Labor Day Weekend Events: Art on the Green in Banner Elk NC

September 3 - 4, 2016 in BANNER ELK  NC – Shoppers can add to their collections of art and support historic preservation at the same time during the Art on the Greene show.

The show takes place on the green in front of the Historic Banner Elk School, with proceeds from booth rentals going directly to renovation efforts for the 1930s-era school.

“We consider ourselves a master craft event. We’re geared toward artists who are involved in any medium in the Appalachian tradition of hand crafters,” says show director Kimberly Tufts. “We actually have a gentleman from Boone who builds sculptures out of stone. We have metal artists, glass artists, potters, and high-quality jewelry from all types of makers. We have wood workers of all varieties from furniture to home decor wood items, as well as painters in a variety of mediums – watercolor, acrylic and oil.”

The Labor Day weekend event is the last of three Art on the Greene events that take place yearly during the three summer holiday weekends – Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day.

photo by Todd Bush

The shows have been held for more than a decade. This is the second year the Town of Banner Elk has operated Art on the Greene to benefit the historic school built in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression.

Proceeds from the three shows last year were used to repaint the interior of the former school and install a new heating system.

“This is our jewel property in downtown Banner Elk and what we’re trying to do is revitalize the property and the building itself,” Tufts says. “The purpose is for community use and life-long learning.”

There is no admission charge for the show, which runs from 10 AM. to 5 PM. both days. Food will be available from The Real Food Truck of Asheville.

“We’re focused on embracing our Appalachian heritage with local and regional artists – really highlighting things in the hand-crafted Appalachian tradition,” says Tufts.

For information, visit www.townofbannerelk.org/beshows or call 828-387-0581.