Center for Craft, Creativity & Design shares new about artists and upcoming exhibits

The Windgate Project Grants were established in 2015 on the 10th anniversary of CCCD's Windgate Fellowship program. The Windgate Project Grant program awards $10,000 grants to three former CCCD Windgate Fellows to embark on a project of their choosing. The award will culminate with presentations by the grant recipients at CCCD's Benchspace Gallery & Workshop in Asheville, NC at the end of the grant period. This month we checked in with grant recipient Aaron McIntosh. Here is his story: Aaron McIntosh 2006 Windgate Fellow, Baltimore, MD Invasive Invasive is well under way after three months of project development, event promotion, traveling workshops and studio work. I have been greeted with very positive responses from community workshop participants, and made numerous contacts along the way that are already growing the project's reach. Capitalizing on Gay Pride season (May-Oct), Invasive has been focusing on the community workshops and story leaf events. After the official Invasive launch event at Red Emma's Bookstore in Baltimore, MD (July 18), the project traveled south to the Asheville Art Museum (July 26) and then to the Penland School of Crafts in Penland, NC (July 31). These three successful community workshops saw a combined 130 participants, who contributed around 213 kudzu story leaves. Recently, Invasive was featured at Baltimore's EMP Collective Pulse Salon (Sept. 2). Other upcoming workshops/events include Richmond PrideFest (Sept. 25-27) and various locations in Houston, TX (Oct. 15-22). While the collection of stories of contemporary LGBTQ is one branch of the project, the documentation of stories, lives and ephemera of previous generations of gay and lesbian Southerners is another branch. After much research, I have compiled a list of 22 LGBTQ archives and special collections that I will begin visiting this winter and spring to document such lives. I am working to make the Archives section of my website an educational resource for Southern LGBTQ who are looking for more historical information; this is one small way I'd like the project to give back to the queer community. Meanwhile, in my studio, the Invasive vine grows, one story leaf at a time. To learn more about Invasive, check out the website, invasivequeerkudzu.com, blog, Facebook, and Instagram.

Join us for upcoming Made in WNC installations and events

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All events are free and open to the public RSVP on Facebook click to play video Daniel Johnston  783-804 October 1 - 29, 2015 Daniel Johnston will create an immersive architectural environment using ceramic vessels to reverse the role of viewer and object. Artist Talk with Daniel Johnston Thursday, October 1, 6 pm Potter Daniel Johnston of Seagrove, NC will be presenting on his creative process from digging local clay to creating installations of large, wood-fired vessels.  Tour of Biltmore Industries Saturday, October 17, 1 pm  Limited to 20 guests, registration required Click here to register Join us for an exclusive tour of the Homespun Museum and former production site of Biltmore Industries, an arts and crafts enterprise at Asheville's Grove Park Inn renowned for its hand-woven fabrics from 1917 - 1980. Nava Lubelski  Emblematic November 5 - 28, 2015 Nava Lubelski's Emblematic displays a body of textile-based work inspired by her relationship with Weaverville-based embroidery factory, AB Emblem. Artist Talk with Nava Lubelski Wednesday, November 18, 5:30 pm  In conjunction with the WNC Textile Study Group. New York native and Asheville resident Nava Lubelski will take visitors inside her unique embroidery process, which balances impulses of destruction and repair. Tom Shields Parts and Pieces December 4, 2015 - January 9, 2016 Using parts of found chairs, each with their own forgotten story, Tom Shields creates framed arrangements that serve as a metaphor for the complexities of inter-personal relationships.  Artist Talk with Tom Shields Friday, December 4, 6 pm  With over 17 years woodworking experience, former Penland School of Crafts resident Tom Shields will discuss his process of using reclaimed furniture to weave sculptural narratives.

Made in WNC On view: September 4, 2015 - January 9, 2016 Tue - Sat, 10 am - 6 pm An exhibition examining the legacy of craft-based industry (textiles, pottery, and furniture) in Western North Carolina and its influence on artists and designer-makers working in the region today.