10 Ways to Experience the Arts in Hendersonville

Hendersonville is known for its vibrant arts scene, which includes live theatre and music, art galleries and studios, street art and murals, arts festivals, art class or instruction offerings, and multiple organizations dedicated to supporting the arts in the community.

Arts & Crafts

Western North Carolina has been known for its rich arts tradition for decades. Original settlers developed skills to make utilitarian wares, clothing and household items, which were vital to a family’s survival in this remote region.

Over time, those skills once necessary for daily life evolved into fine crafts and artistic media. Schools devoted to craft and art sprang up, and people from all over the world came to Blue Ridge Mountain communities to develop their talents in pottery, glass, photography, fiber, music, dance and theater, to name a few.

Today Hendersonville is home to a vibrant arts community with a diverse array of media represented. Check out these 10 ways to experience the arts firsthand on your next visit to Hendersonville.

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Live art

1)  Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theater of North Carolina, is known as the “Little Broadway in the Mountains.” For more than 70 years it has entertained audiences with professional performances of top musicals, comedies, dramas and farces from February through December. In recent years, a popular music series has been added. The theater crafts every element of each show, including the sets and costumes. A favorite annual tradition is “A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas,” a musical variety show that promises tried-and-true classics and new surprises each year. The grounds themselves resemble a work of art with colorful gardens maintained by local Master Gardeners.

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events that celebrate art

2)  What do you get when you combine fine wines, local artists and a mountaintop setting overlooking acres of rolling vineyards — La Vie En Rosé Art & Wine Festival. The three-day event takes place in mid-June at Marked Tree Vineyard. Take a plein air painting workshop, listen to a poetry reading or symphony concert, and meander through the artist village. All the while enjoy sipping Marked Tree rosé and soaking in mountain views that stretch for miles.

3)  The last weekend of September, Hendersonville’s serpentine Main Street transforms into an outdoor gallery for more than 70 artisans to display and sell their work. Art on Main, a juried event, attracts artists from throughout the Southeast and is regarded as one of the finest outdoor art shows in the region. Artistic media include oil and acrylic painting, clay, metal, wood, fiber, photography and jewelry. Several artists demonstrate their talents and answer questions about their processes. Judges present awards for fine art, fine craft and overall best of show.

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Art Galleries

4)  Tucked into a small strip of shops in this eclectic village, the Gallery at Flat Rock exhibits 60 regionally and nationally known artists. Many artists live in Henderson County and surrounding mountain towns, which offers a few perks for gallery shoppers. Artists often drop off work in person and interact with customers. The gallery also offers a slew of events, such as artist meet-and-greets, exhibit opening receptions and workshops. Each September, Art in Bloom pairs floral designers with artists to present floral interpretations of various works of art.

5)  See artists in their natural habitat at Art MoB Studios. This downtown gallery has five resident artists who maintain studios in the back of the shop. Visitors may watch them work, ask them questions and purchase pieces directly from the working studios. For a decade, Art MoB has showcased the work of more than 80 local and regional fine artists and fine crafters.

6)  Art on 7th is located in Hendersonville’s up-and-coming Seventh Avenue district, known as downtown’s creative edge. The gallery is the county’s only contemporary art gallery. Exhibiting work from local artists (Hendersonville, Asheville, Flat Rock, Horse Shoe), as well as artists from throughout the Southeast (Texas, Florida, Alabama), Art on 7th adds a distinct element to the town’s arts community. The diverse lineup of artists includes black, Mexican and Japanese artists. Media include glass, sculpture, wood, fiber and numerous forms of painting.

7)  Make a single stop into Horse Shoe Gap Village and discover a collection of artsy businesses. Expect to see hand-blown glass, clay sculptures, antique and vintage home decor, jewelry made by metalsmiths, and inspirational paintings. ShareWell Coffeehouse, also located in the village, serves locally roasted coffee and baked goods to fuel your shopping spree.

8)  For a touch of Hollywood in Hendersonville pop in the cottage-style Sweet Magnolia Gallery. This is the storefront of jewelry artist Melinda Lawton. Lawton’s career started in Hollywood as a graphics artist for the film industry. Along the way, she started making jewelry, inspired by the vintage pieces she had collected all her life. Then one night, Carrie Underwood wore her earrings on live TV when she won “American Idol.” Things took off from there. Now Lawton sells unique pieces to superstars and Hendersonville residents and visitors.

hidden-trails-coffeehouse
hidden-trails-coffeehouse
hidden-trails-coffeehouse

Street and public art

9)  Each May, a new set of 20 bright bear statues hits Main Street for the Bearfootin’ Art Walk. Each bear is decorated by a different artist and dedicated to a local nonprofit. Often the artwork relates to the worthy causes the bears support. These colorful bears have become social media stars, so make sure you snag a selfie with one as you stroll. In October, the bears are auctioned off for charity and go to their permanent homes. The auction brings in more than $100,000 annually for local nonprofits.

10)  An elaborate honeybee mural covers two sides of the building housing Hands On! Children’s Museum in downtown Hendersonville. The mural, which is designed to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, depicts honeybees, butterflies and native flowers. The mural is part of an international campaign by artist Matthew Willey called The Good of the Hive, which involves painting 50,000 honeybees — the number in a healthy hive — in murals around the world. To see the mural, walk along Third Avenue between Main and King Streets.

 

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