ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A new digital gallery has flung open its virtual doors, bringing the outdoor sculptures and site-specific installations of Western North Carolina to audiences anywhere with an internet connection. ArtsvilleUSA, the Asheville-based nonprofit, launched its latest online exhibition, Open // Air, on Wednesday, June 3, curating a collection of open-air works by twelve artists rooted in the 25 counties of the mountain region.
Robert Winkler
Look Homeward, Angles
Western Red Cedar, steel
“Look Homeward, Angels was created for the RiverSculpture 2007, the second curated and produced by Robert Winkler. It is now in a private collection in Asheville.”
— Robert Winkler
Julie Guy
Quilt Garden at The NC Arboretum
Living plants (three species) installed within frame of quilt
Winding Ways quilt pattern; pattern circa 1890.
“The Quilt Garden pattern within the Formal Gardens of The North Carolina Arboretum is redesigned every two years to reflect historic quilt patterns rooted in the heritage of Southern Appalachia.
Appalachian quilting represents a rich cultural fusion shaped by Scottish, Irish, German, Native American, Amish, and Quaker traditions. Together, these influences created a quilting legacy that reflects the people, landscapes, and heritage of the region.
Native American communities also contributed significantly to the development of Appalachian quilting through the use of symbolic patterns and natural dyeing techniques derived from local plants. These methods, along with hand-dyed fabrics, helped establish the rich, earthy color palettes characteristic of Appalachian quilts.
Beyond craftsmanship, quilting in Appalachia has long served as a tradition of community and storytelling. Quilting bees brought women together to sew, share knowledge, exchange techniques, and strengthen social bonds, preserving both practical skills and cultural heritage across generations.
This piece is available for viewing while visiting The North Carolina Arboretum.”
— Julie Guy, NC Arboretum Curator
The exhibition, curated by ArtsvilleUSA Executive Director Elise Wilson, marked the debut of the organization’s PAVE (Partner Archival Virtual Exhibition) Program, which creates enduring digital records of live shows to keep them accessible long after their physical run ends. Open // Air features pieces crafted from wood, stone, wire, glass, and even living plants, installed in public spaces that range from busy downtown squares to remote sculpture gardens.
Featured artists included Melissa Borrell, Elizabeth Brim, Robert Burch, Grace Cathey, Josh Coté, Rachel David, Todd Frahm, Julie Guy (formal gardens curator at the NC Arboretum), Robert Levin, Dale McEntire, Julie Slattery, and Robert Winkler. Their works can be found from downtown Asheville and Waynesville to Burnsville Town Square, Grovewood Village at the Omni Grove Park Inn, Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden, and the NC Arboretum, where a “Quilt Garden” is stitched from three species of living plants.
A week after the virtual launch, on June 10, ArtsvilleUSA released a travelogue mapping routes to the physical works, explicitly designed to encourage rural arts tourism in the post-Hurricane Helene recovery era. The online exhibition itself will remain open indefinitely, with all works digitally archived for continued access.
Izzy Ourada
Somewhere Inside Me, There Is Art: Release
Fiber (Theo Morman, twill), embroidery thread, craft foam, multi-purpose paint, beads
Obergefell
Overshot weaving with tapestry inlay
“Installation of two tapestries joined by an Irish handfasting chain.”
— Rachel Flovin
Dimensions: 72” x 52”
In a separate celebration of the region’s creative pipeline, the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Grad Show opened May 9 at the Folk Art Center’s Main Gallery and runs through September 16. The annual capstone exhibition highlights emerging artists from the college’s two-year intensive program, blending craftsmanship with business and marketing training—a showcase that Southern Highland Craft Guild Curator of Collections and Exhibitions Valerie Berlage called “much anticipated every year as the next generation of artists always inspires with fresh perspectives and quality work.”
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