Nestled in the heart of the Southern Appalachian Mountains are Yancey and Mitchell Counties.  There be artists there!

Two plus days of meeting artists and seeing their work in their native habitat. Not restricted be gallery rules and limitations. This is wher you can see where they are at their creative best.

Here is a link to the huge 30-page Studio Guide The maps are on pages 25 – 29.

CLICK HERE > TRAC Studio Tour June 2010 Guide.

• Start early.
• Take a friend/navigator.
• Bring snacks.
• Have fun.

 ’see you on the mountain!

Ken

1. Small town in the mountains of North Carolina = Spruce Pine
2. Manly Arts = blacksmithing. (Not horseshoeing! That is a farrier. Blacksmithing uses real imagination.)
3. Family Encouraged = Kid friendly, hands on blacksmithing! How cool!

This Saturday, April 24, is the Spruce Pine, NC, “Fire on the Mountain” blacksmith festival. Plenty of time to see everything: 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Tip 1: When you get there, sign the kids up for the Penland School’s hands-on forging. Since this is a favorite, the line gets long in the afternoon even with four anvils ringing.

Tip 2: Check the demonstration schedule and record when your favorite demon

stration is scheduled at the main tent. There are hourly demonstrations throughout the day. Fascinating. This is the How-To. Learn how the artists make their metal sculptures. Check out the vendors and load up on the blacksmith hammers and anvils and forges so you can make your own art when you get home.

 Tip 3: Explore the lunch offerings from the street vendors or the downtown restaurants or picnic right on the street while you watch the demonstrations.

Tip 4: Broad brim hat. If it still gets too hot for you, check out the art galleries on the upper street. This is where the best of the art is displayed.

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Tip 5: Be sure to check out the great video on their web-site: Toe River Arts Council – Fire on the Mountain

‘ see you on the mountain.

Ken

This weekend, December 4 -5 -6, 2009 you can meet the artists and see where they do their thing. Learn more about the Toe River Arts Council here.

Go here to get you map of the Toe River Arts Council studio tour map.  More than seventy studios are open for your exploration.

Start early. Open studio hours are only 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. 

Centrally located in the heart of the western North Carolina mountains, Yancey and Mitchell Counties have some of the best kept secrets in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Notice: some studios are "artisticially" located.  Good walking shoes are a good idea. A navigator with an open mind for roads less travelled is good too.

Enjoy!