Asheville Discovers Our City - and Artists Boxes Too

The Asheville Art Museum’s customized itinerary beautifully melded venerable institutions such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and more unexpected treasures like the studio/residence of Wharton Esherick, Eastern State Penitentiary and the Mural Arts Program.

While Asheville visitors greeted all the stops along the way with interest and enthusiasm, it was private access to the Fabric Workshop’s archives that both delighted and surprised them.

As registrar Janet Samuel opened the artists boxes containing samples, ideas and basically anything at all relating to an artist’s Fabric Workshop project, the group was enthralled. Since the Asheville Art Museum looked forward to a Faith Ringgold exhibition, its Executive Director Pamela Myers wondered if Janet might share the contents of the Ringgold box, and Janet lifted it from its shelf. The group admired the vibrant colors of Tar Beach, Ringgold’s story quilt; listened attentively as Pam read Ringgold’s notes requesting changes to poetry in the finished work; examined fabric samples; and even touched process materials, considering their texture and their weight.

Pam asked Janet if the group might inspect the box of Claes Oldenburg – whose work would be featured in the museum’s upcoming season. Once more, Janet was happy to comply. As Janet pulled out rabbit after rabbit, visitors murmured their surprise – perhaps their astonishment – whatever artists were meaningful to them, the Fabric Workshop’s archival treasure chest contained examples of their creative gifts.

Before the morning ended, one member of the appreciative group asked about the term “artists box,” which she had never before heard. The reason – the Fabric Workshop made it up!

Pamela Myers reads Faith Ringgold’s notes.	Janet Samuel (right), pulls an Oldenberg rabbit out of the box as the delighted Ashville group looks on.