October 2014 Asheville Art Crawl - Best Mountain Art Towns

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” Thomas Merton

Mark the calendar and save the date! On October 3, 2014 is the next First Friday Art Walk in one of the best mountain towns in North Carolina.  Participants can explore 25 downtown galleries, studios and museums – all located with a half-mile radius.  The gallery walks are a great way to explore downtown Asheville. Packed into a small area, folks will find unparalleled diversity – from fine studio crafts, to glass, photography, folk art and contemporary painting, textiles, jewelry and more by local, regional, national and international artists.

The city is one of the top arts destinations in the southeast, featuring hundreds of art galleries and working art studios. Downtown, visitors can stop by 30-plus galleries, or embark on one of the many Art Walks sponsored by the Downtown Asheville Art District (DAAD) throughout the year.

The following is a list of member galleries that make up the Downtown Asheville Art District:

• American Folk Art & Framing 64 Biltmore Ave. • 828-281-2134
• ArtEtude Gallery 89 Patton Ave • 828-252-1466
• Ariel Gallery 19 Biltmore Ave. • 828-236-2660
• Asheville Art Museum 2 Pack Square • 828-253-3227
• Asheville Gallery of Art 16 College St. • 828-251-5796
• Bender Gallery 12 S Lexington Ave. • 828-505-8341
• Black Mountain College Museum 56 Broadway • 828-350-8484
• Blue Spiral 1 38 Biltmore Ave. • 828-251-0202
• Castell Photography 2-C Wilson Alley • 828-255-1188
• The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design 67 Broadway Street • 828-785-1357
• Gallery Minerva 8 Biltmore Ave. • 828-699-2787 
• The Haen Gallery 52 Biltmore Ave. • 828-254-8577
• Jewels That Dance 63 Haywood Street Alley. • 828-254-5088
• Mountain Made 1 Page Ave., Suite 123 • 828-236-2889
• Susan Marie Design 4 Biltmore Ave. • 828-277-1272
• Van Dyke Jewelry and Fine Craft 29 Biltmore Ave. • 828-281-4044
• Woolworth Walk 25 Haywood St. • 828-254-9234
• ZaPow 21 Battery Park Ave. • 828-575-2024
• Zest Gallery 16 Patton Ave. • 828-254-2630

Just minutes away from Asheville neighborhoods, the River Arts District is home to an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional artists. There is art everywhere you look – and you have many opportunities to see it. Many studios are open every day, all year round. Visitors are encouraged to come explore artist studios and watch while they work, or meet the artists and discuss the creative process.

It’s never too late to appreciate art – or to become an artist. Maya Angelou was in her 60s when her poetry and books became popular.  And legendary Alfred Hitchcock directed his best films between the ages of 54 and 61.  Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, began successfully writing children’s books in his late 40’s.

These days, baby boomers are huge supporters of various forms of art. Retirees enjoying the retirement lifestyle have plenty of time to enjoy browsing through art galleries either in places they visit, the River Arts District or at their own backyard. The surrounding Asheville neighborhoods can also be described as works of art. Biltmore Lake is no exception.  It’s located in the heart of Asheville and spread across 1,300 acres featuring a mix of architectural mountain home styles overlooking the lake. The Biltmore Lake hiking trail system has 4.2 miles of walking and biking trails that weave throughout this Western North Carolina lake community leading to parks, fishing piers and viewing areas. A fishing dock and kayak/canoe boathouse is lakeside at the Biltmore Lake Clubhouse. The lake is stocked with bass for a day of catch and release fishing. Contact our trusted colleague Sean McLaughlin of Mountain Oak Properties at 248.470.4009 to tour Biltmore Lake or any Asheville community. 

Southcliff is a gated Asheville neighborhood with long range layered mountain views. Six miles of groomed hiking trails lead to their beautiful community parks and well-designed outdoor living rooms. Southcliff is 400 acres in size and has almost 50% of the community's acreage preserved as protected green space. It’s amenities include a rustic tree house, children's playgrounds, scenic overlooks, open-air pavilions and fire pits.

Lush woodlands and fresh mountain air greet residents upon their arrival to the The Ramble at Biltmore Forest. It’s nestled in the fertile woodlands of Ducker Mountain and borders America's Favorite Scenic Drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway. Developed across 1,000 acres of curated forest, this Asheville neighborhood boasts some of the largest luxury home estates in the area. Longmeadow Park is the community's largest park and is the setting of outdoor social events and concerts on the lawn. The stunning outdoor amphitheater and living room includes English formal gardens, open-air pavilion with restrooms, children's playground, basketball court, multi-purpose field with soccer goals, and a hand-hewn stone fire pit. 

Nature lovers may also be drawn to Reynolds Mountain. This gated mountain community located on the north side of Asheville offers luxury living while enjoying spectacular views of Asheville, the Grove Park Inn, the golf course of Country Club of Asheville, the sparkling waters of Beaver Lake and heart-stopping sunsets over downtown.

Asheville, North Carolina is an ideal place to live for families, retirees and most especially art lovers to admire beauty. Its small town friendliness and rich cultural happenings at the River Arts District provide the best of all worlds in one of the best mountain art towns in North Carolina. 

When you travel to explore and see Asheville neighborhoods, let us know if you would like to receive free Asheville North Carolina Relocation Information. We're happy to share more information with you, to make your search more enjoyable!