Arts and Crafts Weekend in Asheville by Sue Shepherd

In February, we made the pilgrimage to Asheville. The occasion? The 21st annual Arts and Crafts Conference at the historic Grove Park Inn and Spa. I call it a pilgrimage because this is like heaven for Arts and Crafts enthusiasts. And it felt like we were in heaven when we finally arrived at the inn. The first two things we noticed were NO SNOW and flowers in bloom!

This was our first time at the conference, and it was overwhelming, from the locale to the antiques, lectures, workshops and vendor showcase. If you’ve ever wondered where to find those wonderful antiques you’ve been reading about, this is one of the premier places to shop. But be prepared! The antiques dealers command top prices for those original Gustav Stickley, Dirk Van Erp, and other pieces.

The Grove Park Inn
The Grove Park Inn opened in 1913 and is considered an Arts and Crafts masterpiece. Massive granite boulders greet you as you approach the building, and these are repeated inside – in the form of support columns and two fireplace surrounds. True to the Arts and Crafts tradition, these boulders were hewn from the mountainside nearby. In addition to the boulders, the Inn features prominent dark-stained wood moldings. Continuing outside, the rear features more granite boulders in a series of terraces leading down to the spa. A substantial pergola completes the Arts and Crafts ideal.

Inside, the Great Hall features original Roycroft fixtures and furniture. This is where the well-worth-it free guided walking tour commences. On the tour, you will have vistas of the mountains outside, with Asheville off in the distance. In the old section of the hotel, the original stencil patterns have been restored, once again delighting guests who linger in the common areas. The inn boasts many famous guests, including F. Scott Fitzgerald who was a frequent resident while in North Carolina.

Not only was the building itself designed on Arts and Crafts principles, but the philosophy behind the inn also reflects the concerns of the time. The Arts and Crafts Movement extolled the benefits of being close to nature. The founder of the inn established the resort as a sanitarium, where guests could come for serenity and relaxation. Our idea of relaxation was sitting in a rocking chair on the grand terrace overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, with a drink in hand.

The Inn is a Historic Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Click here to learn more about the history of the Grove Part Inn.

The Conference
The conference itself offers two main attractions – education and shopping. For education, the conference holds seminars, workshops and demonstrations. This year, the seminars included lectures by the venerable Robert Winter and Lawrence Kreisman, author of the new book, The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, there were lectures on Arts and Crafts furniture design and Van Briggle (the Colorado Springs pottery), among others. The workshops focused on textile embroidery, stains and dyes, stenciling, art pottery, block printmaking, metalsmithing and matting. And we can’t forget the craft demonstrations on woodworking, jewelry, metalsmithing and furniture making.

The “marketplace” is divided into antiques and contemporary craftsfirms. The antiques section was truly overwhelming. There were many beautiful examples of pottery. I was particularly happy to find a piece of Pewabic pottery (selling for about $8,000), which I admit I had never before seen in any venue outside of museums. There was also a lot of furniture, many original Gustav Stickley and Roycroft pieces. One of the antiques dealers, Don Marek, of Heartwood in Grand Rapids, is also the author of two books on the contribution of Grand Rapids to the Movement: Grand Rapids Art Metalwork 1902-1918 and Arts and Crafts Furniture Design: The Grand Rapids Contribution.

In the contemporary vendor section, several of our favorite vendors were represented there, companies whose advertising often grace the pages of shelter magazines. Furniture, tiles, textiles, art pottery and art glass were among the many types of crafts being showcased. Michigan was represented by Arts & Crafts Hardware in Warren, Katrich Studios, Inc., from Dearborn (Paul’s pottery sold out again this year), Motawi Tileworks, Inc of Ann Arbor, and Roden Leather Co. from Royal Oak.

Simultaneous with the show at the Grove Park Inn was the antique sale at the Renaissance Hotel just a shuttle ride away. This venue advertised itself as a more affordable alternative to the Grove Park Inn offerings. There, we found an artisan from Royal Oak, Artew Mission, who sells antiques as well as new handcrafted furniture. Also interesting in that show was a hall stand (No. H706 Costumer in the 1912-1913 catalog) from Come-Packt Furniture Company, which was a mission furniture company from Ann Arbor established in 1907. This company sold disassembled furniture, which the customer put together in his home, much like IKEA today.

Crafts Tradition of North Carolina
Outside of the show, on the grounds of the Grove Park Inn, is the Grovewood Gallery. This store sells products made by local artists and craftsmen, carrying on the Arts and Crafts tradition. It’s definitely worth a visit if you get to Asheville. In particular, check out the copper wind sculptures by Lyman Whitaker that line the walkway to the entrance. Inside, there are high quality textiles, furniture, pottery, jewelry, and artwork for sale.

Neighborhoods
Within a short drive from the Grove Park Inn, there are neighborhoods filled with beautiful Arts and Crafts homes, many of them bungalows. Around the streets of Macon, Gertrude, Edwin Place, and Charlotte, we photographed many of these homes, which we have put on our website. While driving around, we also “discovered” the Manor and Cottages (Albemarle Park). This is a charming group of Arts and Crafts buildings, tucked up in the hills off Charlotte Street near Cherokee Road. The Manor Inn was built in 1899 and converted to apartments around 1992. The cottages adjoining the manor were constructed from 1898 to 1920. The complex is on the National Register of Historic Places today. Although we didn’t see the interiors, the building exteriors were wonderful examples of rustic Arts and Crafts architecture, and the location was truly one of a kind. Here are two interesting websites relating to the Manor and Cottages:

Manor and Cottages-- Asheville, North Carolina: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary
Albemarle Park, Asheville, North Carolina Residents cherish historic homes and a nurturing mood.

All in all, the conference was an outstanding weekend for the Arts and Crafts enthusiast, and we plan to return next year.