WAC Gallery Information for August 2007

Watauga Arts Council’s galleries in the Jones House Community Center for the month of August feature two groups. The High Country Watermedia has their Annual Juried Exhibit in the Mazie Jones Gallery and the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild’s is in the Open Door Gallery with their exhibit, “ In Touch with Fiber.”

The High Country Watermedia Society (HCWS) was founded in 1997 here in the western mountains of North Carolina with a primary focus on creating, promoting, discussing and learning about artwork made from water-soluble materials, such as watercolors. Other water media examples include acrylic, gouache, casein, pencil, pastel, pen & ink, and the newest transition media such as water-soluble oil paints. Members include artists, art collectors, and community art enthusiasts who gather together for the creation, appreciation, and promotion of all art created using watermedia. Although located in Watauga County, HCWS members are represented from all around North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. Members also come from a variety of professions and backgrounds – from professional artists, art students, art instructors, hobbyists, and art enthusiasts and collectors.

Monthly meetings are held from May through October at Cheap Joe’s Workshops located in the Industrial Park, Boone, NC. Monthly meetings feature demonstrations and lectures by guest artists whose expertise range from hand-made paper, through matting and framing, collage, intaglio and relief painting, to various watercolor techniques and applications. A hands-on workshop either by the day’s demo artist or another invited guest artist follows each monthly meeting demonstration.

High Country Watermedia Society provides a number of venues in which to show (and perhaps sell) member’s art. In addition, HCWS sponsors at least two local exhibitions of member’s work every season, both juried and non-juried, offering prizes in several categories. The Annual Exhibition at Jones House is an example of the member’s juried show and sale.

If you wish to join the High Country Watermedia Society, or would like more information, contact Tom Davis at 828-295-7641.

Blue Ridge Fiber Guild’s exhibit features the work of about 15 of its members in the Open Door Gallery. The original Blue Ridge Fiber Guild was formed in 1983 and was at that time made up of 34-46 members from Avery, Ashe, Mitchell and Watauga Counties in North Carolina and some members from just over the state line in Tennessee. The activities of the guild dwindled and was reorganized in January of 1991 and remained active until 1994 with a membership that varied from 21-40 members. The group provided the community with fiber demonstrations and the first show at Jones House was in February of 1992. There were many field trips and workshops within the guild. The last regular meetings were held during 1994.

In early spring of 2004 several spinners gathered together at the Western Watauga Senior Center. (This is also the site of classes for weavers.) Many of us were new to the art of spinning. But all of us reveled in the feel of the fibers that had been brought to share and show. As we handled the fiber we looked at each other and realized we were all hooked and during following meetings we talked about gathering together other fiber folk, weavers, knitters, crocheters , felters and of course we could not neglect those who produced the fiber. The word was put out and during that summer a meeting was held and very well attended. The interest and enthusiasm was high. The Blue Ridge Fiber Guild of the past was about to be resurrected.

In September of 2004 the Blue Ridge Fiber Guild held an election of officers and set about the task to revise by-gone by-laws to meet our mission.

Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM at the Senior Center in Sugar Grove, NC. During the winter meetings are held on the third Saturday morning so no one has to drive in the snow or ice in the dark.

The meetings present opportunities for its members to share the knowledge and skill that members bring to the table. This is done through workshops and also through Show and Tell, which could also be called Show and Help! Members are always willing to suggest solutions and assist each other in problem solving. Some of the workshops have been chemical dyeing, silk scarf dyeing, braiding, spindler spinning, color studies and visits to various area studios. New ideas for activities are always welcomed.

The Blue Ridge Fiber Guild finds as its mission keeping alive the traditions of fiber crafts. Demonstrations of weaving and spinning at Heritage celebrations help let the public know that these crafts are not gone and forgotten. There is nothing like watching the youngsters trying to figure out how that wheel REALLY works. Children and adults alike stand for long periods of time mesmerized by the wheel, its speed and the collecting yarn on the bobbins. The Guild sets up looms so that visitors to the demonstration can get a hands on experience and understanding of how weaving works. Everything from hand dyed roving, to yarns, and finished woven and felted items can be found.

October is Spinning and Weaving Month the Guild is taking this opportunity to bring spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting and other fiber arts into the public’s view not only with the exhibits and demonstrations at the Jones House but also by doing public demonstrations at the Watauga County Farmers' Market on October 7th.

Both exhibits are on display from Tuesday, July 31 until Friday, August 31 from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. The Jones House Community Center’s galleries are also open Thursdays from 7:30 to 11 p.m. during the acoustic jams and on Friday eventings until 6:45 during the Concerts on the Lawn for August and September.

The galleries are sponsored in part by Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff and Grassroots Funds of the North Carolina Arts Council. The WAC’s offices and galleries are located in the Jones Jones House Community & Cultural Center, owned by the town of Boone.