Merrimon Galleries “Vanishing Steve Lloyd has Stand-up comedian John Ludovico, owner of Landscape” show with Jonas Gerard, helped put HART and Mark Eddie talks with Asheville’s favorite music Kim Porter, Heidi Foss, and Beverly Waynesville theatre on Rapid River about music store, Karmasonics. Simpson. PAGE 10 the map. PAGE 18 and comedy. PAGE 21 PAGE 33 RAPID RIVER ARTS AARTRT TALKTALK The Art of Steve Atkinson id-life BY RILEY SCHILLING crises are overrated. Perhaps it better than a pho- the event tograph; to get as is better close as possible.” Mtermed as a mid-life Anyone that takes beginning. Steve At- time to be quietly kinson, a member of present in nature the Plein Air Painters “No Regrets Revised”, 24" x 12" understands the of the West (PAPW), Oil on Linen by Steve Atkinson intimacy experi- has come a long way enced. To share in to find himself in a position he describes that experience viewing Atkinson’s work as his dream job. is an awesome and truly blissful feeling. In youth, Atkinson intended to be- Atkinson portrays natural settings so real come a musician like several family mem- that the viewer needs not stand in that bers (including Chris Kirkpatrick of pop place, yet has opportunities to get a real sensation N’SYNC, and Jason Eustice, sense of the experience, to be emotionally now following his father’s footsteps as a moved with similar joy. Country singer) the young idealist was Atkinson continues to develop in rudely awakened with the harsh reality of painting and life and has studied among not having practiced enough to make the the best painters in US, including Joe mark, or note, as it were. Having a natural Paquet, a member of Plein Air Painters hand in drawing, the shift to illustration of America, Scott Christenson and Marc came easily. Hanson. He enrolled in one of the most rigor- Learning from contemporary greats ous, aboveboard illustration programs and a life-long dedication to personal in the country at Kent State. Atkinson growth are the ingredients to the recipe excelled in school, and before graduat- that is the work of Steve Atkinson. ing, an inspired teacher told him of an Recently, he broke ground winning agency in Cleveland. He immediately quit the John Steven Jones Purchase Award in school, taking the job as an illustrator, 2007, gaining respect from critical minds. figuring, “That’s why you go to school, to George Hallmark judged the competi- get a job.” tion at the Bosque Conservatory of Art In the fall of 2001 with no real plans and introduced his work to the operator of becoming an oil painter or attempting of Trailside Galleries who agreed that what Atkinson deems the “highest form the work has staying power. They are of art,” the weather brought a surprise obviously not alone in that opinion, as wedding gift to a newly wedded artist. Atkinson has shown work at the Frame Oil painting as he understood it, was Shoppe Gallery for several years now, something that took a “long time to do and continues to grow as an artist while well.” So when the inspiration came reputation builds around him. upon the “blazing colors of the leaves” Curiously, Atkinson has painted “en during that fateful Honeymoon in plein air,” Westerns, and Historical genre northern Minnesota, celebrating his new oil pieces for only six or seven years. It marriage to Ann, Atkinson thought to snuck up in his early 40s, when oil paint- himself, “It’s now or never.” ing was merely a dream for a traditional With a new vigor and a new wife, illustrator. Atkinson set out to make his best efforts From Count Chocula and Boo Berry at oil painting. The artist disciplined cereal boxes to hanging fine art in some himself to painting for four hours every of the best galleries in the US, Atkinson morning before work and one full day on has always sought to do the work he most the weekend. loves and doing it very well. “I’m blessed,” he says, “It doesn’t feel Atkinson’s work is currently on like work,” and for six years, that non- display at the Frame Shoppe Gallery work slowly became his non-career. in Asheville. He also displays work in Since 1983 Atkinson witnessed the Trailside Galleries of Dallas, TX, Jackson demise of traditional illustration amidst Hole, WY, and the LA Thompson Gallery the many transitions and dramatic of Fine Art in Clifton, TX. changes yielded by steady development of new technology and business needs. So in February 2008 he switched to oil painting Frame Shoppe & Gallery Advertise with Rapid River Magazine full time. 1378 Hendersonville Rd. (Inside the His goals were simple enough, yet Harris Teeter Shopping Center) (828) 646-0071 beautiful and profound. He explains, “To Asheville • (828) 274-3635 capture a great light effect” and “make Free web links • Free ad design • Easy monthly billing something believable, allowing one to feel www.frameshoppeandgallery.com 2 September 2008 — RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE — Vol. 12, No. 1 Asheville Choral Society Lenora Thom, Music Director Powerful voices. Remarkable music. “ACS Sings Classical McCartney: The Benefi t Concert” Ecce Cor Meum Behold My Heart ‘It’s about truth, and love, and honesty and kindness, and just stuff that I thought was important in life.’ Paul McCartney with Children’s Chorus and Orchestra Anne O’Byrne, soprano October 12, 2008 at 4:00 pm Diana Wortham Theatre Downtown Asheville Lenora Thom Anne O’Byrne $100 “Sir Paul Section” Special Reserved Seating, Music Director Soprano Concert and Celebration Reception $75 Concert and Celebration Reception (828) 232-2060 ashevillechoralsociety.org MMessageessage ffromrom tthehe PPublisherublisher Rapid River ® Twelve Years in WNC ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE This month we celebrate our 12th year. Established in 1997 • Volume Twelve, Number One In some ways it feels I have been doing this publication all of my life. In some ways, Distributed at over 390 locations throughout eight counties when I look back to that fist issue, it doesn’t in WNC and South Carolina seem so long ago. Of course 12 years isn’t that long of a Publisher/Editor: Dennis Ray time, not in comparison to the New Yorker SEPTEMBER 2008 which has been printing since 1925 or the Managing Editor: Beth Gossett www.rapidrivermagazine.com Boston Globe which has seen over 136 years Art Director: Dennis Ray of publishing. Then, there are thousands Print Production: Simone Bouyer of free publications across this country that Marketing: Dennis Ray were started in the ‘70s and ‘80s and are IInsidenside still going strong. No, 12 years isn’t much Staff Photographer: Dennis Ray to write home about — however, it is the Accounting: Sharon Cole 5 Cover Story journey of 12 years that has been good and is Distribution: Dennis Ray Asheville Choral Society . 5 worth mention. Over that course of time I’ve seen WNC CONTRIBUTING WRITERS grow, change and lose a few things along Art Dennis Ray, publisher, and son H. Byron Ballard, Sierra Bicking, 7 the way. Since I first arrived here in ’96 it Steve Atkinson . 2 Harrison Graham Ray who is Paula Bolado, Greg Brown, drawing with chalk. amazes me just how much the skyline in Art in Autumn Festival . 7 Asheville has changed, most of it over the Jenny Bunn, James Cassara, 16 Patton . 8 past couple years. There seems to be a new building popping up each month Bessie Dietrich-Goggins, Merrimon Galleries . 10 and this growth doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Amy Downs, Ada Dudenhoeffer, Focus Gallery . 10 With this growth, of course, come new people and to all our first time read- Ann Dunn, John Ellis, Asheville Art Museum . 13 ers this is a great chance for me to welcome you to WNC’s performing arts, fine Beth Gossett, Max Hammonds, MD, Lewis Buck Retrospective . 14 arts and culture. Phil Hawkins, Pam J. Hecht, Folk Art Center . 14 Make sure to mark your calendars in October – the Asheville Choral So- Michael Huffstetler, Jill Ingram, Grovewood Gallery . 35 ciety will be singing Sir Paul McCartney’s “Ecce Cor Meum.” It has to be one Phil Juliano, RoseLynn Katz, of the most anticipated musical events of the fall or perhaps even the year. For Britt Kaufmann, Chip Kaufmann, more about this event see page 5. 15 Columns Michelle Keenan, Peter Loewer, Peter Loewer . 15 Most importantly, here’s a special toast to you our readers, all 35,000 of Kathy Meyers, MariJo Moore, James Cassara . 16 you, and to all the new readers who will grow with us as the area expands. It’s April Nance, Michael Parker, MariJo Moore . 22 good having you around. It’s good knowing that you’re out there. It’s good Jane Porterfield, Bonnie Rash, being here. Dennis Ray, Riley Schilling, Music & Stage Take care — we’ll see you in October! Ann Vasilik, Bill Walz, 13 Kim Zdanowicz, Joe Zinich. Movement for Peace . 13 Dennis Ray, Publisher Rapid River Magazine Eymarel . 17 HART . 18 INFO The Best Man at ACT . 19 Rapid River Art Magazine is Bard-a-Thon . 19 a free monthly publication. Playback Theatre . 19 Peter Loewer Address correspondence to: Mark Eddie Interview . 21 Printmaker Graphos=Studio [email protected] SART's Heritage Tour . 30 or write to: Rapid River Art Magazine, 23 Books 85 N. Main St.., H. Byron Ballard . 23 Canton, NC 28716. Phone: (828) 646-0071 25 Movie Reviews www.rapidrivermagazine.com All materials contained herein are 29 Wine owned and copyrighted by Rapid Michael Parker . 29 River Art Magazine and the individual contributors unless otherwise stated.