Asheville Welcomes the Refinery Creator Space to the Mix
Artist, Lara Nguyen
Join the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC) in welcoming the brand new Refinery Creator Space in downtown Asheville’s South Slope neighborhood. The grand opening takes place at 207 Coxe Avenue on Thursday, September 29, from 5–8 p.m. with free food and music.
In addition to housing the Council, the 15,000-squarefoot facility will be home to ten artists and five community organizations with vast space to foster artistic collaboration. The art hub will be a hotspot for creators and patrons alike, featuring Asheville Darkroom, Asheville Makers, Local Cloth, Mechanical Eye Microcinema, and Nick Moen’s Bright Angle Ceramics Studio.
The grand opening will unveil Asheville’s newest mural: a brilliant and colorful creation titled “Bower Power” by artist Lara Nguyen. Lara is a professor of art at Warren Wilson College and the co-owner of Stone Cloud Studio. Her mural focuses on the communal aspect of artists working together and aims to serve as a visual landmark that will honor the artist culture at the Refinery.
“Having practiced and taught for almost two decades, I have come to know that art is about ideas,” she says. “Art is fluid. Art is flexible. In my life, I strive to be both, and do so by working in a range of media and formats. From drawing to installation to performance to painting, art is a tool for expression and reflection. When shared with family, friends, acquaintances, and perfect strangers, art can encourage empathy. Without empathy, we are not truly human.
Lara envisions her mural as a lasting testament to the power of art and says that she hopes it “will positively affect all who interact with it, whether it is during a daily commute or on a visit to Asheville. I hope to create a memorable landmark that will serve as a visual legacy for all those involved in the process.”
During the grand opening, artwork by Refinery artists will be available for purchase and guests can tour the new space to see all its offerings. Also on view will be the current exhibition “American Craft Week Emerging Artist Showcase,” which highlights local handmade crafts as part of a partnership between the AAAC, Mountain Xpress, and American Craft Week.
Expect lively art and community fellowship at The Refinery Creator Space—fun for art lovers of all ages.
Visit ashevillearts.com for more information.
