The Bascom highlights handmade furniture

Fine old Southern furniture is a perfect marriage of form and function. Not only is it a feast for the eye, it’s a comfort for the body and a delight for the soul.

That is why The Bascom is hosting its latest exhibition, “Dovetail and Nail: Southern Furniture.” The exhibition of vintage Southern furnishings runs from May 10 to June 12.

Pieces in Dovetail and Nail date back to the late 1800s and include a magnificent tool bench complete with antique tools, a jelly safe, a sugar chest, a beautiful cerulean blue corner cabinet, huntboard, and one-of-a-kind hand-crafted furniture typical of a 19th century Southern household. All these creations speak volumes of the lifestyles of generations past.

The work on exhibition comes from many private collections representing Glenn County, Ga., Habersham, Ga., and Macon County among many other locations in the South. Primary and secondary native woods used in the furnishings are pine, walnut, oak, cherry, sassafras, hemlock, maple, and more.

The exhibition is presented as a collaborative effort between The Bascom, Western Carolina University, the WCU Mountain Heritage Center and Zachary-Tolbert House.

“I grew up in the South, and I have wanted to pay tribute to the magnificent craftsmen whose meticulous attention to detail elevated furniture-making to a fine artform,” said Kaye Gorecki, The Bascom’s artistic director. “This exhibition has appeal for everyone, from antique devotees to art enthusiasts to children who want to see what their great-great-grandparents might have sat upon in a parlor. It’s a wonderful family event.”

A members-only opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. this Saturday, May 10, at The Bascom, inside the Hudson Library on Main Street in Highlands. The exhibition will continue Tuesdays through Saturdays thereafter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free.

Non-members who wish to attend the opening reception can sign up for membership by calling The Bascom at 828.526.4949.

For more details about this exhibition, lectures and other Bascom events, visit www.thebascom.org.

Guild show celebrates fiber artists May 10-11

The Southern Highland Craft Guild will celebrate textile arts through its annual Fiber Weekend May 10-11.

On Saturday, Guild members will share their expertise in a variety of fiber arts including quilting, spinning, weaving and surface design. There will be hands-on activities for children including weaving a bookmark and building collages.

The festivities continue Sunday for the 10th annual fashion show. This year’s theme is “Garden Party: The Fashion Show of Wearable Art.” Artists have been encouraged to use this theme when choosing work for the show. Woven jackets and wraps, felted handbags, painted and marbled silk scarves and shirts are among the items, which will be featured. Designs range from contemporary to traditional, from funky to classic—all with fine design and craftsmanship and made by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. There will be two separate showings at 1 and 3 pm.

Also featured in collaboration with the fashion show will be separate displays of fine beaded jewelry and contemporary art dolls. In addition, Barbara Zaretsky, Guild member and teacher at Cloth Fiber Workshop in Asheville, will present examples of surface design and mixed media applications for fiber. Guild member Patti Hill will help create the festive garden party environment with floral ikebana arrangements.

Fiber Weekend at the Folk Art Center offers something for everyone whether it be family fun on Saturday or a mother/daughter trip to see the fashion show on Sunday. All events are free. For more information call 828.298.7928 or visit www.craftguild.org.

Music, entertainment surround Little Engine’s arrival in Bryson

The Little Engine That Could will arrive in Bryson City for a return visit to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad May 16-18 and 23-25. Families may enjoy live music, face painting, old-fashioned carnival games, storytelling, petting zoo, and the appearance of characters from the story.

Advance tickets are available for The Little Engine That Could at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad by calling 800.872.4681 or 828.586.8811. Ticket price is $18 for ages two and over, which includes the half-hour train ride and activities for the family. Reservations are strongly suggested.

For more information about The Little Engine That Could I Think I Can Rail Tour please visit www.littleenginethatcouldtour.com or www.GSMR.com

Luncheon marks Shelton House reopening

The Museum of North Carolina Handicrafts and Haywood County Arts Council will celebrate the opening of the Shelton House in Waynesville with a luncheon beginning at 11 a.m. May 12. The luncheon will feature metal sculpture artist Grace Cathey, who has donated a set of original candlesticks for raffle. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5. The Shelton House will sell their new Community Cookbook featuring local recipes for $5.

Tickets to the luncheon are $25. For reservations contact Ruth Gray at 828.454.9046.

‘Becoming Jane’ to screen in Macon

“Becoming Jane” will be screened at 4:30 and 7 p.m. May 7 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

This film is a partial biographical portrait of the young Jane Austen. We follow her romance with a young Irish lawyer who many believe is the template for her famous novel character Mr. Darcy.

“Becoming Jane” is rated PG and runs for 120 minutes. English subtitles will be on.

“Murder on the Orient Express,” filmed in 1974 will be shown 2 p.m. May 9.

In 1934, a trainful of suspects and one murder victim make the trip from Istanbul to Calais especially interesting. Super-sleuth Hercule Poirot sets out to solve the mystery. This is an entertaining Agatha Christie mystery whodunit, ably supported by a remarkable all-star cast.

“Murder on the Orient Express” runs for 2 hours and 8 minutes.

There will be no charge for these screenings, which will be shown on an 8x10 foot screen using an LCD projector. Donations are always welcome.

Popcorn will be served; feel free to bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages.

For more information, call the library at 828.524.3600.