‘Sylva After Dark’ taking place tonight
Sylva’s seasonal first-Friday downtown gallery strolls are beginning for the year, and organizers have expanded the idea to include retail stores in addition to galleries and restaurants.
Now called “Sylva After Dark” (as opposed to previous years’ “Art after Dark”), the event will kick off tonight (Friday) from 6 to 9 p.m., with both galleries and downtown merchants remaining open past their usual closing times. Similar events are planned for the first Friday of every month through December.
Participating businesses and galleries and tonight’s offerings include:
– Gallery One will feature a show with the theme of architecture from many perspectives, Jackson County Arts Council President Ray Menze said.
“It really includes the whole human-built environment,” Gallery One Vice President Tim Lewis said. “It’s where we live; it’s what we see every day and sometimes take for granted. It’s the single most important thing that changes our landscape.”
– Shot in the Dark Cafe will feature images by award-winning photographer Scott Hotaling of Cullowhee. A finalist in the 2007 Canon in the Parks competition, Hotaling is a two-time first-place winner in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s annual contest. His photos have been published in Our State and Wildlife in North Carolina.
Shot in the Dark will also feature live music by the Weatherspoons.
– Blew Glass Studio will offer glass blowing demonstrations by Chad Kindy and light refreshments.
– Penumbra Gallery will feature images by owner Matthew Turlington and live music by Donna Harris and Nicole McRight, who sing harmony-infused music with country, folk and acoustic influences. They will perform from 7 to 8 p.m.
– It’s By Nature will have new works in the gallery by Tuckasegee oil painter Jack Stern, Caney Fork watercolorist Susan Lingg and Sylva fabric doll artist Xan Barnes as well as light refreshments.
– Heinzelmannchen Brewery will have a food and beer pairing from 5 until 8 p.m., featuring food from Restaurant 553.
– Bubacz’s Underground will have a spring photography show from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in addition to light refreshments.
– Papou’s Wine Shop and Wine Bar will feature Sylva landscapes by Kelly Popoff.
– Yesterday’s Tree will offer refreshments.
– City Lights Bookstore will feature a slide show based on the books and long career of Russell Shroeder, who is now retired in Robbinsville but spent his career as an artist for Disney. The slide show, based on his book, “Disney’s Lost Chords,” will begin at 7 p.m.
– Restaurant 553 will feature live music.
– Annie’s Naturally Bakery will host a cake and wine tasting from 3:30 p.m. until close.
Other businesses, in addition to downtown restaurants, that will be open include: In Your Ear, Friends of the Library Book Store, Lily’s Treasures, Blackrock Outdoor Co., Arsenal Artifacts and Prints, and Jake’s Mountain House.
