WHERE I WENT AND WHY
We bought a house near Black Mountain a year and a half ago. It has taken us this long to get it cleaned out and the renovations to settle down, but we are now beginning to buy art for the house. Our intention is to buy pieces from local artists for it (Local defined as NC, with a heavy emphasis on the mountain artists). Last week my daughter and I went on a shopping trip to Black Mountain. I had seen a mirror in a gallery there that I thought would be perfect for our bedroom.
WHAT TO KNOW IF YOU WANT TO GO...
Seven Sisters Gallery is located at 117 Cherry St. in Black Mountain. Cherry runs parallel to Main St. or Hi-way 9. Parking on the street can be tricky, but there are a few lots and the town is not that big. Take the first place you find.
WHAT I SAW...
The Seven Sisters Gallery specialized in arts and crafts (heavy on crafts), with many folk art pieces along with some fine art and several pottery artists.
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| The second room has the finer craft pieces |
WHAT I LIKED...OR NOT
It didn't take me long to find the mirrors I remembered, but not in the size and color I wanted. Luckily they had one in a back room that was perfect. But as I was walking around I saw many pieces that I liked, especially the paintings of the bears. We have a resident "Bartholomew" at Park's Peak and I would like a piece to reflect and honor him. The gallery also had some beautiful pottery and fine crafts.
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| Should one of these honor Bartholomew at the mountain house? I sort of am partial to the baby looking out from mom's (or dad's) legs. |
WHAT I LEARNED...
The Seven Sisters Gallery is NOT owned by seven women but is named for the Seven Sisters Mountains that rise above Black Mountain. I talked to the owner, Andrea McNair. They have been open over 38 years and represent over 250 artists from all over the US. Their reputation is such that artists now come to them and they do not recruit artists. Here is a 4 minute interview with Andrea McNair, the owner that aired on PBS.
IF MON$Y WERE NO OBJECT, WOULD I PUT IT IN MY HOUSE?
DEFINITELY! In fact, I did and may purchase other pieces.
OBSERVATIONS...
Little mountain towns are full of "art galleries." What constitutes an art gallery I guess is in the eye of the beholder. Is it that the pieces are made "by hand"? Is is price? And what is the difference between art, craft, and trinkets? All can be found in the mountain art galleries. If price is a guide, Seven Sisters definitely qualifies as art! LOL... though, they also carry some "trinkets" - off the rack earrings, magnets, etc. Most of their inventory is folk arts and crafts, with some "fine art" and many what I would call "high" crafts.
I liked it so much I bought it!
The mirror over the dresser in our bedroom at Park's Peak was too big and boring! No more! This folk art mirror by Craig Carey definitely brightens our room. Craig has been a folk artist for 45 years and works in wood, tin, and willows. According to his website, his work is in many galleries and has been displayed in Neiman Marcus, Better Homes and Gardens, and Metropolitan Home.
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| Mirror for my bedroom by Craig Carey |
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| Do you think I can talk David into this when we redo our kitchen? |
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