Asheville-Then And Now

 I will have ten paintings featured in the "New X 3" exhibition at the Blue Spiral gallery in Asheville, N.C., opening this January 10th (the show will be up till March 2nd). 

I was born in Asheville, but really haven't had much contact with the region in over 45 years, (we moved from Clyde N.C. to Rock Hill S.C. when I was 8). This was my Dad's town and the memories I have are from when we would visit my Grandma and her sister (Aunt Rae) on Sundays: antiques (Grandma sold them), orange sherbet, hard candy in bowls, the Biltmore Dairy and the "Lawrence Welk Show" on the tube. What I most enjoyed was visiting the gift shop Aunt Rae  managed in the Biltmore Village. It was full of items by local craftsman; glass, needlepoint, birdhouses, toys, jewelry, and "art". This shop was my first experience with the retail end of "making stuff", my 8 year old mind was intrigued by the concept.

Top: Picnic 16x18 (22x24 framed) oil panel 2012

Bottom: Clyde NC 1960 (Ann, Mom, me and Jimmy) The picture added below was taken last Thurs. in front of the same house. On the way to deliver the paintings my brother and I pulled off the Parkway and easily found the home, not much has changed in Clyde.