By Hailey Blevins
Right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the last place you’d expect, an art studio is hidden among the mountains. Bill Brown, a sculptor who specializes in steel sculptures, and his wife, Liz Brown, who manages the gallery, own Anvil Arts Sculpture Garden and Gallery.
“Bill Brown, acclaimed metal sculptor, artist, and owner of the studio, is a meticulous craftsman, but in his creations, it is evident that the soul of the artist plays the first fiddle,” wrote Jan Todd in an article on Anvil Arts titled “Sculpting in Steel.”
What started as a career in blacksmithing, turned into a passion for Bill. In 1981, Bill and Liz opened the Anvil Arts Studio. Todd described Bill’s artwork, saying he pours his “life experience and personal passions” into his works.
Part of what makes this art studio so unique, other than its artist owner, is its unique location. “People come here and are amazed to find a place like this in the middle of nowhere,” Liz told Todd.
But the building is in a unique location for a reason. A close friend of Bill’s used the building as a logging workshop before he passed away. After he passed away, Bill bought the building. In her interview with Todd, Liz said, “…it ended up being perfect for his studio.”
Though it didn’t look quite like an art studio then, the couple soon transformed the space with a small office and gallery space. They continued to transform the prior logging shop into what it is today. “They later built a separate building for a gallery, and then added a garden to display the sculptures as Bill transitioned to large scale work,” wrote Todd.
Opening the Garden to Everyone
“Whether at an event or alone in the garden, the Browns invite others to share in their artistic journey,” wrote Todd.
Their gallery is open year round to visitors from Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During summer months, the gallery is also open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
But this Saturday and Sunday, Anvil Arts is open both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during their July Celebration, “Garden Party Weekend.”
“Join us this weekend to see everything in place,” Anvil Arts invites. Bill and Liz Brown’s garden and gallery is located at 9600 Linville Falls Highway, less than a mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
“It will be a festive time for people to come and experience the work,” Liz Brown said, discussing the July Celebration in an interview with Todd.
At the event, there will be music, refreshments and artists with their own works. In fact, seven total sculptors will have works on display, including Bill Brown. Sculptors who will be represented include Carl Peverall (stone), Tinka Jordy (clay), Rick Beck (glass), Bill Brown (steel), Tripp Jarvis (cast iron and steel), Beau Lyday (reclaimed metal) and Christine Koshiba (clay).
Todd wrote that the garden is always changing as the artists and pieces come and go. The incorporation of other artists’ works started last summer. “We had been developing the space to show Bill’s work, and it was a natural evolution to incorporate other artists. It makes it more engaging to have the diversity. Visitors can experience different mediums, outside and interior,” Liz said.
Like Todd wrote, with such a beautiful and unique space, “It’s easy to see why people are drawn to the space.”
Bill and Liz hope to continue expanding Anvil Arts. So far, the inclusion of more artists has allowed them to hold more events, including regular Art Talks.
Artist Christine Koshiba will be Anvil Art’s guest artist in August. Some of her new pieces may be on display as a sneak peak to her show in August. Her show will be a Clay Art Talk on Saturday, August 4 at 10:30 a.m.
For more information on these events and Anvil Arts, visit http://www.studiosculpture.com/.
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