Burchetta Press Releases - Wlmington NC Appreciation Day Sunday, March 1 2009

Feeling Artsy and Craftsy in North Carolina

The Burchetta Glassblowing Studio and Gallery in Wilmington offers daily programs that allow visitors to create their own glass art.

by Pat Henderson

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Courier - September 2009

ACCORDING TO
Frank Jernigan, director of domestic marketing for the North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development, artists and craftsmen are an integral part of life in North Carolina. “Their traditions and products tell the story of our history, our cultural diversity and our spirit. They are a strong link to our scenic, natural beauty and help tell how we have managed, preserved and molded this wonderful landscape.”

In addition to offering a North Carolina history lesson, artist studios and craftsmen facilities throughout the state provide a wealth of tourism product. The prolific and varied output of local craftsmen can be explored through instructional sessions at workshops, hands-on classes, gallery talks and studio tours from the state’s oceanside cities in the east to the mountain towns along its western edge.

GETTING CREATIVE AT CRAFTS CENTERS
Tucked away in the Appalachian Mountains near both the Tennessee and Georgia borders, Brasstown is home to the John C. Campbell Folk School. The school’s classes are led by more than 500 instructors and resident artists who specialize in everything from wood carving to storytelling.

“A visit to the John C. Campbell Folk School is more than just a class, it is a life experience,” Jernigan said. “The place is special, from the setting to the classes offered to the living environment; it is more than a school in so many ways.”

The school offers more than 850 week-long classes and weekend workshops, many of which are great for niche travelers and special-interest groups. Adults can take part in basic or advanced classes in art, cooking, gardening, nature studies, photography, dance, sculpture and blacksmithing.

“The blacksmithing shop is my favorite,” Jernigan said. “It will take you back in time and give you a workout as well as a special skill. The basketry classes are wonderful and have a great tie into the area’s Appalachian history. If you are a musician, it is a special place to bond with others who share your passion no matter what your skill level is.”

Jernigan added that even if a group doesn’t have time for a workshop, the Campbell School is still worth a visit.

“Those who stop in to explore without taking classes will enjoy the Folk School’s Craft Shop, its community dances, concerts and art shows.”

Another must-visit is Old Salem Museums & Gardens, a Winston- Salem-based attraction that provides a look at the exact techniques used by tradesmen in the area more than 200 years ago.

“Each tradesman invites visitors into their shop, explaining the tools that they’re using and what they’re working on,” said Lauren Werner, Old Salem’s director of marketing. “Whether visitors are in the joinery seeing a dovetail joint made with woodworking tools, a pot being formed on the potter’s wheel or a long rifle being crafted, they are encouraged to interact and ask questions about what they see.”

Werner also recommends a visit to the on-site Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, which houses a world-class collection of furniture, textiles, silver, pottery and paintings.

POTTERY, GLASS ART AND A DURHAM DEVELOPMENT
Groups in the Winston-Salem area also are within easy reach of a couple of other specialty arts venues in the central part of the state—Durham’s Gold Belt arts campus and Seagrove’s North Carolina Pottery Center.

The Golden Belt project is another part of Durham’s effort to redevelop its downtown area by converting tobacco warehouses into things such as the new artists’ enclave. Shelly Green, chief operating officer for the Durham CVB said the repurposed circa-1900 cloth factory opened in 2008 as a mixed-use development that includes residential lofts, artist studios, a central gallery and a live music venue.

“The 35 artists with working studios at Golden Belt are painters, photographers, jewelers, textile and mixed media artists, as well as metalsmiths and printmakers,” Green said. “Their studios are not just places to display art, but places where they create their art. Visitors can wander through the building watching artists and can purchase works directly from the artists.”

She said group tours typically include an introduction on the building, its history and the concept of the Golden Belt campus with plenty of time to visit some of the artist studios. Programs with specific artists can be arranged based on a group’s special interests and available time. Visitors also can see two on-site galleries— Room 100, which features the work of resident artists as well as nationally recognized contemporary artists, and the recently opened LabourLove Gallery, which offers art classes.

Located about a half-hour south of Greensboro, the North Carolina Pottery Center offers a look at the state’s rich pottery heritage. The facility’s gallery includes more than 800 pieces of pottery, artifacts and photographs showcasing the different styles and techniques used by North Carolina potters.

“I recommend a visit to the center as the first stop before people venture out to the more than 90 galleries and shops in the surrounding Seagrove community,” Jernigan said. In addition to seeing the permanent

In addition to seeing the permanent displays, visitors to the center also can take in traveling exhibits that change every couple of months. Two upcoming shows featuring regional artists include “Fire in the Valley: Catawba Valley Pottery Then and Now” (Nov. 13, 2009–Jan. 30, 2010) and “The New Generation of Seagrove Potters” (Feb. 6–April 10, 2010).

“People who visit Burchetta Glassblowing Studio and Gallery will not only see the largest collection of handblown art glass in the South, they will also observe live glass-blowing demonstrations seven days a week,” said Mikie Wall, vice president of sales and services for the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast CVB. “Burchetta’s master glass blowers realize that blowing is a spectator art, and they encourage visitors to bring cameras and ask any glass questions.”

One of the gallery’s most popular programs is the “Make Your Own” class that allows guests to work with experts to create a glass object. Participants can choose the shape, style and colors, then the master glass blowers remove the glass from the furnace. After that, participants use different tools and materials to sculpt their own pieces—such as bowls, vases, ornaments, beer mugs and paperweights. These classes are offered daily between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The following company and organization have placed advertising in support of this travel guide. Biltmore Estate | 66 Greensboro Area Convention and Visitors Bureau | 67 C