The Southern Highland Craft Guild’s New Members Exhibition, showcasing outstanding
handmade work in diverse mediums ranging from traditional Appalachian craft, like hand-woven
cane chairs and a hand-forged set of fireplace tools, to contemporary flax leaf sculptures and
innovative ceramics, opens Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in the Main Gallery of the Folk Art Center.

Previously scheduled to open Sept. 26, the New Members Exhibition was postponed a week due
to unforeseen circumstances. The new exhibition opening, with light refreshments, is now
scheduled for 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24.

The collection will remain on exhibit through Jan. 20. The gallery is free and open to the public
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

Occurring once every two years, this exhibition represents 39 new Guild members who
successfully completed a two-part jury process focusing on technical skill, originality, and
professional presentation in traditional or contemporary craft. The artists were juried in between
January of 2024 to January of 2026.

“This exhibit encompasses such a breadth of craft - from very traditional to very contemporary,
and from functional to wearable to decorative,” said Val Berlage, Curator for the Southern
Highland Craft Guild. “This show is a wonderful example of how the Guild holds both tradition
and innovation in equal regard. It is important not to lose sight of our heritage, but also to
continue expanding and exploring craft. The scope and creativity with which our artists create is
incredible.”

The Guild is partnering with ArtsvilleUSA, a non-profit promoting artists and art professionals
and educators in Western North Carolina, to host an online version of the New Members
Exhibition. The online exhibition will be available at https://www.artsvilleusa.com/
Many of the new Guild artisans will also be exhibiting at the Craft Fair of the Southern
Highlands at Harrah’s Cherokee Center–Asheville from Oct. 15-18.

The 39 artists represented in this exhibit are:

• Rae Bachus, wood carving
• Julie Bagamary, textile art pieces
• Ashley Bangert, cork bags and accessories
• Sharon Bass, wire crocheted jewelry
• Bob Bragg, furniture
• Theresa Clower, mixed media sculpture (skeletonized flax leaves)
• Maggie Connolly, clay
• Charles deVries, mixed media sculpture (bronze casting)
• Leslie Fawcett, beaded jewelry
• Cathie Fitzjohn, fused glass
• Sherry Green, fiber (weaving)
• Amanda Hayes, metal
• Max Hendry, brooms
• Karen Hovis, fused glass
• Jill Howell, jewelry
• Suzanne Hrytzik, jewelry
• Aaron Iaquinto, wood (hand carved spoons, accessories)
• Sharla Kaufman, clay
• Nina Kawar, jewelry
• Doug Lowman, chair caning
• Shannon Lucas, jewelry
• Dalleen McClasky, clay
• Cindy Morgan, fiber (felting)
• Cheryl Munyan, clay
• Vickie Napoli, jewelry
• Denise Phillips, clay
• Amy Pike, jewelry
• Janet Purcell, fiber (quilting)
• Rebecca Regal, clay
• Deborah Robertson, leather (footwear)
• Lorie Russell, beaded and wire-wrapped jewelry
• Kelsey Smith, clay
• Judy Spark, fiber art/quilting
• Martin Stankus, clay
• Maya Stansbury, clay
• Eleanor Trollinger, fiber (dolls)
• May Lyn Wake, kilts
• Jeff Ware, wood sculpture
• Lyle and William Wheeler (Wheeler Forge), blacksmithing

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930
to cultivate the crafts and makers of the Southern Highlands for the purpose of shared
resources, education, marketing and conservation. The Southern Highland Craft Guild is an
authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.