Thursday-Doors of Asheville: Affordable Housing Fundraiser

A few tickets are still available.  See you there?

From the Mountain Housing Opportunities website:

It’s our community’s annual fundraiser for affordable housing featuring a live and silent auction of over 30 works of art with doors and housing as the central theme.  All proceeds benefit Mountain Housing Opportunities.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm at the Orange Peel for a silent auction, delicious hors d’ouvres and drinks, and live entertainment provided by Ol’Hoopty. The live auction will start at 7:30 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase beautiful one-of-a-kind works of art from full-sized doors used as a canvas to smaller, more intimate works that embrace the doors theme.

This is my favorite so far, Open (purple) Heart Surgery by Robb Helmkamp.  Not all of the artwork are based on doors.  Take a look.  MHO does such a nice job of giving artists visibility and thanks for their work…AND the artists get small commissions for their work.  GREAT idea!

 

Read Full Post »

3 Reasons to go to River Arts District Studio Stroll This Weekend

flourishing, Ginger Huebner

During the Studio Stroll, now in its 15th year, artists of the River Arts District welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic hidden inside the time-worn factories and warehouses along the French Broad River.  And, don’t forget to support their businesses by purchasing something.

The Studio Stroll is free and open to the public. Most studios are within walking distance of each other, and there is plenty of free parking.  Also, the trolley shuttle is free this year thanks to Michael Hoffman and the Seven Star Factory.

Reasons to go to the Studio Stroll:

1. Holiday Gift Shopping, LOCALLY

• Plan out which studios you want to visit before you go.  Download the Studio Guide.

2. To Support Local Businesses (including the eateries: 12 Bones, Roots Cafe, Clingman Cafe, Twin Cousins Kitchen, and stop for a pint at the Wedge Brewery)

• I love all these places, and my personal recommendation if you haven’t been there yet is to stop by Roots Cafe.  It’s in the Railside Studios.  Also, word on the street is that the Wedge Brewery is serving a double IPA right now, called 3rd Rail.

3. To Learn More About the Developments Happening in the River Arts District

• Mountain Housing Opportunities is opening their Glen Rock Depot leasing office in the Fine Arts League for the Studio Stroll. The Glen Rock Depot is a mixed use, community development in the River Arts District and historic South French Broad and Livingston neighborhoods that includes: Commercial and Retail Space, Business Suites and Workforce Apartments.  They are leasing now.

• Leasing Office Hours: Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon-6:00 p.m. & Sunday, Nov. 15 from noon-3:00 p.m.  The Leasing office is in the Fine Arts League: 362 Depot Street, Asheville, NC 28801

Keep an eye out for the next Pollinate Asheville post about how I have planned out my Studio Stroll.

Did you like this post?  Add us as a friend on Facebook for updates of new posts.

Read Full Post »

Artists Give Back At Manna’s Empty Bowls

Teva, Lori and Heather at Manna's Empty Bowls

I just got back from Manna Food Bank‘s Empty Bowls luncheon.  The word is that for every $20 (which was the cost of a ticket), Manna can provide 60 meals for families.  And, the place was packed! My guess was that in our group (there are two groups throughout the day) there were about 400 people.

12 Bones, Corner Kitchen, Cucina 24, Table and the Double Tree provided delicious soups.  West End Bakery, Atlanta Bread Company, Well-bred Bakery, City Bakery, Panera Bread provided bread.  The Imagine/Render Group is a non-profit that supports Empty Bowls projects across the country to end hunger.  If you are interested in planning an event, they can help.

And, Lori Theriault and Heather Tinnaro, two locally-based ceramic artists, were on-site making bowls in the lobby of the Double Tree.  Student artists from multiple schools and individual artists from across the region also donated.  Lori gave me and my friend Teva (also a ceramic artist) a try at the foot propelled wheel.  My quads are going to be sore tomorrow.

Area artists are often called upon to donate items for auctions or to give back to our area non-profits.  I’d like to give a big thank you to those artists who give what they can for our community.  Many thanks for your investments in our community and for worthy causes.  I welcome creative ideas for partnerships that are mutually beneficial.  Please leave them in the comment section.

For instance: Mountain Housing Opportunities commissions artists to make objects for their “Doors of Asheville” event.  So, artists are paid a stipend for their piece–below retail value as it is a fundraiser for the affordable housing non-profit.  When the pieces are auctioned, if they go for more than the retail value, the artist also gets a piece of that commission.

Any other good ideas for synergistic partnerships?

Read Full Post »

Update: Glen Rock Depot

If any of you have driven down Depot Street in the River Arts District lately, you have probably noticed the new, LEED certified mixed-use building (I believe the first in the region) going up next to the Fine Arts League.

This building is part of the Glen Rock Depot, an affordable place-based development with commercial and retail and affordable living spaces being developed by non-profit Mountain Housing Opportunities.  It is a place-based collaborative business space for arts, environment, and technology-based businesses, an intentional space for collaborative work.

The Glen Rock Depot includes three buildings:

1. The Corner Market where our anchor tenant, The Fine Arts League has resided for two years.

2. The Glen Rock Hotel that MHO is renovating and reusing with green aspects.  It will include flexible store-front commercial and retail space as well as offices.  This is where the Magnetic Field will be located.

3. A new LEED certified mixed-use building that includes 9000 SF of store front commercial space and 60 affordable apartments.

There are spaces ranging from 100SF to 9000SF and all of this will be available early next summer if everything stays on track.  Leasing Information.

This on-site camera gives you a semi-live peak at the building being built.  Make sure to click on Time Lapse for a really cool view.

Read Full Post »

Rural Home Rehab from Mountain Housing Opportunities

This is such a wonderful program, I had to mention it:

Mountain Housing Opportunities, in cooperation with the Buncombe County Planning Department, is taking applications for MHO’s Rural Home Rehabilitation.

This program rehabs the site built homes of elderly, disabled, single parents or families with three or more young children, who have low or very low income. Funding is provided by Community Development Block Grant funds distributed by the NC Department of Community Assistance.

Improvements provided through this program may include roof replacement, windows, doors, insulation, siding, heating repair/ replacement, electrical and plumbing updates, and improving the structural integrity of the house. When a homeowner receives assistance through the Rural Home Rehabilitation program, the entire home is brought up to federal housing quality standards.

For additional information, call MHO’s Repair/Rehab Manager Lloyd Freel at 828-254-4030 x115.

MHO, in cooperation with the Buncombe County Planning Department, is taking applications for MHO’s Rural Home Rehabilitation. This program rehabs the site built homes of elderly, disabled, single parents or families with three or more young children, who have low or very low income. Funding is provided by Community Development Block Grant funds distributed by the NC Department of Community Assistance. For additional information, call MHO’s Repair/Rehab Manager Lloyd Freel at 828-254-4030 x115. For an application, click here or call 828-254-4030

Read Full Post »

Mark Your Calendars: (NON) Labor Day Weekend and a Bit Beyond

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

CANCELED–This event has been postponed due to a very recent change in management at The Market Place.  Stay tuned for new date and time.

CRAFT BEER DINNER, Market Place and Wedge Brewery

On Friday, September 4, The Market Place Restaurant joins forces with Master Brewer Carl Melissas of Wedge Brewing Company to present an exclusive craft beer dinner.

SATURDAY, SEPTMEMBER 5

The TEDxAsheville 2009 Post-Show Get-Together

Everyone’s invited — presenters, performers, crew, audience, people who went home mad with no ticket, and people who want to volunteer their time for the 2010 event.

12-2 p.m., Saturday Sept. 5

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville NC
254-1281

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival

LAAFF is this Sunday on Lexington Ave. in downtown Asheville.  Music, art vendors, food, local beer, performers, stuff for kids, stuff for adults, fun.

11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

VOLLIE & THE LEAD-FOOT VIPERS ON THE PATIO AT THE WEDGE BREWERY

Vollie & The Lead-Foot Vipers play every Sunday on the patio at the Wedge.  5:30-8:00 p.m.  Blue Daisy Cafe serving delicious eats.

Directions to the Wedge.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

And what would Labor Day be without a picnic?

Slow Foods Asheville Potluck

From 5PM-7PM, Carrier Park, 219 Amboy Road, Asheville NC

Asheville will be one of more than 200 communities hosting “Eat-Ins“ on Labor Day, Sept. 7, 2009. Asheville’s Eat-In will be at Carrier Park Picnic Shelter, from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. This is a grassroots effort to provide area citizens with information about school lunches – the progress being made by programs like Farm to School and what is needed to provide our community’s children with real food: food that tastes good, is good for them, is good for the people who grow and prepare it, and is good for the planet.

NEXT WEEK

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8…

…is for NETWORKING, Mountain Biz Works Green Building Alliance [great monthly gathering for green businesses or those interested in what’s going on in the sustainable industry in Asheville]: Tuesday, Sept 8, 6-8pm

Mountain BizWorks Asheville – 153 S. Lexington Avenue, 28801, You don’t have to be a member to come.

Looking for an affordable place to live and/or locate your small business?

Looking for exciting opportunities to share work and creative space and costs with others?

Want to learn more about a new green-oriented community coming to town?

Glen Rock Depot: An Affordable, Community-focused River Arts District Development

Cindy Weeks, of Mountain Housing Opportuni­ties, will present the plans for the renovation and revitalization of the Glen Rock Depot in the River Arts District. She will focus on the green efforts being made in this innovative development and the potential opportunities and benefits that it holds that it holds for local artists and small business owners.

The Green Business Alliance is sponsoring monthly events for business owners who are either already doing “green business” or who have an interest in becoming more environmentally-friendly in their operations.

RSVP by September 4, jamie@mountainbizworks.org or 253.2834 ext.11

Free for Mountain BizWorks’ Members; $5 for public. Finger food provided by Roots Café and Catering.

Also on Tuesday…reward yourself for all that networking…

JAZZ JAM at TRESSAS [focus on Miles Davis]

After the Green Business Alliance, walk down to Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues for a jazz jam with the ChuckLichtenberger Collective.  It’s amazing!  And, free!  Though, they welcome tips.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Kon Tiki on the patio at the Wedge Brewery.  5:30-8:00 p.m.  Mountain Dogs serving gourmet brats and tofu brats.

Directions to the Wedge.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

The Fur Ball Benefit for Brother Wolf Animal Rescue

Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy the swinging sounds of The Firecracker Jazz Band [awesome swing music and great performers] as the Asheville Affiliates [young professionals who make a difference] and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue [wonderful non-profit animal adoption agency–they helped get our foster dog a great home] bring you the Fur Ball on Thursday, September 10th. From 6:30-9:30 at Decades, 81 Broadway Street, enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Decades, beer provided by Catawba Valley Brewery, and Barefoot Wines. A special thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Charlotte Street Computers [great local business that supports non-profits in our community and fixes our computer woahs].

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, with all proceeds to benefit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. Bring extra cash for the raffle and silent auction items!  Prizes include vacation rentals, spa treatments, local art, and sports and hotel packages at The Grove Park Inn.

For more information or to RSVP, e-mail janinebitz@yahoo.com or call 828-458-7778. 
Join us for an after party by Decades – cash bar available.

Also starting Thursday, Sept. 10 NATURAL BUILDING WORKSHOP with ASHEVILLAGE INSTITUTE–10% discount for Pollinating Asheville readers!

Participants in Ashevillage Institute’s fall Natural Building workshops will gain building skills in adobe, cob, wattle & daub, slipstraw, earthen wall finishes, arch building, wood interface, passive solar design and more. Workshops are two, three, or five days, and run between now and November.

Ashevillage Institute (AVI) creates sustainable living solutions in action.  It is a model non-profit eco-education center and collective of permaculture experts and students developing a backyard, living laboratory of sustainability in downtown Asheville.  They are holding a series of 2 to 5-day educational workshops open to community members.  Additional workshops include: Urban Aquaculture, Backyard Sustainability, Natural Plasters & Paints, Rainwater and Greywater Catchment, and more.

Families are welcome.  Mature children interested in the subject matter are welcome to join. Kids 12 and under are free. Parents are welcome to bring small children with supervision.

AVI’s Educational Workshops:

Natural Building – September 9-13
Natural Building – September 24-26
Natural Building – October 14 & 15
Natural Finishes: Plasters & Clay Paints – November 13 & 14

Check out their Blog on Pollinating Asheville’s blogroll.

Cost: Workshops are $100 per day.  Payment plans are possible.  Scholarships may be available.

Contact & Registration: info@ashevillage.org, 828.225.8820

And, there’s always hiking and berry picking at Black Balsam, Bent Creek biking, tubing, endless activities, really!  Have a great weekend!

CANCELLED

Read Full Post »

Marshall High Studios: G & Ts on the Deck

Rob Pulleyn, owner/tenant of Marshall High Studios, talks about Gin and Tonics on the Deck

Gin & Tonics, never one of my favorite drinks, but I certainly see how scheduling a G&T evening on the deck at Marshall High Studios can build a sense of community among tenant partners.

Last week I had the pleasure of a Rob Pulleyn-guided tour of MHS, an historically renovated high school now creative suites on that island in Marshall.  Artist and business person Rob Pulleyn saw this as a way to give back to the community and artists looking for a place to work, but more so belong and feel inspired.

I went up to MHS with Russ Towers to pick Rob’s brain about what has worked and what hasn’t in terms of building a creative, communal business space, as we secure intention behind the Glen Rock Depot development in the River Arts District in Asheville.

While Russ was collecting very important leasing and logistics information (and enjoying Rob’s stories as much as I), I was fascinated with Rob’s innate instincts around what it means to collaborate, to share space, to support each other creatively, and to provide enough structure and space for this to happen naturally.

A couple of artists were around and graciously welcomed us into their studios.  Emily Reason, ceramicist, was one of them.  And, I believe that Heather is the name of the wonderful textile artist who showed us her lovely studio and gave her thoughts on being part of the MHS community.  “Heather” please post a comment here with how people can get a hold of you.  My apologies for not getting all your info.

There is one musician and his music drifts through the hallways and other tenants love it.  He checks in with the other tenants monthly to make sure that he is not bothering anyone.  Together, tenants build in monthly opportunities to hang out, i.e. Gin and Tonics on the Deck, and use any limited money raised from renting out the large gathering space to fund things like a gas grill on the back deck.

Though he doesn’t like the idea of being a “landlord,” he says, Rob does believe in having regular conversations about the shared space (he calls them: “Rob’s Rants”).

Arts Create Community.  Community Creates Arts.  Arts and Community Create Economic Development.  Many thanks, Rob.

Community Gathering Space

Rob's Studio

View of outdoor kiln from Courtney Martin's Studio

Textile Studio

Read Full Post »