By Lauren Stepp
When Melanie Hopkins and her husband, Daniel, arrived in East Flat Rock in 2020, the long-vacant Stepp and Walker Building was worn and weathered. But the California transplants believed the 19th-century general store still had a future—a belief that would grow into Studio 116, one of Henderson County’s newest art spaces.
“Opening the gallery came about organically,” says Hopkins, who spent 30 years in public broadcasting and graphic design before following her long-standing pull toward collage. As she and Daniel began renovating the 10,000-square-foot building, the couple carved out a spacious downstairs studio where she could coax beauty from old magazines and discarded ephemera.
Brothers. Phil Garrett, artist
In 2021, the couple opened the space to the public for the Art League of Henderson County’s annual Open Studio Tour, giving neighbors their first glimpse inside the revitalized building. Soon after, they offered studio space to their friend, wood sculptor David Macvaugh, who began showing his work during the next tour. The gallery, says Hopkins, “just grew from there.”
Studio 116 officially opened in April 2025, with Skybreak, an exhibit by Hendersonville-based artist Beth Beasley. “Studio 116 is a breath of fresh air,” says Beasley. “Melanie is perhaps more willing to take risks with artists who might not fit with other spaces. She is so open to ideas and creative ventures.”
Exploration is central to Hopkins’ vision. “My curating ethos is grounded in openness,” she says. “I’m interested in creating a space where artists can explore, experiment and even fail a little, because that’s often where the most exciting work emerges.”
In that same spirit, Studio 116 is launching a new chapter this winter with the debut of Butcher Shop Press, a printmaking initiative housed in the back of the building where a butcher shop once operated. To introduce the new program, Studio 116 will present Above/Below: Paintings and Works on Paper by Phil Garrett, on view Wednesday, January 14, through February 7.
The exhibition will feature paintings and monotypes, including a selection of hand-pulled prints created on-site using the gallery’s Takach etching press. An opening reception will be held Friday, January 16, from 6–8 p.m., with an artist talk by Garrett at 6:45 p.m. He will also offer a free monotype demonstration on Wednesday, January 21, from 2–4 p.m., followed by a three-day monotype workshop January 22–24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Above/Below is about contrasts, but it’s also about connection: between ideas, materials and perspectives,” says Hopkins. “If visitors leave feeling more connected, more curious or simply more observant, that’s a success.”
Studio 116 is located at 116 West Blue Ridge Road, East Flat Rock. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment. To learn more, call 828.290.9693 or visit Studio116NC.com.
