Two years ago in late September, artists in Hot Springs were organized and ready to go with an event to showcase the arts in their town: the Hot Springs Arts Trail. Flags were flying and art was on display. And then Hurricane Helene brought destruction to the dynamic little Appalachian Trail town nestled near the French Broad River. In the time since, restoration has kept residents busy, but they’re finally ready for the long postponed celebration.
Cindy Cash, artist
On Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., art will be on display in stores, restaurants and a few pop-up tents. A giant canvas will be set up in town so that visitors can come up with a fun trail name and paint, draw or spray paint it onto a collage of names.
“It feels incredibly redeeming to be able to have this event coming back to Hot Springs,” says business owner Phillip Solomon. “At our newly reopened original location Artisun Gallery and Café, in downtown Hot Springs next door to Iron Horse, we will be featuring the photographs of Sarah Jones Decker. She is probably the most famous and prolific documentary photographer of the Appalachian Trail. We, of course, will be offering our standard menu and featuring all of the local and regional artists that are customarily here in our gallery.”
Phillip and Pascha Solomon also own the Artisun Emporium which, says Phillip, will feature “multiple artist pop-ups in the parking lot along with our normal offering of books, antiques, collectibles, vintage wears, great coffee and ice cream.”
Next door to the Artisun Emporium is Gallery 339, owned by Terry Thirion, the driving force behind the Arts Trail. “For us, it will be a celebration of a community being able to survive and even thrive,” says Thirion. “My partners and I are very excited to make this all about self-expressions and the enjoyment of our creativity.” She will demonstrate during the day and will have large canvases, paper and paint on hand for visitors to use. “We are looking forward to having young and old be introduced to painting and expressing themselves without pressure to make a great painting,” she says.
The event extends out to Spring Creek where the Trust General Store & Café will have local artists on display along with food and live bluegrass music.
The celebration ends at Hot Springs’ brewery Big Pillow with art on display and the band The Tallboys AVL onstage from 6–9 p.m. Artist Cindy Cash will be present doing pastel pet portraits.
Phillip Solomon hopes the event highlights the diversity and quality of the art in Madison County. “I think those dreamers and creators who have taken a step back away from the hustle and bustle of bigger towns to quietly create in the woods,” he says, “can make some of the most interesting art and craft with resounding authenticity.”
To learn more visit HotSpringsArtsTrail.com.
