Biltmore Industries Wood Art Display | July 8 - October 1
6/23/2011 -
Anticipating visits from collectors of wood art to Asheville this summer provided Grovewood Gallery with the impetus to share another layer in the background and rich heritage of Asheville’s craft history. We will sponsor a special wood exhibit taking us back to the beginnings of the 20th century. Around 1901 Charlotte Yale and Eleanor Vance, social workers recently graduated from Moody Bible College, opened the Boys’ Club of All Souls Church. Vance was also an accomplished woodcarver and began teaching students to carve bowls and to make picture frames. Their goal was to mentor young people in the community and to teach them a trade in order to bring additional income to the mountain families in the region. By 1905, with significant financial support from Edith Vanderbilt, the Boys’ Club grew to become Biltmore Estate Industries.
In 1917 Fred L. Seeley, son-in-law of Edwin Grove, purchased Biltmore Estate Industries from Edith Vanderbilt. He dropped the word Estate from its name and over the next 6 years constructed workshop buildings to serve as a home for Biltmore Industries next door to Grove Park Inn. Biltmore Industries then employed locals to weave cloth and carve wood. Woodworking was taught and produced in the building now occupied by the Grovewood Café. In 1953, Asheville native, Harry Blomberg purchased Biltmore Industries. With Blomberg’s death in 1991, his heirs developed the Biltmore Industries Homespun Shop into Grovewood Gallery.
Grovewood Gallery is pleased to have this opportunity to provide you with an interesting experience from the past. The decision to share a part of Biltmore Industries wood working was a natural connection for Grovewood Gallery once the plans were laid for the special summer 2011 exhibits celebrating wood. Bruce Johnson, the director of the Annual Arts and Crafts Conference held in Asheville, has a small collection of Biltmore Industries wood objects. He knew of two other local collectors, Robert Sauer and Scott Riviere. These men have made efforts to know the history of the area and to do their part in preserving objects and memorabilia of note. The three men are sharing their collections with us through a special display at Grovewood Gallery from July 8 through October 1.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see fine woodworking from both the past and the present. It is a perfect time for each of us to reflect on the role Asheville has played, and continues to play as a leader in the American craft industry that creates a significant economic impact on our nation.
