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Islands to Highlands Landscapes the Avery Gallery in July; Six Artists on Display All Month

July 9, 2012. For the month of July, six artists’ work will grace the exhibition walls of the Avery Gallery. The special group show, Islands to Highlands, features the works of ceramicists Liz Summerfield and Valerie Schnaufer, blown glass artist Scott Summerfield, and painters Susan Garriques, Heidi Fisher and Dava Carson.

Why the name Islands to Highlands? The title was coined by artist Valerie Schnaufer to describe her newest body of work, and she generously allowed the name, and its theme, to extend to the entire show. Valerie says that she settled on ‘Islands to Highlands’ because “my ceramic work begins with forms found in nature. During days spent hiking the mountains of Western North Carolina and combing the beaches of Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, I collect from nature, treasures that continue to fascinate me for their forms, beauty or unusual characteristics. I study these found objects and begin to construct a “home” of sorts from clay slabs. All of my dwellings are hand built, fired with under glazes and oxides and then filled with something found from the highlands or islands. It is my wish that the observer is drawn closer to nature when looking at my work.”

The connection between the lofty mountains and more tropical locales resonated with the other artists included in the show. The result is a group exhibition that is colorful, whimsical and represents the natural world both near and far.

The reception for Islands to Highlands is on Friday, July 13th from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Avery Gallery in Linville. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, call the Arts Council at (828) 733-0054 or email info@averycountyartscouncil.org.

The Avery County Arts Council (AAC) is located at 77 Ruffin Street, Linville, NC. The AAC is a non-profit organization working to enrich the people of Avery County through meaningful arts and cultural experiences.  For more than 30 years the Council has helped to support school arts programs and served as a resource for artists and the community.