Is this art-related? You BET! The day I arrived in Asheville, my hostess (or is it "host" these days?) took me shopping. First stop, a warehouse the size of New Jersey that houses the Habitat for Humanity thrift shop - although that's not what they call it, exactly. Lots of STUFF - but not what I was looking for. In one of the antique malls, however, I did find a photo and a page of handwriting from 1911 that were just the ticket! Then, there was downtown Asheville. I didn't get pix of all the interesting
people, but oh well - this will give you the idea. I was sort of embarrassed to take a picture of this guy (on the left) but my friend Ellen said that if he looked like that, he deserved to have his picture taken. Sixties redux - a whole era that I missed because I was married in '63 and was supposed to be a groan-up. I am so sad that I never got to be the person I really am when it counted.
Moving right along... Remember Woolworth's? Downtown Asheville kept the sign and the lunch counter and made the rest of the building into gallery spaces for artists. What a delight!
Ellen Levine and I had a wonderful time wandering in and out of all the booths and I bought a beautiful basket woven from copper and brass and whatever-else-metal strips that I didn't actually NEED - but am happy I now own. The artist, a young woman who just graduated from college, does some amazing work with wire and I was happy to give her a boost because I really love this piece.
The artist literally skipped to the register when I came to the counter to buy it. I also told her she should raise her prices. Downtown Asheville also has other assets. The bookstore's ladies' room is a feast for the eyes - LOL. Baskets of chalk so that people can write graffiti to their hearts' content. I could not resist taking a picture of this civilized ladies' room. What a great idea! Such high-class graffiti.
Oh, time warp. I figure that it is better to post something than nothing, so I will continue tomorrow. Tonight was our 24th anniversary and we went out to a lovely dinner. I am still recuperating from my week away and getting ready to leave on Tuesday for Fla. -- so I shall turn in early for a change. To be continued.xxx
7 comments:
Loved hearing your comments on Asheville. We used to go there frequently when I was a child. Well, as frequently as you can when you live in Florida - about once a year or so. I still love to visit there. The book store is great, as are the antique shops and the guild shop that sells art stuff.
a friend of mine had an original woolworth's sign that hung on the outside of a store here over the entry way into her dining room. she just sold it as she has "remade" her interior over from top to bottom.
Your trip sounds really cool. continue to enjoy.
I can't think of a better way to recycle a Woolworth's! And I love the grafitti on the ladies room walls...
You are making me mis my trips to Asheville. Such a cool place.
love the metal basket!
Can you post the artists' name and how to buy one of her woven metal baskets?
Thank you for coming into Woolworth and buying one of my baskets! I am so happy to hear some positive feedback. My website is in the works at tocabeneartharts.com
Thanks, Virginia
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