Happenings

The Summer of Glass is the coalescence of the glass community and cultural leaders, individuals, organizations, artist studios, galleries, independent businesses, museums, and nonprofits who have all come together in a massive collaborative effort to highlight both the historical and contemporary context of glass and its talented artists in Western North Carolina. Regional partners are working together to organize NC glass history exhibit, tours, events, exhibitions and other special glass programs from May - October 2018.

Major events will take place from May-October to coincide with Chihuly at Biltmore. Individual businesses and artists will have events ongoing. The Lexington Glassworks will be featuring our Glassworks Concert Series the first Friday of each month throughout the Summer of Glass.

The celebration spotlights the rich history of glass in this region, highlighting the many artists and their contributions and importance to the glass art movement. The region's historical incubator has cultivated a thriving community of glass makers and supporting organizations. A new generation has been fostered and is taking the medium to new levels. The roots of the contemporary glass art movement run deep in WNC and have developed into a story to be shared with all.

For more information about events please visit, summerofglass.com.

36 Hours in Asheville

A gateway to the great outdoors with backdoor access to the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville has become a mecca of artisanal, locally-grown food showcased in world-famous restaurants. The city also contains more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city and is home to one of the finest assembly of artists and working studios anywhere in the country. Plus, it boasts an incredible range of architectural masterpieces. And, of course, there is the beautiful fall foliage that renders visitors speechless. So pack your bags for a weekend escape and experience the unique culture that is Asheville.

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Maker Spotlight

Yesterday, I stopped by Lexington Glassworks having strolled past their open door a few times a week on my way to my “go-to” yoga studio Go Yoga. Having arrived a bit too early I decided to finally step into the space. Wow! I had no idea how established of a venue it was. I could always see that the product was well crafted, but the space itself was equally and thoughtfully crafted, too. From layout to detail they have created a mindful experience around glass blowing making it a blend of retail, education and cool social space. I’ll refrain from saying a whole lot more, but simply encourage you to visit. Their own space and website tells their story better than I so I’ll step back and let them take over. If you haven’t been — GO. They have a beer on tap and a schedule for live music. Cheers!

Weekend Layover: Asheville, North Carolina

The year-round resort town is home to all kinds—creative types mingle easily with the fleece-clad mountaineering set who cross paths regularly with the area’s longtime farmers. One of the prized jewels of the South, Asheville is a living, breathing city that grows and changes daily. Here we offer you a snapshot of the city’s best experiences to have over a few days in this eclectic town.

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Top Four Finds for the Fourth of July in Western North Carolina

With its longstanding, rich arts-and-crafts heritage, it is no wonder that Western North Carolina’s creative culture is one of the finest in the country. Come see it for yourself at Lexington Glassworks’ July Glasswork Concert Series: Hot Glass, Cold Beer, Live Music on Friday, July 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Learn about the beautiful, meticulous art of glassblowing and enjoy the fine tunes of bluegrass from WNC’s own Maggie Valley Band.

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If western North Carolina is the hub of American craft, Asheville is its heart. Perched in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city has a population of just 88,000 – a ridiculous percentage of which seem to be artists. Today, craft lovers may be drawn, in particular, to downtown and the River Arts District. But there is history to be appreciated, too, much of it embodied in three storied places: the Grove Park Inn (since 2013, the Omni Grove Park Inn); the Biltmore, a French Renaissance-style château built by art collector George Vanderbilt in 1895; and the defunct Black Mountain College.

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Each piece of hand-blown glass begins in the furnace located just past the entrance. On any given day, inside Lexington Glassworks, you will find the owners, Billy Guilford and Geoff Koslow, diligently and delicately crafting one-of-a-kind pieces in the gallery’s 2,100-degree furnace that they assembled themselves.

CMT filming Allison DeMarcus travel show in Asheville

This week, cable channel CMT is filming a travel series called "Southbound" in Asheville and the surrounding area.

The production crew filmed at Lexington Glassworks earlier today. Ashleigh Hardes of the downtown glass studio said show host Allison DeMarcus interviewed owners Billy Guilford and Geoff Koslow about their work and the recent renovation of the former auto shop where they work.

Demarcus is a frequent CMT host, former beauty queen and wife of Rascal Flatts bassist Jay DeMarcus.

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