art

A fledging climber’s ascent of Looking Glass brings reverence for the iconic rock’s first summit, 50 years ago

Penland fellow Seth Gould elevates toolmaking to an art form

A father-daughter team in Ashe County stretches maple syrup making to its southernmost limits

Hyper-realist painter Ward Nichols may be self-taught, but his 50-year career proves just how talented he is

Cristina Córdova’s larger than life paintings grace Penland’s grand new gallery

How Asheville is becoming world headquarters for climate science and ground zero in the quest to confront climate change

Boone’s Appalachian Theatre is headed for a multipurpose artistic revival

SimpleShot Shooting Sports adds sophistication to the simplicity of slingshots

Make it a date with these pairings that offer adventure followed by dinner with a view

For Lenoir artist Charlie Frye, community fuels the creative spirit

5 Renovation Projects to Inspire your Next Home Makeover

Gini Crowder-Marshall designs stylish settings for the world’s largest furniture markets

How a California girl became a Carolina gal

Sometimes, smaller is better.

Touring Asheville with Jude Law, a local writer ponders the weight of Thomas Wolfe

Hop the border to Virginia’s Primland for a luxury experience that reaches for the stars

Throughout Western North Carolina sit dozens of public schools abandoned by time, consolidation, and changing demographics. In their heyday, they were community epicenters and veritable second homes for thousands of students. Today, some are boarded up, while others await imminent demolition and replacement by new state-of-the-art facilities. But there are also a handful of old schoolhouses tucked away in various corners of the mountains that have found new purpose as community centers, concert venues, historical beacons, and artists’ studios. Here’s a look at the past and present of eight of them.

Three nonprofits improve lives through creative expression

Lend a hand to the arts this summer