It was a pleasant, sunny day for the Overlook Brasstown Music & Arts Fest and the development seemed to be the perfect setting for artists and crafters to display their work. The festival took place on June 27 among the shade trees of a beautiful meadow attracting more than 1,200 attendees throughout the day. Visitors rode a hay ride around the property and were treated to spectacular views of the Brasstown area. A tour of the new craftsman home as well as a replica of a stone water mill were among the highlights of the day.
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Many top artists from the tri-state area were in attendance including internationally known glass blower, David Goldhagen, who exhibited beautiful works of hand blown glass, and Mike Lalone, John C. Campbell Folk School’s resident clay artist. Lalone was pleased with the day. “Artists were treated very well. They didn’t charge us for booth space, fed us lunch and gave out bottled water all day,“ said Lalone. “It’s a beautiful place to have a festival and all the work was top quality.” Jackie Jentzsch of Carolina Crafting, represented The Shoppes of Brasstown and displayed a wide variety of arts and crafts. “This place is something special and I was very happy to be there for a good cause and help the food banks.” said Jentzsch.
Festival coordinator Jamie Keener of Cricket Hollow Design was pleased with the turnout and response from the artists. “We had 27 artists exhibiting their work and had everything from fine paintings to wood turning and carving, quilts, handmade jewelry, folk art, furniture, gourd art, photography, glass, decorated coolers and even a timber framer making wooden pegs.” Said Keener, “The artists were very complimentary of the location and organization and before the day was done, many asked if they could sign up for next year’s event!”
Festival attendees ate a complimentary lunch in the magnificent timber frame pavilion and were treated to The Barker Brothers Bluegrass Band who played a variety of favorites including many originals. The Harold Coleman band was picking for quite a while as did Jerry and Paul Wilson and was appreciated by music lovers.
Thousands of pounds of food was collected on festival day and at Ingles supermarket locations in Murphy and Hayesville for distribution to the food banks. Bert Wiley, head of the Clay County Food Pantry and Alan Peters, director of the Cherokee County Sharing Center both drove away with pick-up truck loads of food. In addition, money raised totaled $2,800 from raffles, donations and sponsors. “We rely so much on the public for these kinds of donations,” said Wiley, “we have been hit particularly hard this year and the numbers of those in need are expected to increase.”
Blake Twedt, owner of Overlook Brasstown (Center) gives the directors of the Cherokee and Clay County food banks donations raised at the Overlook Brasstown Music & Arts festival on June 27. Money raised totaled $2,800 and 2 full pickup truck loads of can food donations. L to r: Ben Pierce; Invision Stone, David Cowan; Cowan & Cowan, P.A., Alan Peters; Cherokee County Sharing Center, Inc., Matt Cable; Nantahala Bank, Blake Twedt; Overlook Brasstown, Pete McKeon; Pete Mckeon Building Co., Bert Wiley; Clay County Food Pantry, John Snow Jr.; Nantahala Bank, Joey Reid; Appalachian Land Company, Sonya Reid; Appalachian Land Company, Julie Blanchard; Eller & Owens Furniture
Photo credit: Jamie Keener
Talented family of musicians. l to rt: Jerry Wilson with son Paul Wilson and granddaughters Katie and Corie Pressley play old time favorites and originals with Charles Race
Photo credit: Jamie Keener
John C. Campbell Folk School potter Mike Lalone was pleased with the day. The Folk School was also represented at the festival by
Keather Weideman and Sue Prunier (background).
Photo credit: Jamie Keener
Many top artists from the tri-state area were in attendance including internationally known glass blower, David Goldhagen, who exhibited beautiful works of hand blown glass, and Mike Lalone, John C. Campbell Folk School’s resident clay artist. Lalone was pleased with the day. “Artists were treated very well. They didn’t charge us for booth space, fed us lunch and gave out bottled water all day,“ said Lalone. “It’s a beautiful place to have a festival and all the work was top quality.” Jackie Jentzsch of Carolina Crafting, represented The Shoppes of Brasstown and displayed a wide variety of arts and crafts. “This place is something special and I was very happy to be there for a good cause and help the food banks.” said Jentzsch.
Festival coordinator Jamie Keener of Cricket Hollow Design was pleased with the turnout and response from the artists. “We had 27 artists exhibiting their work and had everything from fine paintings to wood turning and carving, quilts, handmade jewelry, folk art, furniture, gourd art, photography, glass, decorated coolers and even a timber framer making wooden pegs.” Said Keener, “The artists were very complimentary of the location and organization and before the day was done, many asked if they could sign up for next year’s event!”
Festival attendees ate a complimentary lunch in the magnificent timber frame pavilion and were treated to The Barker Brothers Bluegrass Band who played a variety of favorites including many originals. The Harold Coleman band was picking for quite a while as did Jerry and Paul Wilson and was appreciated by music lovers.
Thousands of pounds of food was collected on festival day and at Ingles supermarket locations in Murphy and Hayesville for distribution to the food banks. Bert Wiley, head of the Clay County Food Pantry and Alan Peters, director of the Cherokee County Sharing Center both drove away with pick-up truck loads of food. In addition, money raised totaled $2,800 from raffles, donations and sponsors. “We rely so much on the public for these kinds of donations,” said Wiley, “we have been hit particularly hard this year and the numbers of those in need are expected to increase.”
Blake Twedt, owner of Overlook Brasstown (Center) gives the directors of the Cherokee and Clay County food banks donations raised at the Overlook Brasstown Music & Arts festival on June 27. Money raised totaled $2,800 and 2 full pickup truck loads of can food donations. L to r: Ben Pierce; Invision Stone, David Cowan; Cowan & Cowan, P.A., Alan Peters; Cherokee County Sharing Center, Inc., Matt Cable; Nantahala Bank, Blake Twedt; Overlook Brasstown, Pete McKeon; Pete Mckeon Building Co., Bert Wiley; Clay County Food Pantry, John Snow Jr.; Nantahala Bank, Joey Reid; Appalachian Land Company, Sonya Reid; Appalachian Land Company, Julie Blanchard; Eller & Owens Furniture
Photo credit: Jamie Keener
Talented family of musicians. l to rt: Jerry Wilson with son Paul Wilson and granddaughters Katie and Corie Pressley play old time favorites and originals with Charles Race
Photo credit: Jamie Keener
John C. Campbell Folk School potter Mike Lalone was pleased with the day. The Folk School was also represented at the festival by
Keather Weideman and Sue Prunier (background).
Photo credit: Jamie Keener