1
2
Appalachian Features Magazine Phone: 828-668-1070 Email: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box 2242, Old Fort, NC 28762 48 East Main Street Old Fort, NC 28762 App Features Magazine - Production Team Publisher: Dru Heldman Editor: Bev Heldman Managing Editor: Donna Mayton Art & Direction: Dru Heldman Staff Photographer: Bev Heldman Accounting and Advertising Director: Donna Mayton
Contributing Writers:
Nanci Gregory - TAAS Members Photography Carol Sheppard - TAAS Member Glass & Jewelry Jennifer East - TAAS Member Weaving & Mixed Media Betty Heldman - TAAS Member Cross-stitch Beverly Heldman - TAAS Owner, Jewelry mixed media Donna Mayton - Executive Assistant Handcraft Marketing Columns: Walks and Hikes in the Appalachians TAAS Feature Artist of month Events and classes for Art & Crafts Appalachian B&B Review TAAS Value and dealer locations Heritage Recipes Explore Small towns in Appalachia Ask Oneida - Send in your questions about art and Oneida will answer
Unifiweb™ a Pinwilz™ Company
This Issue Feature Artisan Susan Stanton Native American Art – The story of the Turtle Stitch & Chatter TAAS Breaking through the Great Recession Upcoming Events
Cover Photo provide by Susan Stanton Feature Story by Dru Heldman
3
Susan Stanton September Feature Artisan By: Dru Heldman
It is with great pleasure that we
present Susan Stanton as our feature
artist. Her work is unlike any other.
I’ve had the honor of getting to
know Susan over the last few months
that she has displayed here at TAAS.
The more I learn about her
techniques, the more I come to
appreciate her skill and the difficulty
she endures to get the perfect
photo. She told me how she waits for
the sun to be just right and sometime
sits for hours waiting for that artistic
lighting on the subject. The cover
piece is a real set-up no re-touching
and all with natural sun light. For
many artists the goal is to get their
paintings to look like photos with
realism and depth, to fool the on-
looker to think that it is a photo. With
Susan’s work I find myself captivated
that she does almost the opposite.
Her photos look like masterpiece
paintings. The richness of color, that
bathing of sunlight and the three
dimensionalism of real life. It’s no
wonder that Susan is such an
accomplished artist wth her works on
display in both public and private
collections around the world. Check
out Susan’s full bio on the website
www.taas.com and link over to her
website for even more views of her
work.
Susan also has a series of greeting
cards available and we can special
order any of her images in various
sizes printed on canvas.
If you can get into TAAS before the
end of the month you will see Susan
Stanton’s expanded collection of
paintings on the Fine Art Feature
Wall. Fall color photos perfect for
cozy cabin décor.
This cold winter scene depicts a worn pathway and railing disappearing into the frosty snow covered landscape.
This quintessential Blue Ridge Parkway image depicts a beautiful summer scene. As the morning light washes across the mountains, bright yellow flowers fill the foreground.
4
Native American Art By Donna Mayton
The subject of Native American Art is vast and has
many origins. It would be an injustice to try to explain
just a piece of art without the background and the
lore, or the stories that go along with most native art
creations.
While writing these articles for Native American Art I
will try to educate, as well as entertain you with a
blending of true facts and Native lore, and
possibly without getting political, create an
understanding of Native ways and culture. Keep in
mind "Native America" encompasses many tribes,
each with their own interpretation of symbols and
stories and cultures as diverse as the areas they lived
and some still live in today.
Please start with an open mind and forget anything
and everything you ever saw in a John Wayne
movie. (Need I say more? - Remember, I don't want
to get political).
Another important fact; Ancient Native artifacts and
Native American Art today are still victims of "black
market arts" all over the world.
Pictured RIGHT is a Turtle Rattle
made by Buckhorn Crossing, Pam and Bryan Barnett
of Weaverville, NC, available at TAAS Gallery.
I thought it appropriate to start with Turtle.
Turtle has lots of symbolism in Native American lore.
Starting with "Turtle Island" which is what the continent
of North America (the United States and Canada) is
referred to in many Native stories.
Turtle Lore from An Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legend
The Anishnabe/Ojibwa Indians (The Eastern
Woodland Culture in the northeastern United States
spread north into central Canada)
At the time Europeans reached the shores of North
America, the Ojibwa Indians were the largest tribe on
the continent. They referred to themselves as
Anishnabe - a word that means the people.
Anishnabe territory extended from the eastern
seaboard, west to the headwaters of the Mackenzie
River. The Ojibwa lands were bounded in the north by
the sub-Arctic tundra and followed the Mississippi
south to the Carolina's. The Anishnabe people didn't
build tipis...they made wigwams from bent saplings
and covered the exterior with bark or hides. A small
wigwam could be built in a day. More time was spent
on constructing larger wigwams that could shelter a
dozen or more people through severe winter
weather. Those living south of the Great Lakes had
access to all those food sources, but the climate and
terrain further south also leant itself to agriculture.
Anishnabe grew small gardens of corn, and beans - a
skill that had migrated along the trade routes.
The Anishnabe Story of Turtle.
It was one of those days when Nanaboozhoo was
in a strange mood. He had just awakened from a
deep sleep that was disturbed by the noisy quarreling
and scolding of the blue jays. He was a bit cranky; his
sleep was disturbed and besides that, he was hungry.
His first thought was to go down to the village and
find something to eat.
Entering the village, he came across some men
cooking fish. They had their camp located close to Continued next page
5
the water and Nanaboozhoo spied many fish
cooking over a fire. Now, being very hungry, he
asked for something to eat.
The men were happy to
give him some, but
cautioned him
that is was
hot.
Not
heeding their warning, he quickly grabbed the fish
and burned his hand. He ran to the lake to cool it off
in the water. Still unsteady from his deep sleep, he
tripped on a stone and fell on Mi-she-kae (turtle) who
was sunning on the beach. At that time, Mishekae
was not as we know her today. She had no shell and
was comprised of soft skin and bone. Turtle
complained loudly to Nanaboozhoo to watch where
he was going. Now, Nanaboozhoo felt ashamed of
his clumsiness and apologized to Mishekae. He
wondered, "what can I do to make it up to her?" He
wanted to do something to help his friend. "I'll have to
sit and think it over,"he thought, as he followed the
path back to his wigwam.
Sometime later, he returned to the beach and
called for Mishekae. Turtle poked her head through
the soft beach mud. Nanaboozhoo picked up two
large shells from the shore and placed one on top of
the other. He scooped up Mishekae and put her right
in the middle, between the shells. Nanaboozhoo took
a deep breath and began. "You will never be injured
like that again." he said slowly. "Whenever danger
threatens," he continued, "you can pull your legs and
head into the shell for protection". Nanaboozhoo sat
beside his friend on the beach and told Mishekae his
thoughts. "The shell itself is round like Mother Earth. It
was a round hump which resembles her hills and
mountains. It is divided into segments, like martyrizes
that are a part of her; each different and yet
connected by her." Mishekae seemed very pleased
with and listened intently. "You have four legs, each
representing the points of direction North, South, East
and West." he said. "When the legs are all drawn in,
all directions are lost. Your tail will show the many
lands where the Anishnabek have been and your
head will point in the direction to follow. "You will
have advantages over the Anishnabek," he went on.
"You will be able to live in the water as well as on
land and you will be in your own house at all times."
Mishekae approved of her new self and thanked
Nanaboozhoo for his wisdom. Moving now in a thick
shell, she pushed herself along the shore and
disappeared into the water.
So, ever since
that accident
long ago, Turtle
has been special
to the
Anishnabek. To this
day, she continues to
grace Mother Earth, still
proudly wearing those two
shells.
Rattle Facts &
Uses In Native American heritage, rattles are
among the most interesting instruments used during
ceremonies. It is an interesting fact that not all
American Indian tribes used drums historically, but
most do use rattles. Different tribes use rattles now as
they have for generations. They also play an
important role in the spiritual relationship with the
creator. They are also used in community gatherings.
Historically, Native American rattles have been
essential to tribal ceremonies being symbolic to each
tribe that uses them. The symbols may include the
animal, plant and mineral kingdom. A turtle shell or
gourd container may represent the animal kingdom,
along with feathers or animal hide pieces. Small rocks
may also represent the mineral kingdom as they are
placed inside. The plant kingdom is usually
represented by seeds placed inside the rattle or the
handle of the rattle. The earthen paints that may be
used to decorate the rattle are also from the plant
kingdom. Other natural choices include shells, antlers
and bones.
A favorite of some of the North American tribes are
decorative rattles made with hand carved gourds or
turtle shells. Each tribe uses the different materials
from their areas for their own way of making the
rattles. They use different colors, symbols, beads,
patterns, feathers, hides, rocks, seeds and plants.
These materials are what the artist uses to create a
personal and unique rattle. When you learn which
tribes use which designs, you know with certainty the
tribe that made it. They are handcrafted works of art.
One thing that seems to be a common thread
between the tribes is that they use rattles along with
dancing. They also use them for medicine and
spirituality. Music and songs along with family stories
have always played an important part of Native
American teachings. Sharing generations of old
legends and early teachings through ceremonial
rituals has preserved traditional beliefs.
6
TAASG Item #: 14343 Artist Item #: Small fused candle
holder gold swirl $ 15.00
Stitch & Chatter Betty Heldman
The Beginning - October 1999
This program started when Betty Heldman went into
the house of Jessie Graves in Pigeon Forge, TN and
saw all the lovely crocheted afghans that she had all
over her house. Betty suggested that the church, (
First Presbyterian, Sevierville, TN) could form a sewing
group if Jessie would help some of the women to
learn or rekindle their knowledge of crocheting. She
readily agreed. The name "Stitch & Chatter" came
from a Presbyterian church group in Yonkers, New
York which also had a sewing group.
Charter members of this group were: Willie Delozier,
Ethel Grady, Jessie Graves, Betty Heldman, Betty
Tygert and Juanita Willard. They met weekly and
agreed to give all their handmade afghans and
baby blankets to the local hospitals and nursing
homes.
In the summer of 2003 the location of our program
was changed from the church to the new Sevier
County Senior Center on Chapman Highway in
Sevierville. By doing so we added a few new
members including Ann Matuszak, Ruth Matthews
and Leoda Whaley, Vicki Stradley, Jean Dew, Betty
Walters. Barbara Storms, Geraldine Clark, Pauline
Miller, Anilee McGill, Sieta Neutenbaum, Kathryn
Lathan, Joan Renaud, June Ramundo, Barbara Roy,
Debra Roberts, Eva Reeves, Stephanie Curtis, Ruth
Fincham.
As of this date, we have given away 593 afghans, 310
baby blankets, 438 hats (baby/adult), 60
scarfs/shawls, 96 miscellaneous items including
wristlets, sweaters, wash cloths and pillows.
Donations of yarn are always appreciated.
Bed & Breakfast Enhanced by
Art & Crafts By Carol Sheppard
Southern Orchid Glass & Jewelry Designs
One-of-a-kind Art Glass and Wearable Art
Jewelry Art lovers are to Bed-and-Breakfasts in the same way
that dark chocolate is to a fine red wine. You don’t
have to incorporate dark chocolate to enjoy a
quality red wine, but it definitely enhances the
pleasure.
If you are someone for whom the purchase of a new
piece of art first creates a hum of excitement as you
contemplate where you will display your new
acquisition, followed by a repetitive zen-like state
each time you behold your new art piece, you are
probably the same type of person who can
appreciate that staying at a B&B is more than just an
accommodation…it’s an adventure.
B&B’s, unlike your standard motel or hotel, possess a
unique personality, each and every one being totally
different from the next one. Motels and hotels
typically strive for the uniformity and consistency that
is the hallmark and appeal for loyal clientele.
Although not a prerequisite for a Bed-and-Breakfast,
many are located within historic buildings or
residences and are therefore one-of-a-kind
properties. Renovations can maintain the historic
perspective or the property owner may have added
modern amenities for the comfort of their guests.
Probably the
most enticing
thing about Bed-
and-Breakfasts,
and what
ultimately
creates the
atmosphere that
appeals to those
seeking a brief
adventure
instead of just a
stay, is the
décor. Each
room is different,
often
incorporating a
theme, or a specific object, color or focus. Many
Bed-and-Breakfasts have incorporated the work of
local artists into their properties, sometimes promoting
sales of specific pieces on display. Bed-and-
Breakfast owners are often able to steer their guests
to the best galleries for collecting local art. While
relaxing and enjoying the hospitality of the Bed-and-
Breakfast owners, you may browse and study the art
on display, even asking questions about the artists,
with whom the Bed-and-Breakfast owners often have
a relationship. I have even had the opportunity to
7
personally meet some artists after expressing an interest in the artwork displayed on the premises of the Bed-and-
Breakfasts where I was staying. During one such meeting, I was delighted to not only engage in a long
conversation with a watercolor artist about her work, but was offered the chance to browse through her studio so
that I could select from among pieces that she had not yet placed for public viewing. In this way, I acquired a
unique piece of artwork that I value and enjoy to this day. My purchase was made more special for me by the
memory of the time I spent with the artist.
Because Bed-and-Breakfasts are generally owner-operated, the personalities and interests of the owners provide
the impetus behind their selection of art for their properties. Some Bed-and-Breakfasts tie their artwork to the
unique features of the local area. For instance, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, artwork depicting local scenery is
often utilized to decorate the common areas of Bed-and-Breakfasts, with the individual rooms theme-based on
flowers or other indigenous plants and trees. In the same way that Bed-and-Breakfast hosts work one-on-one with
guests to recommend restaurants and sight-seeing options, through exposure to these art pieces, a guest might
discover a place they had not considered in their research of an area.
Make your next visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains more than just a couple of days of R&R. By staying in a local Bed-
and-Breakfast and connecting with a local gallery such as TAASG in Old Fort, North Carolina, you can create
memories that will last well beyond the two or three days you spend in the area.
Events Every Saturday in July 12-Noon - 3:00 PM Crochet with Marie - Crochet and Knitting group meets in TAAS Gallery. Free to learn Date Time Event Details
Every Saturday in July 12-Noon - 3:00 PM Crochet with Marie Crochet and Knitting group
meets in TAAS Gallery. Free to learn September Regular Business Hours TAAS Feature Artist Susan Stanton Expanded display of photography by Susan Stanton. October Feature Artist Rust Pottery Expanded display of Rust Pottery October 2-4 Fri-Sun Oktoberfest Old Fort’s largest annual festival 1
st weekend
in October
TAAS Breaking through the Great Recession - we can all end the rut
It’s being called the “Great Recession” not to be
confused with the great depression in the 1920’s but
what ever you call it, it has been tough on everyone.
Everyone knows someone that has been laid-off from
work, had their pay cut or suffered some losses in the
stock market. We at TAAS have not been immune to
this rare economic situation. I wouldn’t proclaim an
early victory as there is still time for things to get
worse- but I am blown away by the facts. While the
gallery has had a challenging past 12 months with
slower sales, we have had an increase in the number
of sales transactions each month. The sale amounts
have been lower per sale but the increase has been
constant throughout the recession. Here recently in
the last month and a half we’ve seen even more
better news. Our sales are up over last year and up
over two years ago. People are in much better spirits
and optimism is on the rise.
I hope and I pray that this is a trend and not a fluke.
We need better sales for all of our members. Without
sales the artisan loose motivation and without
motivation they stop being creative and with out
creativity everyone get stuck in a rut. People in ruts
are not friendly and pass-on ill feelings to others. It just
not a positive environment. So lets make our place
here on earth the best it can be. Support your local
creative people by showing them that you
appreciate the value of what they do and the fact
that they are capable of creating something with
their hands. Buy a handcraft and end the rut.
8
Feature Artisans See the complete artisan listing on-line
These Features Artisans all have on-line bios and product listings on the taasg.com
website. Visit www.taasg.com and click on shop. Buy from up to 70 different artisans with one shipment UPS/Fed-EX & USPS
• Butterfly Blends Soy Candles,
Soy melting Tarts & Pillar
Candles Old Fort, NC
• Dana Abee Reynolds of
Abee Artistry Jewelry
Designer, Artist Little
Switzerland, NC
• Debbie Acrivos of Sassy
Bags Sewn Crafts Old Fort,
NC
• Katrina Bass of Appalachia
Blue Jewelry - crochet wire
bead weaving peyote, spiral
Old Fort, NC
• Donna Clark of Nature Maid
Soap & Lotion Homemade
Soap and Lotion Marion, NC
• Kevin Clark of K & D Fine
Handcrafted and T... Fine
Handcrafted Turned Wood
Marion, NC
• Lisa Davis Jewelry Design,
Charlotte, NC
• Jerry Depew of Spoonin' It
With Jerry Handcrafted
hardwood spoons,
sculptures & collages Kings
Mountain, NC
• Jennifer East of SouthWest
by East MIved media,
collage, loom and off-loom
weaving, felting, original
Marion, NC
• Lee Entrekin of Dreamwind
Handmade Native
American Style Flutes, Made
in a full range of keys ... Old
Fort, NC
• Denise Geiger Painting - Oil
& Pastels Black Mountain,
NC
• Lana Gentile Acrylic
Paintings - Landscapes,
seascapes, wildlife, and
architecture. Old Fort, NC
• Cecilia Gilliam Photos on
Canvas Old Fort, NC
• Cecilia Gilliam of Clever-
Craft Gifts Rustic florals and
accents, hand painted
flowers, birds, butterflies...
Old Fort, NC
• Nanci Gregory Photography
Claremont, NC
• Pat Harris of Pine Needle
Creations Swannanoa, NC
• Betty Heldman Crocheting
afghans and baby blankets
Sevierville, TN
• Bev Heldman of PINWILZ
Wire creations, Jewelry,
wood burning. Old Fort, NC
• Faye Huskey of Front Row
Beads Jewelry • Barbara Klein of Honeybee
Handmade Jewelry,
Candler, NC
• Casey Kristofferson of Little
Flower People, handpainted
clothes, Old Fort, NC
• Michael & Debbie Maine of
MDM Designs Wood
Turnings, Wood Crafts &
Native American Artifacts
Recreations Taylorsville, NC
• Martha Nelson Wheel
formed and hand-built
Stoneware Pottery
Ridgecrest, NC
• Kerri Newman of Blue Ridge
Studios, Lampwork glass,
Lenoir, NC
• Karen K. Paquette of
Abstract Garden Fine Art,
Abstract, Mixed media Black
Mountain, NC
• Eileen Ross, Multi-media
paintings, Black Mountain,
NC
• Debbie Rust of Rust Pottery
Pottery Gastonia, NC
• Carol Sheppard of Southern
Orchid Glass & Jewelry, Kiln-
formed Art Glass, Mosaics,
and Wearable Art Jewelry
Dahlonega, GA
• Penny Skoog Japanese
Temari Balls and Polymer
Clay Designs and Jewelry
Maggie Valley, NC
• Susan Stanton Photography
Horse Shoe, NC
• Jenean Stone Photography
Black Mountain, NC
• Anne Stone Locker Hooking,
Pottery Montreat, NC
• Bob Stuart of Old Man
Carvings Hand Carved
Woodland Spirits Cypress
Knees, Bottle Stoppers and
Hiking Sticks Greensboro, NC
• Helen Sullivan, painting and
sculpture, Old Fort, NC
• Darryl Totherow Native
American walking sticks,
Dream catchers Newton,
NC
Ask Oneida - Send in your questions about art and Oneida will answer.
Have a question about handcrafts or something handcrafts related? Give Oneida a try. We’ll publish the answers in the Appalachian Features Magazine.
Write to:
Ask Oneida at TAAS Gallery P.O. Box 2242 Old Fort, NC 28762