wales. My husband’s Norwegian/Swedish. Yes. We eat lefsa. My niece had a DNA swab tested. Those Norwegians came down to England and did rape and pillage. We are 24% Scandinavian. In this issue, I include our immigrant poets. I’m proud to call them Americans.

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To cure myself of wanting Cuban songs, I wrote a Cuban son about the need For people to suppress their fantasies, Especially unhealthy ones. The song Began by making reference to the sea, Because the sea is like a need so great And deep it never can be swallowed. Then The song explores some common myths About the Cuban people and their folklore: The story of a little Carib boy Mistakenly abandoned to the sea; The legend of a bird who wanted song So desperately he gave up flight; a queen Whose strength was greater than a rival king’s. The song goes on about morality, And then there is a lien about the sea, How deep it is, how many creatures need Its nourishment, how beautiful it is To need. The song is ending now, because I cannot bear to hear it any longer. I call this song of needful love my voice. From Maya Angelou’s intro to, Bill Moyers’ The Language of Life. Angelou says, “Hearing’s the thing, and poetry readings are concerts of sheer joyous sound.” Quincy Troupe writes, “Poetry creates an experience that the audience lives.

“People want to hear the voice. They want to hear you sing. They want to hear something that connects to their life. You’ve got to write where you come from.” Because Americans come from so many places, the poets of our time are infusing new words into our language. Garrett Kaoru Hongo agrees that “poems are carriers of memories.” From Naomi Shihab Ne we have this short poem: Walk around feeling like a leaf. Know you could tumble any second. Then decide what to do with your time. From Claribel Alegria, we have Ars Poetica poet by trade, condemned so many times to be a crow, would never change places with the Venus de Milo: while she reigns in the Louvre and dies of boredom and collects dust I discover the sun each morning and amid valleys volcanos and debris of war I catch sight of the promised land. Jimmy Santiago Baca credits poetry with saving his life. An abandoned child, his life on the streets led to a maximum-security prison in Arizona, where he taught himself to read and write. His first poems were written there. Born in New Mexico of Chicano and Apache descent, he founded Black Mesa Enterprises in Albuquerque to offer young people alternatives to violence through a community centered around language. A poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca: I APPLIED FOR THE BOARD . . . a night of fancy and breath of fresh air is worth all the declines in the world. It was funny though when I strode

24 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

into the Board and presented myself before the Council With my shaggy-hairs satchel awry with ends of shoestrings and guitar strings Holding it together, brimming with poems. From Marilyn Chin, a first-generation Chinese American born in Hong Kong: Prelude To love your country is to know its beginnings not with the bald-face mom or the complacent river but here within you. Your heart is a house i/we are its inhabitants. Although the country is lost rivers and mountains remain. And we shall live in this poetry that you love. for Marilyn Chin’s mother, Wong Yuet Kuen And last, a poem by Li Young Lee. I met him in St. Paul at a reading. He read about his Chinese father. I asked him afterward, “How could your father and my father be the same?” A poem about Li’s mother follows. I ASK MY MOTHER TO SING She begins, and my grandmother joins her. Mother and daughter sing like young girls. If my father were alive, he would play his accordion and sway like a boat. Both women have begun to cry. But neither stops her song. What I hope to have you heard/read is that I am proud of our immigrant poets. Don’t send any of them home. They are home. Just like I am. I plead with you, Carol

BOOKS

Chris Bohjalian comes to Malaprop’s March 15 The ‘Flight Attendant’ will be the next book everyone is talking about From the New York Times bestselling author of The Guest Room, a powerful story about the ways an entire life can change in one night: A flight attendant wakes up in the wrong hotel, in the wrong bed, with a dead man – and no idea what happened. Cassandra Bowden is no stranger to hungover mornings. She’s a binge drinker, her job with the airline making it easy to find adventure, and the occasional blackouts seem to be inevitable. She lives with them, and the accompanying self-loathing. When she awakes in a Dubai hotel room, she tries to piece the previous night back together, counting the minutes until she has to catch her crew shuttle to the airport. She quietly slides out of bed, careful not to aggravate her already pounding head, and looks at the man she spent the night with. She sees his dark hair. His utter stillness. And blood, a slick, still wet pool on the crisp white sheets. Afraid to call the police – she’s a single woman alone in a hotel room far from home – Cassie begins to lie. She lies as she joins the other flight attendants and pilots in the van. She lies on the way to Paris as she works the first class cabin. She lies to the FBI agents in New York who meet her at the gate. Soon

it’s too late to come clean-or face the truth about what really happened back in Dubai. Could she have killed him? If not, who did? Set amid the captivating world of those whose lives unfold at forty thousand feet, The Flight Attendant unveils a spellbinding story of memory, of the giddy pleasures of alcohol and the devastating consequences of addiction, and of murder far from home. Chris Bohjalian is the author of 20 books, including The Guest Room; Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands; The Sandcastle Girls; Skeletons at the Feast; The Double Bind; and Midwives which was a number one New York Times bestseller and a selection of Oprah’s Book Club. Bohjalians’s work has been translated into more than 30 languages, and three novels have become movies (Secrets of Eden, Midwives, and Past the Bleachers). He lives in Vermont and can be found at www.chrisbohjalian.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Litsy, and Goodreads.

IF YOU GO

Chris Bohjalian reads and signs The Flight Attendant Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe • March 15, 6pm malaprops.com (828) 254-6734 • 55 Haywood St

‘Promise’ a novel about race and relationships in the South Southern desserts with author Minrose Gwin, Friday March 16 at 1 pm Blue Ridge Books, the Haywood County Public Library and Folkmoot are hosting the author Minrose Gwin for a reading and discussion of her new novel, Promise. A few minutes after 9 pm on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1936, a massive funnel cloud flashing a giant fireball and roaring like a runaway train careened into the

thriving cotton-mill town of Tupelo, Mississippi. The official death toll ranged from 216 to 233 but deaths in the black community, one-third of the town’s population, were just not counted. Promise attempts to shed light on the untold stories of that day through the fictionalized tale of two women— one black, one white—who fight for

their families’ survival in the tornado’s aftermath while grappling with their tragic shared past. A literary love song that hits all the right notes, Promise is a compelling story of loss, hope, despair, grit, courage, and race. By tackling increasingly relevant issues of race and what it means to be considered a citizen in America, Promise has quickly become a timely and essential book during this era of

MARCH 2018 PARTIAL LISTING

We host numerous Readings & Book clubs, as well as Salons! Visit www.malaprops.com

READINGS & BOOK SIGNINGS

Chris Dombrowski presents Body of Water: A Sage, a Seeker, and the World’s Most Elusive Fish 03/05 - 6pm Elizabeth Osta presents Saving Faith: A Memoir of Courage, Conviction, and a Calling 03/06 - 6pm BRENDAN REICHS presents GENESIS, in conversation with Stephanie Perkins 03/07 - 6pm Bill Kopp presents Reinventing Pink Floyd : From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon 03/08 - 6pm Chris Bohjalian presents The Flight Attendant 03/15 - 6pm Middle Grade author CYNTHIA SURRISI presents A SIDE OF SABOTAGE 03/25 - 3pm Jon Michael Riley presents Photo Shoot 03/29 - 6pm

55 Haywood St.

(828) 254-6734 • 800-441-9829 Monday-Saturday 9AM to 9PM Sunday 9AM to 7PM

‘Promise’ continued on pg. 29

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 25

{Re}HAPPENING celebrates 8th year with Grammy-winning Ensemble By Staff Reports Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center Presents 8th Annual {Re}HAPPENING, March 31st (3pm-10pm) at Historic Lake Eden Black Mountain College Campus Featuring Grammy-Winning Vocal Ensemble Roomful of Teeth, Day-Long Event in the Locale of Pioneering Black Mountain College Features an Interdisciplinary Array of Projects Since 2010, Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) has hosted {Re} HAPPENING, inspired by John Cage’s 1952 Theatre Piece No. 1, an unscripted performance at Black Mountain College considered by many to be the first Happening. The 8th annual {Re} HAPPENING will reshape a singular yearly art

BLACK MOUNTAIN - 28711

Historic Lake Eden Black Mountain College Campus

event by offering the Grammy Award-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth alongside a dynamic roster of local and international installation, new media, music, and performance projects. The 8th annual {Re}HAPPENING will take place Saturday, March 31st from 3pm-10pm at the historic campus of Black Mountain College, known as Lake Eden – 15 minutes from Asheville,

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26 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

MORE ART

‘Grovewood’ continued from pg. 15 Kennedy has been creating needle felted Bird Nests for a few years - they bring feelings of newness and sweetness to where ever you want to place them in your home. This year Kennedy wants to help your neighborhood birds create their nests — with the help of the Nesting Balls she is creating. Nesting Balls are hollow grapevine balls she fills with wool roving, ribbons, lace, moss and yarn. Hang them in your yard and watch the birds take construction materials to create their new nests in your neighborhood this spring. Also on March 23 and 24, local painter Patricia Cotterill will demonstrate brushstroke techniques in oils. Her subject matter depicts animals, people, and still lifes - providing a glimpse into scenes of everyday life. Patricia’s work was selected to be a part of the set paintings for the NBC televi-

sion show Parenthood and also featured in Art for the Traditional Home, part of The Handmade Home book series. In 2015, four of her paintings were purchased for the HGTV series Urban Oasis and were showcased in the show’s home renovation project in West Asheville. All demonstrating artists will have original works for sale. The 10% discount does not apply to demonstrators’ artwork or custom/special orders. About Grovewood Gallery Established in 1992, Grovewood Gallery is a nationally recognized gallery dedicated to fine American-made art and craft. Located in historic Grovewood Village adjacent to The Omni Grove Park Inn, the gallery is noted for its charming, old-world setting and rich craft heritage. This site once housed the weaving and

woodworking operations of Biltmore Industries, an Arts and Crafts enterprise that played a significant role in the Appalachian Craft Revival during the early 20th century. Today, Grovewood Gallery offers two expansive floors of finely crafted furniture, ceramics, jewelry and more, contributed by over 400 artists and craftspeople from across the United States. The gallery also boasts an outdoor sculpture garden and working artist studios and presents rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Free parking is available on-site. Grovewood Gallery www.grovewood.com • (828) 253-7651. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10-5:30 pm, and Sunday, 11-5pm.

IF YOU GO

‘College’ continued NC. It is part art event, part fundraiser and part community instigator serving as a platform for contemporary artists to share their response to the critical legacy of Black Mountain College by returning to its original site in the present day. In addition to providing a forum for regional artists and an accessible, immersive, educational

experience for attendees, every year the event is a community collaboration between local businesses and arts organizations. IF YOU GO

Tickets on Sale Now: $20 for Advance Adult Admission, $25 – Regular Adult Admission, $15 – Youth (10+) / Student

Find Art and you will Find Yourself

— Dennis Ray

Local Support Local Businesses Advertise Local

(w/ID), Children under the age of 10 are FREE with a ticket-holding adult. $10 – Parking Pass, $5 – Round Trip Shuttle Pass from downtown Asheville. Food trucks will be available on site. More info: rehappening.com or email: info@ blackmountaincollege.org

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Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 27

LOCAL WRITER

Renee Kumor reads from her new book – ‘500 Kisses’ While the title of the book ‘500 Kisses’ sounds romantic, don’t be fooled. As usual in author Renee Kumor’s ‘River Bend Chronicles,’ there is also murder, mystery, and mayhem. Kumor will read from her book, enjoy book-signing, and have books for purchase. The event is open to the public at no charge. Kumor’s on-going saga in her 11-volume River Bend Chronicles includes whodunit mysteries and, frequently, passionate alliances, all within the circumspect world of nonprofit organizations. Described in the trade as “cozy mysteries,” also referred to as “cozies,” Kumor’s style is in a subgenre of crime fiction often described as “gentle” crime novels. Those who haven’t yet been introduced to Kumor’s unique storyline will be

rewarded at the upcoming event with her insights and personal reflections of how she comes up with her cast of characters and situations. All her stories take place in the fictional small-town community of River Bend, not very different from the small town where Kumor has lived for nearly 40 years. In 500 Kisses, a substantial estate of money must be distributed to deserving nonprofits in River Bend. Nonprofits vying to impress the recipient of the bequest with the extent of their needs for the generous amount of money, cross lines of decency and false claims are promulgated. Four murders, a fake agency with bogus requests, and other unsavory events unfold during the process. The title, however, comes from small moments of tenderness, which the reader will discover.

28 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

By Staff Reports

“Five hundred kisses? He counted them?” exclaimed Yolanda when she wondered aloud why Mr. Donovan had left her such a large gift of money to share with others. “Five hundred kisses,” was the answer she was given. All Kumor’s books are published by Absolutely Amazing eBooks and are available through independent bookstores, and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other outlets in both hard copy, paperback, and e-book versions. Kumor will host a book-signing, reading, and discussion event for her newest novel, 500 Kisses, on Saturday, March 10, at the Coffee Bar on White Street, at 10:30 am. The Coffee Bar is located at 317 White St., at the corner of Kanuga and White St. Visit www.reneekumor.com for more information. IF YOU GO

CONTINUED

‘Promise’ continued from pg. 25 political upheaval, societal divide, and ideological polarization. Drawing on historical events and her connection to the disaster, Gwin beautifully imagines natural and human destruction in the deep South of the 1930s and reminds us of the transformative power that comes from confronting our most troubled relations with one another. In the novel, Dovey, a local washwoman, harbors nothing but hatred for her employer, influential judge Mort McNabb and his family. Mort allows his violent and reckless son to do as he pleases, ultimately leaving Dovey’s granddaughter bruised and broken with an illegitimate child. Mort’s daughter Jo is no stranger to Son McNabb’s nature, but she is nothing like her brutish brother. While Dovey and Jo come from different worlds, both are thrust into chaos by the powerful and devastating force of an F5 tornado appears without warning and levels the town. Houses are ripped from their foundations, while people—black and white, alive and dead— are scattered throughout the town. When Jo discovers a baby in the wreckage, she believes it to be her baby brother and vows to protect him

in the horrific aftermath of the storm. But Jo is not prepared for Dovey, who claims the baby is her great-grandchild. During the harrowing hours and days that follow, Jo and Dovey will struggle to navigate a landscape of disaster and be forced to battle both the demons and the history that link and haunt them. With Promise, Gwin flexes her impressive narrative muscle creating her most ambitious novel to date. With her sharp examination of race relations, disaster aid relief and more, Gwin has crafted a searing cultural commentary on today’s most prescient issues focused through the lens of history. A breathtakingly gorgeous account of an unknown side of history, Promise is an enthralling saga that is affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Like the characters in her latest novel, Promise, Minrose Gwin grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. She began her writing career as a newspaper and wire service reporter in cities throughout the southeast. Her civil rights-era novel, The Queen of Palmyra, was an “Indy Notable Selection” and a finalist for the John

Gardner Fiction Book Award. Her memoir, Wishing for Snow, tells the story of her mother’s descent into mental illness. Wearing another hat, Gwin is also the author of cultural and literary studies books that focus on racial injustice. In Remembering Medgar Evers: Writing the Long Civil Rights Movement, she writes of the reverberating impact of the Civil Rights leader’s martyrdom. She is also a coeditor of The Literature of the American South and has taught as a professor at universities across the country, most recently the UNC at Chapel Hill. Southern desserts with author Minrose Gwin The event will be held on Friday, March 16 at 1 pm in the Queen Auditorium at the Folkmoot Friendship Center at 112 Virginia Avenue in Waynesville. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased at Blue Ridge Books. The price of the ticket includes admission to the event, dessert and beverage, and a $10 coupon toward the purchase of the book.

IF YOU GO

428 Hazelwood Ave, Waynesville (828) 456-6000 • blueridgebooksnc.com

‘Art’ continued from pg. 11

On Depot Street, Eco-Depot will have live music, artist demos, and appetizers with complimentary wine from 3 - 7 pm. 362 Depot Gallery and Studios will have a “New Works” reception on March 10, 3-7 pm with sips and appetizers. The Phil Mechanic will have a figurative show featuring the works of some of the 40 artists in the building. There will be live music, light horsd’oeuvres and libations provided. The

show will be from 4-8 pm. There are incredible places to eat and drink in the district; you can start your adventures in the morning with breakfast and end the day with a glass or two of artisan beer and dinner. Every place you visit will have art on the walls inside and out. It is fun for all ages. Plan your visit and find helpful (Left) “Iconic Decade,” by Katrina Chenevert, an homage to the artist Marisol

information and maps at www.riverartsdistrict. com and be sure to pick up a studio guide at your first stop. The River Arts District houses hundreds of artists studios in a cozy neighborhood of 23 reclaimed historic industrial buildings along the French Broad River in Asheville. We are told over and over there is no other arts district like this in the country, maybe even on the planet. See for yourself and find welcoming artists everywhere. IF YOU GO

191 Lyman Street, #310, Asheville (828) 776-2716

Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 29

RAPID RIVER MAGAZINE'S COMICS www.brotherrock.net

Ratchet and Spin

Corgi Tales

Best in Show

By Phil Hawkins

By Phil Juliano

30 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018

YA BOOKS Brendan Reichs latest ‘Genesis’ arrives March 6 Noah Livingston knows he is destined to survive. The 64 members of Fire Lake’s sophomore class are trapped in a place where morals have no meaning and zero rules apply. But Noah’s deaths have trained him-hardened him-to lead the strongest into the future … whatever that may be. And at any cost. Min Wilder knows that survival alone isn’t enough. In a violent world where brute force passes for leadership, it’s tempting to lay back and let everyone else battle it out. But Min’s instincts rebel

against allowing others to decide who lives and who dies. She’s ready to fight for what she believes in. And against whoever might stand in her way. Brendan Reichs was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, and holds degrees from Wake Forest University and the George Washington University School of Law. After three long years working as a litigation attorney, he abandoned the trade to writing full-time. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller Nemesis and its sequel, Genesis, and coauthor of the six-volume Virals series.

On Stage at HART in Waynesville KARAOKE Saturdays at HART As a part of HART’s Winter Studio Season, the theater has opened up its Bistro, Harmons’ Den, for Karaoke performance on Saturday nights. The theater began offering Karaoke in January, and it has proven so popular that HART has decided to continue to provide Karaoke on Saturdays starting at 8 pm throughout the year. It is also open mic night. On nights when there is a theater perfor-

mance in the Fangmeyer Theater, Karaoke begins after the show is over. You don’t have to sing to enjoy being a part of the fun, and the theater atmosphere inspires a variety of musical styles, from pop to jazz to country to Broadway. IF YOU GO

HART harttheatre.com (828) 456-6322 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville

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Vol. 21, No.7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018 31

2017-2018 SEASON

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Romanticism Revisited and Revived

Saturday, March 17 8 p.m. Nicholas Hersh Conductor Itamar Zorman Violin Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3 Leshnoff Chamber Concerto for Violin & Orchestra Queen/Hersh “Bohemian Rhapsody” for Violin & Orchestra Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 2 CONCERT SPONSOR

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THOMAS WOLFE AUDITORIUM • CALL FOR TICKETS: 828.254.7046 • ashevillesymphony.org 32 Vol. 21, No. 7 — RAPID RIVER’S ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — March 2018