With chisel and lathe, Alarka woodturner Ron Thompson transforms chunks of wood into beautiful and functional household objects — from polished bowls to platters, boxes, toys, muddlers and spurtles.

So “what’s a spurtle?”, you ask. The Scots have had one in their kitchens for centuries — a decorative wooden rod used for stirring oatmeal and soups. And a “muddler” is a bartender’s tool, used like a pestle to mash — or muddle — fruits, herbs, and/or spices in the bottom of a glass to release their flavor. Well, you asked.

Like many area artisans, Ron sells his work primarily at craft shows and festivals, but also has items in Bryson City at The Cottage Craftsman. In May, the Marianna Black Library will showcase his work.

An exhibit of more than a hundred works of art by 31 Western North Carolina artists and artisans is currently on display through September 27 at the Swain County Center for the Arts in Bryson City. The Center is located in the Swain County High School complex and is free and open to the public during regular school hours – by appointment only – and during scheduled public events at the Center.

To visit, call Jenny Johnson, Director, at 828-488-7846 …and bring your checkbook. Most of the works are priced to sell.

The next show, scheduled for October thru November, will showcase the pastel, acrylic and mixed media paintings of Bryson City artist Peggy Duncan.

Swain County Center for the Arts  website
Eugenia (Jenny) Johnson, Director
1415 Fontana Rd
Bryson City, NC 28713
Phone 828-488-7843
Email JJohnson@swainmail.org

Preserving the rich heritage of traditional Appalachian arts and crafts is a passion for artisans throughout the Smokies. Their creativity and craftsmanship is on display at more than a dozen Bryson City area shops and galleries.

For some of these artisans, preserving that heritage includes sharing their knowledge through classes in pottery, weaving, basketmaking and quilting. Elise Pincu Delfield offers classes to locals and vacationers of all ages at her Bryson City studio-gallery, Pincu Pottery. Above, she introduces students (l-r) Katharine Beckwith, Haylee Gerard and Gillian Gerard to the potter’s wheel.

For other vacation learning opportunities in the Bryson City area, visit the “Learn Something New” page of the Bryson City online travel guide.

You may associate southern Appalachia with square dancing and clogging, but another dance form is alive and well — bellydancing.

Recently, the newly-formed ‘Bryson City Bellydance‘ organization invited the community to a dance party, or “Hafla”, where dancers from Waynesville, Morganton and Bryson City performed different styles of bellydance.

The group’s mission is to “share the ancient art of bellydance with the Bryson City community through education, instruction and performance and to use this empowering dance form to create a sense of self and community for the women of Bryson City.”

The Bryson City Bellydancers above are (l-r) Raquel Moore, Kim Holt, Diane Cutler, Tayla Holt, Sarah Miller, Paige Christie. The group is currently offering beginner, intermediate, and cardio-bellydance classes and welcomes anyone interested in joining the performance troupe.

Before boarding the Polar Express train, Chloe and Owen LaVigne of Midlothian, Virginia paid a visit to the Appalachian Toymaker’s shop, located across the street from the train depot. Tim Hall has transformed his Bryson City Storytelling Center into an old-fashioned toymaker’s shop for the holidays, making hand crafted Appalachian wooden toys and spinning yarns. Above, Tim uses his Barlow knife to put the finishing touches on a ‘ball and cup’ toss toy.