Collecting
Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery.
Whether you’re collecting or just curious about craft, many of North Carolina’s well-known galleries and museums are host to museum stores and galleries featuring the craftspeople of the state. When we think of telling the stories of past generations, we think of our ancestral crafters and their baskets, pottery and woodcarvings that commemorate an earlier time.
For visitors to the state and those learning about North Carolina’s rich arts and crafts heritage, you’re sure to find beautiful pieces of North Carolina art work to remember a trip or a visit to a nearby museum.
Check out the museum and gallery gift shops in your area for glassworks, pottery, basket weaving and fibers. Here’s a sampling below:
Cameron Art Museum Shop
Wilmington
(910) 395-5999
The Museum Shop offers a variety of unique and affordable items including pottery, ceramic sculpture and other decorative arts from the region’s finest artisans. The Shop also has a broad selection of unique jewelry, notecards, children’s toys, books, art kits and games, current publications, art history and design.
For more information, visit www.cameronartmuseum.com.
Southern Highland Craft Guild Folk Art Center
Asheville
(828) 298-7928
The Center showcases the finest in traditional and contemporary craft of the Southern Appalachians. The Folk Art Center is the most popular attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway, welcoming 250,000 visitors each year. From March through December, visitors can observe craftspeople at work in daily craft demonstrations as well as a series of educational events held year round.
For more information, visit www.southernhighlandguild.org.
John C. Campbell Folk School Craft Shop
Brasstown
(800) 365-5724
The Folk School’s Craft Shop represents more than 300 juried craftspeople and features an impressive collection of traditional and contemporary Appalachian craft, including jewelry, pottery, wood, fiber, ironwork, basketry and other disciplines.
For more information, visit www.folkschool.org/.
North Carolina Museum of Art Museum Store
Raleigh
(919) 664-6784
The Museum Store features a wide variety of North Carolina craft including pottery, glassworks and wood, often complimenting the permanent collection and special exhibitions.
For more information, visit www.ncartmuseum.org.
Penland School of Crafts Gallery
Near Spruce Pine, Mitchell County
(828) 765-6211
The gallery presents works of art by North Carolina artists in clay, drawing, glass, iron, metals, painting, papermaking, photography, printmaking, textiles, and wood. In addition to the sales area, the gallery has an ongoing series of invitational shows.
For more information, visit www.penland.org.
Mint Museum of Craft + Design Museum Shop
Charlotte
(704) 337-2000
The Mint Museum of Craft + Design shop is an outstanding craft shop, specializing in “Crafts of the Carolinas” including wood, fiber, glass and pottery, as well as beautiful jewelry and children’s items.
For more information, visit www.themintmusuems.org.
Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery
Winston-Salem
(336) 725-1516
The Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery features the work of more than 200 of Piedmont Craftsmen’s Exhibiting Members. The gallery includes ceramics, pottery, photographs, fine prints, fiber, metal and mixed media.
For more information, visit www.piedmontcraftsmen.org.
Endless Possibilities
Manteo
(252) 475-1575
In addition to being a quirky gallery, Endless Possibilities is a fundraising program of the Outer Banks Hotline Crisis Intervention and Prevention Center. The weaving program sells a variety of crafts, including “Diva Boas,” purses, pillows and rugs.
For more information, visit www.ragweavers.com.
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