Above: Artist, Wendy Seaward
“A Legacy of Innovation and Beauty”
The 69th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
From July 21–24, the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville will once again play host to the annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. The building’s concourse and arena levels will be filled with craftspeople who are masters in their chosen areas: from contemporary to traditional, from clay to wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry.
Artist, Tina Curry
Through a juried process, nearly 200 makers from the Southern Highland Craft Guild were chosen to carry on the long-standing legacy of quality at the biannual Craft Fairs (held in July and October). These events tend to both awe and inspire, as visitors have the mutually rewarding opportunity to connect directly with the artisans. They provide a window into the extraordinary creative talent that resides in our region.
Artist, Elaine Rader
The Craft Fairs host demonstrations by Guild members that help educate the public about the history of crafts in the area and about the various craft techniques. The July show, for example, will feature ceramic arts with a variety of demonstrations from Guild members, such as Larry Allen who creates black stoneware pottery with sgraffito designs. At her booth, Rikki Taylor will demonstrate throwing and trimming pots on a wheel.
To make your visit to the Craft Fair even more enjoyable, there will be live music—old-time to bluegrass—performed by mountain musicians on the arena stage.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a nonprofit educational organization with headquarters at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. The Guild covers the mountain counties of nine southeastern states from Maryland to Alabama, and represents more than 900 craftspeople.
Artist, Jason Green
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. General admission is $8 and children under age 12 are admitted at no cost. Visit craftguild.org for more information and for a complete list of scheduled craft demonstrations and musical performances.
