Participant Spotlight: Harvest Records

Harvest Records opened its doors on August 14, 2004. It is owned and operated by Matt Schnable and Mark Capon, two young bucks who probably know less about music than many of you think. But that's ok; because of this, they won't scoff at or judge your musical tastes. We're all in this together right? Mark and Matt opened Harvest hoping to make a positive impact on the music, art and intellectual communities of the West Asheville neighborhood, the city of Asheville, Western North Carolina, and beyond.

At Harvest Records you can find a widespread collection of new and used CDs and vinyl, as well as DVDs, magazines, books, visual art and more. And while you're here you can even take a nap on the couch. In addition to carrying such items, Harvest Records is taking a shot at show promotion, bringing regional, national and even international acts to perform in Asheville. We use local venues and art spaces such as The Wedge, The Grey Eagle, and even the store itself. Harvest Records has already brought the likes of the Microphones, Mirah, Tara Jane O'Neil, Mountain Goats, Orthrelm, Little Wings, Growing, Mono, Kayo Dot and more, hopefully continuing doing what we love.

Please stop in and say hello anytime. Or call or write. We'll be here - Mark Capon & Matt Schnable.

Participant Spotlight: The Admiral

You can make plans for lunch and/or dinner at the Admiral as you make your way through the Art Walk. Smack dab in the middle of the Art Walk map, The Admiral, at 400 Haywood Road is serving the best eclectic food in West Asheville 5-10 seven days a week, and a lite lunch menu from 2-5. The menu changes daily (brunch weekly) as they try to always keep the food creative and fresh.

Reservations are welcome 7 days a week for parties of 5 or more.

The Admiral is non-smokoing until 10 o'clock, and every Saturday night is Soul/R&B/Mod/Funk/Punk-ish dance night (so come early to Art Walk, stay late to get yer groove on!)

As for what 'the people' have to say, check out these reviews:

The Insider
Mountain Express
Yelp

Participant Spotlight: Steebo Design

Steebo Design is the one-of-a-kind metal reincarnations created by Stefan Bonitz. Stefan has worked primarily in steel since 1995. Various techniques are used to create the sculptures. Some are found object assemblages. Some use traditional forge methods. Some are actually carved out of steel. Many incorporate combinations of these in the process, but nothing is cast and no two works are alike.

new work: Mr. Wind

Artist Statement:
Stefan was born on Long Island, NY in 1969. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Greenville, SC and then to Asheville, NC at the age of five.

Crediting his mother for his artistic visions, Stefan began showing interest in creative projects as early as kindergarten and first grade. The big leap into an art career didn't happen until he was inspired by Howard Munson of The San Francisco Art Institute, who recognized Stefan's talent. With the help of Munson's coaching and rekindling of artistic attention, Stefan proceeded to co-create a retail outlet in Asheville, showcasing over 200 artists including his own works.

His media of that period, 1989-1995, included works of fabric, leather, airbrushing, acrylic painting, graphic design, and mixed media assemblages. The need to attach metal objects led to welding classes at Asheville-Bumcombe Technical College, followed by apprenticeships with several metal artists including Reed Todd of Asheville.

Metal became the primary focus of Stefan's work as "Steebo Design" in July of 1995. The main emphasis is on functional art, lighting, furniture, and garden sculpture, with a style ranging from folk art to high design.

Working almost solely in recycled found objects, Stefan's work continues to evolve and improve daily as the list of collectors also grows.

East West Art Walk: Event Map

Click to enlarge - our event is conveniently located in West Asheville along Haywood Road between 355 - 520 Haywood, and including Domino Lane which is just off Westwood Place. There's plenty of parking along Haywood and in adjoining parking lots, and all event locations are an easy walk from each other.

Participant Spotlight: Krug Creative

Krug Creative, located at 428-A Haywood Road, is a graphic design and communications firm offering a full range of design and marketing services including logo and branding, print collateral, and website design. The company’s clients include entrepreneurs and small businesses spanning a broad range of industries, with specialties in Fashion, Beauty, and Hospitality. Please visit our website to learn more: www.krugcreative.com.

Krug Creative’s space will also house a gallery that will exhibit work by local and north carolina artists. The current exhibit features a collection of fine art photography by Chapel Hill artist Ellen Faircloth McCall. The collection is titled "In Transit" and offers in the artist’s words "…a meditation on a desire for simplicity and permanence in the hurried pace of contemporary society." The images in the collection were taken using a 1960s medium format Diana camera. For more information on the exhibit, please visit www.krugcreative.com/gallery.

Participant Spotlight: Blue Barnhouse

As we move closer to the East West Asheville Art Walk, we'll be sharing mini-profiles of the participating artists and businesses, and we're very pleased to bring you our first profile:

BLUE BARNHOUSE

Blue Barnhouse is a letterpress & design studio where everything they make is crafted by hand with the time-tested methods of letterpress printing. They provide a comprehensive suite of paper goods to meet your personal and professional needs.

You've got a tease of what's to come in our poster and post card for the show in the title of this blog site, designed and produced by Blue Barnhouse and soon to hit the streets and mailboxes! Click on the image above to go to their website, or click on their image in the list to the right to see the Flickr.com photoset.

The East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk

ARTISTS AND BUSINESSES IN WEST ASHEVILLE HOST HOLIDAY ART WALK

Event Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008 from 10:00am to 6:00pm

Until recently, if you were to say ‘West Asheville’, thoughts usually ran to the shops and restaurants along Haywood Road at the Bledsoe Building and generally west of State Street. But in the past year alone, several new businesses have inhabited buildings along and adjoining Haywood Road immediately east and west of I-240. These new additions have expanded the mercantile strip of Haywood Road, creating another hub of eclectic businesses to draw drive by and walk by patrons into West Asheville.

On Saturday, December 6, several artists and businesses, including several that have opened within the past year, will host a Holiday Art Walk to welcome the holiday season and celebrate the diverse and growing small businesses of the area. Designated the “East West Asheville Holiday Art Walk”, the parameters of the event span the area on Haywood Road on both sides of I-240, and include Domino Lane – a side street off Westwood Place. Participating businesses include the Bloom Room, Blue Ribbon Hair, Minx and Runny Bunny, just west of I-240 on Haywood Road. On the east side, Haywood Road merchants include The Admiral Restaurant, Harvest Records, Blue Barnhouse, A Touch of Glass, Bookworks, Custom, Marty Mitchell Glass, Krug Creative and Steebo Designs. Crazy Green Studios, Mimi Strang Design and Pleasant Hugh Studio are located on Domino Lane. At press time, additional businesses were being added but had not yet been confirmed.

With ample street parking on Haywood Road and on adjoining side streets, all businesses can easily be reached on foot.