Our Mountain Music Traditions

Art after Dark at the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) on Friday October 7 starting at 6pm will be all about music. It’s Smoky Mountain Bluegrass Festival month for the HCAC who’s annual fundraiser featuring Balsam Range, Sister Sadie, and the Amanda Cook Band is on October 29, 2022 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. To keep within the theme of celebrating Appalachian music, HCAC’s October exhibit at the Haywood Handmade Gallery located at 86 N. Main Street is called Our Mountain Music Traditions. “This exhibit asked our artist members to use music as their inspiration. Visitors will see work that depicts instruments, work that is inspired by the music of the mountains, and actual handmade flutes” says Morgan Beryl, HCAC’s executive director. “The title of the exhibit is inspired by a vinyl record produced by HCAC with local musicians in 1981. The back of the record mentions that it’s a ‘gift to the people of our mountains by the musicians who are heard on it.’ We felt this was a really special product to share with our community, especially the year of our 45th anniversary. We’ll be selling the records that are still in their original packaging at the opening reception” says Beryl.

The reception will include a lot of other interesting and fun activities as well. Starting at 6pm, Bob Child of Ugly Boy Flutes will play music from one of his handmade native style flutes.  “I come from a very musical family of concert pianists and an opera singer, with myself being the proverbial ‘black sheep’ who taught myself boogie-woogie piano, sang competition barbershop quartets, and now have been making Native American style flutes for just over 20 years” says Child.

Lauren A. Medford, HCAC Marketing and Membership Coordinator and Haywood Community College instructor will demonstrate printmaking. Lauren is a working artist and a proud native of Waynesville, North Carolina. “True mountain music comes from the mountains. The rustle of the leaves, the crickets chirping and the birds singing in the trees” says Medford.

Finally, the 11 door prizes donated by studio tour artists will be on display and tickets on sale to enter the drawing which will be pulled live on Instagram on October 10, @haywoodartscouncil. “We hope the community comes out for this event that honors our Appalachian heritage, the wonderful artform of music, and the opportunity to join in our 45 year anniversary celebration by entering the door prize drawing” says Beryl.

The exhibit runs through November 13, 2022. The Haywood Handmade Gallery is open seven days a week from 10 am – 5 pm, and 11 am – 4 pm on Sundays. More information: www.haywoodarts.org