News

LOCAL BRIEFS: Call for artists, Gabby Giffords movie, 'History Bites'

The Saluda Arts Festival on May 18 features more than 80 regional artists exhibiting paintings, pottery, metalwork, jewelry, sculptures, fiber and more.

By Bill Moss, Published: January 21, 2024

Saluda Arts Festival calls for vendors

The Saluda Downtown Foundation is inviting artists to apply to exhibit at the Saluda Arts Festival, which returns for its 19th year on Saturday, May 18.
Artists may complete online applications at form.jotform.com/233453926770159. The exhibit fee for the non-juried event is $110, which is due with the application. The deadline to apply is March 1.
Stretching along historic Main Street, the popular one-day event features more than 80 regional artists representing a wide range of media, including paintings, pottery, metalwork, jewelry, sculptures, fiber and more.
“The Saluda Arts Festival has become a must do for many of our area artists and residents of the foothills,” says Lynn Casey, executive director of the Saluda Downtown Foundation Inc.
Festival organizers ask artists to apply early since some types of work (i.e. jewelry) will be accepted on a limited basis. Early entries will be given first choice of booth location. For more information visit Saluda.com.
Besides a variety of live music, this year’s event will bring back the crowd favorite Children’s Tent, with face painting, children art projects, and entertainment such as stilt walking and balloon artists. The Children’s Tent is sponsored by the Polk County Community Foundation. For questions, contact saludancartsfestival@gmail.com

Gun control group showing documentary on Monday

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense of Henderson County will sponsor a showing of Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down, the extraordinary story of the former Arizona congresswoman and her relentless fight to recover from gunshot wounds following a mass shooting at a constituent meeting in 2011. The documentary will be screened at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at Flat Rock Cinema.
From the directors of RBG, the film offers an exclusive look at Gabby’s remarkable journey to Congress, the aftermath and recovery of her near-fatal shooting, and Gabby’s unrelenting dedication to gun violence prevention. The movie screening is free, but cash donations will be accepted at the door to support the work of Moms Demand Action.
The movie screening is part of the sixth annual National Gun Violence Survivors Week. Tragically, every day in America, at least 120 people are shot and killed, more than 200 are wounded and countless families and communities experience the collective trauma of gun violence. Besides the pain and suffering, gun violence also brings a hefty price tag. Studies from the Government Accountability Office and Harvard Medical School have shown that the cost of caring for gunshot survivors ranges from $1 billion in initial treatments to $2.5 billion over 12 months.
Smart Start Partnership for Children will host its inaugural Adult Spelling Bee fundraising event 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7. Proceeds from this fun, community-building event will support Smart Start’s work to support, educate, and advocate to build a strong foundation for the young children in our community.
Registration is now open for both teams and spectators. Teams consist of four individuals (18+) and the entry fee for teams is $250, which includes heavy hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket per participant. In addition to prizes for the winning team, there will also be prizes for best dressed team (voted for by the audience) and the team with the largest fan base. Spectators can purchase tickets for $50 per person which include heavy hors d’oeuvres and a drink ticket. To register a team or spectator, visit smartstartpfc.org. Spelling Bee rules and competition format are also available on the website.
The event is presented by Queen Bee sponsor First Bank. Honey Bee sponsors are Carolina Village, Champion Comfort Experts and the Waddell family. Mason Bee Sponsors include Geometra, Hendersonville Family Dental, Mail Box & Pack, Mills River Family Dental, and WNC Bridge Foundation. For more information contact Program Director Kelly Hart at kelly@smartstartpfc.org, or 828-693-1580.

Johnson Farm serves up 'History Bites'

Historic Johnson Farm announced that this year’s winter lecture series “History Bites” will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9 and Friday, March 1. The informal talks on local history and culture are free, and snacks and coffee are served.

On Feb. 9, scholar Julie Thomson will present “A History of Black Mountain College,” an introduction to one of the greatest experiments in U.S. education. Founded in 1933, Black Mountain College started at the Blue Ridge Assembly before moving to its permanent home at Lake Eden in 1941. This liberal arts college put the arts at the center of education. Notable faculty included Josef Albers, Anni Albers, Buckminster Fuller, Jacob Lawrence, Willem de Kooning, John Cage and Merce Cunningham. Students who attended Black Mountain College include Ruth Asawa, Robert Rauschenberg, Ray Johnson, Hazel Larsen Archer, Kenneth Noland and Jonathan Williams.
On March 9, Art Cole and Kathie Doole will lead “A Presentation on the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas.” This talk will introduce the museum, located in Brevard, that honors all veterans. The mission of the Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas is to honor the nation’s veterans, to educate the public about America’s military history and the contribution of service men and women, and to preserve important and unique historic artifacts.
After each talk, there will be time for guests to ask questions. Although History Bites are free, donations are accepted. The farm is at 3346 Haywood Road.