The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design’s exhibition “WNC Models of Sustainability in Craft Making” features eight studio craft artists working in residence at EnergyXchange, located in Burnsville, and Jackson County Green Energy Park, located in Sylva. The exhibit will be on view through April 22.

Both EnergyXchange and Jackson County Green Energy Park are national models that use methane gas from capped landfills, along with other alternative energy sources, to fuel ceramic kilns, glass furnaces, blacksmithing workstations, and greenhouses. These organizations also serve as business incubators for the artists who are in residence and for the plant growers.

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design (CCCD) hopes to bring attention to these two unique and forward-thinking organizations by providing information on the types of renewable resources they use in the craft studios and exhibiting works by artists who are using these resources and processes. Craft mediums are not all inherently “green,” therefore it is important to have organizations such as EnergyXchange and Jackson County Green Energy Park who are focused specifically on developing green and sustainable practices, as well as providing business models that are pertinent in the 21st century.

Artists in residence from Jackson County Green Energy Park are Clayton Hufford (glass), Hayden Wilson (glass & metal), Julie Boisseau (mixed media), and Laurey Masterton (glass). Artist, Joy Tanner Artist, Hayden Wilson Artists in residence featured from EnergyXchange are Lisa Gluckin (clay), Joy Tanner (clay), Michael Hatch (glass), and William Baker (clay).

A moderated panel discussion will take place on Wednesday, March 16 from 7–8 p.m. at UNC Asheville in Owen Conference Hall. Panel Participants are Dee Eggers, professor of Environmental Studies at UNCA, Dan Asher, executive director of EnergyXchange, Tim Muth, executive director of Jackson County Green Energy Park, Hayden Wilson, artist in residence at Jackson County Green Energy Park, and William Baker, artist in residence at EnergyXchange.

The CCCD is located five miles west of Hendersonville at 1181 Broyles Road adjacent to the UNC Asheville Kellogg Center. Gallery hours are noon–5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Visitors are invited to walk the Perry N. Rudnick one-mile nature and public art trail following a visit to the exhibition in the Craft Center galleries. For more information, visit craftcreativitydesign.org or call 828.890.2050.