What Time Hides Forever in Plain Sight. Charlotte Bell, artist
Artists across Asheville’s Kenilworth neighborhood will open their doors to visitors during the 21st annual Kenilworth Artists Association Studio Tour. The free, self-guided tour takes place Saturday, October 10, and Sunday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. This year, 27 artists will share their work at 17 home locations throughout the historic neighborhood, located south of downtown Asheville near Biltmore Village. Along with the studio tour, Art Palooza will take place Saturday at Kenilworth Church with opportunities for visitors to paint and draw on the lawn.
This will be porcelain artist Dyann Myers’ first year participating in the Kenilworth tour, where she will be a guest of potter Diana Gillispie.
“I hope people will want to pick up my work and hold it in their hands, interact with it, feel the tactile nature that the carved surface creates,” Myers says. “Yes, it is porcelain—which some people equate with fragile and fancy—but I hope that they will find that my work is comfortable and compelling.”
Dyann Myers, artist
Myers creates primarily functional pieces thrown on the wheel and embellished with intricate carved surfaces. Her background in classical music has also found its way into her approach to clay.
“I think my obsession with carved surfaces comes from the rhythm of the carving itself,” Myers says. “I love repeated lines and the movement created. It’s also a wonderful medium for carved texture because it is so smooth.”
Encaustic artist Roxane Russo explores movement, transformation and renewal in her work, often juxtaposing vivid color with quieter areas. The versatility of encaustic allows Russo to move among different visual styles. Her photo-based works can be atmospheric, while botanical pieces lean toward brighter colors and playfulness.
“The smell of beeswax, the power of the torch, the movement of fusing wax all contribute to my love of this medium,” Russo says. “There is something ancient about making medium (a mixture of beeswax and damar resin) and making paint.”
The tour gives Russo an opportunity to introduce visitors to a medium they may have rarely encountered.
“Kenilworth is always a fun show,” Russo says. “I love meeting and talking to people who are unfamiliar with encaustic. Connecting with other artists, exchanging ideas, sharing resources, challenges and wins always makes me feel less isolated as an artist.”
Kenilworth Church is located at 123 Kenilworth Road, Asheville. Tour brochures with maps of participating studios are available at locations around Asheville, including the Asheville Visitor Center and Malaprop’s Bookstore, as well as area shops, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts. Artist information and a downloadable tour map are also available at KenilworthArtists.org.
