STUDIO TOURS Some of America’s top artists and craftspeople are living right here in Western North Carolina. Now is a great time to shop as they invite you into their studios.

Weaverville artists INTERVIEW AND SCHEDULE ON PAGE 5 open their studios to the public November 7-8. PAGE 4

Jonas Gerard

Head down to the River Arts District, November 14-15 to discover who’s making art in those industrial buildings. PAGE 32

Visit Mitchell and Yancey Claudia County artists Dunaway during the Toe River Studio Tour, December 4, 5 & 6. PAGE 33

Drew Barton (left), French Broad Brewmaster, and GET ON THE BUS! Chris Richards select malts for a LaZoom is Asheville’s only rolling new brew. PAGE 22 comedy tour bus. PAGE 18 Identity Theft Hits 5-Year High RAPID RIVER ARTS Leader in I.D. Theft Protection Strikes Back with Free Protection Offer for All TEMPE, ARIZONA – Identity theft has topped are enrolling more than one member,” said Todd participate the Federal Trade Commission’s list of consumer Davis, the CEO of LifeLock known for giving out complaints for the past eight years. his real Social Security number in advertising to Now, a stunning new survey shows a record 9.9 show his confidence in the service. “It’s that simple.” million Americans were victims of identity theft last Immediately upon enrollment, all LifeLock 4th Annual Christmas Ornament year – a shocking 22% increase over the prior year members are protected by LifeLock’s $1 Million – according to Javelin Strategy & Research. This Total Service Guarantee. news mirrors a just-released report from the Federal Competition and Fundraiser Trade Commission that cites a 21% increase in iden- Why should you protect your identity? Consider tity theft complaints during the same period. some of the Javelin survey’s specific findings: Call for entries Ceremony is also a celebration of life and a Apparently, individual consumers are not the According to the survey, more than one in every To enter the competition each partici- tribute to the work of Hospice at the time of only ones at risk: a recent review cited by the Wall ten victims knew the person who stole their identity. pant must bring five non-perishable food death. It’s always a very special night where Street Journal reports that the cost of information The Javelin survey also revealed women are 26% items. Entries will accepted from November we celebrate good will and good deeds as we breaches to U.S. companies was also on the rise, more likely to be victims than men. The survey also with the average total per-incident cost in 2008 ris- 3 to November 28. support the important mission of our local named higher income consumers (households with Hospice of McDowell County. ing to $6.65 million*. combined incomes of $75,000 or more) to be at Contest Rules These studies send a clear message: in the wake Be sure to come out and see who wins higher risk. Latinos are 47% more likely to become Ornament must be handmade by the of the global economic crisis, identity theft is a big the competition. You’ll also be entertained by victims of new account theft, versus 32% of all vic- person that enters the contest. Any type of business. It’s up to consumers to take proactive steps local musicians during the awards ceremony. to protect themselves. tims. It’s important to point out that no one can stop material can be used to make your orna- That’s why for a limited time, LifeLock, the all identity theft, but what LifeLock doesn’t stop, prizes they fix at their expense, up to $1 million. ment; use your imagination. Hand painted industry leader in identity theft protection, is offer- This year’s prizes will be gift cer- ing 30 days of guaranteed identity theft protection To get LifeLock free for 30 days during this ornaments will be accepted. Your ornament service at no cost. special offer, call 1-888-252-5862 for individual must be able to hang from a Christmas tree tificates good at any Pinwilz company “All you have to do is call 1-888-2525862 for an memberships, 1-888-261-1335 for multiple enroll- and include a hook or loop. including: TAAS Gallery, Pinwilz Beads, individual membership, or 1-888-261-1335 if you ments, and use promo code FREEMONTH. voting Butterfly Blends Candles, or Catawba Vale Café. We’ll have a category for adults and a The public is invited to visit the display children’s category, and present 1st, 2nd and in TAAS Gallery between December 1 and 3rd place prizse for both categories. December 17 during regular business hours Prizes in the adult category: 1st place, and select the ornament that they think is $50 gift certificate; 2nd place, $25 gift cer- the best. Votes are $5 each. One hundred tificate; 3rd place, $5 gift certificate. Prizes percent of vote money collected goes to in the Children Age 6-12 category: 1st place, Hospice of McDowell County. $25 gift certificate; 2nd place, $15 gift cer- Your top selections will then go before tificate; 3rd place, $5 gift certificate. a panel of five distinguished judges who will select the winning ornaments. enter today! COCaF awards Ceremony Entry forms are available at www.taasg. com or in TAAS Gallery, 48 East Main An awards ceremony will be held Street, Downtown Old Fort, NC. Phone Thursday, December 17 beginning at 7 “When I first learned about a “I’m a former chief of police of a (828) 668-1070 for more information. company called LifeLock that major city. I knew identity theft p.m. The TAAS Gallery COCAF Awards protects families from identity was a $50 billion a year business, theft, my husband was skeptical. and a prime focus of organized I signed us up anyway, and for- crime. But they got me anyway. got about it. A couple of months Even though I was a senior law later, on a family vacation, my enforcement official, it took weeks husband received a phone to clear my name. I decided: call asking if he was applying for a new credit card. never again. A reporter recommended LifeLock to me Heritage Alive! Mountain Someone was trying to steal his identity. LifeLock had and I tried them out. I’ve never had a problem since. I stopped the thief cold.” Kim Barnes highly recommend them to you.” Bobby Jo Harris Youth Talent Contest

o be held November 19, the con- The test is a gift from the new Smoky Heritage Alive! Mountain Center for the Per- Mountain T forming Arts to the local regional Youth Talent children. This is also the fourth youth Contest offers talent show of the year for producer categories for Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA). individuals or The primary goal of the Center for groups: instru- The McQuitty the Performing Arts, who has sponsored mental, vocal, Children the cash prizes and trophies, is to present dance, prose, various forms and styles of entertain- poetry and storytelling, for youth up to ment – comedic, musical, dramatic age 18. Deadline for entry is November – that showcase national, regional, and 10. Download the application today: local talent. spiritofappalachia.org, pick up an applica- tion at your local chamber of commerce, or call (828) 631-4587.

Opportunities Heritage Alive! Mountain iF Youth Talent Contest, always look bigger YOU November 19, at 7 p.m. going than coming. gO Cost of the show is $5 a seat. The Smoky Mountain Center of the Perform- ing Arts is located in Franklin, just off Rapid River Magazine – Celebrating Our 1th Year! US Highway 441, next door to the Fun Rye Holler Boys Factory. advertise with us, call (828) 646-0071 or visit www.rapidrivermagazine.com

2 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid River ArtS & CULTURE Magazine — November 2009  RAPID RIVER ARTS we love this place asheville international Children’s Film Festival ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE november 2-8 Films in this year’s festival will thrill young and adult audiences alike. The festival is a one-stop destination for the very best Established in 1997 • Volume Thirteen, Number Three in international children’s cinema including eye-popping animation, comedy, fairy tales, edge-of-your-seat adventure, and gripping docu- mentaries. View the full festival lineup at www.aicff.org. Admission NOVEMBER 2009 Performance to most festival programs is $4 for kids, $5 for adults. Visitors must 7 Keowee ...... 7 purchase tickets in advance to all screenings at the AICFF website or www.rapidrivermagazine.com by phone at 800-838-3006. George Winston . . . . . 7 Publisher/Editor: Dennis Ray Asheville Choral Society . . . . . 7 the Weaverville art Safari and preview party Managing Editor: Beth Gossett The Weaverville Art Safari Preview Party will feature a silent auc- Marketing: Dennis Ray 8 Fine Art tion, door prizes and a cash bar. november 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Staff Photographer: Dennis Ray Doors of Asheville ...... 8 Reems Creek Golf Club, 36 Pink Fox Cove Road, Weaverville, NC. NC Living Treasures ...... 11 $10 at the door; $5 for additional door prize tickets. Layout & Design: Simone Bouyer Poetry Editor: Ted Olson River Arts Studio Stroll . . . . . 2 Free, self-guided studio tours on november 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Studios are Toe River Studio Tour . . .  scattered throughout the Weaverville, Alexander, Barnardsville and the Reems Creek area. Proofreader: Mary Wilson Art Safari signs help direct visitors to all locations, and a map is included in Art Safari Accounting: Sharon Cole brochures. Maps and brochures can be found at www.weavervilleartsafari.com or at our Distribution: Dennis Ray 9 Asheville Shops Information Booth in downtown Weaverville the weekend of the event. blue . . . . 9 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Blue Ridge parkway Celebrates’s 75th Birthday Connie Hudson Backlund, Visit the Folk Art Center on Saturday, november 14 for Parkway History Day featuring 10 Columns H. Byron Ballard, James Cassara, Greg Vineyard - Fine Art . . . . 10 regional craft and music demonstrations, Parkway exhibits, presentations, and more. John Clark, Michael Cole, James Cassara - Music...... 14 Denise Cook, Amy Downs, Peter Loewer - Thoreau’s Garden . 17 voorhees Family art Show and Sale Ada Dudenhoeffer, John Ellis, Michael Parker - Wine . . . . 19 Paintings and artwork by Voorhees family members will be on exhibit Jim Faucett, Amy Ammons Garza, and for sale at this unusual event. Meet this extraordinary family of Beth Gossett, Susan M. Hammond, Joe Zinich - Beer ...... 22 artists known throughout North Carolina and the Southeast. The Max Hammonds, MD, Phil Hawkins, Ted Olson - Poetry ...... 29 show will be held on Saturday, november 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 Pam J. Hecht, Tim Henderson, H. Byron Ballard - Books . . . 0 p.m. and Sunday, november 22 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at the Ted “Christine’s World” Patti Hill, Derek Hoffman, Bill Walz - Artful Living...... 4 Voorhees home, 123 Norwood Avenue in Asheville. by Amy Voorhees. Phil Juliano, Chip Kaufmann, Joseph Rathbone - Kid Culture . . . 5 Michelle Keenan, Amanda Leslie, Max Hammonds, MD - Health . . 9 Peter Loewer, Kay S. Miller, Carol Motley, April Nance, On Stage ® Ted Olson, Michael Parker, 12 Rapid River NC Stage Company . . . 12 ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE 5 Winners Kathi Petersen, Joseph Rathbone, Lyric Opera ...... 12 prizes include: tickets to local concerts Dennis Ray, Andrea Rosal, th 1 Annual (tBa); tickets to the Opera; Jane Sims, Greg Vineyard, Asheville Community Theater . . Playback Theatre . . . . 1 Poetry Mellow Mushroom gift Certificates; Bill Walz, Susan West, and books from Malaprops. Kristen Yarborough, Joe Zinich. Contest 15 Music 13 INFO Doyle Lawson ...... 15 any unpublished poem 5 lines or less is wanted! Rapid River Art Magazine is a free monthly Blind Pilot ...... 15 publication. Address correspondence to: Deadline December 19, 2009. Winning poems will be printed in the February 2010 issue. [email protected] Greg Laswell ...... 16 Reading fee: $5 for three poems. For more information please call (828) 646-0071. or write to: Chris Knight ...... 28 Send poems to: Rapid River Poetry Contest, 85 N. Main St., Canton, NC 28716 Rapid River Art Magazine 85 N. Main St. 18 Noteworthy Canton, NC 28716 LaZoom Comedy Tours . . . . . 18 Phone: (828) 646-0071 NCSG Storytelling Festival . . . . 1 www.rapidrivermagazine.com Save the Honeybees...... 8 All materials contained herein are owned and copyrighted by Rapid River Art Magazine and the individual contributors 20 Restaurant Guide unless otherwise stated. Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily corre- spond with the opinions of Rapid River Art 24 Movie Reviews Magazine or the advertisers found herein. © Rapid River Magazine, 36 What to Do Guide™ November 2009 Vol. 13 No. 3 Best in Show by Phil Juliano. . . 7 Callie & Cats by Amy Downs . . . 7 Corgi Tales by Phil Hawkins . . 7 Dragin by Michael Cole. . . 7

distributed at more than 90 locations throughout eight counties in WnC and South Carolina

4 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE get ready asheville, it’s time to laugh “Funny Business” in Historic S&W Building COMMUnitY SaYS “it’S tiMe tO LaUgH MORe!” LOCaL COMedY teaM ReSpOndS and deLiveRS

ovember 6 marks the grand open- proven local favorite Melanie Maloy. comedy are unparalleled by any other form ing of the Funny Business Com- “We can’t wait for the opening of this of entertainment. Asheville will now truly edy Club on the lower level of the club. As a nurse at Mission Hospital I have have everything, anyone could ever want,” historic S&W Cafeteria Building learned that being able to laugh is some Judy Picard, owner The Lyon’s Mane Salon. N in downtown Asheville. of the best medicine on earth. We’re so The Funny Business Comedy Club The club will present nationally recog- excited,” said Michelle DeBiase Registered will be owned and operated by one of the nized stand up comedians every Friday and Nurse, Mission Hospital Cardiac Step- most experienced comedy producing teams Saturday night. Performer credits will in- down Unit. on the East Coast. Local Business “Funny clude The Tonight Show, The Late Show, “I am very excited! I now will have a Business Agency” and Local Emmy Nomi- Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and place to go at the end of my workweek and nated Event Producer Charlie Gerencer more. There will be two shows per night at laugh away the stress of everyday life and be offer over 35 years of combined comedy 8:00 and 10:30 p.m. All shows will feature able to just let go and laugh. The personal and live event experience. a full bar menu alongside a heavy appe- positive results I receive from a night of tizer menu with selections from the award winning S&W menu as iF Tickets for the grand nOveMBeR LineUp well as items selected from Sadie’s opening are avail- Seafood Pub. YOU Lachlan patterson able online at www. november 6 - november 7 The Funny Business Com- gO: ashevillecomedy.com, edy Club will kick off its opening by phone at (828) 318- Grand Opening! From Comedy Central weekend with Comedy Central 8909 or at the box office located and Montreal’s Just for Laughs, don’t regular and nationally touring in the lobby of the S&W building miss your chance to see one of the hot- comedian Lachlan Patterson and the night of the show. test up and coming comedians in the Lachlan Alex Ortiz Carl LaBove Nate Craig country! Featuring Paul Strickland. friends. The evening’s host will be Patterson nate Craig november 1 - november 14 BY DENNIS RAY Appeared on “The Carson Daly Show” Q&a with Charlie Gerencer and performed at the HBO Comedy Festival in Las Vegas. Featuring Jon vent producer Charlie Gerencer The club itself will be just over 3300 square scene from coast to coast. Asheville is a Mumma. offers some insight into his years of feet serving great food, bar, desserts and destination city and I feel it is destined to be comedy and live event planning. most important of all great nationally tour- known for great comedy events. Carl LaBove* november 20 - november 21 Rapid River: How did it all happen? ing comedic acts. RR: Will you be introducing new talents or RR: With unemployment rising, our eco- focus mostly on established names on the One of the “Original Outlaws of Com- ECharlie gerencer: My parents asked me edy”, Carl has appeared on Comedy nomic future uncertain, and possible future comic circuit? the same question when I was four and I Central, Tonight Show, Showtime, jumped off the station wagon in my Super- terror attacks, is comedy what people need Cg: Our headlining acts will be professional HBO, MTV, BBC, Cinemax, Biography man pajamas (cape and all) thinking I was to help release anxieties? touring acts. If by “Introducing” you mean Channel and more! going to soar across the yard. I didn’t make Cg: Good question. Comedy has always local then I would say eventually. We will it past the driveway but fortunately my face had pretty good resistance to tough times. be featuring a once a month showcase show alex Ortiz stopped the decent pretty fast. For me to say people NEED to laugh on Thursdays where we invite regional and november 27 - november 28 This time however my flight plan was would be biased. I feel people SHOULD local young acts to showcase for the club. Alex has appeared on Comedy Central, better. I met the Funny Business Agency laugh more often. There is a difference We keep a very close eye on the emerg- BET, Showtime at the Apollo, Bad Boys family at the 3rd Annual Laugh Your between being a goof ball all day and hav- ing talent in the area. When they are ready of Comedy and more! Featuring Russell Asheville Off Festival this past July. We ing a good sense of humor. to perform on the club stage they will get Ehrett. met several times after that and discussed Being able to laugh at a joke is great the opportunity. *Special shows are more $ comedy and events and it wasn’t long before medicine. Anxiety generally occurs when RR: Will you offer an open mic night? I realized they share the same passion for someone doesn’t know how to just let go iF YOU gO: Shows listed above are 21+. Funny Business Comedy Club comedy that I do. They are also a family for a moment. I have learned that if you Cg: No, not at the club. There is an open mic night at the New French Bar in Ashe- is located in the S&W restaurant in business which means a lot to me. can find a little time to laugh then all the downtown Asheville at 56 Patton Ave. We put together a business plan and problems you face in a day or week or ville every Tuesday evening and we are realized that the time is now. We were whatever seem to work themselves out a always there to see the younger performers. Showtimes: Fridays & Saturdays 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Cover: $14. getting more and more requests from our little smoother. RR: Will there be food and drinks available? fans wanting to know why we didn’t put For more information (828) 318-8909 RR: What do you see this new club becom- Cg: There will be food and drinks. The together shows every week. The comedy or visit www.ashevillecomedy.com ing? What is your vision? menu will mainly be heavy appetizer style fan base in Asheville spoke up and we are food. We thought about full course dinners delivering for them. This time we fly! Cg: With the team we have built behind it I see one of the top comedy clubs in the but we personally found it hard to laugh RR: Tell us about your new location. country within the next few years. My while chewing on a steak and thought that Cg: Me in my Superman pajamas. But Cg: Oh Man! The Funny Business Comedy vision is very focused. Asheville WILL be maybe we weren’t alone with that. So we besides that you can expect a first class Club will be located on the lower level of an international comedy destination in the decided on a more comedy friendly menu. evening of great comedy in a beautiful the Historic S&W Building at 56 Patton Av- next five years. With the combination of the Dinner is available before or after the show building. As a matter of fact I will guarantee enue in downtown Asheville. This building Club, Festival and even the Tuesday night upstairs at Steak and Wine. a great time. We take great pride in assur- is the city’s most beautiful historic location. comedy open mic at the New French Bar RR: Opening night is going to be huge. ing all of our guests have the best time they The design and architecture is stunning. there is buzz about the Asheville comedy What can we expect? have had all week.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 5 6 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE performance

Keowee Chamber Music Offers through Music and Poetry George Winston A Remembrance of the Holocaust Solo Concert

uring the evening of November positions from other BY JOHN CLARK rammy Award Winner 9, 1938 in Nazi Germany, 91 musicians who perished George Winston brings his Jews were murdered and almost in the camps along with Monday, november 9 signature melodic folk, New 30,000 of them were arrested and music of Kurt Weill, Orleans R&B, and stride at 8 p.m. D deported to concentration camps. Achat Sha’alti (1991) by Gpiano styles to the intimate Known as Kristallnacht or “Night of Paul Schoenfield and Live radio concert space of the Diana Wortham Theatre Broken Glass,” the violence ramped up From the Wall (2005) from the performance for a solo piano concert, 8:00 p.m. Hitler’s campaign that eventually extermi- by Michael Cohen. studio of WCQS, Saturday, November 21. nated 6 million Jews — arguably the most The musicians Asheville (www.wcqs. Best known for his inspired sea- horrific event of the 20th century. will be Tena Greene, org). In commemo- sonal recordings, George Winston is a Seventy-one years later in a world in soprano; Kate Stein- ration of Kristall- consummate composer and performer which the president of Iran questions the beck, flutist; Franklin nacht or the Night who plays over 100 solo piano con- very existence of that Jewish tragedy, the Keel, cello; and Dan of Broken Glass, a certs a year in America and beyond, coordinated attack need to remember the Holocaust is as vital Weiser, piano. Poetry Kate Steinbeck is flutist and co- displaying a “lilting, lyrical piano as ever. Western North Carolina residents will be presented by Dr. founder of Keowee Chamber Music. on Jewish people and style.” (Rolling Stone Magazine) will have an opportunity to do just that Richard Chess, Director their property in Nazi when Keowee Chamber Music presents of the Center for Jewish Germany and Austria “Elegy” — a series of music and poetry of Studies at UNCA and Professor in the De- through the night of November 9, 1938. the Holocaust, including music of compos- partment of Literature and Language. ers who died in the concentration camps. tuesday, november 10 at 7 p.m. “We at Keowee Chamber tHe pROgRaM Concert with discussion as part of Holo- Music are honored to present caust and the Arts, Laurel Forum in Karpen Music: Love Songs, op. 26 Hall, UNCA. this series about a tragic event in (1939) from Viktor Ullman our recent past,” said Keowee’s (1898-1944), Sonata for flute Elegy is supported in part by the Deutsch Artistic Director and co-founder and piano (1943) by Leo Smit Family. For additional information about Kate Steinbeck. “Performing (1900-1943) and compositions Elegy, visit www.keoweechambermusic.org. this poignant music, mostly from other musicians who by composers who died in Solo pianist George Winston perished in the camps along Photo: Joe del Tufo the camps, is an appropriate with music of Kurt Weill, Achat The first performance will and beneficial remembrance of iF Tena Greene is the Sha’alti (1991) by Paul Schoen- be Sunday, November 8 at Winston’s solo piano concert at Kristallnacht and the Holocaust.” soprano for these field and From the Wall (2005) YOU 4 p.m. at UNC-Asheville’s the Diana Wortham Theatre features “Elegy” will be presented performances. by Michael Cohen gO: Reuter Center. On Monday, selections from his melodic piano re- on two consecutive days and November 9 at 8 p.m. in cordings, as well as R&B piano, stride admission to the performances Sunday, november 8 at 4 p.m. commemoration of Kristall- piano, Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts® is free. The musical program will include UNCA-Reuter Center’s Chestnut Room, nacht, a live radio concert of Elegy will be pieces, his latest CD Gulf Coast Love Songs, op. 26 (1939) from Viktor Ull- Asheville, free admission, www.unca.edu/ aired by WCQS (88.1 FM). Blues & Impressions – A Hurricane man (1898-1944), Sonata for flute and piano ncccr/index.html Contact info@keoweechambermusic for Relief Benefit, and more. (1943) by Leo Smit (1900-1943) and com- more information. Audience members can join George Winston in support of Asheville’s MANNA Food Bank by bringing a donation of canned food to the concert. There will be collection BY ANDREA ROSAL “Ring in the Holidays” with the baskets at the main entrances. “Pianist George Winston’s music includes a cappella and accompanied pieces Asheville Choral Society cuts a broad swath in both style and from John Rutter, Ralph Vaughn Williams, substance.” ~ The Intelligencer usic Director Lenora Thom and and great rhythms and harmonies; a beauti- Libby Larsen, Z. Randall Stroope, John Ness the Asheville Choral Society will ful Gaelic piece for chorus and marimba; a Beck, Wendell Whalum and Via Olatunji, “Winston draws on jazz, blues, pop offer a spirited blend of voices, piece for bells and chorus from celebrated Kirby Shaw, André J. Thomas, Alf Houkom, and folk for his compositions, creat- bells, brass, percussion, and contemporary American composer Libby Ward Swingle, and G.F. Handel. ing a sparse, dynamic and moving M organ in the upcoming holiday Larsen; a suite called ‘Swingle Bells’ from The mission of the Asheville Choral blend.” ~ Rolling Stone Magazine concert, “Ring in the Holidays,” on Satur- the Swingle Singers, featuring jazz trio and Society is to inspire and to enrich performers day, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, vibraphone; just a wonderful mix of sounds and audiences through the presentation of December 13 at 4:00 p.m. in Central United and sensations that bring excitement to this remarkable music at the highest artistic level. iF George Winston: A Solo Piano Concert, Methodist Church, downtown Asheville. holiday music offering.” YOU Saturday, Novem- Known for her creative programming, The December holiday concert kicks gO: Tickets to “Ring in the ber 21, 8 p.m. Diana Ms. Thom has chosen a fun and festive vari- off the 33rd season of the Asheville Choral iF Wortham Theatre at ety of Christmas pieces this year from both Society, which continues with Carl Orff’s Holidays”, as well as for the YOU 2009-2010 ACS Season, can Pack Place. Tickets: Regular familiar and perhaps less commonly-known mysterious and popular “Carmina Burana” gO: $45; Senior $43; Student $40; Child traditions. “We have ‘Wassail Song’ and on March 20-21st in Central United Meth- be purchased from the Ashe- ville Choral Society via its $12. Student Rush day-of-the-show other beloved types of holiday pieces from odist Church, and concludes with “Unfor- website at www.ashevillecho- (with valid I.D) $10 both American and British tradition, but gettable”, the ACS pops concert, on May ralsociety.org or by calling (828) 232-2060. Info/Tickets: Box Office (828) 257- you’ll also hear a Nigerian Christmas carol 22-23rd in the Diana Wortham Theatre. Special discounts are available for groups of 4530, or visit www.dwtheatre.com and an ‘African Noel’ complete with drums The “Ring in the Holidays” program 10 or more.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 7 RAPID RIVER ARTS fine art 2009 Doors of Asheville omeTrust Bank presents The BY SUSAN M. HAMMOND 2009 Doors of Asheville, an an- nual art auction fundraising event that brings together regional (Left) Julia Burr, the H artists, community leaders and essentials: A simple friends to bid on outstanding themed works portrait of what should be of art. an attainable goal for all. The 2009 Doors of Asheville supports the programs and services of Mountain Housing Opportunities (MHO), a pri- Mountain Housing vate, nonprofit, community development Opportunities (MHO) corporation whose mission is to build and MHO is the largest and improve homes, neighborhoods, communi- fastest growing producer ties and lives. of affordable housing and participating artists safety-related home repairs Jacque Allen, Julie Armbruster, Kathleen in western North Carolina. Barry Beasom, Brigid Burns, Julia C. Burr, In 2008 we celebrated 20 Les Caison III, Dawn Dalto, Gwen Diehn, years of service to over Christine Dougherty, Robin Dreyer, Sarah 3,000 Buncombe County Faulkner, Greg and Carla Filippelli, Fine households. Arts League of the Carolinas, Paul Frehe, Last year, MHO pro- Jonas Gerard, Joanna Gollberg, Celia Gray, duced 104 safe, attrac- Binna Green, tive affordable homes George including single family Handy, Robb homes, townhomes, condominiums Helmkamp, and apartments. And, we provided Moni Hill, over 150 emergency home repairs to Ray Jones, Buncombe County households who Susan Webb have low or very low income and Lee, Linda special needs including those who are Lubé, Carol elderly, have a disability or families Martin, with young children. Virginia Today, MHO serves more than 530 McKinley, people every year in our combined Lynette programs of emergency home repair Miller, Robert and rural home rehabilitation, and Osheeran, affordable homeownership and rental Tom development. Pazderka, Jessica Redford, Rob Helmkamp, open Joseph (purple) heart surgery Redford, Rick iF Thursday, November 19, Reinhardt, doors open at 6:30 p.m. The Jennifer YOU Orange Peel, 101 Biltmore Riddle, S. Joe gO: Ave., Asheville, NC. Reser- Ruminski, vations accepted online, by Theo Sable, mail or phone. $55 per person; David Sluder, $100 per couple. Kim Stimpson To request an invitation or to purchase a and Kathy ticket, please contact MHO at (828) 254- Triplett. 4030 or email us at [email protected]. Joanna Gollberg, Ovals Bracelet

Greg and Carla S. Joe Ruminski, Jacque Allen, Filipelli, Cocoon Door to the Night Little Red Chest

8 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS asheville shops Tie The Knot!

eltic knots have been around since continuous the 3rd or 4th century and have braids as seen been seen in the artwork of the on the chalice, later Roman Empire. Each one and the sec- C represents a different aspect of life: ond was more fertility, love, faith and even farming. decorative Some knots are quite simple but others with domed circles, initials or symbols in are very complicated. The Celts perfected between the knots. These knots have been spirals, step patterns and key patterns in incorporated into all kinds of artwork for their motifs before the Christian influence centuries; everything from the embroidery in about 450 AD changed this. From then at the hem of a garment to the major feature on this Celtic form of art was used by early in a piece of jewelry and the many other Christians to decorate their manuscripts, manifestations we see commonly today. adding depictions from life such as animals To this day many jewelers of handmade and plants. These early patterns were called pieces sell a type of Celtic love knot ring be- plaits and it is these intricately interwoven cause it is so symbolic of the everlasting love cords that are most commonly associated of the couple. Almost all are carved to look with the Celts. like they are an actual weaving of two strands. But every once in a while you can find a craftsman who actually braids the knots by hand, such as one goldsmith, creating art rings in Biltmore Village. Lynn Daniel, at blue, has been making Celtic The celtic love knot, that represents love knot rings for many years. She became everlasting love, represents two bonded fascinated with their intricate nature and lovers, with its two intertwining overhand their history and set out to learn how to knots. Celtic love knot pattern consists of actually braid them into the rings she was complete loops that have neither a begin- making. The very first braid going around ning nor an end. a ring took her 47 hours to perfect (she The meaning behind these specific started watching the time when she realized loops made up into the total knot has been it wasn’t going to happen very quickly!), but broken down into the parts of the knot. The now jokes that she is a little faster doing it! two strands represent the two lovers. The Lynn says the symbolism for people crossings, which are repeated often, depict is powerful. She always tells them where the physical and the spiritual, expressed the expression “tie the knot” came from, in the interlacing of the knots. Finally, the and that this particular knot that she braids strand that has no beginning and no ends stands for everlasting love. represents the permanence and continuance These rings are not only beautiful to of life, love and faith. look at, but they serve to commemorate a This knot was performed during significant day in a couple’s life. They are wedding ceremonies. The couple getting also a wonderful idea for a mother’s ring married would have to tie this particular as Lynn often puts stones in between the knot, sometimes with a rope or even a silk braids. The stones could go around the ring; scarf. They would learn the intricate weav- and those stones could be the birthstones ing that would entwine their hands within of the children, thus making a beautiful the knot at the same time. It was difficult to mother’s ring. do and took a lot of practice by the couple. It is also quite stunning to incorporate The expression, “tie the knot” came from more than one color of 14k gold in the this actual ceremony and it’s a saying we piece, maybe by making the base of the still use today. piece white gold while making the individ- The first fully documented marriage ual braids in another color. Lynn says her fa- ceremony performed by the Celts also used vorite combination right now is a 14k white a chalice during the ceremony, much like gold ring with 14k rose gold braids. catholic communion. The couple would drink wine and have a wafer to represent Jesus’ participation in the blessing of the these Celtic love knot rings can be seen at union. The chalice usually had a carved de- blue, 1 Swan Street, in Historic Biltmore sign running around the girth of the vessel, village. Lynn will be happy to help you de- and the design most frequently used was the sign the Celtic ring that has great meaning Celtic love knot. for you. Hours: Monday through Saturday, Two different designs emerged within 10:0 to 6 p.m. and Sundays 12 to 4 p.m. the love knot designs. The first being the www.bluegoldsmiths.com

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 9 RAPID RIVER ARTS fine art Down By The Tracks tHOUgHtS On “COMMUnitY” in tHe RiveR aRtS diStRiCt

ou can almost feel the train before you BY GREG VINEYARD actually hear it. The low grumble is soon of June and November. Y reinforced by the fa- Many studios are open daily miliar “clang” of the crossing all year, but on these two gate and the engineer’s horn. weekends nearly all 120 I grew up in the West, artists have their studios where running trains were open and work on display a daily occurrence, and old simultaneously. Even a narrow-gauges still climbed train barreling through the up mountain passes to min- middle of everything can’t ing-turned-tourist towns. stop the dizzying flow of art, There’s certainly an element food, visitors and energy. It’s of nostalgia to train-watch- an event that shows guests ing, but the reality is that in Photo: Greg Vineyard how a community of artists the world of commerce, the can really connect all the train is still valid. And like the old buildings dots and pull off a big show. in the River Arts District, it endures with In a time when so much is driven by purpose. For me, it’s a symbol of the stead- the valuable tools of social networking and fast perseverance of the hard-working artists digital technology, the train serves as a bal- and crafts persons in the District, represent- anced reminder about traditional activities ing consistent forward movement for the that are still crucial cogs in how groups of creation and selling of fine arts and crafts in humans work together. Face-to-face discus- one of THE arts destinations in the country. sions and monthly group meetings result in The tracks look like big, metal stitches innovation, sharing of best practices, oppor- through the District, holding roads, grass, tunities to mutually promote each other’s gravel, brick and river scraps together to talents and chances to take a turn wearing form a hip, patchwork map. Back when I the engineer’s hat. New ideas gestate, To- was just visiting Asheville and the River Do Lists are tackled and members old and Arts District, I was charmed by the train as new learn what they can do to help out. I criss-crossed back and forth checking out Everybody benefits. the twelve buildings full of working studios. There’s a well-known children’s book But when I moved here and joined the about a certain little engine that could. What River District Artists’ 120 or so members, I’ve experienced is that it’s a lot easier to get I then got a real sense of how an engaged up that hill by being part of an interactive community is vital to success. group that keeps adding more engine power In addition to the benefits provided by to the train. If you’re thinking about joining group marketing, sales and event planning, an art community, I say “All aboard!” artists also get the chance to become an inte- gral part of something larger. As with trains, some folks lay the tracks, some map-out greg vineyard is an artist routes, others step in to engineer and scores and creative consultant more maintain schedules and load up the in asheville’s River arts boxcars. Even just paying dues for member- district. His ceramics for ship and brochure advertising helps keep contemplation and connec- the whole operation on the right track. tivity can be found at Con- The River District Artists work all year stance Williams Studio & gallery, open long on multitudinous opportunities, with daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 12 Riverside the largest undertaking being the River Arts drive. visit www.riverdistrictartists.com. District Studio Stroll the second weekends

Constance Williams Studio & Gallery

This Fall’s River Arts District River District Artists for a day Studio Stroll is happening of fine art, exquisite crafts and Saturday, November 14 and great food! See the full story Sunday, November 15, from on page 32. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come visit Constance Williams Constance Williams, Studio & Gallery, and all 120 Encaustic Painter

10 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS fine art North Carolina Living Treasures 2009 Cynthia Bringle and Norman Schulman Exhibition

oth Cynthia Bringle and BY APRIL NANCE Norman Schulman are potters from Penland, N.C. Bringle has been a her MFA from Alfred Univer- member of the South- sity in New York. B Among her awards are ern Highland Craft Guild since 1970 while Schulman was Fellow of the American Craft awarded honorary Guild mem- Council, the NC Award for bership in 2008. Fine Art, Life Membership in Both artisans were selected the Southern Highland Craft to receive the 2009 Living Trea- Guild, and Honorary Doctorate Tell them you saw it in Rapid River Magazine sures Award by the UNCW Cynthia Bringle from Memphis College of Arts. Museum of World Cultures, Norm Schulman is a William Madison Randall master ceramist, whose career Library. The award was given spans over 50 years of practice, in recognition of their standing teaching, and mentoring in his among the finest potters and field. His artwork ranges from ceramicists in America today functional to sculptural. and for their contributions as Schulman was born in artists and artisans to their field. New York City in 1924 and In keeping with the purpose remained in the city to receive of the award, they are also be- a diploma from Parsons School ing recognized for preserving of Design and attend New artistic traditions; promoting art Norman Schulman York University, where he as a viable economic industry; earned his BS in Art. He later and for representing the best received his MFA in ceram- of traditional arts throughout the state of ics from Alfred University, where he held North Carolina. teaching and research fellowships. The UNCW Department of Art and Throughout his career as a ceramic Art History is sponsoring the traveling artist, Schulman has taught and mentored exhibition, North Carolina Living Treasures many potters who have themselves become 2009: Cynthia Bringle and Norm Schul- distinguished in the field. Since 1978, man. The organizers of the exhibit, Drs. Schulman has worked mainly as a studio Hathia and Andy Hayes with assistance artist in Penland, N.C. from UNCW art faculty Aaron Wilcox and Andi Steel, selected the works. Cynthia Bringle is recognized as being iF For more information about among the finest potters in her profession as this exhibition and the Folk well as a respected teacher of the craft; her YOU Art Center, call (828) 298- influence on other potters stretches around gO: 7928 or visit www.craftguild. the world. Born in 1939 in Memphis, Ten- org. The Folk Art Center is nessee, Bringle studied both painting and located at Milepost 382 of the pottery at the Memphis Academy of Art, Blue Ridge Parkway, just north of the Hwy where she earned a BFA. She later received 70 entrance in east Asheville, NC.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 11 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE stage preview

Even in the Darkest Times, it is A Wonderful Life C Stage and Immediate Theatre Project present BY AMANDA LESLIE a vivid new adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life. also because the copyright was N “Just remember allowed to expire prematurely, this, Mr. Potter: that this rabble allowing them to air it for free! you’re talking about, they do most The live stage adaptation of the working and paying and liv- allows families to begin a new tra- ing and dying in this community. dition of viewing It’s a Wonderful Well, is it too much to have them Life. Tickets are priced at just $20 work and pay and live and die in for adults and $8 for children age a couple of decent rooms and a 8-18. It’s a Wonderful Life: Live bath?” from WVL Radio Theatre opens When Frank Capra and his the day after Thanksgiving and co-writers were working on It’s runs through most of December. a Wonderful Life in early 1946, (L-R): Kathryn Temple, Hans Meyer, and Willie “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s Repoley in a past production of “It's the Great Depression was a vivid life touches so many other lives. a Wonderful Life.” Photo:Hans Meyer memory. The story of George “When he isn’t around he leaves Bailey and Bedford Falls is juxta- new adaptation is set in the fictional an awful hole, doesn’t he?” posed against a time of failing banks, studio of WVL Radio Theatre, which devastatingly high unemployment, is struggling to stay on the air one and a shortage of affordable housing. snowy winter night. The professional November 27 – De- Sound familiar? iF voice actors are unable to get through, cember 20 at North More than 60 years later, this but the show must go on — and so a YOU Carolina Stage Com- story remains as fresh and relevant small but intrepid band of employees gO: pany, 15 Stage Lane in as ever, and its message of hope and Asheville (off of Walnut manage to create the dozens of movie optimism is the perfect antidote to Street, next to the characters and scenes using just their holiday cynicism. Rankin Ave. parking garage). voices and a sound effects table. This holiday season, North For many years television sta- Tickets: $20 for adults, $8 for ages Carolina Stage Company and Im- tions ran It’s a Wonderful Life every 8-18, $10 for students with valid ID. mediate Theatre Project present It’s a December – both because it’s a warm Group discounts available. For more Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio information call (828) 239-0263 or and delightful holiday story, but Theatre, by Willie Repoley. This fresh visit www.ncstage.org.

North Buncombe High School Students Collaborate with Asheville Lyric Opera in Production of Hansel and Gretel tudents at North Buncombe combe High in BY KRISTEN YARBOROUGH High School are now in the addition to the cho- process of preparing for their rus of gingerbread roles in Humperdinck’s Hansel atre department will have the children and the S and Gretel. All roles, with the opportunity to work with our dancing angels. exception of three principal roles, will production staff as assistant stage managers, wardrobe crew, lighting Jeannie Graeme, be played by students. the Choir Director at The North Buncombe choral operators and properties coordinators. Students will perform live on stage North Buncombe High School, director will join her students in the is playing the Mother. Jessica Savitt cast, singing a principal role. These with professional singers and profes- sional set and costumes. They will will play the Dewfairy and Mollie Wil- students will be guided by our musical son will play the Sandman. Dr. Vance director, the choral director and other have an active, creative and important voice in the success of the project. Reese will be the Music Director and applicable staff from the opera com- accompanist. ALO Company Man- pany in learning their music. • This production of Hansel and Gre- ager, Kristen Yarborough, is directing In addition to traditional rehears- tel is the culmination of many hours this production. als during after school hours and on of work and collaboration between weekends, educational seminars will the Asheville Lyric Opera and North be taught about the composer of the Buncombe High School. Hansel and Gretel, opera, style of music, performance iF November 6 at 7:30 practices and character development. • Production is set in the Appalachian mountains. YOU p.m. North Buncombe Professional artists will also help lead gO: High School. For more the project and will assist students in • Out of the 6 major roles in this information please call the creative process. opera, three are being played by the (828) 257-4530 or visit Students of the technical the- faculty and students of North Bun- www.ashevillelyric.org.

12 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE stage preview

aSHeviLLe COMMUnitY tHeateR pReSentS The Hallelujah Girls Midsummer Night’s Dream Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that “there are no second acts in BY TIM HENDERSON Set in 1930s Appalachia American lives.” Sugar Lee, the pro- tagonist of Asheville Community Led by Sugar Lee, they set out to change are for a serving of Shake- F.Theater’s upcoming comedy The their lives and achieve their dreams in this speare, hold the Elizabethan Hallelujah Girls, would most likely reply fifth collaboration by Jessie Jones, Nicholas English and add fiddle and a that, “It sounds like somebody could use a Hope, and Jamie Wooten as ACT’s play- soft Southern drawl? little time at the spa, doesn’t it?” wrights-in-residence. C One of the most often Set in the fictitious town of Eden Falls, Much like the trio’s previous hits for Kerry Shannon (Nita) receives an “Ego performed of Shakespeare’s comedies, GA, the latest offering from ACT’s ac- ACT (Dearly Beloved, Christmas Belles, Massage” from (l-r) LaNita Cloninger “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” claimed Jones-Hope-Wooten playwright Southern Hospitality, and ‘Til Beth Do (Sugar Lee), Susan Cain (Carlene), and weaves multiple storylines: a royal team delivers laughter and a valuable les- Us Part), The Hallelujah Girls features Rhonda Parker (Crystal). wedding, a group of amateur actors son in self-reinvention when a quintet of laugh-out-loud Southern sitcom humor planning the wedding entertainment, over-the-hill Southern belles proves that and fully-drawn characters whose problems lelujah Girls, co-authored the award-win- the confused affections of four young it’s never too late to become the person you and personalities viewers of all ages can ning play, Dearly Departed, and its feature lovers and a feuding fairy king and were meant to be. understand. “It’s like I know these people,” film adaptation, “Kingdom Come.” Hope, queen whose magical spells cause Played by LaNita Cloninger, Sugar explained lead actress LaNita Cloninger. a former casting director for ABC televi- mayhem. The characters ultimately Lee is the proprietor of Spa-Dee-Dah!, an “I’m related to most of them!” sion, won praise and prizes for his play A decide they must have dreamed the abandoned church-turned-day spa where Cloninger has been active with ACT Friend of the Family. Wooten spent thirteen chaotic series of events, yet all find she and her friends spend their Friday after- since 1995, and this is her third play work- seasons writing for the classic sitcom “The themselves changed by the experience. noons fretting over stagnant marriages and ing with Jones, Hope, and Wooten. She Golden Girls” and received the Writers small town gossip. noted that most of the cast — which also Guild of America award. Nita (Kerry Shannon) struggles to includes Rick Sibley, Roger Magendie, and Their latest play may prove F. Scott keep her adult son on the right side of the Joan Atwood — has previous experience Fitzgerald wrong, as Sugar Lee and the girls law, while Mavis (Beth Heinrich) can’t live teaming up together to bring the trio’s work promise to deliver enough laughs to leave without her husband of forty-six years, but to life, which helps foster an atmosphere of even Jay Gatsby himself doubled over in his also can’t live with him any familiarity and camaraderie seat and shouting, “Hallelujah!” longer, and considers faking behind the scenes that stim- her own death just to get ulates the creative process away. and heightens the script’s iF “The Hallelujah Girls” opens Thrice-widowed Car- hilarity. “It’s always exciting November 20 and runs lene (Susan Cain) has given to work directly with these YOU weekends through December up on romance altogether, authors,” said Cloninger. gO: 6. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. and Crystal (Rhonda Parker) “We’re like a family — we Fridays and Saturdays, with a Director Claire Eye set the play provides comic relief by envelop people.” Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. in Depression-era Appalachia because crooning Christmas carols Speaking of second Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for seniors it was a time when people craved featuring her own made-up acts: prior to their move to and students, and $12 for kids. Tickets laughter, and the play reminds her of lyrics. The loss of a dear LaNita Cloninger (Sugar the mountains Jones, Hope, available at the ACT box office. Visit qualities of this region. “There’s such friend shakes these ladies out Lee) and Rick Sibley and Wooten each enjoyed Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. a beauty to the music and the people of their malaise and reminds (Bobby Dwayne) trading successful show-biz careers. Or call (828) 254-1320 and online at www. here,” Eye said. them that time is precious. verbal jabs. Jones, who directs Hal- ashevilletheatre.org. The cast includes: Titania, Queen of the Fairies, senior Dayna Damron of Valdosta, Ga.; Oberon, King of the Global Playback presents Fairies, junior Jack Watson of Ashe- ville; Demetrius, senior Jon Coward of Titusville, Fla.; Lysander, senior Human Rights: Stories of Resilience and Hope Nathanial Mason of Bryson City; Hermia, junior Christina DeSoto of sheville Playback Theatre is “This international event serves as Charlotte; Helena, senior Amanda partnering with Amnesty Inter- a moment in time when we can stop, Pisano of Candler; Puck, freshman national at UNCA to present take a breath, and focus on the rights Peter O’Neal of Raleigh; Bottom the 5th annual Global Playback which are fundamental to all human the Weaver, Peter Savage, a faculty Event. beings,” said Peter. “Everyone needs to member in the department of stage AThis year’s theme is Human Rights: realize that around the world, so many and screen. Stories of Resilience and Hope. Ashe- others do not have the great lives we ville Playback Theatre founder Raphael enjoy here in Asheville.” iF “A Midsummer Peter explains the dynamic will mirror YOU Night’s Dream” 3 p.m. that of a typical Playback performance, Sunday, November 1, With help from UNCA’s gO: at the Fine and Per- in which audience members are encour- Playback is founded on honoring people’s iF Dr. Mark Gidney and the forming Arts Center aged to share their personal stories and then real life stories.” YOU campus chapter of Am- select actors from the troupe to bring them on the WCU campus. Tickets: Performances scheduled in dozens gO: nesty International, the local $20, students $5, and $15 for WCU to life on the spot. of countries on six continents between installment of this year’s faculty and staff and people 60+. To “It’s all in the moment,” said Peter. November 9 - 15 will remind audiences of Global Playback Event will be purchase tickets call (828) 227-2479 “We never know what will happen, it’s what can happen when people recognize held Sunday, November 15 a 2:30 p.m. in or visit www.ticketreturn.com. completely up to the audience [because] their common humanity. the grotto of UNCA’s Highsmith Center.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 1 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE spinning discs

Given two stars or five, be assured anything reviewed in these pages is worth november Cd Reviews your time and money. Just be certain to spend that dough at any of Asheville’s fine independent record stores. They’re the ones who really know and support by James Cassara the music!

Roseanne Cash Twenty five years after the release that manages to challenge our notions of The List of her first album the time has come to what such unorthodox hybrids might result Manhattan declare daughter Roseanne a true American in, while opening up a world of possibilities. treasure, an artist whose own oeuvre should There’s not a weak moment to be Records take a back seat to no one. ****1/2 heard and if Blood From Stars doesn’t bring Following the Henry the acclaim he’s so richly earned deaths of her father, Joe Henry there ought to be some sort of cosmic reck- mother, and step- oning. ***** mother, Rosanne Cash entered into an Blood From Stars extended and understandable period of Anti Records musical grief. The resultant album Black It’s nearly Lyle Lovett Cadillac was her bleakest since 1990’s In- criminal how under Natural Forces teriors and while the beauty and resolution appreciated Joe Lost Highway of her voice was by no means absent it was Henry is, even amongst music aficionados Records certainly muted by her pain. who might have heard the name but cannot After the relative Having at least partially exorcised place the voice. He’s been hanging around bombast of It’s Not those demons Cash returns with The List, the margins of stardom for more than two Big It’s Large, which a musical tribute to her past (especially the decades, has amassed a body of work nearly was about as loud and frenetic and this low enormous influence of The Man In Black) unmatched in consistency and sheer bril- key troubadour gets, Lyle Lovett retreats that fittingly reminds us, and herself, of the liance, and the guy still can’t catch a break. to the comparative safety found in other redemptive power of song. But if any album is going to change that voices. Of Natural Forces’ twelve tracks The album’s origin is itself compelling. Blood from Stars is the most likely candi- (including full band and acoustic versions When Cash turned 18, her father Johnny, date. His third album for Anti Records — of “The Pantry”) less than half were penned concerned that his daughter’s knowledge all of which are killer gems — is the most by Lovett. It’s not an uncommon move for of music might be limited to the top 40, assertive and adventurous collection he’s an artist who, over the years, has delighted presented her a list of what he considered yet put together. Working with a band that in singing other people’s songs, but it does the 100 essential American songs. most musicians would die for, including ace give him an opportunity to take a back seat Over the years she’s kept that list. With guitarist Marc Ribot, Patrick Warren, Jay on his own record. her father now gone the time must have Bellerose, David Pilch, and son Levon on The result pays off nicely as Lovett seemed right to share that sacred knowledge saxophones and clarinet, Blood From Star is sounds reenergized and his old playful self. with the world. As such the twelve songs a jazz tinged free form folk masterwork. He again dips into the wellspring of tunes chosen are for the most part well known. If that description seems a bit nebu- by fellow Texans Townes Van Zandt and The triumph here is not in Cash lous it is only because the songs here, Vince Bell while co-writing “It’s Rock and unearthing some arcane piece, but rather which act as a sort of concise history of Roll” with Robert Earl Keen. how she reinterprets the familiar, making Americana, — from Blues to Bop to Folk As on his best records the mood is them her own in much the same way her and straight on through to the birth of breezy and light (but seldom lightweight) dad would have done. The opener, a breezy Rock and Roll with Henry and his produc- and while Natural Forces is unlikely to win and gorgeously sung rendition of Jimmie er engineer Ryan Freeland serving as our any new converts in contrast to the more Rodgers’ “Miss the Mississippi and You,” is tour guides — defy categorization. serious tone of his past few records it goes a sprightly, at ease, and simply wonderful. Where to start? Do we delight in the long way in reminding us of why we liked Even such overly exposed songs as sonic antiquities of “The Man I Keep Hid” this wild haired idiosyncratic performer so “Motherless Children” which could have with its stunning assemblage of horns, much in the first place. ***1/2 easily been rendered in rote fashion, is made organs, piano, and a rhythm section that newly relevant when heard within the con- wraps itself around the singer’s voice, or do Steep Canyon Rangers text of Cash’s own loss. we languish in the sheer simple beauty of There’s so much here worth listening “Channel”, a song that reflects the singer’s Deep In the Shade to. A delicate rendering of Dylan’s “Girl inner world in which he yearns to “get my Rebel Records from the North Country,” a jaunty duet story straight while all the others bend.” With a collection consisting largely of with Elvis Costello on “Heartaches by the “Death to the Storm” is a basic twelve original material The Steep Canyon Rangers Number” and a somber coupling with Jeff bar blues which Ribot’s piercing guitar and maintain the musical evolution with a pleas- Tweedy on the deliciously twisted “Long Henry’s subtle phrasing elevate to levels ant but somewhat safe hybrid of traditional Black Veil” (once made famous by her dad) far and above. “Bellwether” is a similarly and contemporary Bluegrass. are but a few of the pleasures found herein. constructed early era bit of jazz-blues but As always the musicianship is impec- On “Sea of Heartbreak” Cash sings with a Henry’s voice and the accompanying ar- cable and while every member of the band tempered calm that perfectly matches the rangement give it a warmth and innocence can go head to head with the best of them gruff howling of Bruce Springsteen. that is quite frankly heartbreaking. what sets this album ahead of its predeces- Cash never falters, her singing is I’ve listened to this album at least a sors is the growth and maturity of the songs. impeccable, and the sympathetic support dozen times over the past few days and Principals Graham Sharp and Charles of husband/instrumentalist John Leventhal continue to marvel at it. As with all great art, Humphrey have quietly become first rate pushes her to new and invigorating levels. and I say that with a capital “A” each sub- songwriters. Cash can in no way match the pervasive sequent play reveals new depths, nuances, Were they to succumb to the lure of influence and sheer originality of her dad and joys. Nashville one could easily see them pen- but that in no way diminishes her own The overall effect is mesmerizing; Joe ning hit tunes for others. Such numbers as contributions. Henry has created a kaleidoscopic tapestry ‘CD’s’ continued on next page

14 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE what’s happening

Bluegrass Great Doyle Lawson to Play Parkway Benefit BLind piLOt Land at UnCa ollege favorites Blind Pilot, part is own devotion to bluegrass father’s gospel quartet and of a group of young artists pull- BY JAMES CASSARA stretches back to the genre’s eventually taught himself ing influences from all across the golden era of the 1950s, but the five-string banjo and Cfolk and Americana spectrum, Doyle Lawson has himself been guitar as well. After a period of will be making their Asheville premiere an artistic leader and innovator In 1963, Lawson relative inactivity Lawson re- with a show at UNCA. H surfaced with a pair of new for more than three decades. While his began playing banjo with The band, known for their blend band has featured nearly forty musicians Jimmy Martin & the gospel albums, Just over in of roots music and indie rock, tap the over the years — many of which have Sunny Mountain Boys. Heaven and Gospel Parade. same vein as fellow Portlanders the gone on to considerable success on their He moved to Kentucky He followed that with the Decemberists (with whom the band own — Lawson remains the one constant. and played with various 2002 release Hard Game shares a mutual respect and friend- The role of mentor is one he willing- groups before joining J.D. of Love, his first secular ship), Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine. ly embraces; to Lawson the opportunity to Crowe & the Kentucky disc in some years and one further the careers of fellow players is one Mountain Boys in 1966, of his most commercially way in which he repays the debt of grati- first on guitar and then on successful. Slowed down tude he feels for his own good fortune. He mandolin. Lawson made by heath problems Lawson may be a legend, but while Lawson takes his recording debut with Doyle Lawson blends curbed his touring schedule, pride in a career that’s stood at the center Red Allen on the album bluegrass and gospel. but managed to record the of bluegrass and gospel for decades, he’s Bluegrass Holiday and impeccable You Gotta Dig a hardly resting on his laurels. At the same except for a brief 1969 return to Martin’s Little Deeper in 2005. time that he’s garnering new acclaim for band he stayed with Crowe until 1971. Two years later he released Behind his historic contributions, he’s plowing Later that year Lawson joined the Country the Picture, while 2007 saw the release new ground alongside artists half his age Gentlemen, a partnership that lasted eight of Behind the Wall, followed by 2009’s and maintaining a busy touring schedule years and included numerous recordings Lonely Street. Married and the father of Comprised of guitarist/vocalist all over the country. and tours both stateside and abroad. three children, Lawson is the longtime Israel Nebeker, Luke Ydstie on upright His ability to blend bluegrass and His first official solo album, 1977’s host of his own Doyle Lawson & Quick- bass and vocals, keyboardist and horn gospel is unparalleled, and few artists have Tennessee Dream, consisted entirely of silver bluegrass festival in Denton, NC, as man Dave Jorgenson, multi-instru- the same dual citizenship in the secular mandolin instrumentals, and showcased well as one of the art form’s most passion- mentalist Kati Claborn, Ian Krist and non-secular worlds as he does. He’s Lawson’s virtuosic playing. The album ate and erudite ambassadors. He is at the on vibraphone, and drummer Ryan proven himself for more than three gen- also featured Crowe, Jerry Douglas, and pinnacle of this field, and even if the show Dubrowki, Blind Pilot are touring in erations of bluegrass traditions and some- Kenny Baker. In 1979, he put Quicksilver were not in support of our beloved Blue support of their debut album 3 Rounds how he keeps raising the bar and building together, including banjo player Terry Ridge Parkway, hearing such a recognized and A Sound on Expunged Records. his legacy with each new release. Baucom, guitarist Jimmy Haley, and elec- master in concert would be reason enough They’ve recently completed a massive One of the most highly regarded tric bass player Lou Reid. to attend. U.S. tour, which included a main stage mandolin players in bluegrass, Lawson In 1980, Quicksilver released their performance at this year’s Lollapalooza was born in unincorporated Ford Town, eponymous debut album and followed it Bluegrass great Doyle Festival. The Asheville show is part of TN, near Kingsport. Several of his rela- up with Rock My Soul. Since that time iF Lawson and his band the university’s ongoing commitment tives sang in local gospel quartets but the the band has been a model of prolific YOU Quicksilver. At the Blue to bring reasonably priced shows to the family also listened to The Grand Ole consistency, releasing more than two gO Ridge Parkway 75th An- student body and public at large. Opry on the radio during the years when dozen albums and touring steadily. Sev- niversary Benefit Concert, Bill Monroe was creating the music that eral of the 1980s Doyle Lawson & Quick- Asheville’s Thomas Wolfe Blind Pilot, Friday, took the name of bluegrass. Monroe in- silver LPs, long out of print and highly Auditorium. Saturday, November iF November 6 at 8 p.m. spired young Lawson to take up music and sought after, were re-released in pairs 14 at 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $35 for a general YOU with opening act The to learn the mandolin. He borrowed his on CD in the late 1990s by the group’s ticket and $75 for a patron ticket. For gO Low Anthem. UNCA’s first one at age 11 from a member of his longtime label, Sugar Hill. more details visit www.doylelawson.com Highsmith Union Hall.

‘CD’s’ continued from page 14 knack for making everything new sound old again. On the covers side Merle Haggard’s “I Thought That “I Must Be Somebody Else You’ve Known” Benefit Concert with Hasidic Jewish She Loved Me” is given a sprightly updating that, even if it might start as the doesn’t quite resolve the distinction between Reggae Superstar Matisyahu usual boy meets humor and slapstick does offer the band a girl romantic chance to really cut loose. Best of the bunch Few artists make an impact as Executive pro- entanglement is an gorgeous a cappella rendering of The complete as the one Matisyahu ducer and local but in tongue in Weaver’s by way of Leadbelly prison weeper made with his top 40 hit “King resident, Derek cheek fashion “Sylvie,” in which the band engages in some Without a Crown.” Here was a Hoffman con- it quickly turns good old fashioned southern church gospel. Hasidic Jewish musician from New vinced Matisyahu to add Asheville things more than a bit upside down. It’s I’d have chosen it to end the album (it York city singing reggae songs to his world tour in an effort to a playful romp buoyed by the strumming instead falls smack in the middle) but that’s about his religious devotion. raise money for the local Asheville mandolin and fiddle interplay of Mike a pretty minor quibble. As it is Deep In The Jewish community. Guggino and Nicky Sanders.” Shade shows just how far these boys have On his bold new album, Light, 29- On the more somber end of the spec- come while giving a glimpse of how far they year-old Matisyahu proves there Matisyahu at the Orange Peel, trum is “Shades of Gray,” a traditional lost might yet go. ***1/2 is much more to his artistry than Sunday, November 15 at 8 p.m. love lament that demonstrates the band’s might initially meet the eye. Tickets at www.theorangepeel.net.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 15 RAPID RIVER ARTS music

Greg Laswell: Charting His Own Course

ince the 2006 release of his Vanguard Records BY JAMES CASSARA debut Though Toledo, $500,000 Coverage Guaranteed Greg Laswell’s musical EP of new material. Monthly Premiums Sharing the evening (Preferred Best No Nicotine Use) S star has most certainly been on the rise. with Laswell will be Ingrid The Los Angeles based Michaelson. The singer, who singer/songwriter is originally like Laswell, has had several from Long Beach, where he of her songs picked up by passionately absorbed the the small screen, is gifted sonic vibe that resonated with an immediately likeable throughout the region. Upon voice and accessible melodies graduation Laswell moved to that even the most musically San Diego where he experi- challenged can hum along mented with the various ele- to. That isn’t to say they’re ments that would eventually simplistic, just friendly. Singer/songwriter Her compelling story is develop into his sound. Greg Laswell After a period of artistic that she was an unsigned art- diffusion Laswell formed ist who first achieved national Shillglen, his first band of note. Shillglen attention with multiple song placements 1-888-735-7491 quickly became a local favorite and whereas on the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy. most artists would likely have pursued the The show’s producers became so enamored dream of a big label contract Laswell opted of her music that they chose Keep Breathing to instead start up his own company. It was to air during the fading six minutes of the a move fraught with risks and while it set a 2007 season finale. blueprint for doing things his own way the The resultant mainstream exposure label went bankrupt within the year. Un- was followed by her ubiquitous hit single daunted Laswell formed 20 Inch Records, The Way I Am. The song, from her break- hiring himself as producer and signing up through album Girls and Boys, was not only local talent. In 2003, Laswell released his spun on radio stations all over the country, first solo album, Good Move. but was featured in a major national televi- * The modestly recorded and distrib- sion commercial for Old Navy. Michael- $ uted disc garnered unexpected critical local son has since appeared on Good Morning 00 acclaim and by 2005 he had signed with America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Vanguard. The label was the perfect match and was the first unsigned musician ever se- Buys of Laswell, allowing him ample time to lected as a Vh1 “You Ought to Know” artist. 1 Globe Life Insurance record and a fair amount of artistic freedom. The New York Times has described In early 2008 his next full-length effort, the her sound as “soulful and idiosyncratic” Adult Rates As Low As $3.49 Per Month†† EP How the Day Sounds, hit the shelves. while Entertainment Weekly described her † The release included outtakes from past and as “a deft mistress of quirk folk… a grass- Children’s Rates As Low As $1.99 Per Month future albums as well as material recorded roots phenomenon.” Michaelson has re- specifically for the disc. leased all of her music via her own Cabin 24 No Medical Exam – Only A Few Yes/No Health Questions Vanguard’s patience paid off. Laswell’s label which has sold nearly 400,000 albums shimmering melodies, orchestral arrange- and more than 1.5 million singles to date. /P
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16 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE thoreau’s garden

The Incredible, Inedible, Stapeliads BY PETER LOEWER

n orange sun forms one fiery bub- ful that I’ve grown are the time-honored temperature falls that low, stem then set aside for a ble in a flat and deep blue sky. The Stapelia variegata, or spotted toad flower: they will usually begin to few days until the cut or only signs of movement on the vast S. longipes; S. cylista; S. nobilis; S. pasa- rot. I withhold water from break is dry. Use pieces horizon are the shimmering waves denensis; and Edithcolea grandis. When November to March, at least an inch long. A of heat as they rise in frantic whorls in bloom S. pasadenensis can produce a moving the plants to my from the sea of sand that seems to stretch on flower over six inches in diameter that, study, where the tempera- forever. And it is hot — dry and hot. unlike the others, is best kept outdoors tures fluctuate between Stapelias or Carrion At first glance, all seems to be lifeless because it can smell a lot like living close to 50° and 70° F. Flowers. Clockwise and bare. Just the sand and stone enveloped an unsuccessful landfill operation. Take cuttings of from top left: in a deathly stillness. Then The most important your plants in the late Stapelia pasadenensis, in the shady crook of a large family trait of the stapeliads spring when the weather S. longipes; S. cylista; rock, I see a twisted bunch of Most stapeliads concerns the pollen content is on the warm side. The Edithcolea grandis; S. variegata. thick, green, tapered stems all are found growing of the flower’s sexual cells cutting is best removed splotched with purple, and I under the shelter of which is pressed into waxy from the joint of a parent Illustration by Peter Loewer hear the buzz of a lone fly. small trees, bushes, masses, in turn attached in I look again and see a pairs to pincer-like organs vivid orange and purple flower. and weedy plants. called pollen-carriers. When Flower? What kind of flower a fly — flies, because after all looks more like tooled and these plants inhabit terrain Ikebana International wrinkled leather tattooed where any self-respect- with strange tints and hues ing bee or other dignified he Giving Season gets into gear BY PATTI HILL rather than the jewel like pollinator would never be with a creative holiday partnership joining New Morning Gallery and tones of a normal floral found — visits the blossom flowers to enjoy for the holidays and a con- Bellagio gifts with flower arrange- display? And the fly; why the (attracted by the unpleas- tainer to treasure all year long, while benefit- ments from Ikebana International fly? Then there’s the smell ant odor), upon leaving the T ing both local non-profits. in Asheville. — ever so slight — of spoiled strange petals, a wad of pol- Also at New Morning Gallery the sec- At these two stores, three special events fruit or a bit of meat long past len hooks onto the insect’s ond weekend in November, Jeff McKinley bring an unusual holiday spirit to Historic its prime. legs, and is then deposited a local lamp glass artist, will create colorful Biltmore Village on Saturday, November 14 Suddenly I see the fly within the sexual parts of the and unique glass ornaments, each under Peter examines the from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday, No- walk across a petal, crisscross- next flower he (or she) visits. $20. Bring the entire family for this demon- blossoms of early- vember 15 from noon to 6 p.m. A portion of ing the thickened ring that And when it comes to stration and take your ornament home for blooming Lenten roses. proceeds will benefit the Southern Appala- stands slightly above and to procreation, these plants are lasting holiday memories. chian Highlands Conservancy and Ikebana the center of the pleated pet- in the same family as the For flowers that last year round, artists International, both serving all of Western als, disappearing over the ring’s edge, down milkweeds so the seeds all have silky hairs, Billy and Kristie Stanback are bringing iron North Carolina. into a dark crevasse, where it buzzes all the which can fly through the air, and upon garden flowers, bold in size and visual im- A special exhibition of Ikebana, Japanese louder, like a bee with honey. touching the earth will actually germinate in pact. These were a sellout at the Village Arts designed floral arrangements by local mem- Then the buzzing stops and the fly ap- less than 36 hours. But if left without water Fair last August so come early to purchase bers of Ikebana International, using beauti- pears again. Only now a bright yellow ball to begin the process of germination, some these delightful and lasting gifts. fully handcrafted containers will be on view of pollen is stuck to one let. It shakes the seeds can stay dry for even ten years, then Treats will be served at both locations. and on sale at both stores. By purchasing a leg trying to dislodge the added load, thinks with just a touch of water, can germinate For more information, call New Morning container with an arrangement, you will give better of it, and spirals up and around, and produce a new plant. Gallery at (828) 274-2831. descending to another nearby flower. And The crown of silken hairs carries the the multiple pleasures of specially designed what I’ve witnessed is the pollination of a seeds of the stapeliads over very long dis- blossom by a fly in a meadow of sand. For tances and results in another effect that keeps the desert is too hot and barren for a hon- the seeds in motion, even when near the eybee and too dry and dusty for the typical ground, until some bush or other obstruction flower of the field. brings them to a halt. Hence most stapeliads Although the stems of the stapelias are found growing under the shelter of small Local Artist Monika Teal — and stems they are, for the leaves are trees, bushes, and weedy plants. minuscule — have never been the hit of the Stapelias are succulents, so the primary NC Asheville’s Blowers Gallery Hungary. houseplant world, the flowers certainly have. rule of care is to provide adequate drainage. will host an exhibit by local artist Exhibit Bizarre, unique, and indelicate, they always I use a potting mix of one-third standard Monika Teal. The exhibition dates: Novem- elicit response when displayed at flower potting soil, one-third composted manure, Ufeatures a series of gum arabic ber 1-24, 2009. shows, generating choruses of oh’s and ah’s and one-third sharp sand, with a liberal and monotype prints, created from An opening reception will be held at 4 when plants accompany me on a lecture. sprinkling of small charcoal chips and some reproductions of Teal’s paintings and p.m. Monday, November 2, in the gal- “I’d call it a crochet flower,” said one bird gravel. I fertilize only every few weeks drawings. The prints reflect themes of lery. Free and open to the public. lady. “They don’t look real, more a creation in the hottest part of summer. innocence in the animal world. of hook and needles, I’d say.” While most stapelias will endure a Teal holds a master’s degree in “Rather a strange hook and needle,” temperature of 40°F, they do not respond painting from Western Carolina Univer- Blowers Gallery, located sity. She has lived and taught in both the iF said her husband and quietly added, “and it with favor to such a chilly atmosphere. And YOU on the main floor of doesn’t smell that good either.” if allowed to sit in even damp soil when the United States and Switzerland, where UNC Asheville’s Ramsey The genus, Stapelia, is named after she currently maintains a studio. She has gO: Library, is open Monday- Johannes Bodaeus van Stapel, a physi- received a number of awards, including Thursday 8 a.m.-11 p.m., peter Loewer is a well-known writer the North Carolina Visual Arts Fel- Fridays 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays 10 cian of Amsterdam who died in 1631. And and botanical artist who has written and there are hundreds of species belonging lowship, the Joan Mitchell Foundation a.m.-6 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m.-11 p.m. For illustrated over twenty-five books on natural Award. She has residencies in Cuba and more information call (828) 251-6436. to a number of genera. The most success- history over the past thirty years.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 17 RAPID RIVER ARTS noteworthy LaZoom’s Comedy Tours get YOUR HOLidaY viSitORS OUt OF YOUR Living ROOM and On tO tHe Big pURpLe BUS

re you looking for something to do with your holiday visi- A tors besides going to the movies and eating? LaZoom’s Thanksgiving and Holiday comedy tours of Asheville are a healthy alternative. The Big Purple Definitely not your LaZoom Tour Bus mamma’s typical tour bus experience, LaZoom is Asheville’s only rolling comedy tour bus. One of WNC’s most unique “things to do,” LaZoom’s side-splitting odyssey to Asheville’s favorite neighborhoods and landmarks spells quirky fun for both first-time visitors and long-time residents. Stuff your family onto the the big purple perfor- mance bus this year for a Thanksgiving or Holiday Tour of Asheville. It’s a full two hour family adventure. Two hours to have a break from one another! LaZoom’s cast will take you on a thrilling tour Get On The Bus! of Asheville Lazoom hosts thousands of asheville complete with a residents and visitors every year. Jen and Jim Lauzon are costumed “Babs” and “Swami” during the turkey tour – tuesday, tour guide a skit on LaZoom. november 24 at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and surprise november 25 and Friday, november characters. Seats go fast! 27 at 11 a.m., 1:0 p.m. and 4 p.m. LaZoom has been voted Asheville’s #1 at- Saturday, november 28 at 1:0 p.m. traction on Trip Advisor for two years in a row! and 4 p.m. the Holiday Ride – Wednesday, december 2 at 4 p.m. thursday, iF To purchase tickets or for december 24 and Saturday, december YOU more information visit www. 26 at 11 a.m., 1:0 p.m., 4 p.m. Lazoomtours.com or phone (828) Sunday, december 27 at 1:0 p.m. gO 225-6932.

18 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE restaurants & wine When a Hotel Bar is Not a Hotel Bar LaZoom’s Comedy Tours - pLUS, Wine and StRategY On tHanKSgiving daY

New Hotel Bar Especially local bar. Not a wine bar, not a martini bar, BY MICHAEL PARKER Welcomes Locals just a bar.” Still under construction at the time of this writing, it is obviously going to A new bar is open as of November 3. be a smart setting. This writer thinks he is $8-$12 for enjoyable fizz from Spain and november events at Downtown Asheville’s newest high-rise, going to like it. Italy. There are lots of choices from many the Weinhaus at the Montford Avenue bridge, not only countries. Sparkling wine can be drunk will house the Indigo Hotel and a few lucky Thanksgiving Wine – through the entire dinner. Reservations are required for these residents, it will also be the address for the A Thankless Effort? Flavorful White Wine: I don’t mean the events, please call the Weinhaus at Phi Bar and Bistro. same old buttery oaky Chardonnay, I mean (828) 254-6453 or 1-800-283-1544. Phi Bar’s food and beverage director, It can be. Watching a table full of guests Viognier, Verdelho, Verdicchio, Vernacchia, Gabe Fore, stresses the “and Bistro” with pour their wine can be as tragic as it is something with flowers or zing that will Thursday, November 12 each mention of its name. There will be a expensive. It depends on who you have at illicit an ooh and an ahh. There are plenty of Zambra’s will host a delicious Mediter- menu offering small plates, food that, when- your table. Sitting with family usually is a these choices around the $10 mark. Think ranean wine dinner with five courses of ever possible, will be made from local and whole new set of dynamics from a table full about the meal or main course. There is a their wonderful dishes accompanied by regional ingredients. of carefully selected wine lovers. lot of food there that will make them thirsty. wines from the Weinhaus. The time is 7 However, to this drinker-writer, the I envy wine-loving families. I also envy Crisper, more acidic whites like Sauvignon p.m. The cost is $60 all inclusive. bar is the subject. The wine list will offer an the Thanksgiving tables that are composed Blanc can better quench thirst. Big creamy eclectic selection. Some labels will be famil- of wine-loving friends. Then again, there whites will indeed match, rather than be a Friday, November 27 iar; some will appeal to wine drinkers who are 364 other days for that. contrast to, the richer foods. Friday night flights at the Weinhaus will feature a Sparkling Holiday Wine tasting like different things, like Spanish Monastrell And what usually is a family Thanks- Do not confuse contrast with conflict. with four delightful and budget friendly and Albariño, a surprising Pinot Noir from giving? Traditional food lovers (traditional The choice to match or contrast flavors is food means both the very good and very yours, and there is no wrong choice. wines. The price is $10 for a tasting and Australia, and three different pours of spar- light hors d’ouvres. Time is 5 to 7 p.m. bland) who often have little interest in fine Lighter-Styled Red Wine: Many novice kling wine, no two from the same region. Held at the Weinhaus, 86 Patton Avenue, The wine list is also organized under wine, the frustrated family foodie who tries wine drinkers have the impression that Beau- in Asheville. headings like “Soft and Supple,” “Structured too hard, the beer drinker, the non-drinker, jolais Nouveau is the only red they can drink. and Intriquing,” and “Big and Bold.” All glass the adorable children, and the meat-hater. If Now that Nouveau prices are ridiculously Tuesday, December 8 pours will be under $10, starting at $5 for there is a wine lover at the table, he watches above $10, there are plenty of alternatives for The Grovewood Café next to the Grove Prosecco. The beer list will offer bottled local as his loved ones pour the new wine into less. In this season, the wine shops are stock- Park Inn will serve a delectable fall din- brews and some casual, low-dollar choices. the unfinished glass of the last wine because ing new arrivals faster than this column can ner paired with wines from the Wein- The cocktail list will be mostly unique the colors still match. keep up. Ask your wine shop guy about the haus. The time is 7 p.m. The cost is $65 to the bar, including its version of the French Wine for this crowd should be cheap. latest in NON-Nouveau Beaujolais, Pinot all inclusive. Please call the Weinhaus at 75, the Phi 75. I think we can be as confident There are plenty of big bottles of tasty red Noir, Cotes du Ventoux, Sangiovese, and (828) 254-6453 for reservations. in Phi Bar’s Manhattan and other cocktails as and white at the wine shop. The staffers Barbera. Don’t forget drier, darker rosés if Gabe Fore is in his own Chocolate Martini – there will know. If you want a good one for you think they will be received. Every Saturday he says his is the best in town. It may well be, yourself, then get a good one for yourself. dessert Wine: White, red, or sparkling. Join us every Saturday for a free, drop as he is a graduate from the multiple award- Keep it out of sight of the others. This is a very thoughtful thing to offer when in tasting from 2 to 4 p.m. We will have winning culinary arts school at AB Tech. Some of you are lucky enough to sit at the guests are especially full. Even more something interesting to sip. Phi Bar and Bistro will be part of a trio a table with generally good wine interest, surprising would be to serve the fruit-infused Prices are inclusive of all gratuities and of “smart bars” in its corner of downtown, or at least people who will enjoy what you Lambic beers of Belgium. A lot of regional taxes. Major credit cards accepted. We along with the well-established Santé Wine have chosen and have to say about it. If wineries make desserts. If you think that Port will mail you confirmation. Bar in the northeast corner of the Grove you want wine to have a memorable pres- would be a bit much, there are other late Arcade, and the Battery Park Book Exchange ence at Thanksgiving dinner, then here are harvest reds and even red sparkling wines. The Weinhaus in the historic high-rise in between. some pointers: Take these pointers, evaluate who you 86 Patton Ave., in Asheville Gabe also wants to stress that locals are Sparkling Wine: this is a must at the will have at the table, and ask your friendly (828) 254-6453 especially welcome. “We want this to be a start to kick off a good mood. You can spend local wine retailer.

Great values & styles Free Tasting at The Wine Guy South Every Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. Every week we invite a different distributor to pour 4 or 5 new wines from their portfolio for us to sample. Light hors d’oeuvres are served and all wines poured will be specially priced. The Wine Guy stocks a diverse selection of wines from around the world.

www.theashevilleWineguy.com Wine Retail ~ Tastings ~ Wine Classes 555 Merrimon ave. (828) 254-6500 Great wines for any occasion and budget. 1200 Hendersonville Rd. (828) 277-1120

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 19 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE

Cucina 24 Vincenzo’s Accomplished Italian food, Vincenzo’s Ristorante & Bistro Rapid River Restaurant Guide from antipasto to dessert. Cucina is neither pretentious nor overly sim- 24 is the creation of chef/owner plistic. The menu is reasonably priced Brian Canipelli and general man- and is quite extensive. They feature ager Brian Candee. “We wanted a smaller versions (piccolos) of some restaurant that offered incredible of their more popular plates. You can Italian food that was served in a also order side portions of practically comfortable atmosphere,” Canipel- every entrée. li said. Considering the splendid Their signature dish is the Filetto service, high-quality ingredients Gorgonzola ($25), two seared filet and integrity of preparation, din- medallions accompanied by a Gor- ing here is a delicious bargain. gonzola cream sauce, pine nuts and details – Pastas are all made in caramelized shallots. Curras Dom Limones house, as well as all their bread and details – The restaurant fills up fast desserts. so call for reservations.The Bistro is Curras Dom puts Mexican Cui- An established restaurant featur- California casual in style and offers live sine on the culinary map by offering ing a mix of Californian and Mexican The Crowd: Affluent but casual, Modern Mexican Cuisine in a friend- cuisine, in a cozy and classy atmo- even boisterous on busy nights. music seven nights a week. The upstairs restaurant is smoke free. You can smoke ly, casual fine dining atmosphere. sphere where the service is both The Staff: Young, well trained and in the Bistro after 9 p.m. It’s a great place to relax, unwind and professional and personable. eager to please. The Bar: Magnifi- have a great meal. Only 10 minutes The old cherry floors and lac- cent on all counts. The bar itself is Hours: Monday - Thursday 5:30 p.m. from downtown Asheville. quered wood tables give the feeling of gorgeous and inviting. Try a dessert to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 They offer a seasonal menu of modest, unassuming elegance, setting martini – well worth the price. p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 5:30 p.m. to authentic dishes from the interior of the stage for meals that please the 9 p.m. Cost: Lunch entrees, $6 to $11. Din- Mexico using locally grown ingredi- palette and provide something a little ner entrees, $15 to $23. ents. They also have an excellent wine different and apart from the ordinary. vincenzo’s Ristorante & Bistro list and a full bar. If you are adventur- The word about town is that chef Cucina 24 10 n. Market Street ous, go ahead and try their very own and owner Hugo Ramirez, a native 24 Wall Street in asheville (828) 254-4698 Avocado Margaritas. of Mexico, graces his ever-evolving menu with local, organic vegetables, (828) 254-6170 www.vincenzos.com details – Outstanding service. Lunch: Appetizers and salads $2.50 to $7.50; hormone-free meats and wild sea- Entrées: $7 to $9.50. Dinner: Appetiz- food. Ask about the Tres Leches cake ers and salads $7 and up; Entrées: $17 for a special dessert treat. and up. details – Dress: nice casual. Serving Open Tuesday through Saturday for brunch ($10-15), and dinner ($15-20). lunch and dinner, and Sunday’s for Wine, beer, and cocktails. Reservations Cooking with Josh Monroe brunch from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Reserva- accepted. tions are strongly suggested. Hours: Monday - Sunday 5-10 p.m., Sunday, November 8 Sunday brunch 10:30-2:30 p.m. The Haywood County Arts Council presents Cooking with Josh Curras dom Monroe of the Chef’s Table restaurant, part of our FUNd Party 72 Weaverville Road Limones Series 2009. This will be an evening of sheer delight as Chef Josh 1 eagle Street in asheville Monroe teaches guests to make pastas from scratch. (828) 25-2111 (828) 252-227 Chef Josh uses only the freshest ingredients in his pasta dishes. www.currasdom.com Come enjoy a glass of wine and sample a variety of pastas that you made — all the while helping the arts. The Chef’s Table restaurant, 20 Church Street, Waynesville, NC. For more information about the 2009 FUNd Party Series, stop by the Arts Council office at 86 North Main, Waynesville to pick up a FUNd Party Book or call the office at (828) 452-0593 to make your reservation.

Delicious Specialty Pizzas Spring Water Dough Appetizing Salads Hoagies & Pretzels Fresh-Baked Calzones Healthy Ingredients 13 Eagle Street in Asheville

(828) 236-9800 Wide variety of vegan (828) 252-2327 Open 7 Days a Week options including vegan soy cheese

50 Broadway ~ Asheville, NC Wireless Bring this ad in for 15% off your order (excluding alcohol) Internet Access! Advertise in the Restaurant Guide ~ Free Web Links ~ Free Ad Design ~ Call (828) 646-0071

20 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS Rapid River Restaurant Guide

Forest Blue Flying Frog Café Eclectic menu with a twist: Sea- The Flying Frog Café is one of food Spinach Dip; Inside-out burger Asheville’s most unique upscale dining stuffed with cheese; mixed berry tira- establishments, featuring a culmination misu; Panko Breaded Ahi Tuna with of flavors resulting from more than wasabi cream sauce; Stuffed Chicken two decades of experience in Asheville. with prosciutto, tomato, pesto, olives Owned and operated by veteran res- and smoked Gouda cream sauce; and taurateurs Jay and Vijay Shastri. Almond-Encrusted Pork Chops with Passionate about great food and a sweet raspberry sauce. wines, chef and certified sommelier details – Clean, open, modern meets Shastri showcases European and warm and woodsy. Non-smoking. Indian cuisines, both classic and in- Down-to-earth atmosphere. Full-ser- novative, enhanced by his deft hand vice bar for appetizers, mixed drinks, with spice. beers on draft and local wines. The restaurant also features a boutique wine list with several Appetizers and salads - $7.99 to $10.99; hundred vintages of great wines. The Lunch: $7.99 to $15.99; Dinner: $16.99 intense menu is matched by a profes- to 25.99; Brunch: $6.99 to $10.99 sional wait staff of food enthusiasts Hours: Mon – Thurs 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; who know and understand what Fri 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sat 4 p.m. to 10 composes each dish. p.m.; Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Flying Frog Café has earned Reservations suggested. Catering and an impressive list of reviews from private party space available. almost every major newspaper and cu- linary magazine in the United States. Forest Blue Restaurant & Lounge 900 Hendersonville Rd. Flying Frog Café (in Forest Center North complex) & Wine Bar 1 Battery park in asheville (828) 505-7055 www.theforestblue.com (828) 254-9411

Flying Frog Café & Wine Bar

Continental, german, Urban indian

Wed-Mon 5:30-11 p.m. Reservations recommended 1 Battery Park in Asheville (828) 254-9411

Advertise in the Restaurant Guide ~ Free Web Links ~ Free Ad Design ~ Call (828) 646-0071

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 21 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE joe’s brew notes A Primer on Malt – the Heart of Beer

his is the first of a series of articles BY JOE ZINICH on beer ingredients - malt, hops, and yeast. The goal is to provide an important filtration information about each of these medium in the brewing ingredients and their contributions T process. All beer styles, to the flavors, color and aromas we enjoy. and that includes wheat The four fundamental ingredients used beers, have barley malt to make beer are malt, water, hops and yeast. in their recipes. Of these, malt contributes the most to the The production beer’s overall character which includes fla- of malt (malting) is a vor, sweetness, color, body, mouthfeel, foam three-step process that retention, and alcohol content. includes steeping in Although any cereal grain (wheat, rice, water, germination, and corn, etc.) can be used to produce malt, (L-R): Black Patton, Base, and Crystal Malts. drying in a kiln. The barley contributes the flavors and colors Drew Barton (left) French Broad process can yield over 100 types of barley uniquely characteristic of beer. Barley’s Brewmaster and Chris Richards his malt that can be divided into two classes kernel is high in starch and enzymes and low assistant happy about their malt – “base malts” and “specialty malts”. A base Winter Brews, in protein content with a layered hull that is selections for a new brew. malt is light in color, low in flavor, and rich november Release in sugar and enzymes. Specialty malts vary in color from light Contact the brewery for release date to black with flavors from mild to distinctive and packaging. and with fermentable sugar and enzymes asheville pizza and Brewing: Thanksgiving Weekend with from high to low based on time and tem- perature in the kiln. (Warren Haynes) Christmas Jam the Firecracker Jazz Band With the availability of more than 100 White Ale – a Belgian wheat, new. different malts, beer recipe development French Broad: is a challenge limited only by the brewer’s Wee-Heaviest – a Scotch style ale with The Haywood County Arts Council brings Firecracker Jazz Band features Je Widen- creativity. Making the right choices is an a Belgian twist, dark, rich, 9% alcohol. the high-spirited Firecracker Jazz Band to house on trumpet and cornet, Reese Gray art form. Once the selections are made the Waynesville at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, on piano, Mike Gray on drums, Henry brewer creates a malt bill (a list of malts to green Man: November 29 at the Performing Arts Cen- Westmoreland on sousaphone, Earl Sachais use in the recipe). Double IPA - twice as strong as their ter, 250 Pigeon Street. on trombone, and Jon Corbin on guitar standard IPA with twice the hops, new. and banjo. The group describes its music as twenty-first century hot jazz with New Highland: Orleans and Dixieland influences. Typical beer recipes have Cold Mountain Winter Ale – an ever- changing spiced winter brew. Tickets available at the Haywood County one base malt and up to 4 Arts Council, 86 N. Main St. in Waynes- Black Mountain Bitter – light, crispy ville, or by phone at (828) 452-0593. Tick- specialty malts. pale ale. ets are $10. A special pre-concert brunch will be held at the Grandview Lodge, 466 pisgah: Wet Hopped Pale – limited release, Lickstone Road, Waynesville, at 11:30 a.m. The malt bill will contain from 75 to The $30 brunch includes a “meet and English style pale ale flavored with 90% base malt and 25 to 10% specialty malts greet” with members of the band, and one Buncombe County Hops, new. ticket to the concert. depending on the style of beer to be pro- duced. Base malts are a light straw to yellow Schwarzbier – a black lager made to color and are selected primarily for the sugar style, light chocolate flavor, clean content and enzymes needed for alcohol and finish, new, 4.5%. carbon dioxide production. Pisgah Lager – light and crisp, Specialty malts add flavor, for example new, 4.2%. sweetness, caramel, coffee, roasted, choco- Vortex 1 – triple IPA, hops, 10.8%. late, malty, nutty and aromas associated with Baptista – a Belgian Nöel, spiced with those flavors. Additionally, they add color white pepper and coriander, 11.5%. (from straw to black) and body (viscosity) to beers. Typical beer recipes have one base Wedge: malt and up to 4 specialty malts depending Double IPA – made with double the on the desired beer characteristics. hops, new, 8.8%. Although malt is the “meat and pota- toes” of beer, the need and importance of hops and yeast in the recipe is recognized. Both are used to enhance or support the flavors and aromas developed from the malt. For five years, Joe zinich In addition, hops adds bitterness to balance has been taking a self- malt sweetness while yeast’s voracious appe- guided, high-intensity tour tite produces alcohol and carbonation. Both of asheville’s beer world. Contact him at: jzinich@ will be featured in a future column. bellsouth.net

22 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 Momix Returns with Remix

MOMIX is known internationally for presenting works of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, and for its mind-boggling and body-bend- ing images. The highly popular dance company returns to Asheville with its show REMIX, featuring the troupe’s most popular works. In REMIX, MOMIX transports audi- ences from their everyday lives to a fantasy world through its trademark use of props, light, shadow, humor, and the human body. iF YOU gO: ReMiX, 8 p.m. tuesday and Wednesday, november 17-18 at diana Wortham theatre at pack place in down- town asheville. Free pre-performance discussions lead by an area expert in the field of dance will be held at 7 p.m. in the Forum at pack place before each MOMiX performance.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 2 Reel Take Reviewers: For the latest RevieWS, CHip KaUFMann is a film historian who tHeateR inFO and also shares his love of classical music as , visit a program host on WCQS-FM radio. MOvie SHOW tiMeS www.rapidrivermagazine.com MiCHeLLe Keenan is a long time student of film, a believer in the magic of movies and a fundraiser for public radio. ∑∑∑∑∑ - Fantastic ∑∑∑∑ - pretty darn good ∑∑∑ - Has some good points ∑∑ - the previews lied Questions/Comments? ∑ - Only if you must You can email Chip or Michelle at [email protected] M- Forget entirely

Amelia ∑∑∑ Earhart (except Capitalism: A Love Story This time the manipulations are too Short Take: Standard for the constant ∑∑∑1/2 obvious and the conclusions he draws are smile) and she too clearly one sided. I agree with almost Hollywood biopic of the Short Take: Michael Moore’s most manages to cap- everything Moore says in Capitalism but I famous flyer makes for sophisticated film to date is still a case pleasant, disposable ture her natural of “been there, done that”. just don’t care for the way he says it. entertainment. awkwardness The film opens by telling us that Capi- whenever she’s ReeL taKe: It has been 20 years since Mi- talism used to work to everyone’s benefit ReeL taKe: I’ll have to not flying. Co- chael Moore first came to national attention until Ronald Reagan was elected and then give credit to the trailers star Richard Gere with his “documentary” Roger & Me. A lot everything was turned over to corporate in- for Amelia for truth in adopts an accent has changed since then (including the bank- terests and they have ruined it forever. That advertizing. What they of dubious origin ruptcy of General Motors) but not Michael may be true but using Moore’s own brand showed looked like an old but not to worry Moore’s approach to dealing with issues he of logic, regulations and increased taxes can fashioned, standard Hol- Hilary Swank pondering her future as cares about. Amelia Earhart in AMELIA. as he loses it make it like it was so it can be saved. lywood biopic complete about halfway in. There are effective moments such as with lush music, beautiful His relationship as husband George Putnam a company collecting a death benefit on a photography, and character depth about an to Amelia is too good to be true although worker instead of his family and the usual inch thick which is precisely what you get. perfectly in step with the Lifetime movie of skullduggery involving Wal-Mart, its em- Star and co-producer Hilary Swank the week approach that Amelia takes. ployees and the unions. The irony of Flint, does bear a striking resemblance to Amelia The single biggest problem with Ame- Michigan (Moore’s hometown) now being lia is the script. We see what Amelia does the headquarters for most of the country’s but we never get to see any kind of insight foreclosure notices brings him full circle theatre directory into who she is. There are attempts to show from Roger & Me. how she is used by the people around her In today’s polarized society, movies of asheville pizza & Brewing Company and how she manages to be a symbol of this type (like An Inconvenient Truth) are Movieline (828) 254-1281 hope to other women in spite of being mar- Michael Moore is once again denied constantly preaching to the choir and the www.ashevillepizza.com keted as a commodity but it never gets past access in CAPITALISM: A LOVE STORY. people who need to see them don’t. As the Beaucatcher Cinemas (asheville) the surface stage. credits rolled I would have been “Moore” Movieline (828) 298-1234 It’s not all bad though. The period Moore is now 55 years old and looks impressed if he would have donated all like nothing less than an overweight version Biltmore grande recreation is right on the money from the the profits of the film to the down and of Garrison Keillor. His style of filmmaking 1-800-FANDANGO #4010 1930s fashions down to the various air- outs he interviews. hasn’t changed and while there’s nothing www.REGmovies.com planes Amelia flies (where did they get a Rated R for language. Lockheed Electra?). The photography is really wrong with that, there is a strong Carmike 10 (asheville) gorgeous and the music is uber-romantic. sense of “been there, done that” about Capi- REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN Movieline (828) 298-4452 I especially liked how the movie is told in talism that weighed the film down for me. www.carmike.com flashbacks intercut with her final ill-fated The irony is that this is actually one Departures (Okuribito) Carolina Cinemas flight. Despite the fact that we already know of Moore’s more cinematic efforts incor- ∑∑∑∑1/2 (828) 274-9500 the outcome, director Mira Nair (Monsoon porating a number of visual tricks taken Short Take: An out of work cellist thinks www.carolinacinemas.com Wedding) manages to make the end of the from his groundbreaking television show he’s found a job in the travel industry, Cinebarre (asheville) film surprisingly moving. TV NATION. Documentary footage is but instead ends up caring for the www.cinebarre.com It’s not that there is anything in Amelia incorporated into real life interviews along departed. that’s patently untrue (except perhaps for with clips from old movies with Moore’s the Falls theatre (Brevard) ReeL taKe: Departures won the Oscar the unbelievably loving relationship be- droll comments added just in case you don’t Movieline (828) 883-2200 for Best Foreign Language Film earlier tween her and her husband), but consider- get it. But just to make sure you DO get the Fine arts theatre (asheville) point (a la Moore), I’ll make sure that I say this year and has finally made its way to ing the subject material, it would have been Asheville, playing at Carolina Cinemas. Movieline (828) 232-1536 nice if the screenplay had dug a little deeper. it again.”I’ve seen it all before”. www.fineartstheatre.comm What I haven’t seen before is how Directed by acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Nevertheless it should please most people Yojiro Takita, the film tells the story of a Flat Rock theatre (Flat Rock) as it did the crowd I saw it with the other heavy the heavyhandedness is. As left wing as Glenn Beck is right wing, Moore has recently unemployed cellist and his jour- Movieline (828) 697-2463 night. By the time I got home though I had ney in a new career. After the symphony www.flatrockcinema.com already forgotten it. never attempted to be objective, for, like Beck, he has an axe to grind. In the past he he plays in is dissolved, Daigo Kobayashi Four Seasons (Hendersonville) Rated PG-13 for sensuality, language and has usually managed to balance his lack of gives up on his dreams and returns to the Movieline (828) 693-8989 thematic elements. objectivity with more of a sense of humor house his mother has left him. REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN Smoky Mountain Cinema (Waynesville) and some shrewd social observations. ‘Movies’ continued on next page Movieline (828) 452-9091

24 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE movie reviews

‘Movies’ continued from page 24

As he and his wife settle in, he applies Boris Karloff: The Gentleman Monster for a job that he thinks has something to do with the travel industry because of the use of first became acquainted with Bo- had passed the baton to new the word ‘departures.’ Turns out there was a ris Karloff back in 1960. It wasn’t style horror. BY CHIP KAUFMANN typo, the word should have read ‘departed.’ through Frankenstein or The The arrival of The Nonetheless the boss hires him on the spot Mummy or any of his famous 1930s Exorcist in 1973 was the he was billed as the “King and so begins his career as an encoffining I performances but through his then final nail in the coffin and of Horror” even though profession- current television show Thriller. I stayed away from horror he was really “the gentle- al. He is to Karloff was 72 at the time and that’s films until 1979 when my man monster.” He even prepare the how I still think of him, the elderly first job as a film reviewer did Broadway and made dead for gentleman with the marvelous voice who required me to see them children’s albums. cremation, scared me silly when I was 8. It was my again. Movies like the origi- By the mid 1960s a job that is mother who drew my attention to his nal Friday the 13th and Hal- he was so crippled with apparently earlier movies whenever they were on. loween were more fright- arthritis that he could snubbed By the time I was 11, Thriller had ening for the audience’s barely walk yet he sol- in good been cancelled and Boris was back up reaction to them (unbridled diered on playing most of society, but on the big screen in such movies as The glee) than to anything on his roles in a wheelchair. Masahiro Motoki as Daigo pays well. Raven, The Terror, and The Comedy screen... but I digress. He still managed to make 2 classics, The Kobayashi and Tsutomu Having of Terrors. By the way those first two Karloff was born William Henry Sorcerers (1967) and Targets (1968 – see Yamazaki as Sasaki in never seen movies featured an up and coming 26 Pratt in England on November 23, 1887. my DVD pick) as well as provide the DEPARTURES. a corpse, year old named Jack Nicholson. That His grandmother was East Indian and voice of the Grinch in How the Grinch Kobayashi is not convinced this is the job was back in 1963. in his younger days he looked far more Stole Christmas. for him, but as he sees how their services From 1964-1970 I went to every Indian than English. At the age of 22 he Boris Karloff died in his native Eng- comfort the bereaved, he takes to it like an movie of his that came out. I even went immigrated to Canada and began appear- land on February 2, 1969 at the age of 81. artist to his brush or, in this case, like a cellist to catch them a second time around at the ing with theatrical stock companies. He He was beloved the world over and many to his bow. drive-ins where I got to witness a chang- changed his name to the more charis- people (including yours truly) cried when As the story unfolds several nice sub- ing of the guard from Karloff’s civilized matic Boris Karloff, the surname taken they heard the news. That’s the kind of stories are revealed (including one about horror films to such refined fare as Blood from a distant relative and Boris because reaction that every performer dreams of. his own father) that play well into his new Feast, 2000 Maniacs, and the original he thought it suited his personality. In addition to the films already men- life and to the story at large. At first it seems Night of the Living Dead. After working a variety of odd jobs, tioned in this article, I also recommend light with a morbid undertone, but it grows It was ironic that his last film ap- he landed in Hollywood in 1919 and The Body Snatcher (1943), The Haunted into so much more. pearance was in a British film (The began making movies. He appeared Strangler (1958), and Black Sabbath I’m not quite sure how they pulled it Crimson Cult ) which was released in several silent films and then made (1964). Check them out and see what a off, but Departures is an unusual blend of on a double bill with Horror House, a the transition to sound because of his versatile performer he really was. Hope- entertaining comedy and drama, with laugh precursor to the teenage slasher films cultured voice. His big break came in fully Universal will someday release his out loud funny moments and moments that featured one of the most gruesome 1931 when he landed the role of the classic Thriller episodes on commercial of heartfelt poignancy. Most of the film is deaths ever and that was to Frankie Ava- monster in Frankenstein. For the rest of DVD. Then he and I will have traveled quite subtle. It goes a little over the top with lon! This was in 1970. Old style horror his career, which lasted another 37 years, full circle together. the sappy melodrama towards the end, but because of the performances, the issues and how it all ties together, I didn’t mind. The most intriguing thing about Depar- tures is how we (as humans) look at death The Invention of Lying ∑∑∑1/2 that there are rewards for win over is the love of and the difference in how we prepare the Short Take: An overlooked these not truths and he his friend Anna (Jen- departed versus how the Japanese prepare underestimated average Joe becomes cashes in on them. Soon nifer Garner). the departed. The ritual of encoffinment is somebody when he tells a lie. however he realizes that Yes, the plot is akin to a meditative prayer and is conducted he can make people feel entirely implausible ReeL taKe: The Invention of Lying is an better by virtue of telling and even quite ugly at with the family in attendance, sometimes invention of genius. It’s not a great film, with their participation. something that isn’t. In times, but the concept but the concept is stellar and that’s what’s one such moment he of such a world and the The preparation of the body is done important in this film. It’s 2009 and the with such care and grace and respect that it tells his dying mother invention of the lie is world knows no lies, not because it’s been that there is nothing to a most original and in- not only prepares the body for its transition, banned, but because it’s never even been it prepares the loved ones as well. There is worry about and that we triguing idea. Much like contemplated. go to a wonderful place last year’s Ghost Town, a wonderful sequence showing Kobayashi Ricky Gervais is the inventor The result is a somewhat cruel, blunt when we die. Gervais brings a wit coming into his own as an encoffinment mas- of lying. and apparently godless world. If you ask a Overheard by and commentary to his ter, which conveys the beauty, the humor, the girl out, she’s going to tell you exactly why pain and the importance of their work. hospital staff, the news (taken at its word) comedy that is refreshing and thoughtful. she’s turning you down, with no thought spreads like wild fire and Mark becomes Gervais served as writer and director Departures runs a little too long, but to how it will make you feel. One poor even that is forgiven with the rest of its rich and famous. When pressed for the ori- of The Invention of Lying. He shares the schmuck who’s had more than his fair share gin of his knowledge, he knows they can’t duties with co-writer/director Matthew merits. It is unlike anything else I have ever of the truth is Mark (Ricky Gervais). He’s seen and is a very welcome surprise. I rec- fathom the truth, so he tells them the man Robinson. One can imagine the idea came an overlooked, underestimated average Joe in the sky told him. However powerful, to them during some casual conversation ommend this film wholeheartedly to most who finds himself catapulted from no one anyone. See it while you can. Mark is still a short, fat, snub nosed man, over beers - the kind of boozed infused to someone when he suddenly finds himself features not prized by the pretty people of conversations where we debate life’s big and Rated PG-13 for thematic material. able to tell something that isn’t. this materialistic truth-telling world, and REVIEW BY MICHELLE KEENAN When it first happens, Mark realizes therefore the one thing he just can’t quite ‘Movies’ continued on page 26

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 25 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE movie reviews

weeks at a minimum. Now it’s not uncom- ‘Movies’ continued from page 25 Where the Wild Things Are mon for certain films to disappear after one ∑∑∑1/2 week. Question: What’s a reviewer for a little mysteries. At least this is the kind of Short Take: Spike Jonze’s screen monthly publication to do? Answer: Review creative conversation I envision Gervais and adaptation of Marice Sendak’s beloved Robinson having when they decided that films of interest and/or merit and have you children’s book. Mark would put the rules from ‘the guy in wait for the DVD. the sky’ on pizza box tops, a la Moses. Seraphine is one of those small films ReeL taKe: Plied with comfy chairs, a While Gervais has had incredible criti- that came and went before anyone knew local brew, and happy childhood recollec- cal and commercial success with the British that it was here. It’s an important film tions of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild and American versions of The Office, he that works on many levels and that’s why Things Are, my viewing partner and I were has yet to reach the same measure of success I’m including it in this month’s reviews. as hopeful as children on Christmas Eve as with feature films and this film isn’t likely Whenever I saw the trailer for it people we waited for the new screen adaptation of to be it either, but it is worth a view, espe- Gerard Butler is taken into custody in would exclaim, “Oh, I want to see that” but the beloved children’s book to start. Even cially if you are a Ricky Gervais fan. LAW ABIDING CITIZEN. apparently very few people did. Also the the trailers looked pretty darn promising for film had to make way for the more high this one, so we were hopeful . . . Rated PG-13 for language including some other movies including The Abominable Dr Phibes (1971), Psychic Killer (1975), profile Amelia (see review elsewhere in this sexual material and a drug reference. section) and that also shortened its stay. REVIEW BY MICHELLE KEENAN The Medusa Touch (1978), and Two Way Stretch (1960). All but the last (a British Seraphine is the true story of Seraphine de Senlis (1864-1942), a cleaning woman in ∑∑∑∑ comedy whose central plot device is re- Law Abiding Citizen cycled here) are revenge driven horror films rural France who paints scenes of trees and Short Take: Solid, well made revenge so that should give you some idea of what’s flowers in her spare time. Like a female Van thriller with Gerard Butler and Jaime in store for you. There is also more than a Gogh, she is largely unrecognized until a Foxx giving it their all. passing resemblance to the 2007 Anthony German art collector, Wilhelm Uhde, sees ReeL taKe: This movie is yet another Hopkins film Fracture. All these references her work and wants to promote it. Unfortu- example of me finding myself way out of increased my enjoyment but not knowing nately World War I intervenes and he loses step with most of the other critics (at least them won’t detract from yours. track of her for many years. Upon rediscov- ering her he sets Max Records stars as Max, and judging from the Rotten Tomatoes web- A brief synopsis of the film is as fol- Paul Dano voices Alexander, one of up her up to paint, site). Law Abiding Citizen has a very poor lows. Gerard Butler’s family is brutally the wild things. but the money and rating there and for the life of me I cannot murdered. The prosecuting attorney (Jaime While our hopes were not completely understand why although I have a pretty Foxx) cuts a deal that minimizes the sen- the onset of mental illness lead to her dashed, we were disappointed. This is not good idea and I couldn’t agree less. tence of the murderer. 10 years elapse and to say Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things The film is well photographed and the murderer, now free, is kidnapped and undoing. This film has Are is a bad movie; it’s not, it just wasn’t the edited, the scoring is effective, and it contains tortured to death. Butler admits his guilt, book. We both thought it should have been powerhouse performances from Gerard But- is imprisoned, but then everyone associ- been awarded 7 Cesars (the French something like “Bad Max, A Story Inspired ler, Jaime Foxx and a solid supporting cast. ated with the case starts getting bumped off. by Where the Wild Things Are,” or Max’s The story of a supersmart criminal leading However Butler’s in solitary confinement so equivalent of an Oscar) but un- Big Adventure, A Story Inspired by Where the police in circles while following a secret who or what is doing the killings? The how the Wild Things Are.” master plan is nothing new but Citizen man- and why are what really make the movie like most of our Yolande Moreau At the film’s start we are introduced to along with the memorable finale. Oscar nominees, ages to find a few new wrinkles that keeps it at work as the Max (Max Records), a rather precocious, from being the same old, same old. Don’t let the many negative reviews it is small in scope title artist in and concentrates temperamental boy. He’s smart, he’s imagi- As a film historian I noticed similarities put you off, for in my opinion, this is one SERAPHINE. native, he misses his dad and he’s slightly (mostly unintentional I’m sure) to several helluva movie. Yes it is violent but it’s a on character and narrative while casually teaching us some- spoiled. In a fit of frightful temper one night, revenge thriller so what would you expect. he bolts from the house and soon finds him- Is the story implausible? Of course it is thing on the side. Although I have a basic knowledge of art, I had never heard of this self adrift at sea and eventually lands where but it works perfectly within the context the wild things are. He becomes their king of the movie’s logic. Most critics seem to artist. After seeing Seraphine, I had to go to 7th annual my computer and look her up. by making empty promises (mostly just to be bothered by the lack of humor in Law keep him from being eaten). asheville Film Festival Abiding Citizen. I found it to be extremely Like many European films, the pace is slow (a little too slow at times) in the Max has a terrific romp while ruling effective and so did the audience I saw it their kingdom but quickly learns the errors with. For those of you who wanted it to beginning in order to establish the char- november acters. Both Yolande Moreau (Seraphine) of his impetuous ways when he sees the be more pulp style entertainment a la The creatures acting out in the childish ways he 12-15 Dark Knight, too bad. and Ulrich Tukur (Uhde) give remarkable performances and the photography and knows so well, especially in the wild thing the movies are Rated R for brutal violence, brief nudity, a lighting are beyond reproach. The only he has a particular attachment to — Carroll in place. the scene of rape, and pervasive language. music employed during the film are viola (voiced by James Gandolfini). judges have cast REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN da gamba pieces which enhance the rather The location (the wilds of Victoria, their votes. You melancholy story. AU), the sets and the fantastic wild things Seraphine ∑∑∑∑ Seraphine was released as a mainstream from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop are all won’t want to wonderful, exactly what you pictured as a Short Take: This award winning French movie in France. Here in the U.S. it’s just miss it! wide-eyed child. The kid is good, the voic- film about a little known artist boasts 2 another arthouse flick and sadly will only fine performances although its pace is be seen by those who are attracted to those ing is good. So what exactly is wrong with it? iF YOU gO: For For starters Carroll’s childlike fits schedule, tickets a little too leisurely. types of movies. If films of that nature do appeal to you especially ones about artists are sometimes also strangely violent (can and all the information go to www. ReeL taKe: One of the significant ques- you say Tony Soprano?), even ripping ashevillefestival.com. The Asheville then keep a sharp eye out for the DVD. You tions that colleague Michelle Keenan and the feathered arm off of his bird creature Film Festival is produced by the City won’t be disappointed. I face every month is which movies are we friend Douglas (Chris Cooper) who flatly of Asheville Parks, Recreation and going to review? Back in the “good ol’ days” This movie was not rated by the MPAA. Cultural Arts Department in conjunc- when a movie came to town it played 3 REVIEW BY CHIP KAUFMANN tion with the Asheville Film Festival ‘Movies’ continued on page 27 Committee. Phone (828) 259-5800.

26 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE movie reviews

‘Movies’ continued from page 26 between to make me jump up and dance world run amok with zombies. His char- with the Wild Things. acter serves as the narrative voice, which responds, “Carroll, that was my favorite Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some frequently dispenses the rules for basic arm.” While they make light of this inci- adventure action and brief language. survival, a comic and clever storytelling tool. He’s alone in his quest until he meets dent (replacing the arm with a stick), this is REVIEW BY MICHELLE KEENAN perhaps the crux of what is wrong with the ‘Tallahassee’ (Woody Harrelson), a gun tot- ing, zombie slaying, tough guy. Tallahassee film. There is a strange amount of violence Zombieland ∑∑∑1/2 couched by Behavioral Psychology 101. insists on not getting too close, so no real Moreover, Jones’ Max seems to be de- Short Take: One is mild as milk toast. names are used, just geographic names of signed to appeal more to the molly coddled, The other is a Twinkie eating tough guy. where you’re from. Hence, our milk toast oh-so-precious, entitled children of today’s Together they take on a world overrun hero becomes ‘Columbus.’ by zombies. broken families, but it is not a children’s In time they team up with two sisters movie. While there is childlike temper, ReeL taKe: Zombieland delivers exactly Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock there is grown up violence. what it looks like it’s going to deliver and (Abigail Breslin). They are a formidable It's guns and banjos for Woody While there is childlike imagination, maybe a little bit more. In general I am not con-artist twosome in spite of Little Rock’s Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg in there is a distinctive lack of childlike spirit, a fan of horror comedies or of anything per- young age. The four agree to join forces horomedy ZOMBIELAND. at least as far as California where they’ve the pure, childlike spirit that creates magic taining to zombies, I just don’t see the al- Meanwhile Columbus (of course) falls for heard there’s a zombie-free amusement – the magic that is imbued in Sendak’s lure. But in the case of Zombieland, it’s just the girl, must find a way to win said girl, and park. Along the way the four ransack a beloved book. The movie comes close campy enough to have fairly broad appeal. must conquer a fear of clowns. Tallahas- western wear and trinkets store, crash at Bill so many times and certainly has some Jesse Eisenberg plays a lovable, hap- see on the other hand wants nothing more Murray’s house and kill a lot of zombies. wonderful moments, but too few and far less, milk toast type turned survivalist in a than to find the last Twinkie on Earth – that golden creamy cake of goodness. Jesse Eisenberg is his usual entirely likeable, sweet geeky self, but then again he’s Chip Kaufmann’s Pick: Michelle Keenan’s Pick: always his usual sweet, geeky self. Woody “Targets” november dvd picks “Kabei: Our Mother” Harrelson is clearly having a ball with his young co-stars as the gun-wielding, Hum- mer driving desperado. Emma Stone’s char- daughters as they struggle to keep house acter is a bit generic, but little Miss Sunshine Targets herself is a tween who holds her own. Bill In conjunction with this month’s ar- and home together in World War II era Japan. The tale is told from the adult rec- Murray’s cameo is a hoot and I’m guessing ticle on Boris Karloff, I have chosen for my there will be some great outtakes from those DVD pick, his penultimate film, Targets ollection of the younger daughter many years later. scenes on the DVD. If this is an example of (1968). This movie is a classic example of what relative newcomer, Director Ruben the Roger Corman school of low budget The story starts in Tokyo in 1940, amidst the loving, peaceful household of Fleischer has up his sleeve, he’s got quite a filmmaking. One that is more than worth- career in front of him. while due to the talent involved. Nogami family. The father, Shigeru, is a forward thinking professor and suspected While comic, campy and a whole lot Here’s the background. Karloff still of fun, Zombieland is gory. I still don’t get owed Corman two days of shooting left Communist. When Shigeru is taken from their home in the dead of night and the whole zombie thing, but I did enjoy over from their last picture together. this movie. Corman turned to wannabe film director charged with a ‘thought’ crime (think, Peter Bogdanovich and said “Shoot 20 ticed and he was given the opportunity ‘yer either with us or against us,’ 65 years Rated R for horror violence/gore and minutes worth of Karloff, use 20 minutes to direct another movie which turned earlier) their life is changed forevermore. language. from his movie The Terror (1963), and out to be one of his best known films, While they wait for Shigeru’s release, REVIEW BY MICHELLE KEENAN then come up with 40 minutes of your The Last Picture Show. WWII breaks out. own and we have a feature”. Targets remains as effective today as Because of Shigeru’s ‘crime’ the fam- Bogdanovich did much more than it was over 40 years ago. It’s funny, it’s ily is almost ostracized and Kayo’s father just that. Within that limited framework moving, and it’s still shocking in places disowns her. A handful of people help and budget, he crafted a moving trib- with an unforgettable ending. It remains them including a sister in-law Hisako, ute to Karloff’s career while making a an auspicious directing debut for Bog- a neighbor and one of Shigeru’s former powerful statement about America’s love danovich and a fitting tribute to a screen students, Yamazaki. Kayo works feverishly affair/obsession with guns and where legend who was still giving it his all at to make a life for them. that could lead. the age of 80. Kabei is a gentle, slow moving film. Boris plays Byron Orlok, an aging It meticulously draws the viewer in and horror film star who’s retiring because Kabei: Our Mother (2009) makes you care. Even while they suffer, his old fashioned approach to horror has The good Professor Kaufmann and there is a dignity about this family. Perhaps now become passé in today’s modern I recently had the pleasure of judg- most interesting about Kabei is the per- world. His story is contrasted with that ing films for the Southern Appalachian spective (especially for American audienc- of Bobby (Tim O’Kelly), a young middle Film Festival (SOAPIFF). Two of the es). We haven’t seen many films that tell us class man who snaps and goes on a killing women’s films we screened, which we the story of Japanese families waiting for spree. The two stories converge at a drive- thought were very worthwhile endeavors, loved ones to come home and eking out an in where Orlok’s farewell appearance is will be available on DVD. The first to be existence during World War II. taking place. released is a Japanese film called Kabei: This film played as a Women’s Film The film was screened for critics Our Mother. (The other is A Woman In at SOAPIFF, but Kabei: Our Mother is who were very impressed but the assas- Berlin and I’ll highlight that one in the truly a film that reminds us of the univer- sination of Robert Kennedy later that upcoming month.) sality of being human and the universality year kept it from getting a mainstream Kabei: Our Mother, tells the story of peace and love. You can find it in select release. It did get Peter Bogdanovich no- of a young mother, Kayo, and her two video stores and online.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 27 RAPID RIVER ARTS music Chris Knight Brings the Trailer Tapes to the Grey Eagle

ike its predecessor, the BY JAMES CASSARA twelve songs on Chris Knight’s Trailer II (re- viewed in last month’s with a gun and a Vicodin L ‘script” (The Houston Press). Rapid River) were recorded in the summer of 1996 inside Wrote Ben Sisario in The of his sweltering singlewide New York Daily News, in a field just outside of the “This is a record no lover of tiny hamlet of Slaughters, great American music should Kentucky. miss.” Almost immediately, Knight, then an unknown fans and critics alike began singer/songwriter, still months asking about the remaining away from recording his tapes from the trailer sessions. major label debut album, had “When I first heard Chris begrudgingly agreed to record at a songwriter’s night at The a batch of solo acoustic tracks Bluebird Cafe,” recalls Lid- on his own terms. Singer/songwriter dell, “I thought I was hearing For a week, Knight hun- Chris Knight John Prine and Steve Earle kered down with producer rolled into one. Here was this Frank Liddell and engineer Joe Hayden, coalmine inspector from rural Kentucky who crowded around two microphones and laid was writing these incredible songs. I started down thirty of Knight’s original songs on to spend time with him in his hometown, ADAT tape. Over the next ten years, the getting to know the people and places where stark and stunning recordings, via a combi- his music was coming from. When I signed nation of bootlegs, leaks and legend, would him to Decca Records, I knew his life was become the stuff of which urban legends going to change forever.” are made. Liddell, a former publisher, record exec The new album is far more than just a and producer today known for his Gram- sequel to The Trailer Tapes. Where the ma- my-winning work with Lee Ann Womack jority of the first album were songs that had and Miranda Lambert, forewent the tra- never appeared on any subsequent Knight ditional pre-production process to instead disc, Trailer II featured original versions of focus on something more than mere demos. what would become many of Chris’ most “I wanted to get all these songs on tape liter- popular tracks. “In a sense, this record is the ally where they were written,” he explains, second part of a classic field recording,” says “to record who and what he was before Liddell. “It’s the rest of the story of a place anything influenced him in Nashville. What in time where you first hear one of the most you hear on Trailer II are the performances truthful artists in music today.” that convinced us we’d captured a once-in- The tapes would eventually find their a-lifetime moment.” way to renowned producer Ray Kennedy, Fortunately for us the stark beauty of a long-time Knight fan best known for his those songs translates well to the live stage. work with Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams. Knight has vowed to keep these perfor- Kennedy spent months painstakingly clean- mances “as authentic and as real as I can. I ing, but never sweetening, the tracks to their want folks to leave thinking they were in that raw purity. trailer with me.” To the surprise of many, especially those directly involved, the official 2007 release of The Trailer Tapes would become iF Chris Knight at the Grey one of the best-selling and acclaimed albums YOU Eagle on Thursday, Novem- of Knight’s career. Critics hailed it as every- gO ber 12. The all age 9 p.m. thing from “as stark and brutally honest as performance is priced at $13 Springsteen’s Nebraska” (The Philadelphia in advance and $15 on the day Inquirer) to “the sound of Hank Williams of the show.

Say HELLO to 35,000 of Our Closest Friends! Advertise with Rapid River Magazine (828) 646-0071 www.rapidrivermagazine.com

28 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE poetry

Poet Kathryn Stripling Byer BY TED OLSON

Finding Peace in a Complex World through use of the imagination. Meeting her long-dead aunt in a dream, the poet native of southwest Georgia, poet on its walls re-creating relates that she now feels a real and lasting Kathryn Stripling Byer moved to the beasts of the Ice Age, connection to her namesake. Cullowhee, NC, in the late 1960s, their teeming herds vanishing into the dark Ultimately, in the title poem of Byer’s nOveMBeR 2009 and she soon began to compose corners. You raise your lantern most recent collection as in much of the • Monday, november 2, 7 p.m. poems set in and responding to and see on a rocky apse that fierce shamanic rest of the book, the poet acknowledges Barbara Kingsolver will present her latest A her adopted landscape. Eventually, form: black-painted sorcerer, He that finding peace in a complex world novel, tHe LaCUna. at the asheville High Byer’s work would be read and admired whom you know as the Artist: necessarily depends upon coming to terms School auditorium, 419 Mcdowell St. For both regionally and nationally, and today she yourself at the moment you see with “the Other.” more information call 1-800-441-9849. is widely deemed to be one of the South’s taking shape on the paper • Friday, november 6, 7 p.m. leading poets. before you the face of a man Suzy Barile, author of UndaUnted HeaRt: Since the 1980s, Byer’s poetry has been in a crowded bar somewhere the true Love Story of a Southern Belle published in small literary periodicals, in in Cleveland, Ohio. ted Olson is the and a Yankee general. popular magazines, in anthologies, as well author of “Breathing • Sunday, november 8,  p.m. as in six collections: The Girl in the Midst In her poetry, Byer often asks hard in darkness: poems” Mary akers & Clifford garstang present (Wind publications, of the Harvest (1986), Wildwood Flower questions, as in Part 3 (“Sinking”) of the in an UnCHaRted COUntRY. the award- 2006) and “Blue Ridge winning stories that make up this linked (1992), Black Shawl (1998), Catching Light poem “Coming to Rest,” which conveys the story of the poet’s naming: Folklife” (University collection showcase ordinary men and (2002), Wake (2003), and her most recent press of Mississippi, women in and around Rugglesville, virginia, collection of poetry, Coming to Rest (2006). The aunt I was named after died too young. 1998). His experiences as a poet and as they struggle to find places and identities Her work has received many literary awards She sank at age twelve musician are discussed on the following in their families and the community. and accolades, and from 2005 to 2009 Byer into diabetic pneumonia. Then coma, webpages: www.windpub.com/books/ • thursday, november 12, 7 p.m. served as Poet Laureate of North Carolina. too pretty a word for her dying. Why cling breathingindarkness.htm and www. Jennifer elizabeth daigle author of As Laureate, she promoted poetry across to another old form like this no-holds- SonicBids.com/tedOlson. tHe KnOWing. the state by offering poetry readings and barred song for my aunt who died too young • Friday, november 1, 7 p.m. workshops, granting interviews with the to care about romance? What good is a song Poets who would like for their poetry to be Fred Chappell author of ancestors and media, and maintaining a blog in which she now, to her? Or to me? … Others: new and Selected Stories. Realistic interacted with North Carolinians interested considered for a future column may send their stories of growing up in remote appalachia Byer doesn’t attempt to answer such in literature and creative writing. books and manuscripts to Ted Olson, ETSU, – stories of family, kin, and community. questions directly (there are no easy Coming to Rest (Louisiana State Box 70400, Johnson City, TN 37614. Please answers to some questions); instead, she • Saturday, november 14, 7 p.m. University Press) possesses many of the include contact information and a SASE with Jennifer niven author of veLva Jean ponders the profundity of human existence qualities found in Byer’s earlier work: submissions. LeaRnS tO dRive. in this spellbinding eloquence, subtlety, and quiet intensity. debut, velva Jean Hart finds true love-and then risks everything to follow her dreams. Several of this book’s poems are themati- cally grounded, like much of her earlier • Sunday, november 22,  p.m. poetry, in the natural and cultural history peggy tabor Millin author of WOMen, Regional Storytellers Perform in WRiting, and SOUL-MaKing: Creativity and of western North Carolina. Other poems, the Sacred Feminine. this book moves the though, memorably contrast the local with BY JANE SIMS reader to quiet depths, affirming what it is the global. “Her Daughter,” originally Asheville Tellabration! to embody and then write down one’s truth. published in The Atlantic, was written in t’s time for Tellabration! working abroad. Larson has • Saturday, december 5,  p.m. response to 2003 bombings in Baghdad. The Jeff vanderMeer, kaffeeklatsch and poem empathizes with the female victims of when thousands of people collected stories from many booksigning for BOOKLiFe: Strategies and the Iraq War, yet Byer also acknowledges her around the world gather to cultures and enjoys telling Survival tips for the 21st Century Writer. own daughter’s vulnerability in a world far Icelebrate storytelling the Biblical stories to children. Methods for being focused, productive, removed from the war-ravaged Middle East. week before Thanksgiving. Emcee for the event is pup- and savvy in the craft of writing. Further proof of Byer’s deepening Join the global Tellabra- peteer and storyteller, Pete • Sunday, december 1, 1:0 p.m. global consciousness is evident in the poem tion! spirit for the thirteenth Michael Reno Koschnick. UnC tar Heels Men’s Basketball Coach “Nets,” which juxtaposes the manmade year, as Asheville Storytelling Harrell Tellabration! serves to Roy Williams signs HaRd WORK: My Life on patterns of industrial America with the Circle hosts the local event build grassroots community and Off the Court, at UnCa’s Justice gym. natural patterns depicted by early Euro- Featured tellers include support for the age-old art of pean cave painters. Resembling Seamus Michael Reno Harrell, an storytelling. Since its begin- 55 Haywood St. Heaney’s poem “Bogland” (Byer clearly award winning songwriter ning in 1988, the annual 828-254-6734 • 800-441-9829 admires that Nobel Laureate’s work, as and veteran storyteller from observance has grown into an Monday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Coming to Rest includes two epigraphs Morganton, NC, and Jimmy impressive collective event. Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Heaney poems), the third section of Lee Clayton, who has spent “Nets” employs images from the distant years delighting audiences with Tellabration! The past in order to identify universal meanings hilarious tales on the perils of iF International in present-day life: growing up on a farm in the YOU Celebration of Arkansas Ozark Mountains. gO Storytelling. No- To reach the Great Hunt of Lascaux, Also on the program are vember 22, 3 p.m. you must crawl Asheville Storytelling Circle Asheville Folk Art through a network of tunnels members Karen Eve Bayne Center on the Blue so narrow you writhe on your belly and Sarah Larson. Bayne is an Jimmy Lee Ridge Parkway. Donation $5. as if you’re a snake, international storyteller who Clayton For more information: (828) till the way opens suddenly returned to NC after living and 777-9177 or (828) 658-4151. onto a vast chamber, line upon line

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 29 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE book reviews

Grrrls, Women and Hags BY H. BYRON BALLARD

A Review of Some Books You Might Never Read. But Should. Orr’s work with the Dark Goddess and in fter my brief stint in Dudestan and really matters to them. They met a lot of The weaving you lent me. Dark Mother theology in the world of fiction, I am now women, from all sorts of places. The stories I thank you for your generosity. is important and very comfortably re-situated amidst piles are gut-wrenching, beautiful, silly. The sec- You were kind to me. timely. and piles of non-fiction. Bliss. I’ve tion on Baton Rouge and New Orleans is Let us drink a toast now. Don’t pick this A chosen only three for now but there especially powerful. I have my cargo, I am drunk book up hoping for a quick primer in yet is a wide world of non-fiction available. In the French Quarter: “I start to feel This project was shepherded by Too few people read non-fiction for guilty for being judgmental. Has feminism another Goddess. Orr Ambar Past, a Mexican poet, activist dives deep and offers her pleasure but it can be wonderful, depend- made us “no fun”? …I fear we have become and artist. American-born Past went ing on your interests. It doesn’t have to be too self-aware and serious to get down with insights in a very personal to Mexico in the 1970s and was drawn book. The chapter on “The drudgey “homework” reading , either. some good old-fashioned pina colada-in- into the culture in Chiapas, and the Memoirs are a great place to start fused bump and grind.” Blood” should be required way the Mayan women expressed reading for every child, — find a bio or auto-bio of someone you And the very sad coda to the book themselves. She went on to become admire and see what they were really like. is revealed only in the final pages. Good especially the girl ones. a Mexican citizen and founded Winter is coming, the Or read that new thought about evolution- resources pages and, of course, a website, an artists collective called Taller ary theory. Or choose your favorite historical www.girl-drive.com insanity of the “holiday Lenateros in San Cristobal (one of season” is almost upon us. era and see what’s available. incantations: Songs, Spells and im- Asheville’s sister cities). I’ve chosen three odd things this month ages by Mayan Women, edited by Ambar Do yourself a favor and This book will inspire and indulge in something real — odd in the collection and odd in the Past, Xalik Guzman Bakbolom and Xpetra delight you. choices. But they all called to me from this Ernandes. This book is a distillation and a and meaningful. Reading We wind back to feminism with non-fiction is a sweet way teetering stack near the computer and I’ve potion all by itself. These are the words of Kissing the Hag: the dark goddess picked them off, one by one. indigenous women of the Chiapas High- to stay grounded when all and the Unacceptable nature of about you are losing their girldrive: Criss-crossing america, lands — the book was originally published Women by Emma Restall Orr. Redefining Feminism, by Nona Willis in Mexico, in Spanish and Tzotzil. heads and blaming it on This time of year is sacred to the you. Merely sit down, Aronowitz and Emma Bee Bernstein is a It is enhanced throughout with de- Hag, so it seemed an auspicious time wickedly sharp book of interviews, observa- ceptively simple woodcuts that amplify prop you legs up and start to leap into this book. Orr is a Druid reading that new Roos- tions, pictures. I’m part of that army of bel- the words. I’d like to hear someone speak and a strong writer, and both are ligerent Second Wave feminists from the 70s them in Tzotzil but the English versions are evelt bio. You’ll show evident here. Orr created the Druid them who’s boss. and it gives me some hope for the future that wonderful enough. Here’s one from Maria Network (an international organization) this generation of rad fems is even snakier Alvarez Jimenes. and was joint Chief of OBOD ( the Order and angrier than we were. Of course, a lot Ladies and Gentlemen: of Bards, Ovates and Druids) for almost a of them are angry at us … but I honor their Byron Ballard is a bookseller at indie accent You are sitting here in the road, decade. She is a highly respected member of on Books, a writer and an organic gardener. passion and their journeys. And you know Squatting in life’s way. the international Pagan community. how I love to hear the stories. She is currently at work on a primer called I have come to put at your feet, There’s a lot in popular culture about “earth Works” and lives in asheville’s This book started as a cross-country To place in your hands “Goddesses” — they seem most often used road trip a few years ago and the authors met historic West end with her husband Joe and The clothes that served me. to sell products to randy youngsters. But daughter Kate. with a couple hundred women about what

Friday, November 6 at 7:00 p.m. Meet George Ivy author of Up River A Novel of Attempted Restoration. Saturday, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. Meet Jim Costa author of The Annotated Origin: A Facsimile of the First Edition of “On the Origin of Species” by Charles Darwin, annotated by Jim Costa. Saturday, November 21 at 11:00 a.m. Meet Ann Fariello, author of Cherokee Basketry From the Hands of our Elders. $45 For All 4 Books! (Includes autograph and S&H) Osondu Booksellers To order call Jaileen at (828) 488-8216 184 N. Main, Waynesville, NC www.tictocproductions.com (828) 456-8062 Order MoonBow and Meek-El online at Amazon.com, Alibris.com, and BarnesAndNoble.com www.osondubooksellers.com

0 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS noteworthy Wood Goes Green!

or the month of of his wooden furniture, November the F.W. beautiful hand crafted items Gallery at Woolworth created less than an hour Walk will feature the away in his woodshop in East artwork of local wood Tennessee. Come see the Fworker David Hadden. works of David Hadden and David specializes in mak- meet the artist at his opening ing cutting boards from scraps reception Friday November 6 of wood deemed too small from 5 to 7 p.m. for commercial operations to use. David is therefore not David Hadden, only creating functional pieces woodworker. of art, but is also recycling to help minimize waste, making the boards a green product. The cutting boards consist F.W. Front Gallery at Wool- of different kinds and colors of wood glued iF worth Walk. Works by David together with waterproof glue and finished YOU Hadden, wood worker on with mineral oil, both FDA approved. gO display November 1-29, 2009. These boards make the ideal present Woolworth Walk 25 Haywood since they are not only attractive but are also Street Asheville. (828) 254- functional and made from recycled wood! 9234 Gallery Hours: Mon-Thurs. 11-6, Fri. David will also be showcasing a few pieces and Sat. 11-7, Sun. 11-5.

NCSG Fall Storytelling Festival

ales will be told and laughter will SC; Frankie Adkins, Honea Path, SC; and ring through the rafters as renowned Dianne Hackworth, Clinton, TN. storytellers gather Saturday, No- The day-long festival kicks off at 9 vember 14, at Transylvania County a.m. with a 90-minute workshop by Jay T Library in Brevard, NC for the 11th O’Callahan: “Stories Are Like Fireflies,” Annual NCSG Fall Storytelling Festival. followed by Stories for Young Children at Sponsored by the North Carolina 10 a.m., featuring Mimi Cole and Claire Storytelling Guild and Transylvania County Ramsey. Connie Regan Blake presents a Library Friends of the Library, the festival 90-minute workshop, “Stage Presence and features three NCSG professional tellers Deep Listening” at 11 a.m., and Transylva- who will share the stage with nationally nia County school children kick off their known storytellers, Asheville’s Connie Youth Storytelling Showcase at noon. Regan-Blake, and Jay O’Callahan from Story lovers will settle in for an after- Marshfield, MA. This event is free and open noon of tales at 1 p.m. with the Pre-Concert to the public. Showcase which features two Asheville area Jay O’Callahan has been creating and residents, Marvin Cole, the North Carolina performing stories for nearly two decades. personification of America’s favorite humor- Time Magazine has called him “a genius ist Mark Twain, and well-known western among storytellers.” North Carolina storyteller Sandra Gudger. Connie Regan-Blake is one of Amer- The Family Storytelling Concert, ica’s most celebrated storytellers. She has emceed by Trish Dumser, starts at 2 p.m., captivated the hearts and imaginations of and features Jay O’Callahan, Connie Regan- people around the globe with her powerful Blake, the NCSG Regional Tellers. performances and workshops. A traditional highlight of the Festival On Friday, November 13, in conjunc- is always the Evening Concert for Youth & tion with the festival, Connie Regan-Blake Adults at 6:30 p.m. Cornelius, NC, resident, will perform a storytelling concert, “Find- Trish Dumser, emcees both afternoon and ing Your Way Home: Stories of True-Life evening concerts. Adventures and Mountain Roots,” 7 p.m., at the Transylvania County Library in Brevard. NCSG Fall Storytelling Festi- The event is free and open to the public. iF val. Saturday, November 14, In addition to O’Callahan and Regan- YOU Transylvania County Library, Blake, the festival features three profes- gO 212 S. Gaston Street, Brevard, sional storytellers from the North Carolina NC. For more information Storytelling Guild sharing classic folktales, call Sandra Gudger, Festival legends, literary tales, and original stories Director, (828) 274-1123, or Car- during afternoon and evening activities. rie Foreman Transylvania County Library, These tellers include: Lisa Eister, Clemson, (828) 884-3151.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 1 RAPID RIVER ARTS fine art Asheville’s River Arts District Studio Stroll nOveMBeR 14-15, 10aM tO 6pM

uring the Stroll more than one BY ADA DUDENHOEFFER hundred and thirty studios in D twelve distinctive historic buildings are open to the public within a one- mile by half-mile area. The district also offers visitors a variety options for dining and a brewery/ Cassie Ryalls, “Souls” tasting room. Throughout the weekend, Asheville Historic Trolly Tours provide a free shuttle service between buildings. The Trolly Tour begins and ends “Elementary Dead at the Chamber of Commerce on Mont- Reckoning” ford Avenue, and makes a 30-minute loop by Carol Bomer through the district. This art scene’s new-found fame is a dynamic renaissance and resurgence of community that has taken place over the It’s not past twenty years. Images of America, just the charm Asheville’s River Arts District, by Rob of gritty old and Henry Neufeld, is a text that explores buildings predominate themes in the history of that warrants River arts district Studio the district. In the introduction Neufeld so much at- says, “One book is too short to convey the tention. The Stroll photography Contest excitement of the arts community because artists whose there is a story at every stop. studios are The River District Artists are sponsoring a At extreme ends of the district, for photography contest during the November located in this instance are many wonders. To the south hip, artsy, 14-15 Studio Stroll. The contest is open to in Riverview Station (the former tannery), all ages and all skill levels. To enter, read the “wrong-side- modest masters focus on their crafts in of-the-tracks” guidelines, and upload submissions, go to large, unglamorous spaces as if they are www.flickr.com/groups/riverartsdistrict. district, have members of medieval guilds. To the north, earned a Judges will select first, second, and third place in the Phil Mechanic Building (a former reputation for winners. The first place winning photogra- building’s supplies wholesaler), Jolene Me- being mod- pher will receive $100, second and third place each receive $50. chanic nurtures an international avant-garde est masters with a social mission.” and worthy Wendy Whitson In the past couple years the district of attention in painting. has received a good deal of national atten- their own right. tion, including mentions in The New York The list of qualified, recognized, artists who Times, The Washington Post, and The Los work in the River Arts District is long and Angeles Times. The River Arts District has impressive. It’s perhaps as long as the list of also been featured on 20/20 (ABC), and NC emerging talent, who still keep a day job to Weekend (PBS). The Miami Herald called pay studio rents. it “hip, artsy, and exciting with a wrong- side-of-the-tracks feel about it.” Head down to the River arts district, november The Richmond Times found the district 14-15, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to discover who’s be- to be “a gritty accumulation of converted hind those brick facades, making art, making warehouses. Behind the nondescript brick news, and making history. facades, you can watch art in the making. The dozens of painters, sculptors, potters and glass makers here seem to enjoy sharing their Full color maps with direc- work almost as much as creating it.” iF tions and a list of participat- Wells Tower, writing for the New York YOU ing artists are available at the Times described the area as “an assemblage gO Asheville Chamber of Com- of attractively distressed, previously forsaken merce, the Asheville Area Arts structures from Asheville’s bygone industri- Council, River District studios al age; now they are mostly lofts and studios and galleries. More information in various states of rehabilitation.” can be found at www.riverartsdistrict.com.

2 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS fine art Toe River Studio Tour

he mountains of Mitchell and BY DENISE COOK Yancey Counties of Western North Carolina are home to some of the top artists and T craftspeople in America. Whether you want contemporary or traditional, two- or three-dimensional, to look at or to use, you’ll find a wide selection to Potter Claudia Dunaway. select from as, map in hand, you follow the crafts trail pans, fountains, bird houses, set out for the Toe River sculptured forms, ceremoni- Studio Tour on December al pieces, sets of dishes, even 4, 5, and 6. bathroom sinks. They come This annual event, in stoneware, raku, wood- sponsored by the Toe River fired, earthenware, Majolica, Arts Council (TRAC), is Glassblower JJ Brown. or porcelain. held twice a year: on the Look for functional second weekend in June and sculptural work from and the first weekend in basketmakers who work in December. This year TRAC traditional gathered materi- has expanded studio times als or in the modern Asian to include hours on Friday, reeds. If wood makes your December 4 from 12 to 4 nerve ends tingle, then you p.m. The TRAC Center can select from carvings, Gallery reception will be furniture, turned wood held Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. combined with blown glass, On both Saturday and or art made with materials Sunday, December 5 and gathered from the woods. 6, studio visiting hours are People who look for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on. These 2-D art can chose from self-guided free tours offer Painter and potter, Ron photographs, watercolors, the visitor an opportunity to Slagle with wife Maria. oil, acrylics, silkscreen, and search out the professional paintings on handmade artists and craftspeople working in the two paper. Textiles are well represented with rural mountain counties. Many stops on the handspun yarns, hand-woven flat goods, map will showcase more than one artist. art quilts, knitwear, and garments pieced, The TRAC map shows the locations of painted, and quilted. Look for ironwork, the studios and galleries on the tour and lists handmade books, jewelry, soap and scents, a few local lodging places and restaurants stationery, and ornaments. If the studios that provide feasts or fast meals. The map, don’t have what you’re looking for, step along with the tour signs aid travelers in into any of numerous galleries on the tour, finding their destinations. where you’ll find a wide range of hand- More than 120 artisans open their crafted articles. studio doors and welcome the public to see The TRAC Center Gallery at 269 their workplaces. It is a rare opportunity to Oak Avenue in Spruce Pine will feature an visit many of these studios. From world- exhibition of participants’ work on display class to emerging… glass blowers, potters from November 21 through December 31. of every description, wood turners, basket Regular hours are Tuesdays through Satur- makers, printers, painters, fiber artists, days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. photographers, sculptors, jewelers, metal The Burnsville TRAC Gallery at 102 workers, and more can be found. West Main Street also will have maps and You will find blown glass that comes additional information. It is open Mondays in all colors, sizes, hues – from functional through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, vases, bowls and goblets to unique, one- with expanded hours for the tour weekend. of-a-kind sculptures. Many studios will be demonstrating and offering an opportunity to see how items are made. Stained glass A “FREE” Tour map can be is represented as well – from large-scale iF viewed at www.toeriverarts. commission type pieces, sun catchers and YOU org or picked up at any of the unique sculptural pieces. gO participating studios, galleries, The potters may offer their wares from and local businesses. For more orderly racks or from homemade rustic information contact the Toe benches and tables, but they have much to River Arts Council at (828) 682- choose from: trays, jugs, mugs, tiles, baking 7215 or 765-0520 or [email protected]

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009  RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE artful living Egoless Awareness

Walking along a mountain path, the student asked the You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn writes, What makes this so important is, to “Mindfulness means paying at- quote Gestalt psychologist Fritz Perls, teacher: “Teacher, how do I enter into Zen?” To which the tention in a particular way: “The contours of our neurosis are teacher replied: “Do you hear that distant mountain stream?” on purpose, in the present the same as the contours of our The student listened, but couldn’t. The teacher then said: moment and non-judgmen- awareness.” To put this in practical tally.” Let us first examine terms, the contours of the world “Listen harder.” After a while the student heard the faint the paying of attention on as experienced by an angry person sound of a stream and said: “Yes, I hear it now” and the purpose. is full of reasons to be angry, and teacher instructed, “Enter into Zen from there.” We may think we the contours of the world as are paying attention, experienced by an anxious but, in truth, most person is full of reasons of us in this culture to be anxious. To borrow editation and mindfulness can BY BILL WALZ suffer, more or less, another Gestalt maxim, be described as the cultivation from attention deficit “Thou art projection.” of a consciousness of egoless disorder, and, as On the other hand awareness. Sometimes, it is also as: stick to your own kind, you can’t trust is the case with then, the contours of a described as choiceless aware- people who are different. Our lives are a diagnosed mental mindful person paying Mness, which amounts to the same thing, for construct of learned judgments concerning illness, it is only attention purposefully, it is ego, that experience of a separate me what we want to bring to us for our happi- the more extreme presently and non-judg- struggling in a dangerous universe, that is ness and what we want to keep away from, cases that get diagnosed mentally are bigger, fuller and always choosing to attend to what it thinks fearful that it will take our happiness away. and treated within the Western psychologi- thicker with the potential of the world, is important. The second problem with this con- cal model. The egoic dimension of mind is as-it-is. The mindful person experiences the The egoic mind is always categorizing ditioning is its inherent limitations. While so immersed in its cravings and its anxiet- moment in a way that will begin to dissolve the world into what it is attracted to, that we have some relative clarity about what ies, that it is shifting focus constantly, both their neurotic limitations precisely because is, what it wants, and what it experiences as we want and what we don’t want, we are, within its stream of thoughts and in the the contours of their awareness have ex- a threat, that which it doesn’t want. So, we by definition, ignorant of all the rest of external world, trying to keep track of identi- panded. They are not experiencing the world are attending in our lives to a very narrow Creation not included in either of these two fying what it wants and what it doesn’t want. in an awareness that is locked down into the band of possibilities within the vast rich- judgmental categories. We are paying next We seldom really pay attention in a focused, contours of neurotic egoic conditioning. ness that is Life. to no attention to the category that is neither stable way. We must learn to purposefully They can hear the distant mountain stream. There are several problems with this. what we want and like nor what we don’t pay attention if we are going to experience We become saner and more resource- First, what we want and don’t want is all a want and don’t like. This third category Life fully and experience the richness in ful. We become more responsive to life’s matter of conditioning. Some of the condi- encompasses a great deal of Life, particularly individual phenomenon. potential and less reactive to our conditioned tioned learning is appropriate, such as: fire is its subtler qualities, wherein lie much of the Next is the issue of paying attention in limitations. Life begins to open into more good for warmth, but don’t stick your hand best that Life has to offer. the present moment. The egoic mind is a and more of its subtle potential for satisfying in it. Some of it is deeply problematic, such In his book, Wherever You Go There chaotic time-travel machine, always flitting and wise living. How do we enter into Zen? into the past, keeping track of its stories of Listen, look, feel and experience Life successes and failures, and into the future, here-and-now with deliberate egoless open- strategizing how to be more successful in ness to the subtleties of the moment. Hear its agenda. It is seldom focused clearly and the silence beneath all sound; see the space for any duration in this moment, where life within which all form exists, experience the Fusing Nature and End-of-life Choices is actually happening. Again, we are miss- stillness beneath all movement. Thus the ing most of life, because we simply are not subtleties of sight, sound and form become present in a focused, stable way. And if we richly available. There, we will discover Life. ury Me Naturally and Farm Girl BY CAROL MOTLEY are focused into the present moment, we There we discover that we are not only alive, will be celebrating their ‘soft’ open- are mostly in a state of judgment, deciding but that we are the awareness of Life itself. ing November 1 and 2. whether the contents of the moment are to We will have entered into Zen. Located at 227 Haywood resources in a natural, relaxing atmo- B sphere completely different from either our liking or not. Road next to Short Street Cakes, Which brings us to paying attention non- Carol Motley and Lauri Newman have funeral homes or florists. judgmentally. We may think we have a pretty developed an unusual business model This unique combination of two Bill Walz is a UnCa adjunct good idea of how judgment operates in our fusing nature and the cycles of life into a women-owned, sustainable businesses faculty member and a private- lives. We may be able to cite our various pro storefront where folks can comfortably will open opportunities for people to practice teacher of individual and con prejudices of what we like and don’t peruse both local native plant life as well think and plan out their end of life mindfulness, personal growth like. But do we really know how pervasive as natural burial products. wishes instead of relying on loved ones and consciousness. He holds judgment is in our lives? Can we enumerate Lauri Newman’s Farm Girl will to bear the burden of cumbersome a weekly meditation class, beyond our obvious prejudices what biases provide fresh locally grown flowers, na- choices that can be expensive as well as Mondays, 7p.m., at the and misperceptions we are unconscious to? Friends Meeting House, 227 edgewood. tive potted plants, terrariums, and several daunting. Do we know that practically our entire life- other unique garden memorial items. By offering contemporary sympathy experience is a matrix of projected judgments He will hold “an early Winter Satsang” of Bury Me… Naturally will provide gifts this storefront also aims to provide intricately woven into a world-view? meditation and personal consciousness 100% natural and biodegradable cas- local art, cards, books, jewelry, plants, development discussion on Saturday, I believe not, for we see the world the kets, shrouds and urns, unique memo- flowers and native garden choices. december 12, 2:0-5 p.m. at the Friends way our conditioning has contoured the rial services, community bereavement Meeting House. the grand opening will be announced at the world, bringing forward for attention what resources, books, cards and natural burial end of november with an open house cel- we are conditioned to pay attention to and resources. Together these two businesses information on classes, personal growth and ebration. For more information visit www. leaving out as unobserved background, all healing instruction, or phone consultations provide a different venue in which to ncnaturalburial.com. the rest. This selective perception is a form at (828) 258-241, or e-mail healing@ purchase end-of-life products and obtain of judgment. billwalz.com. visit www.billwalz.com.

4 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 ARTS & CULTURE kid culture JOSepH RatHBOne ReCOMMendS

his month I am going to review a popular animated television show BY JOSEPH RATHBONE called Star Wars the Clone Wars T (which began its second season this anywhere that sells movies. October). I give it four out of five stars, and Okay, now on to sea- this is why. Although it contains a lot of son two. I give it five stars, action I think season one didn’t live up to its and this is why. (Note: there have only been full potential. two episodes broadcast so far.) The stories were good and the char- The first two episodes were awesome, acters were interesting. There were a few and I think this will be the better of the two really cool episodes like seasons. So far it has “Trespass”, “Jedi Crash tons of action, fighting, Parts 1 and 2”, and one humor and great story- of the episodes that had lines. Later on, I guess, there will be lots of new characters introduced Clone Wars! like Boba Fett (Clone wars style), and many others from the Star Yoda fighting in it (I can’t Wars universe. remember its name), but So, over all, this is most were good, just not a great show for all Star great. If you haven’t seen Wars fans ages seven this show I recommend and up. You can catch buying the full first sea- this awesome show on son on DVD and Blueray, Cartoon Network every which you can get almost “Star Wars the Clone Wars” Friday night at 8 p.m.

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 5 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE what to do guide ™

Sunday, November 1 Thursday, November 5 An Inspector Calls Harvest Festival La petite tease – Workshop with A tale of the unexpected by J B Flat Rock, NC, from 3 p.m. to Bootstraps Burlesque Priestley. Directed by Margaret 6 p.m. Come celebrate fall and John Mac Kah Sticpewich. A Readers Theatre purchase the final bounties of the Saturday, November 7 Showcase production in memory earth. Vendors will join in the spirit The hot and saucy dames of November 20-23 of Bernie Hauserman (1937-2009) with special offerings of the season Bootstraps Burlesque have been Oils or Acrylics? Three-day work- by The Autumn Players, 2:30 pm at and customers can sample tasty taking their classic burlesque shop - Oils AND Acrylics. Look- Reuter Center NCCCR. $5 tickets homemade treats. and modern dance shows all ing to get started painting? Trying to decide which is best or how to at the door and at ACT Box Office In addition to the seasonal produce a across the combine them? (828) 254-1320. Presented by Ashe- wide variety of baked goods, honey, southeast ville Community Theatre in partner- jams, jellies, herbal vinegars, herb representing Weekend intensive workshop for all levels. Beginners welcome. If you are ship with North Carolina Center for teas, eggs, cheeses, lamb, beef, fish Asheville’s already drawing or painting, examples of your work would be helpful to Creative Retirement with support and seafood will be available. Many amazing bur- bring to the meeting. Visit our studio November 13-14, open for RDA from Western North Carolina Jew- vendors will have handmade crafts lesque scene. Studio Stroll. Weekly classes and private instruction also available. Email: ish Federation. and there will be a demonstration of Real burlesque [email protected] or (828) 225-5000 spinning and carding wool. in the spirit of vintage and classy english Country dance Be sure to bring the kids for the choreographed routines are their petting zoo that will include sheep, specialty with elaborate costum- November 11-15 Charlotte Street at Max Street on the Sunday November 1 & 15 miniature chickens, rabbits and ing. They are bringing their glit- Cucalorus Film Festival hill across from the Asheville Public tery tails home for an intimate, From 3-5:30 p.m. at the Ashe- carrier pigeons. Or join the fun in One of MovieMaker Magazine’s Works Building (1 Dundee St.). up close and personal (simmer ville Arts Center, 308 Merrimon painting mini pumpkins. “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals will down, not that personal) petite Ave. Learn Historical English light up Wilmington from Wednes- Friday December 4 Dances (Jane Austen era) to live The market will continue every burlesque tease show. Echo Gallery at Biltmore Thursday in April 2010. For more day, November 11 through Sun- music. No partner or experience Follow the gals downstairs after day, November 15 with more than Park Holiday Opening necessary, $6. Call (828) 230- information contact Hand in Hand Gallery at (828) 697-7719. the show for an after party with 130 films. Showings take place at: A new cooperative, contemporary 8449 for more information. Shell Shock, Asheville’s newest Lumina Theater and King Audi- space which opened in October, torium (on the UNCW campus), Saturday, November 7 industrial Goth night with DJ Echo features paintings, ceramics, Drees. Doors open at 10 with Jengo’s Playhouse (Wilmington’s textiles, sculpture and photography. Discover Wildlife! Juried Craft Show the show starting at 11. only micro-cinema at 815 Princess From 6 to 9 pm. For more informa- The United Methodist Men of St.), Thalian Hall (310 Chestnut St.), tion visit www.echoasheville.com. Club Eleven, 11 Grove Street, Have Kids! First United Methodist Church in Screen Gems Studio (1223 N. 23rd Echo Gallery, 170 Lyman St, Ashe- downtown Asheville, above Hendersonville extends a warm in- St.), and the Cameron Art Museum ville NC. (828) 230-4177. Scandals. Cover: $10 for 21+, vitation to the community to its 9th (3201 South 17th Street). How to place an event/ annual Juried Craft Show. $13 for 18-20. classified listing with Dance-a-lorous kicks off the festival The Craft Show, featuring home- on Wednesday, November 11 at the Rapid River art Magazine made items from over 35 tal- Kenan Auditorium (on the UNCW english Country dance Any “free” event open to the public ented crafters, will take place in Heaven in Your pocket campus). Festival passes may be pur- can be listed at no charge up to 30 the church’s Barber Christian Life chased at www.cucalorus.org. Sunday, December 6 & 20 words. For all other events there is a Center from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. November 7-8 From 3 to 5:30 p.m. at the Ashe- $9.95 charge up to 30 words and 10 Refreshments will be available. Saturday, November 21 cents for each additional word. 160 Local actors and singers lend ville Arts Center 308 Merrimon word limit per event. First United Methodist Church their talents to The Arts Council 12th Annual Ave. Learn Historical English Dances (Jane Austen era) to live Sponsored listings (shown in is located at the corner of Church of Henderson County’s work- Holiday Craft Fair boxes) can be purchased for $12 Street and Sixth Avenue in down- shop production of Heaven in At UU Church. This is a great music. $6, no partner or experi- per column inch. town Hendersonville. For more Your Pocket, an original musical. opportunity to find work by local ence necessary. (828) 230-8449. information about the United Meth- Deadline is the 19th of each Performances are Saturday, artisans. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. odist Men’s Fall Craft Show, call month. Payment must be made November 7 at 7:30 p.m. at at the Unitarian Universalist Church the church during business hours at prior to printing. ®evolving Arts Gallery, 511 of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place. For (828) 693-4275. Email Beth Gossett at: North Main Street in downtown more information, (828) 254-6001. [email protected] Hendersonville, and Sunday, director Sought Or mail to: 85 N. Main St, Canton, November 7 & 8 November 8 at 2 p.m. at Feed & Sunday, November 22 NC 28716. Call (828) 646-0071 to Meet the Maker Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Road Classical Chamber Music For “The Importance of place ad over the phone. Doll Maker Charlie Patricolo at in Fletcher. Receptions follow Concert Being Earnest” – Disclaimer – Grovewood Gallery from 11 a.m. to both shows. Soprano Amanda L. Horton will The Montford Park Players, 3 p.m. Long time doll maker, Charlie North Carolina’s Longest Run- Due to the overwhelming number of Admission is $15 ($10 for Arts present a recital of art songs and arias local event submissions we get for our Patricolo, will be at Grovewood Gal- ning Shakespeare Festival, is Council members). You can at p.m. at St. Matthias Church in “What to Do Guide” each month, we lery demonstrating her techniques seeking a director for its Winter make reservations at the Arts Asheville. The program will feature can no longer accept entries that do not on dolls in various stages of comple- 2010 production of Oscar Wil- Council, 538 North Main Street works by Brahms, Schubert, Strauss, specifically follow our publication’s tion. Have a chance to meet Charlie, de’s The Importance of Being format. Non-paid event listings must in Hendersonville, or by calling Dvorak, and Boito. She will be ac- ask questions about her work, and be Earnest. Interviews will be held be 30 words or less and both paid and (828) 693-8504. Seating is lim- companied by Dr. Jim Baumgartner inspired by her wonderful creations. Saturday, November 14 at 1 non-paid listings must provide infor- ited at both venues. on the piano. mation in the following format: date, p.m. For more information and Grovewood Gallery, 111 Grovewood time, brief description of what your For more information contact Free-will donations will be taken for to apply download the applica- Rd., Asheville, NC, or visit www. event is and any contact information. [email protected] or visit the artists and for the restoration of tion at www.montfordparkplay- Any entries not following this format grovewood.com. Phone (828) 253- www.acofhc.org. the historic church. The church is ers.org under “Show Info”. will not be considered for publication. 7651 for more information. located in Asheville just off South

NOVEMBER EVENTS ~ ANNOUNCEMENTS ~ CLASSIFIEDS

6 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS & CULTURE MAGAZINE what to do guide ™

Metamorphosis Opening Reception

Friday, November 6 Tekla, Martin Webster. Many of the artists from 5-8 p.m. will be displaying the first seed of the creative november events Vadim Bora Gallery hosts thought — rendered in drawings, models and the 6th annual juried exhibi- maquettes — as well as the finished work. Saturday, November 14 tion of mountain sculptors in On display November 6 - December 3, 2009 11:00 a.m. Meet poet Sam “Metamorphosis.” An exceptional gathering of ideas and objects Kaufman, a teen who has com- Vadim Bora Gallery & Studio pleted a creative book of poetry. Ripp Smith with: Ralph Berger, Vadim Bora, “Father and Marty Cain, Len Fury, Jim Kofalt, 30 1/2 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, NC 1 to 2:30 p.m. “How to Build Daughter” Dale McEntire, Catherine Mur- (828) 254-7959 november events at Character in Ten Minutes” ray, Linda Pannullo, Ripp Smith, Julia Stout, www.vadimborastudio.com Christine Hale workshop fol- Fired Up! Creative Lounge lowed by Q&A on writing. Friday, November 6, from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, November 21 Girls’ Night Out – 2 for 1 studio fees. Bring 3:00 p.m. meet Brian Lee Knopp Best in Show by Phil Juliano your friends, some wine and get creative. Snacks author of Mayhem in Mayberry, provided by Fired Up! Adventures of a PI in Southern Appalachia. Sunday, November 8, from 1-6 p.m. Family Fun Day – Half price studio fees for kids. Saturday, November 28 Snacks provided by Fired Up! 3:00 p.m. Meet William (Bill) Hart Jr. author 3,000 Miles in Friday, November 13, from 6-9 p.m. the Great Smokies. Parents’ Night Out – Kids ages 5-12. Pizza, painting and games. $25 per child, call for details Osondu Booksellers and reservations. 184 N. Main, Waynesville, NC (828) 456-8062 Friday, November 20, from 5-9 p.m. www.osondubooksellers.com Date Night – 2 for 1 studio fees. Bring your date, Callie & Cats by Amy Downs some wine, and get creative. Snacks provided by Fired Up!

Fired Up! Creative Lounge personal trainer 26 Wall Street, Asheville, NC Certification Workshop For details (828) 253-8181 November 7-8 The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department and NETA, a non-profit fitness Celebrating the Written Word professional association, are offering a personal trainer certi- Thursday, November 5 at 7 p.m. fication workshop on Saturday, Corgi Tales by Phil Hawkins The holiday celebration of November 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 Catch the Spirit of Appala- p.m. and on Sunday, November chia’s writing program will 8, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the open with stories, poetry and Waynesville Recreation Center song showcasing the creative located at 550 Vance Street in talents of Reverend Jack Hin- Waynesville, NC. son, Reverend Victoria Casey McDonald, Hoyt Lucus, The two day workshop includes Reverend John Reed, Nancy demonstrations and practical ap- M. Pafford, Edwina Crowe plications of one-on-one train- L-R: Hoyt Lucus, Jones, Kim May, Harold ing. NETA’s expert trainer will Jack Hinson, Victoria Sims, and Matthew Baker. Casey McDonald cover exercise science review, At 7:30 p.m. there will be a communication skills, exercise booksigning and reception with refreshments. programming, health assess- Dragin by Michael Cole ments and more. Workshop Other writers attending include Doreyl Ammons registration includes a written Cain, Amy Ammons Garza; Etheree Chancellor, exam and a two year certificate. Dot Conner, Victoria Casey McDonald, “The African Americans of Jackson County.” Cost depends on the number of years of experience. For more CSA’s Annual Writers’ Booksigning and Recep- information or to register please tion at the Jackson County Main Library, Main call NETA at 800-237-6242 or Street in Sylva, NC. For more information call visit www.netafit.org. Amy Garza at (828) 631-4587.

CLASSES ~ LECTURES ~ ARTS & CRAFTS ~ READINGS

Vol. 13, No. 3 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — November 2009 7 RAPID RIVER ARTS noteworthy

Calendar by Local Illustrator Part of National Effort to Save the Honeybees

Bee Lover’s Gar- BY KATHI PETERSEN den aims to build the buzz about the mysterious flowers and dandelions. disappearance of The project has been A endorsed by agriculture bee colonies and to raise money for research. officials and beekeeping “This is totally a ‘yes’ professionals, including project. Everything about Kim Flottum, editor of it feels good.” Bee Culture magazine That’s how award- and an advisor to the winning Black Mountain White House beekeeping nature artist Jay Pfeil staff. describes her involvement A Bee Lover’s with A Bee Lover’s Gar- Garden comes at a criti- den, a national grassroots cal time. One in three effort she and Asheville bees in the U.S. died entrepreneur Mary El- last winter, continu- ing the decline that has len “Mel” Hughes have The founders of “A Bee Lover's launched to help save scientists, farmers, and Garden,” Mel Hughes (standing) citizens such as Pfeil and honeybees, which are van- and Jay Pfeil. ishing at an alarming rate. Hughes concerned the The project’s flagship product, an country’s diet could potentially be reduced art-quality 2010 calendar, features Pfeil’s to grains and water – not a happy prospect, original drawings of bee-friendly plants, especially this time of year. suitable for framing. A major portion of net “With major food-related holidays proceeds from calendar sales will support coming up, it’s important to remember the research into the mysterious loss of the bees. vital role honeybees have in the ecosystem,” This phenomenon, which scientists says Hughes. “Just as bees help provide our call Colony Collapse Disorder, could have food supply, we need to love them back by a devastating impact on the nation’s food nurturing healthy honeybee habitats. Our supply. Bees are directly responsible for pol- calendar, with Jay’s brilliant illustrations, linating a third of the country’s food crops gives tips on doing just that.” – about 100 of them, from apples, broccoli, For Pfeil, whose professional member- cabbage and cucumbers to okra, pumpkins, ships include the Southern Highland Craft squash and strawberries. Bees also Guild, this project is particularly special. pollinate crops such “My work comes from a place of joy, as alfalfa and clover and everything about this effort feels used as feed for beef good. I believe that, together, we can and dairy cattle. truly make a difference.” Printed locally on Green Seal Certified paper, A Bee Lover’s a Bee Lover’s garden 2010 calendar, Garden calendar is featuring art of bee-friendly plants by meant to inspire and award-winning nature artist Jay pfeil, inform the public about is available online and at select retail simple steps that will outlets. visit www.abeeloversgarden. feed and shelter bees, com for more information. such as growing sun-

Experience Your National Park

Accompany rangers in activities such as Monday, November 16 and Monday, No- caring for a museum collection, exploring vember 23 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch Sandburg’s written legacy, preserving his- will be provided. Each session is limited to toric buildings and landscapes, eradicating twelve persons. To apply visit www.nps. non-native plants and saving hemlock trees. gov/carl/parknews, or call (828) 693-4178. The opportunity to be a park ranger for the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic day includes hands-on demonstrations and Site is located three miles south of Hender- education programs. sonville off U.S. 225 on Little River Road.

8 November 2009 — Rapid RiveR aRtS & CULtURe Magazine — Vol. 13, No. 3 RAPID RIVER ARTS your health Mom Doesn’t Know Where She Is!

arol Coultraine pushed through the BY MAX HAMMONDS, MD double doors marked “Coronary Care Unit.” She had driven straight from work to see her mother, who “And her – what? – her disconnection had had a mild heart attack three from life,” Carol commented. C “Yes, that, too – altered state of con- days before. “Mother’s care has been excellent sciousness. She’s not totally awake,” the here,” Carol thought as she walked down nurse agreed. “Today we had a case con- the now familiar corridor toward the end ference with the doctors about her. They room where mother was recovering. decided to discontinue as many medicines For the previous two days Mother had as they can – or cut down the dosages. That undergone multiple tests. The heart doctors can sometimes be the cause. And they are had done the cardiac catheterization just going to move her out of this unit into a yesterday and determined that mother only quieter room – more private and darker at needed a stent placed to open up the artery night, you know.” in her heart. “Is there anything I can do?” Carol sat “Mother should be ready to go home shaking her head in disbelief at her mother’s in few days,” Carol reminded herself as she condition. turned into Room 14. “Yes, actually, there is,” the nurse said. Mother sat slumped in her chair, “Tomorrow bring pictures – of the family tied upright with a sheet. Her face stared or of her house – anything that will remind blankly straight ahead. For a moment Carol her of familiar surroundings. Put them in wondered if it was her mother at all. “She her new room close to her bed where she was talking to me plainly yesterday,” she can see them, concentrate on them.” thought. “Talking about how easy the cath The nurse leaned forward. “Can you had been – how pleased she was that it had come stay with her this weekend?” all gone so well.” “I can come tomorrow and stay “Mother? Mother, are you all right?” through the weekend – as long as it takes.” Carol began shouting her mother’s name, Carol was grateful to have something she trying to get a response. could contribute. “But what do I do? What “Mrs. Coultraine, don’t shout.” CCU do I say?” Nurse Judy Johnson entered the room. “Just talk to her,” the nurse said calmly. “Mom doesn’t know where she is – or “Talk to her about the family, things you even if she is!” Carol exclaimed. “What hap- are doing, events from your childhood or pened? She doesn’t even know me!” plans you and she have made. Oh, yes, and “The doctors think it is delirium.” bring a calendar to hang on the wall – one “Delirium? You mean like Altzheim- with large numbers. Do you have er’s? But she didn’t have it yesterday.” one like that?” “No, it’s not like Altzheimer’s at all,” “I’ll get one,” Carol said the nurse said, guiding Carol to a chair on emphatically. “Whatever the far side of the room, it takes.” She turned to “it’s confusion or disori- face the nurse. “Does entation, probably brought she need medication?” on by all the noise and the “Sometimes tests and the stress certain kinds of she has been under medication can help, these last few days.” but we like to try “Well, it’s for the environmental sure she hasn’t been interventions first. sleeping in here Let’s see what the where the lights are on weekend brings, twenty-four seven,” shall we?” Carol said, looking up Carol spent all of at the florescent bulbs Thursday evening, Friday, and overhead. the weekend with her mother “Yes, and that’s another pos- during every waking hour, talking about sible cause of her delirium,” the nurse family, reading favorite stories, describ- said, sitting in a chair beside Carol. ing pictures she had brought from “But I thought delirium is when you home. The nursing staff made sure that act wild and crazy,” Carol said, gazing at Mother’s sleep at night was undisturbed. her mother. On Sunday morning, when “This kind of delirium can be either Carol walked into her room, her mother very wild or very quiet. It’s really the rapid looked up from the Sunday paper she onset – just since yesterday – and her inat- was reading and said, “Oh, Carol, how tention to life now – when she was so obvi- nice of you to come visit me.” ously involved with her care yesterday.”

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