An Artful Journey
A morning of Art, Conversation, and gourmet treats
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Fridays, 10:30am - 12pm
$25 per lecture, refreshments included
Sept 5
Van Gogh and Cezanne in the South of France
Oct 3
Ruth Asawa Retrospective at SF MoMA
Nov 21
Fra Angelico at the Strozzi Palace in Florence, Italy
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Learn about some of the best art exhibitions of 2025. Each Artful Journey program will begin with a delightful morning drink and homemade pastry followed by an inspiring lecture and discussion with art historian and curator Julianna Caro.
Julianna Caro is an art historian, museum educator, and curator based in Asheville. With her company, The Artisan Tour by Julianna, she leads week-long excursions to Italy and local art and food tours. For more about Julianna, visit www.theartisantour.com.
Briar Branch Concert
Friday, September 5th • 7:30pm
Tickets $20
BRIAR BRANCH is a homegrown, hometown string band. Long time Black Mountain residents, Julia Weatherford and Pearl Shirley, mother and daughter, have been singing and playing together since the 1980s. Expect to hear mountain music with sweet vocal harmonies, toe-tapping banjo songs, and hard driving Old Time fiddle tunes. Feel the pull of sweet sad ballads with rich cello accompaniment.
Music Theory for Singers
led by Cary Fridley
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Tuesdays, 2-3pm
September 9, 16, 23, 30
Tuition $80
Ages 15+
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This class is for singers who know how to sing but want to learn more about music theory and traditional music notation. We will work together on learning to hear and sing different intervals like thirds, fourths, and fifths, and how to recognize them in a piece of sheet music so that you know what to sing. Topics covered include basic music theory, sight-singing melodies, understanding choral music scores, and ear training techniques.
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'Art' by Yasmina Reza
September 12th-21st
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20
A translation of a French-language play, 'Art' is set in Paris and revolves around a discussion between three friends--Serge, Marc and Yvan. Serge buys a large and very expensive painting for 200,000 francs. However, the canvas is completely white with just a few white lines. While Serge is very proud of his latest painting, the reaction of his friends does not mirror his own sentiments. Marc responds with shock and anger, labeling it as a “piece of white sh#t”. But does he dislike the painting, or Serge’s independent thought? In turn, Yvan acts as the peacemaker, trying ​
to mediate the hostility between his friends. While he laughs about the ridiculous nature of the painting with Marc, he also reassures Serge that he likes the white canvas. However, his attempts at brokering peace fail and Serge and Marc’s anger is redirected toward him. As the discussion moves from the theoretical to the personal, the three friends are forced to ask questions not only about the nature of art, but about the nature of friendship. As they attack each other about their various personal failures, Serge, Marc, and Yvan risk ruining their friendship forever.
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‘Art’ serves as a powerful commentary on the complexities of human relationships. Reza skillfully portrays how art evokes emotions that intertwine with personal history. The play encapsulates the spirit of friendship—its trials, tribulations, joys, and sorrows. Through humor and conflict, ‘Art’ invites audiences to reflect on their friendships, challenging them to question the balance between honesty and affection. Ultimately, Reza’s work paints a vivid picture of how a single art purchase can ripple through a friendship, exposing its vulnerabilities. The play achieves the remarkable feat of remaining relevant to audiences, urging them to confront the uncomfortable truths about their own relationships. In doing so, ‘Art’ succeeds as both an entertaining performance and a poignant exploration of modern friendship, leaving audiences with more questions than answers.
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'Art' is produced by The Actor's Center of Asheville, led by Instructor and professional working actor, Kevin Patrick Murphy. 'Art' is directed by Henry Williamson III and features actors Jeff Benninghofen, Kevin Patrick Murphy, and Robert Dale Walker.
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This production includes adult themes and language.
Concert feat. Anya Hinkle
with Chris Rosser and Jake Wolf
Saturday, October 4th • 7:30pm
Tickets $25
Join Asheville-based songwriter Anya Hinkle for an intimate performance rooted in Appalachian tradition and infused with global influences. Known for her vivid storytelling, rich acoustic sound, and arresting honesty, Anya brings to life songs from her acclaimed new album Oceania (Red Parlor Records), produced by Irish veteran Kevin Moloney and featuring collaborations with Celtic and Americana legends. Her music, described as “melodic with rich traditional instincts” (Americana Highways), has captivated audiences from Japan to France to festivals across the U.S.​
With a voice praised for its purity and soul, Anya has become a rising force in the Americana and folk scenes. A winner of the USA Songwriting Competition and MerleFest’s Chris Austin Song Contest, her songs have been spotlighted on No Depression and Folk Alley’s “Best Of” lists. Whether performing solo or with past projects like Dehlia Low and Tellico, Hinkle’s music is a deeply satisfying journey through roots, story, and song.
Book Publishing in the Black Mountain Region
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Led by Larence Knorr
Saturday, November 8th • 2pm
Cost: $25
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Join the founder and CEO of Sunbury Press, Inc., Lawrence Knorr, Ph.D., in an afternoon of presentations and discussions about the book publishing business. Sunbury Press, a traditional trade royalty-paying publisher, has been in business for 21 years and now manages over 1700 works by over 700 authors. Dr. Knorr has spoken at writers conferences from Pennsylvania to Florida. He covers the latest information about the book trade, useful to self and traditionally published authors or those seeking their first opportunities. He will also introduce the company's new imprint, Black Mountain Press, focused on the history, culture, and literature of the Southern Appalachia region.
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Reconstitution by MITCH EMOFF
November 14-16
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20 for adults
$15 for students (ages 11-17)
On the last day of school, a history teacher's experimental lesson zaps four high school students into the spirits of America's Founding Fathers, forcing them to debate—and possibly rewrite—the Constitution. As the students embody figures like Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Patrick Henry, and James Madison, the classroom turns into a lively battleground over freedom of religion, the right to bear arms, the three-fifths compromise, and freedom of speech. The founders quickly discover these issues are as volatile today as they were in 1787.
With time running out and the students’ fates (and summer plans) hanging in the balance, the founders must navigate the lasting legacy of American ideals—all while dealing with TikToks and classroom cliques.
Produced by special arrangement with Gitelman & Good Publishers, Chicago.Directed by Lucy O’Brien.
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This production at BMCA will be its world premiere!
Block Printing Holiday Cards
with Stephanie Groshelle
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Saturday, November 15th
10am-2pm
Cost: $80 (supplies included)
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Unleash your creativity this holiday season! From envisioning and designing a carving-friendly image, to crafting your own printing plate and producing stunning prints, Stephanie will guide you every step of the way. Whether you're a complete beginner or have dabbled in printmaking before, this workshop offers a perfect blend of technique, personal expression, and holiday cheer. Don't miss the chance to create heartfelt, handmade cards that reflect your unique style and celebrate the season's spirit.
Buncombe Turnpike Concert
Saturday, November 22nd • 7:30pm
Tickets $20
Buncombe Turnpike is a long-time staple in the Asheville bluegrass scene. Their sets are made up of primarily hand-crafted original songs, but the band also plays a variety of other heartfelt tunes ranging from traditional and contemporary bluegrass. With their crowd-pleasing demeanor, seasoned musicianship, and powerful vocals the band has made a name for themselves among traditional and contemporary listeners alike. Band members are, Tom Godleski (lead vocals and upright bass), Korey Warren (guitar , mandolin, and lead and backing vocals), David Hyatt (guitar, mandolin ,and lead and backing vocals), George Buckner (banjo), and Don Lewis (fiddle, mandolin, and lead and backing vocals).
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Christmas in Appalachia
a singin', strummin', family show!
December 19-21
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sat & Sun 2pm
Tickets $15 for adults
$10 for youth (ages 6-17)
Appalachian and holiday music and storytelling, audience participation and sing-a-longs are all on tap for Christmas in Appalachia: A singin', strummin', family show! at BMCA. Join acclaimed old time musician Travis Stuart, actor/storyteller John Hall and friends as they share stories and songs about Appalachian Christmas traditions and memories. Learn the stories behind “Old Christmas”, “Ruling Days”, “Serenading” and how St. Nick began putting presents in stockings. Experience the beauty of seasonal music played on traditional Appalachian instruments, and sing along to everyone’s favorite holiday tunes. Bring the family to enjoy Christmas in Appalachia!
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The Complete works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield
February 20 - March 1
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is a fast, furious, and laugh-out-loud sprint through the Bard’s best (and weirdest) moments. Expect tragic deaths, wild romances and more ridiculous wigs than a royal court as three performers attempt to tackle every play and sonnet in one whirlwind performance. This play is brought to you by Mike Yow and Fire in the Head Productions.
Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
By Terrance McNally
May 8-17
Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Tickets $20
The setting is a walk-up apartment on Manhattan's West Side where, as the curtain rises, Frankie (a waitress) and Johnny (a short-order cook who works in the same restaurant) are discovered in bed. It is their first encounter, after having met several weeks ago on the job, and Frankie is hopeful that Johnny will now put on his clothes and depart, so she can
return to her usual routine of watching TV and eating ice cream. But Johnny, a compulsive talker (and romantic), has other ideas. He is convinced that he loves Frankie, a notion that she, at first, considers to be ridiculous. She has had more disappointments than delights in life, and he is the veteran of one broken marriage already. And neither of them is in the bloom of youth. Yet out of their sometimes touching, sometimes hilarious interplay the promise of a relationship beyond a "one-night stand" does begin to emerge and, as the lights dim, the two are back in bed again, but this time side-by-side, holding hands before the glowing television screen.
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Frankie and Johnny at the Clair de Lune is produced by Multiverse Theatre Collective.
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This production includes adult themes and language.