The Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational returns this summer, offering a fresh look at the artists and traditions rooted in Western North Carolina’s far western counties.
Connecting to Place II: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational 2026 will be on display from August 7 – September 27, 2026 at Mars Landing Arts Center, 37 Library Street in Mars Hill, NC. Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, please visit MarsLandingGalleries.com, or phone 828‑747‑7267.
The exhibition gathers 20 artists from the Blue Ridge Craft Trails—representing Franklin, Waynesville, Dillsboro, Bryson City, Cullowhee, Canton, Cherokee, Maggie Valley, and Brasstown—each working in mediums that reflect the region’s long-standing relationship with land and tradition. Clay, fiber, metal, paper, and wood anchor the show, offering a wide-ranging portrait of contemporary craft shaped by place.
Fariello’s curatorial vision centers on continuity: how today’s makers carry forward practices shaped by the mountains, their communities, and generations of craft knowledge. The exhibition is currently on display at The Bascom in Highlands until July 25. Its move to Mars Hill marks a second opportunity for audiences to experience the work—and for artists to reach new viewers.
Miryam Rojas, owner of Mars Landing Arts Center, sees the show as a chance to spotlight artists who may be less visible to Asheville-area audiences. “I am excited to share this exhibition of the artists in our westernmost counties, whose work many of us might not often get to experience,” she said. “Bringing this wonderful show from The Bascom to Mars Landing offers these artists an additional breadth of exposure and admiration.”
Mars Landing is itself part of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails network—one of 355 sites across Western North Carolina. That connection, said BRCT Coordinator Robin Johnson, strengthens the purpose behind hosting the invitational. “Whenever we hold events for our artists, we like to involve a gallery or arts organization that is also a site on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails,” she said. “Mars Landing’s spacious gallery can accommodate a large amount of work, and showing craft pieces in its contemporary environment gives the audience a new perspective.”
Artists Featured
Teresa Bouchonnet, Myron Carter, Susan Coe, Laurey Faye Dean, Brad Dodson, Gayle R. Haynie, Karen H. Hovis, Carol Lynn Johnson, Ilene Kay, Joe Frank McKee, Mike McKinney, Paul Hornbuckle, Janlyn Messina, Davy Arch, Caden Painter, Terance Painter, Paul Pieringer, William S. Rogers, Desmond Suarez, and Gayle Barker Woody.
About Mars Landing Arts Center
Founded in 2021 as Mars Landing Galleries, the organization expanded into the Mars Landing Arts Center in February 2026. The 9,000‑square‑foot facility now hosts exhibitions, performances, film screenings, workshops, and provides flexible studio space for working artists. Visit MarsLandingGalleries.com.
About the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area works to preserve and promote the cultural and natural heritage of 25 Western North Carolina counties and the Qualla Boundary. Its Blue Ridge Craft Trails project highlights 355 artists, studios, galleries, and cultural organizations across the region. Visit blueridgeheritage.com.
