Art Sauder, one of Tryon Arts and Crafts School’s esteemed artisans, has been named the school’s artist of the month. His artwork will be featured, for the month of December, in the gallery of Tryon’s Arts and Crafts School at 373 Harmon Field Road, which is open from Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Dec. 23.

Art is a regular exhibitor at the school’s gallery shows, and his work is a constant fixture in the gift shop.

Born in central Illinois, Art knew as a child that he had an affinity for woodworking, and after high school went to a trade school to hone his skills, eventually pursuing carpentry as a hobby while working for Honeywell in Rocky Mount, N.C. for several years. 

In 2011, he fortuitously met Don Blackwell, who urged him to take up wood carving, and under the guidance of Albert Oldham and Don, he started out studying chip carving and soon moved on to a variety of carving styles, even taking up drawing under Don Blackwell.

On display at the school you’ll find several examples of the variety of styles and mediums in which he creates. Lately he’s been specializing in carved fantasy houses, fairy doors and gnome homes, all carved in intricate detail. You’ll note that each has an entrance door cracked slightly open, as if to welcome the viewer to enter each creation.

In addition to exhibiting at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, his work has been shown in the Pisgah Inn Gift Shop in Brevard and Firefly Craft Gallery in Flat Rock. 

Tryon Arts and Crafts School is a non-profit organization that exists to provide creative opportunities for everyone through education, instruction and expression of heritage and contemporary arts and crafts in a friendly, stimulating and enriching environment.

For more information about the school, call 828-859-8323 or visit TryonArtsandCrafts.org.

– article submitted by Cathy Fischer