ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Following in the footsteps of the recent “Trolls: A Field Study” exhibit and partnering with the organizers behind The Big Crafty, the North Carolina Arboretum will host The Little Crafty, a nature-based craft show, this weekend.
The Little Crafty will run from 1-6 p.m., Feb. 7-8, inside the Arboretum Auditorium. The event is free to attend, but guests will have to pay the Arboretum parking fee on Saturday, Feb. 7. However, just like The Big Crafty, Sunday, Feb. 8 will be a Community Day, with the parking fee waived for all.
The show is modeled after themes explored by sculptor Thomas Dambo’s wooden trolls, 12 of which have made their home at the Arboretum in recent months.
“ArtsAVL, a Supporting Sponsor of ‘TROLLS: A Field Study,’ connected the Arboretum with The Big Crafty team to plan this carefully curated experience that echoes the imaginative, nature-forward ethos of the ‘TROLLS’ exhibition,” explained Erin Adams, the Arboretum Corporate and Foundation Relations Manager, in an email.
The artists featured at The Little Crafty all take inspiration from nature for their work.
“Visitors can look forward to experiencing place-based works featuring botanicals, landscapes, wildlife and the handmade traditions of the Blue Ridge, creating a dialogue between art, environment and community,” Adams said.
The Little Crafty will be a smaller and more focused collection of artists than its Big sister.
“The Little Crafty will offer an intimate pop-up market experience with a thematically curated group of around 20 artists whose work draws inspiration from the natural world,” Adams said. “By comparison, The Big Crafty typically features ~150 local artists and makers of all varieties, from juried prize-winners to new experimenters.”
For more information about Arboretum exhibits or The Little Crafty, visit www.ncarboretum.org/exhibits-and-events.