East West Asheville Art Walk | Friday, April 3, 5-8PM

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A new First Friday Art Walk will bring art, music, performance, and community into the streets of East-West Asheville on Friday, April 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. Twelve neighborhood businesses will host free arts-centered events, inviting the public to stroll between locations and experience the creative energy of the district.

 

The event is organized by Lamplight AVL and also marks the first time the organization opens the doors to its new creative home at 2 Westwood Place. Participating businesses include Lamplight AVL, Harvest Records, Ayurprana, Haunt, Nice Time Glass, Cellarist, Cooperative Coffee Roasters, Make Noise, Subject Matter Studio, Woodland Tattoo, Palm and Pine, and Story Parlor. 

 

Throughout the evening, visitors can move between participating locations and encounter a range of creative programming. Harvest Records will host an art show featuring work by Thom Nguyen, while Ayurprana will present a live soundscape by Bryce Franich with accompanying visuals by Aida Courtenay-Smith. At Nice Time Glass, guests are invited to a live hot glass demonstration as owners Kathryn and Haley create a large vessel inspired by the colors of their newest neighbors at Lamplight.

 

Several stops along the walk will blend visual art with live music. Cellarist will feature music from Daniel Shearin of River Whyless alongside artwork by Matt Fischer and abstract paintings by Jordan Garmon. Cooperative Coffee Roasters will host an art opening featuring Liz Brindley and Simone Jaramillo, introducing Brindley’s series “Joy Buoys,” with music from Matthew McDaniel in the café’s secret garden and special evening drink offerings. 

 

Visitors to Subject Matter Studio can browse the shop’s latest work, including limited edition art prints and concert posters. Story Parlor will offer a glimpse into its listening room programming with music, poetry, and performance throughout the evening. Guests can enjoy a drink from the bar and browse the Story Bound Bookshop, which focuses on creativity, storytelling, and the narrative arts.

 

At Lamplight AVL’s new space at 2 Westwood Place, visitors are invited to explore the new artist studios for the first time. Erin Brethauer and Tim Hussin of This Land Films will project a collection of their short films and share current photography work in their studio, while studio mate Alison Antaramian will exhibit and offer her sculptural work for sale. Jess Godden will host a hands-on zine-making station in her studio. Zoie Reamer will present a series of miniature drawings alongside several works in progress. Multi-disciplinary artist Sophie Hull welcomes guests to explore her print shop/studio, Iron Rhino Press, to view archives, charcuterie bites, and participate in live screen printing! Bring your own garments or pick from a selection of blanks. In Martha Skinner’s studio, “Musical Table” invites participants into a collaborative activity that combines movement, sound, and visual interaction and encourages playful creative exchange. Meghan Korol will have cyanotype prints and jewelry on display in her metalsmithing studio, as well as a weaving in progress!

The evening will also include a site-specific sound installation in the yard by Zach Cooper and Tony Rolando, and a ribbon cutting to mark Lamplight’s first public event at 2 Westwood. Jade and B Aster will be opening their new art and vintage shop, Aster House, with a selection of clothing, decor, and polaroid photography for sale. As the evening winds down, Jade Aster will set up a telescope in the yard for visitors to take a look at Jupiter, weather permitting.

 

The First Friday Art Walk is free and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to arrive anytime between 5 and 8 p.m. and stroll between the participating locations throughout the evening.

 

Help Artists and Asheville Thrive Together

 

SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN

This winter, we’re raising $120,000 to support both our ongoing work and our exciting expansion at 2 Westwood Place.

At Lamplight AVL, we believe that artists are the heart of our town. At our home in West Asheville, our residency programs give artists the space, time, and resources they need to create innovative work and share it with our community.

Just down the road, at 2 Westwood Place, we’re building the next chapter of that mission: A new, mixed-use creative space. At the heart of 2 Westwood will be affordable, community-minded artist studios – with several spaces priced below market value to help artists stay and create right here in Asheville. Later next year, a portion of the building will become a community-funded, arts-forward event space. 2 Westwood is being designed as a third space for Asheville’s creative community that will host: open studios, shows, music, workshops, and other arts-centered programming.

This expansion grows directly out of our Recover, Remain & Thrive Program, launched in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Last year, you helped us fund and distribute immediate relief grants to help artists recover and long term sustaining grants to help artists remain in Asheville. Now we‘re raising $120,000 to help artists thrive in our community.

Your contributions will directly support:

• The operation of our new artist studios,

• Development of the community event venue,

• Affordable creative spaces,

• Inclusive, public arts programming,

• And our ongoing residency program.

 

Every contribution helps create a space where artists and the Asheville community can thrive together.

A Conversation with Art Remains Grantee alexandria monque ravenel

As we look back on the year, we’re feeling incredibly grateful to call Asheville home. To be surrounded by so many creative, generous, and resilient people. In the wake of Helene, we’ve been rebuilding the Asheville we hope to be a part of, together.

This summer, we gathered with our Art Remains grantees at Drop of Sun Studios for a community conversation, hearing directly from them about how the storm affected their work, how your support aided their recovery, and where they are now. We also sat down for a one-on-one conversation with alexandria monque ravenel of Noir Collective, and were deeply inspired by alexandria’s vision, leadership, and life-long commitment to community and collective care.

This conversation is a powerful reflection on resilience, collaboration, imagination, and the power of art to create change. We hope you enjoy watching this conversation, and we deeply encourage you to support alexandria’s work at Noir Collective!

 

Special thanks to This Land Films for filming and holding this conversation

A Conversation With Our Art Remains Grantees

As we mark the one-year anniversary of Helene, we are reminded not just of the storm’s devastating impact, but of the resilience of our arts community and the collective effort that helped it recover. In October of 2024, in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Lamplight AVL launched the Recover, Remain, & Thrive program to support artists and organizations in our community.

Phase 2 of this effort included a community-supported fundraiser, through which we collectively raised $115,000 to offer recovery grants to local arts organizations deeply impacted by the storm. After an extensive application and review process, 9 area organizations were awarded grants.

Instead of traditional grant reporting, we did something different. This past July, we hosted a conversation at Drop of Sun Studios with grantees to hear directly from them—about how the storm affected their work, how your support helped them recover, and where they are today.

 

Today, so close to the 1 year anniversary of the storm, we’re honored to share a video from that conversation with you.

Helene taught us the power of showing up for one another in impossible times. As you remember the storm, remember what you supported in the aftermath, how our community came together to buoy one another up, and the resilience and care we witnessed in our entire region. Your support of our recovery initiative has deeply impacted the work of the grantees in this video and the artists they support, and we and they are so grateful!

 

With deep gratitude,

—The Lamplight AVL Team

Hiss Golden Messenger Makes Impactful Donation to Lamplight

Hiss Golden Messenger and Citizen Vinyl are thrilled to announce a donation of $10,232.00 to Asheville, N.C.-based art and music nonprofit Lamplight AVL. The funds were raised through a limited edition, 2 x LP vinyl version of Sanctuary Songs, proudly pressed at Citizen Vinyl.

 

“I’m honored to have contributed money from the proceeds of the sale of Sanctuary Songs towards the great work Lamplight AVL is doing in the community of Asheville, NC,” said HISS Golden Messenger front man MC Taylor. “This type of coming together feels more vitally important than ever before, and I’m proud to be part of our forward movement.” 

 

This hurricane relief fundraiser brought together some of the vinyl industry’s finest players, who donated their materials and talents to further enhance the project’s fundraising impact. Lacquer cuts were donated by Ryan Smith and Joe Nino-Hernes of Sterling Sound, and stampers were provided by Record Techology, Inc. 

 

The pressing includes beautiful gatefold packaging featuring photos by Anthony Mulcahy and design by Matthew Pfahlert, who both also donated their creative talents to the project. Citizen Vinyl founder and CEO Gar Ragland served as the project’s executive producer, and vinyl production expenses were covered by a hurricane relief grant from the Virginia Sargeant Reynolds Foundation.

 

“Citizen Vinyl is honored to partner with Hiss Golden Messenger on this project, to support our creative community here in Asheville as it continues to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” said Citizen Vinyl founder and CEO Gar Ragland. “We’re deeply grateful for the generosity and compassion of the band, as well as many others who have donated their time and talents to create such a positive impact through the arts.”

 

 

Sanctuary Songs, an 18-track live album, was recorded on December 1, 2023 — during the Jump for Joy tour — at The Waiting Room in Omaha, NE. The set was captured by long-time Hiss engineer Luc Suér on the Hiss Mobile Recording Unit. Sanctuary Songs was initially released as a digital album in October 2024, and 100% of the proceeds of the sale of the digital release were donated to Beloved Asheville.

 

The funds raised from the 2 x LP vinyl version of Sanctuary Songs supports Lamplight AVL’s Recover, Remain, & Thrive program. “This generous donation will have a massive impact on our ongoing work to support and uplift the incredible artists in our resilient region,” said Emily McDaniel, Executive Director of Lamplight AVL. “We’re deeply grateful to Hiss Golden Messenger for their commitment to championing artist-centered recovery, and to Citizen Vinyl for supporting this effort. This contribution is a powerful affirmation of the resilience and value of our incredible creative community, and we are so thankful”

 

A small number of the 500 2 x LP pressings remain, and fans of Hiss Golden Messenger can purchase these — along with other albums benefiting recovery efforts in Western North Carolina — through Citizen Vinyl’s Citizen Soundcheck platform: https://citizenvinyl.shop/pages/citizen-soundcheck

 

We Love It Here Benefit Compilation for Lamplight AVL

Purchase We Love It Here. Vinyl

Stream/Download We Love It Here.

 

Asheville’s renowned Drop of Sun Studios announces We Love It Here., a benefit compilation for Lamplight AVL supporting artist communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, out digitally today and available for limited edition vinyl preorder now. We Love It Here. features exclusive, unreleased music by MJ Lenderman, Animal Collective, Squirrel Flower, Reggie Watts, Fust, Green-House, Sophie Thatcher, Maral, Nightlands, Horse Jumper Of Love, Hello Mary, and Floating Action.

 

Drop of Sun founder Adam McDaniel says, “The remarkable breadth of these previously unreleased tracks reflect Drop of Sun’s core principle of fostering an environment for artists to freely and boundlessly create. Being a resource to the Asheville arts community has yielded wonderful, long-lasting relationships, amazing songs like these, and a platform to communicate and cope during hard times. We are thrilled to share these exclusive songs with you.”

 

The We Love It Here. vinyl includes an exclusive bonus track by Animal Collective. Black 140gram LP is limited to 1,000 copies. Colored 180gram vinyl is limited to 300 copies. The vinyl was pressed by Citizen Vinyl, located in Asheville, NC,  in collaboration with Lamplight AVL.

We Love It Here. Tracklist:

  1. Hello Mary – Take
  2. MJ Lenderman – Bury The Dog
  3. Nightlands – MGD
  4. Fust – Sebastian
  5. Green-House – Crestfallen
  6. Animal Collective – Collision Deep
  7. Sophie Thatcher and Maral – Sad & Beautiful World
  8. Squirrel Flower- Stick (alt version)
  9. Reggie Watts – Left Side
  10. Horse Jumper Of Love – Anger Is An Arch
  11. Floating Action – Xomfort (instrumental)
  12. Animal Collective – Better Things to Come (vinyl only bonus)

Purchase We Love It Here. Vinyl

Stream/Download We Love It Here.

 

The destruction of the region caused by Hurricane Helene created one of the most difficult times the Asheville arts community has ever faced, and the impact of the storm will be palpable for years. Tree and wind damage was immense; catastrophic flooding annihilated lower lying areas. For many years, the region’s communities formed around the rivers and became central hubs for many of the artists and arts organizations that make Asheville such a special, vibrant place. The storm took homes, studios, equipment, livelihoods, and more.

 

“In the aftermath of the storm, we learned just how resilient our community is, and how much artists, residents, and visitors alike care about the folks who call this place home,” comments McDaniel. The nonprofit, Lamplight AVL, is built by and for the incredible community of artists in the region. As soon as the storm hit, Lamplight AVL began building a program to enable artists to recover, remain in the area, and continue to create the work that inspires the community. Through the Recover, Remain, and Thrive program, funds have been distributed to artists over two phases, ensuring recovery for granted artists is both immediate and foundational, and maintaining the Asheville area’s identity as an arts haven for residents and visitors alike. All funds from this compilation will support Lamplight’s continued work as a hub for artists in this region.

 

“By buying this album, not only will you enjoy special songs by spectacular artists, you will make a direct and concrete difference in our artistic community,” says McDaniel. “So from our hearts, thank you so much for your love and support. We hope you will visit our beloved hometown soon.”

CANCELLED BECAUSE OF HELENE. HOPING TO RESCHEDULE. Lamplight AVL Presents: Drum Major Instinct x Kramer. A Live Recording at Drop of Sun | October 6 7pm

Join us on Oct. 6th at 7pm for a live recording at Drop of Sun Studios with experimental legends Drum Major Instinct & Kramer!

This event is free, but a reservation is required. RSVP here!

A limited number of guests will sit quietly in the live room, on the mezzanine, or in the control room as Adam McDaniel tracks the band live for attendees to witness.

Drum Major Instinct is an experimental music duo from Asheville, North Carolina. Jeff Arnal plays (mostly) percussion and Curt Cloninger plays (mostly) modular synthesizer. The Wire describes Jeff’s drumming as a “highly original concept” having “a balletic sense of time and imaginative deployment of colour;” and Byron Coley says Curt’s modular synthesis “moves like blocks of radioactive adobe being shifted around by architects in space suits.” But, of course, nothing is ever that straightforward. The resultant music is about waves of energy, patterns within patterns (within patterns), sounds from the natural world, and running the voodoo down.

Joining them for this exclusive, invitation-only live recording is the legendary Kramer.

As the founder of Shimmy-Disc, Kramer has been a key figure in the underground music scene, producing groundbreaking albums at his Noise New York and Noise New Jersey studios during the 1980s and ’90s. His production work includes collaborations with iconic artists like Daniel Johnston, Galaxie 500, Half Japanese, Pussy Galore, Urge Overkill, Will Oldham, and LOW. Now living and working in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Kramer brings his polymathic artistry to this rare performance.

For more on Shimmy-Disc: shimmy-disc.com
More on DMI: https://lab404.com/dmi/index.html

Jeff Arnal is a percussionist and the Executive Director of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville, NC. He has been active as an artist, curator, and community organizer since the 1990s. In 2002, he co-founded Improvised and Otherwise, an interdisciplinary festival for emerging artists in Brooklyn, NY. He has performed in a wide variety of concerts and festivals, including a series of duo concerts with Charles Gayle in 2002, a trio concert at the Vision Festival with John Dierker and Gordon Beeferman in 2008, and his percussion duo with Michael Evans, performed live on WFMU radio and at the Issue Project Room in 2009. His collaborations with choreographers have been produced at PS 122, Joyce SoHo, Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church, The Chocolate Factory, and Judson Church. Arnal’s music can be heard on a number of independent record labels, including Transit and Quadrologues with Seth Misterka, Reuben Radding, and Nate Wooley on Clean Feed, and Astral Chronology with John Dierker on Mahakala Music. In 2023, he toured and recorded in Germany and Lithuania with pianist Dietrich Eichmann. Arnal studied music with composer Stuart Saunders Smith and visionary artist Milford Graves and holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Maryland and an MFA in Music from Bennington College.

Listen to Jeff’s 2021 radio interview with Mike Watt (Minutemen/Firehose) on the Watt from Pedro show.

Curt Cloninger is an artist, musician, writer, and Associate Professor of New Media at the University of North Carolina Asheville. His art uses an array of media combinations to undermine language as a system of meaning in order to reveal it as an embodied force in the world. His art work has been featured in the New York Times and at festivals and galleries from Korea to Brazil. Exhibition and performance venues include Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Whitney Museum of American Art (New York), Granoff Center for The Creative Arts (Brown University), Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (Chicago), Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (Asheville), and the internet. Curt has been published on a range of topics, including new media and internet art, installation and performance art, experimental graphic design, popular music, and network culture. His fifth and most recent book is entitled, Some Ways of Making Nothing: Apophatic Apparatuses in Contemporary Art (Punctum Books, 2021). His essays have been published in Performance Research, Intelligent Agent, Mute, Paste, Tekka, Rhizome Digest, A List Apart, Textshop Experiments, and on ABC World News.

Curt’s art, music, and writing may be accessed at lab404.com, playdamage.org, and deepyoung.org

CROCTOBER FEST | October. Times TBD

We’re thrilled to announce that, after the artists were not able to come into the space due to Helene, these shows will now be installed in April! We’ll be updating details as we get closer to the date.

JOIN US FOR CROCTOBER FEST!!! April Exact times TBD.  There will be a raffle for one of the paintings that will be chosen at the end of the month.

Live music (tbd), hot dogs, croc art as far as the eye can see, tshirts, stickers, prints, drinks and good times!

 

Music and Visual Performance! Spyrodon | November 3, 7 pm

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Join us at 821 Haywood Rd, as Tara Foley and Alex Theodoropulos, the husband and wife team known as Spyrodon, share a musical, fabric, and visuals performance! These two have come down from New York to create a new round of work as our artists-in-residence, and we can’t wait to see what they create for this show!

 

Lance Johnson | TBD

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY

“The foundation of each piece I create is the layering of words throughout each canvas. I feel that words of inspiration are the soul of my work. Words have power and my goal as an artist is to create art that will resonate positively and evolve with each viewing. For me, the most amazing thing about art isn’t the final piece, it’s the creative process that is unleashed when you look at a blank canvas. I’m most passionate about the journey. The process is always most satisfying. For me it’s all about layers and textures. I look at a canvas like it’s a wall on say the lower east side. I try to create layers of history. The way old graffiti is covered new graffiti and urban decay and torn posters create textures.

Also, I was inspired as a young teen by the Harlem Renaissance so collaboration is a major component of my artistry. 

I was born and raised in NY and it has had a profound effect on my art. the energy, vibrance and movement of the city are so inspiring to me. The diversity and soul of the city are celebrated in my work. “