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The Greater Avery “Tour de Art” Gallery Hop Continues this Month with Seven Participating Studios and Galleries

by Emma Speckman

Sept. 25, 2014. The sixth annual Avery County “Tour de Art” gallery and studio hop continues this month at seven galleries in the greater Avery County area. Alta Vista Gallery in Valle Crucis, Kevin Beck Studios in Boone, Linville River Pottery in Pineola, Sally Nooney Gallery, Studio of Mike Hill and Studio 140, all three in Banner Elk, have events and exhibits planned for the tour.

“Tour de Art” commenced six years ago as a way to encourage art lovers in Avery and surrounding counties to learn more about the artists in the area. Visitors are encouraged to visit as many galleries as possible, meet artists and discover new works.

The Tour is held every fourth Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and maps can be found at at each gallery.

Below is a list of galleries involved. The information has been taken from press releases and respective gallery websites.

Alta Vista Gallery
2839 Broadstone Road
Banner Elk, N.C.
828-963-5247

Alta Vista Gallery in Historic Valle Crucis invites art lovers to meet artist E. Jean Pollock Sept. 27. Pollock’s 18 oil paintings make up the installment “Capturing the Sprirt of Place” which is currently on display in the gallery and will remain through mid-October. The reception will last from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and receptions will be served. Pollock is a nationally-collected, awarding-winning Impressionist painter who has traveled and studied art all over the world.  She says the chief influences on her work have been the paintings of Claude Monet, Wolf Kahn, Richard Schmid, and the Russian Impressionists.

Carlton Gallery
10360 N.C. 105
Banner Elk, N.C.
828-963-4288

The 32nd Autumn Group Exhibition opens Sept. 27 at Carlton Gallery with an artists’ reception from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Friends, visitors and patrons are encouraged to meet the artists.
New paintings by Kevin Beck, Vae Hamilton, Linda Apriletti, Mary Martha McKinley, Mike Ham, Marion Cloaninger, Alan Gordon, and Freeman Beard will be on display for the exhibition.
Artists Andrew Braitman, Connie Winters, Egi Antonaccio, Kate Worm, Warren Dennis, Helen Farson, Roy Nichols, Arlene Mandell, Michael Grady, Mary Dobbin, Edie Maney, Sharon Rusch Shaver, Brian Carney, Debbie Arnold, Holly Glasscock, Jane, Desonier, Gina Strumpf, Amy Sullivan and Kevin Lee Aita will also display their traditional and abstract paintings in landscapes, still life’s, figurative, non-objective abstracts, cityscapes and structural design.
A new clay figurative sculpture by Jayne Harris and Melissa York’s female figurative indoor or garden sculpture honor women in nature and the feminine mystic.
Finally, “Art Songs of the Heart” an Exhibition by Toni Carlton, artist, owner and curator of Carlton Gallery will be on display as well.

Kevin Beck Studios
1590 Shulls Mill Road
Boone, N.C.
828-963-1181

At Beck’s studio art lovers can browse paintings of the Blue Ridge, many of which were painted on location, and interact with the painter. Beck paints the landscape in a traditional manner using a palette of gold and orange with the blue mountain range in the background. He paints in oils and pastels, allowing for a unique interpretation of the landscape.

Linville River Pottery
2180 Goose Hollow Road
Pineola, N.C.
828-387-1944

Linville River Pottery studio is the working clay studio of Patti Connor-Greene. Here, she designs and creates stoneware and porcelain teapots, vases, mugs and bowls , handmade on a kick-wheel.
In her artist’s statement Connor-Greene said, “Using stoneware and porcelain, I throw on a kick-wheel, and then paddle, carve, or facet the pot.  Because mugs, bowls, and cups spend so much time in their user’s hands, I carve deep texture into these pieces to engage your sense of touch as you sip your morning coffee or spoon your favorite ice cream. I hope my pots will lead active, useful lives.”

Sally Nooney Gallery
7137 N.C. Highway 194
Banner Elk, N.C.
828-963-7347

At Sally Nooney Gallery, visitors can view the owner’s original paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor along with glass art and jewelry. According to her artist statement, Nooney creates work based on the sound practices of the old Masters, sprinkled with the experimental faux finishes derived from her work as a decorative artist. Although she paints primarily in oils, Sally frequently paints in watercolor and acrylic as well and she believes each medium speaks to the viewer in a different way.

Studio of Mike Hill
112 Aldridge Park
Banner Elk, N.C.
828-963-7246

The Studio of Mike Hill at Art Purveyors World HQ displays illustrations and mixed media by designer and illustrator Mike Hill. The studio has offed fine art publishing, creative services, fine prints, art-o-mat, a frame shop and a full line of paint, brushes, paper and fine art supplies since its opening in 1989.

Studio 140
140 Azalea Circle
Banner Elk, N.C.
843-450-6427

Studio 140 provides a space for David Banegas and Kent Paulette to create paintings in scenic downtown Banner Elk.  The open studio provides a space for the community to come by and see the artists at work and the artists enjoy talking with people and explaining their creative process. The artists paint at Studio 140 and also next door at Sorrento’s, The Sushi Club, Barra, and outside to further include the community in the artistic process.  The artists also regular create and donate paintings for charity and are dedicated to giving back to the community.

"Mountain Farm" by  Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk
“Mountain Farm” by Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk
"Rushing Stream" by  Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk
“Rushing Stream” by Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk
"This Is My Father's World" by  Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk
“This Is My Father’s World” by Amos Westmoreland, whose art is currently on display at Alta Vista Gallery in Banner Elk