WNC Magazine- Handmade Beauty

Basin by Nick Friedman, vanity and mirror by Denise Grohs, and wall-hanging by Julie K. Ross. Photograph by Stewart Young

Handmade Beauty

For years, HandMade in America has introduced countless people to the unique and wonderous creations of our region’s talented artisans. This month, the organization is taking that experience one step closer to your living space with The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture & Design Expo—bringing together artists, designers, and architects, who can make your house a haven for handcrafted beauty.

The two-day expo, July 25 & 26, features tours of three craft-filled homes in Asheville and an artisans showcase of handmadearchitectural and design elements (such as wrought-iron candelabras, oak furniture, and blown-glass lamps). Eighteen design vignettes provide the main attraction. These eight-by-10-foot spaces built by teams of local architects, interior designers, and artists serve as examples of how crafts can be integrated into the planning and design of a house. Models include a home library, outdoor living room, and child’s bedroom. Best of all, the creators of these showrooms will be on hand to collaborate on ideas for your home.

Don’t miss the workshops and seminars on topics from Building Markets for Artists to the Continuity of Craft in WNC. One myth, which program director Barbara Benisch hopes to dispel, is thathandmade objects are more expensive than mass-produced items. According to a study by HandMade in America, artisan-made elements for the home are comparable in cost to commercial items, yet offer more value. “Something that’s been made by hand has the connection of the human being who made it,” she says, which translates to more depth and soul in your abode.

HandMade: The Western North Carolina Craft, Architecture & Design Expo

June 25 & 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

N.C. Arboretum

100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville

$15 per day, $25 for both

(828) 252-0121