Celebrate art, music and dance at fun-filled Haywood Made evening
The Mountaineer April 16, 2024 Haywood Made, an evening celebrating art, music and dance of today’s Appalachia, will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at The 37 Venue in downtown Waynesville. Hosted by the Haywood County Arts Council, Haywood Made is a part of the Carolina Heritage Weekend, a four-day Haywood County art […]
Creativity takes flight at arts council
The Mountaineer April 10, 2024 Come see creativity in flight at the Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) newest exhibit, Wings, April 10 to June 2, with colored pencil, ink, ceramics, quilting, acrylic/oil painting and more on display. Wings are used by animals and in man-made vehicles. They provide lift and propulsion through the air. Artists […]
Appalachian heritage on full display for Carolina Heritage Weekend
The Mountaineer April 10, 2024 All things Appalachian will be celebrated in Haywood starting April 18 when Carolina Heritage Weekend opens. This multi-day event is being hosted by a collaboration of dining, creative and performing arts organizations — all shining a light on the heritage of Western North Carolina. The series of four events April […]
Celebrate art, music and dance at fun-filled Haywood Made evening
The Mountaineer April 4, 2024 Haywood Made, an evening celebrating art, music and dance of today’s Appalachia, will be held from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at The 37 Venue in downtown Waynesville. Hosted by the Haywood County Arts Council, Haywood Made is a part of the Carolina Heritage Weekend, a four-day Haywood County art […]
Jamie Sparks
Jamie Sparks is a metals and textile artist living in Asheville, NC. She is an AAS candidate in the Professional Crafts Jewelry Program at Haywood Community College. She is a member of Haywood Professional Craft Studios. Jamie is an instructor in multiple mediums at The John C Campbell Folk School, Olive’s Porch and Local Cloth and […]
Explore the Haywood County Quilt Trail — and lend a hand to bring more quilt squares to life
The Mountaineer By Becky Johnson March 26, 2024 Have you noticed delightful painted quilt blocks adorning the facades of buildings and barns throughout Haywood County? More than 60 quilt blocks can be found along the Haywood County Quilt Trail. Each quilt block pattern tells a story of mountain history and culture tied to the location […]
High school student artwork sought for Haywood Arts Council showcase
The Mountaineer March 20, 2024 Calling high school artists: here’s a chance to let your creative artwork take flight. The Haywood County Arts Council is seeking student artwork for a specially curated exhibit “Wings.” The high school artists will have their artwork displayed during the Haywood Made event from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at […]
Let creativity flow at arts council’s ‘Creation Classes’
The Mountaineer March 13, 2024 Get creative, no matter your skill level, with Creation Classes by the Haywood County Arts Council held at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. • Value of Value: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, with instructor Patricia Sweet. Paint by using only grayscale in a wonderful exercise to train the eye […]
Myron Carter
Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, a lot of my influences came from the fringes of suburban, rural, and coastal life. I started drawing at an early age, but I got my first degree in theatre arts education. I spent most of my life teaching theatre arts, visual arts, and English. Before retiring, […]
Haywood Arts differently abled exhibition
Smoky Mountain News March 6, 2024 In 2004, my life was completely changed when one of my twin boys was born with Down Syndrome. Initially, I felt as though my world had crumbled, envisioning the worst possible outcomes. However, as this little boy, named Jake, grew and nestled his way into our hearts, I came […]
Step into the artistic world of ‘Differently Abled Artists’
The Mountaineer March 6, 2024 A very personal journey will honor the amazing art of ‘differently abled artists’ in a new exhibit called “Challenge Me, Art by Differently Abled Artists” showing March 8-April 7 at the Haywood County Arts Council’s Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville. Sharing the exceptional talents of artists with unique abilities […]
Terri Leslie
Meet Terri Leslie a nature and animal lover who combines her passion for art and nature to bring you radiant works in the medium of pastel. Terri paints landscapes, wildlife, and pet portraits. “I am drawn to the play of light and shadow in my subjects with the goal of conveying emotion between the subject […]
Guess who’s headlining the Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival?
The Mountaineer March 1, 2024 It’s not too early to plan for a great fall music festival, especially one with these bands on tap. The Haywood County Arts Council has announced the highly anticipated lineup for the Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival happening Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Balsam Range will headline […]
Haywood County Arts Council: Where Creativity Connects
Smoky Mountain News February 14, 2024 You may know the Haywood County Arts Council as a gallery where you can admire and purchase local art. But we’re so much more! We’re a vibrant community of individuals who believe in the power of creativity to forge connections, bring joy, and inspire each other, and that means […]
Alicja Katarzyna Vivona
I was born in Poland and moved to the US when I was very young. I grew up in Chicago, lived in Utah for 3 years, and moved to Waynesville with my husband in 2022. I create my art with a vision of sustainability and practicality. I believe in the art of noticing and finding […]
Love makes the world go ‘round at arts council exhibit
The Mountaineer February 11, 2024 Embrace the season of love with the Haywood County Arts Council exhibit aptly titled “LOVE” — depicting the powerful emotion that unites individuals, transform and inspires. Through a diverse range of mediums such as paintings, glasswork, ceramics, quilting, jewelry, and more, artists convey their personal interpretations of love. “My pieces […]
Lisa Conard
Haywood Arts celebrates ‘Love’
Smoky Mountain News February 7, 2024 As the first showcase of the year, the “Love” exhibition will run through March 3 at the Haywood County Arts Council’s Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville. Through a diverse range of mediums such as paintings, glasswork, ceramics, quilting, jewelry and more, HCAC artists skillfully conveyed their personal […]
Two Haywood potters score grants for kilns
The Mountaineer January 10, 2024 Two Haywood potters will be able to purchase kilns to advance their trade thanks to N.C. Artist Support Grants. The grant program was created in 2020 to support individual artists during the pandemic and has quickly become a staple for local artists. “As an artist myself, I understand how impactful […]
Janice Alexander
My husband and I, along with our three dogs and a parrot, moved to Clyde last summer from the Wilmington area, where we had lived for over 30 years. It was a great decision—we love it here. I grew up in the Charlotte area and have always made things since I was a young child. […]
Rachel Adams
Originally a third-culture kid from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rachel has called western North Carolina home since 1995. She began learning embroidery online during the pandemic and has developed a self-taught style incorporating painted cloth, embroidery, and found objects. She takes inspiration from close-up images of things that strike her eye and has a maximalist approach […]
Kelly Owens
I have lived all over the world due to my father’s military service career. I was born in San Fransisco, raised in Florida, and spent many happy summers in Montana immersed in the grandeur of nature. Before recently relocating to Waynesville, to be closer to my children, I called Key West home for the past […]
Wings at Haywood Made
Sheri Friedman April 20: High School Artists Haywood Made Exhibit Artist Eligibility: Current Haywood County High School Students Exhibit Submission Form Due Date: Sunday, March 31 by Midnight Drop Off Date & Time: Tuesday, April 9 from 10 am – 5 pm. Parents may drop off artwork for students. Exhibit Date: April 20 from 5 […]
Aliyah Chastain
My name is Aliyah Chastain. I live on a farm in Western North Carolina. I am a mostly self-taught artist and work in charcoal, graphite, colored pencil, and PanPastel. Art is my passion and I have been honing my skills since the age of 11. Graphite is the medium I started in and is still […]
Become a Community Member
Join Our Creative Community! HCAC seeks to build partnerships that promote art and artists, explore new cultural opportunities, and preserve our mountain artistic heritage. Community Membership dues support HCAC and its work throughout the year! As a community member, you will receive advanced notice and pre-sales for major HCAC major events and a discount code […]
Haywood Made
Haywood County Arts Council is excited to announce our upcoming spring event, The Haywood Made. This community-driven event celebrates the talent and creativity of emerging local artisans, musicians, and performers while showcasing the importance of the rich Appalachian roots that have inspired so much of our mountain creativity. The Haywood Made will feature a variety of activities and events for […]
Artist Support Grants Awarded
Smoky Mountain News December 13, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) along with regional partners, including Arts AVL, Transylvania Community Arts Council, Tryon Fine Arts Center and Arts Council of Henderson County, announce the 2023-2024 Artist Support Grant awardees. Grants were provided to 21 artists in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Rutherford and Transylvania counties, also […]
Laura Lau Klein
Artist Statement: Our adornments are intertwined with their materials. As a jewelry artist, I merge recycled metals, repurposed wood, and responsibly harvested plants with fabrication and casting. By combining carefully considered materials and traditional jewelry techniques, I create adornments that speak to how intertwined we are with our surroundings. Connection brings awe and wonder into […]
HCAC ‘Small Works’ exhibit
Smoky Mountain News December 6, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville. The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. Other […]
Artist Morning Meetup
Artist Morning Meetup is an opportunity to meet fellow artists, share works in progress, or even work on pieces together! We meet once a month at Times Square Bagels in the downstairs gathering room from 9 – 10 am. Open to ALL ARTISTS, HCAC members, and non-members! Bring your artist friends! Learn more about becoming an […]
Linda Gilchrist
I am a fairly new artist, having begun working in watercolor after retiring from a 37-year healthcare career in 2022. Painting was something I always wanted to do but was delayed during all those years raising and supporting myself and child as a single parent. I am self-taught, primarily through YouTube tutorials, online classes, and […]
Maria Davis
My feelings and emotions guide my choice of subject, color, and form. My works are often not planned out; they are created in the moment. While inspired by the beauty and serendipity of nature, I have adopted an abstract expressionist style. I paint what I feel, rather than what I see. My favorite medium is […]
Kenneth Czarnomski
My artistic endeavors started in 1967, in Michigan, as I was pursuing my education in architecture. I continued my fine arts studies while experimenting with whatever art supplies were available. Since then, I have had the opportunity to hike all over the world, returning to these mountains that I love in 2002 when I moved […]
HCAC hosts ‘Small Works’
Smoky Mountain News November 29, 2023 The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville. The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. Other […]
‘Small Works’ exhibit features works of 45 artists for the holidays
The Small Works exhibit returns to the Haywood Handmade Gallery in downtown Waynesville this holiday season, featuring handmade ornaments and wall art under 12 inches created by more than 45 artists in mediums of all types — including ceramics, photography, quilting, woodburning and more. The Haywood County Arts Council will host an opening reception for […]
Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Fest serves up a day of fine Appalachian music
The Mountaineer October 22, 2023 Relish fall beauty while enjoying music all afternoon long, at the Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival from 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds. Hear five bands with great music including Haywood Ramblers in a community jam, The Blue Ridge Girls, Wildfire, Appalachian Road Show — […]
Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival
Smoky Mountain News October 18, 2023 Hosted by the Haywood County Arts Council, the annual Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival will return from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Taking the stage will be Haywood County bluegrass legends Balsam Range, Appalachian Roadshow and Wildfire. Since its inception in […]
Kristen Freeze
I am a North Carolina native and have lived in WNC for over fifteen years. I draw my inspiration from animals, landscapes, and travel. I feel most at home in the outdoors and love to capture the beauty of life through nature photography. I named my business CamelliaBird Photography to represent the legacy of camellia […]
Greg Vaeth
My background stems from not only being an illustration major at Syracuse University but also living and working in the graphic world of T-shirts for over 30 years. My work tends to be influenced by the “straightforwardness” of the art and graphics I have been exposed to in my profession over the years, often limited […]
Leo Woods
I began my relationship with sculpting at 9 years old. The kids down the block were building a dragon world of battles, complex relationships, tidy villages, and epic journeys across the wilds of our suburban backyards in Houston, Texas. Joining them, in my young brain, was a privilege worthy of highest priority. Eventually, the kids […]
John P. Nelson
Julie Bagamary
Having spent most of my life in the breathtaking mountains of Western North Carolina, I find immense inspiration and motivation for creating my distinct textile mixed-media art pieces. My artwork primarily utilized luxurious batik and hand-dyed fabrics which serve as the foundation for my creations. Through intricate improvisational piercing, my pieces truly come alive. I […]
Kenneth Dambrosio
My passion for wood art started in a wood shop class in the early sixties, taking a route from Eastchester, NY, to North Kingstown, RI, to Tarpon Springs, FL, and finally, Waynesville, NC, along the way, learning wood carving(Oberammergau, Germany) teaching (RISDA, School of Visual Arts, NYC) and started the Ocean Wood-Turning Club. (AAW) “Understanding the […]
Nina Howard
Ken Czarnomski
Marga Fripp
The Pollinators Foundation I Marga Fripp Studio Facebook I Instagram I TEDx Talk Trauma-Informed Expressive Art Therapist Artist I Holden QiGong Certified Teacher
Choose your own art adventure on the Haywood Studio Tour
The Mountaineer September 31, 2023 Get an insider’s look into artists and crafters at work with the Haywood County Arts Council’s annual Studio Tour Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24, with a kick-off event on Thursday, Sept. 21. The self-guided tour invites hundreds of visitors each year into artists’ studios to meet the artist, view demonstrations […]
Grants to support arts-and-culture endeavors of Haywood nonprofits
The Mountaineer September 5, 2023 Haywood County nonprofits providing arts-and-culture programs are eligible for grants from the Haywood County Arts Council. The arts council has more than $27,000 in funds to award through the program funded by the N.C. Arts Council Grassroots Arts Program. Two live video workshops are planned for grant applicants at noon […]