Refraction Art Market

Refraction Art Market is upon us: TOMORROW, Sunday December 10th from 12-6! Join us at Wedge Brewing at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street, to celebrate the convergence of community and art.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You will find a plethora of amazing art in a wide variety of mediums, including glass, painting, woodwork, jewelry, printmaking, leather, ceramics, and illustration from 23 highly talented artists. You'll be sure to find something special for everyone on your list at this warm and engaging gathering. Bring a friend, grab a pint, support the arts and bask in the holiday glow with us!

Not only are Aaron Iaquinto's wooden spoons a delight to admire visually, they are thoughtfully carved to create an intimate sensory experience for the beholder. Aaron's process is intuitive from the get-go, following tangible feedback and ergonomics to create a wooden object that feels just right.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As Aaron elaborates, “Spoon carving entered my life in a natural way. An interest that transitioned into a necessity. The act of carving became more important than the final object. As a contemplative person I found that the attention required during the whole process provided an ideal setting to meditate. For me, carving is about losing active consciousness and letting the intuition take over. As I carve I am constantly feeling for tactile feedback. Intuition is about listening and in that way my spoons are a conversation. The object then becomes sacred through this empathic relationship with the material. All of my spoons are unique just as no two trees grow exactly the same.”

Follow to see more of his beautiful hand carved spoons and other objects, and start dreaming up who that special someone is to buy a piece for this Sunday at Refraction!

Julie Armbruster's fascinating paintings have long graced the walls of the Wedge Brewery, and for good reason -- who couldn't love the quirky, playful, imaginative worlds that bloom from her work?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​"Open your imagination to the strange, vibrant paintings of Asheville, NC based artist, Julie Armbruster! Her work focuses on painted narratives that celebrate weirdness and idiosyncrasy through depictions of cartoonish animal-human hybrid characters in a colorful, graphic style."

We love getting pulled into the colorful and bizarre vortex of Julie's paintings and hope you will too. Follow for a taste of what to anticipate from her at Refraction!

We love how Gillan Doty's wood fired pottery strikes that perfect balance of grounded and playful, timeless and fresh. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As he describes his process, "My work consists of objects made from North Carolina clay that are formed on the potter's wheel as well as using a variety of hand building techniques. Pieces range from tableware intended for daily use, to larger decorative vessels. After the pots are made, they are fired in a gas or wood kiln. These specialized atmospheric kilns produce a wide variety of surface effects, adding an extra layer of depth to both clay and glaze. My affinity for folk art, primitivism, vernacular architecture, and the natural landscape we live in all have a huge impact on my practice. Everything I make is an attempt to address ideas relating to our humanity and our engagement with objects in life. When I am in the studio, I’m always aiming to create something new that is accessible while still possessing deeper connections to the world around us and the people who inhabit it."

We're so pumped to have joining us on December 10th!

ONE WEEK until Refraction is here! We are so grateful to the Wedge Brewing Company for giving Refraction a space as much as a reason to exist. The Wedge has always been a second home for artists in the River Arts District, providing so many opportunities for connection to blossom. ​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​So much of what makes Refraction special is the amazing community that surrounds the Wedge. Many of our artists have worked at or are long time regulars of the Wedge, and we are so lucky to have such a strong core of creative talent to pull from! We also owe so much of our success to the folks who show up at the Wedge again and again in enthusiastic support of the place, the phenomenal beer, and each other.

We hope that you'll join us on Sunday, December 10th from 12-6 at 5 Foundy Street to revel in the love of it all. Thank you, for being there for us! We can't wait to come together next week to celebrate art and this thriving community.

We love the bold, earthy, playful yet provocative aesthetic Talia Scarpelli brings into her screen printed artworks.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​"Talia Scarpelli is an artist and arts educator based in Asheville, NC. While she loves exploring new mediums, relief printing has been her focus for many years. Printmaking is often incorporated into her other works, such as zines and functional items like cat toys and notebooks. Her work is inspired by the microscopic worlds that exist beneath our feet; the worlds of worms, germs, growth, and decay."

Be at the Wedge Brewing at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street on December 10th to take in the gritty beauty infuses into her work. We hope you'll share this event and bring a friend to revel in it with you!

Kathryn Adams' handblown glassware is luminous, funky, contemporary and timeless. Her dedication to her craft is apparent in every piece she makes, from simple drinking vessels and ornaments to elaborate pendant lighting sets.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As Kathryn tells it, "I grew up in a household where handmade and antique objects were treasured and used. Hard work was celebrated, and the joy of getting dirty and sweaty was a testament to worth and accomplishment. The act of creating has always held a special place in my heart.

Even after 15 years of working with glass, the allure and magic of this material remain as tangible as ever. The constant challenge it presents, combined with the inherent beauty of the material itself, keeps me relentlessly pursuing new artistic endeavors.

My primary focus as an artist centers on crafting utilitarian objects. I aim to create palettes and shapes that enhance the spaces we inhabit. In a world characterized by uncertainty and constant questioning, I find solace in celebrating my role in making items I consider beautiful. These creations become an integral part of our homes and daily rituals, adding a touch of beauty."

We're so excited to see the beautiful work she brings to Refraction! Follow to see more of her creations and join us on the 10th to add a special piece of it to your collection!

Jonathan Bidwell is an impeccably talented painter with a wide array of subject matter -- Jonathan aims to truly make a statement with his work.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​"A common thread throughout Jonathan’s work is a focus on current surroundings and events. Whether it’s realism rendered in fine oil paint, or a family of cartoon giraffes trying to renovate their house, Jonathan strives to interpret contemporary life and surroundings with unique style and insight. What many may perceive as mundane, or even ugly, is perhaps the most profound subject matter of all.

'When a person can look at my painting of a dilapidated building and say, ‘How beautiful,’ I know I’ve done my job.'"

We're thrilled that will be returning to his old stomping grounds to join us on December 10th. We hope you'll come engage with his work at Refraction!

Rosa Friedrichs creates lively pottery that is inspired by the things that bring her joy in life, especially food and flowers. She uses a technique called sgraffito to scratch imagery into her pots, creating beautiful designs that pop with contrast.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As far as her approach into pottery went, "Rosa tried ceramics for the first time at Earlham College. She loved the community, the new art form, and the avenue for connection she found when other people used her work. During the summer of her junior year she found the work of Karen Newgard in Asheville, North Carolina. She loved Karen’s sgraffito designs and how similar it was to linoleum block printing, which she had loved in high school. She introduced herself to Karen and did a small internship with her that summer. Her time with Karen inspired Rosa’s focus for her senior year, where she made a body of work focusing on sgraffito and memories of home in Virginia."

We're so excited to introduce to Refraction this year, and can't wait to admire her charming pottery in person. We hope you'll join us on the 10th to show support and shop Rosa's work as well!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Asheville community and beyond -- the kickoff to the season of gathering. The holidays are officially here, and if you're planning on doting on loved ones in the form of gifts this year, we hope you will plan to shop small, support the arts and uplift local artists and artisans in the process! ​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​Refraction Art Market is a curated event showcasing some phenomenal talent that revolves around the Wedge Brewing Co. and Asheville's River Arts District. Our intention is to highlight some incredibly talented artists within our community, provide an engaging opportunity for high quality holiday shopping and to celebrate our connections and each other.

We hope you'll join us on Sunday, December 10th from 12-6 at the Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street. Bring a loved one to share in the spectacle of top notch art, sip some of the best beer in town and spread some love and joy around!

We love the depth of imagination and storytelling to be found in the worlds that Jake LaGory creates within his vibrant illustrations.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As Jake expresses, "My new body of work depicts an imaginary future in which Earth has had millions of years to recover from the damage wrought in the Anthropocene. In this future, humanity explores new natural wonders and interacts harmoniously with newly evolved species after eons of voluntary exile from Earth's surface. My goal with these drawings is to mourn the ongoing loss of a pristine Earth by imagining a deep future in which it once again flourishes. My work is inspired by paleoart, comic books, 20th century illustration, and a lifelong interest in wildlife both past and present. I work with ink, graphite, and digital media."

We're very excited to see the new work will be bringing to Refraction this year, and hope that you'll join us to see for yourself! Refraction Art Market will be held at the Wedge at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street, from 12-6 on Sunday December 10th. Mark your calendars and bring a friend!

Melissa Broek's unique vision for her jewelry is elegant and edgy, striking yet wearable. Her earrings have a way of amping up any outfit and making the wearer feel fabulous in a most grounded way.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​"Melissa draws inspiration from the life cycle of fungus, insects, and plants, her metalsmithing is based on microscopic landscapes and cell structure. A fondness for mixed materials often informs various combinations of metals, stones, fiber and enamel."

We love having Melissa's gorgeous nature-inspired work at Refraction and are so glad she'll be joining us again this year. Mark your calendars for December 10th to add more to your collection!

Francis Breen of Worry Knot Woodworks instills a great amount of heart into his hand carved creations.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As he writes, "Simply loving yourself is personal liberation and with that in mind I make tools of self-love. I am driven to obsession about the details of these objects because they are intended to be personal companions to last generations. The wood I use comes from the off-cuts of larger projects that would otherwise be burned or sent to the landfill, as well as ethically harvested sources in the Western North Carolina Region. This work allows me to let my mind be free and allows the user to let their perception of themselves be free."

Living is art when it is done so mindfully, and we fully believe that rocking these gorgeous combs and hairpins will elevate your day to day experience with the sweet intentions set forth by Francis. We're so lucky to have had at all three of the Refraction Art Markets we've put on so far, and if you haven't snagged one yet, we hope you'll join us this year to invest in one of these beauties for yourself!

Matthew Decker AKA Mammal Matt illustrates posters and apparel designs for world-wide touring bands, in addition to his own personal screen printed creations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ As Matthew describes, "My style leans towards the mystical and psychedelic yet stays earthy and grounded. My personal work is mostly represented in music inspired apparel as well as themes including the occult, outer space and mycology.”

Come scope his colorful, funky designs at Refraction Art Market! We can't wait to see what he has available this year. Follow him at to see what he's up to!

Candice Hensley creates ceramic forms that emanate warmth and comfort. Their clean and classic shapes are accentuated by the organic nature of her finishes, creating beautiful work with an earthy, grounded vibe. ​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As Candice describes her process, “I currently make porcelain pots, fired in my high fire gas reduction kiln and in wood kilns throughout western North Carolina. My work centers around two of my most passionate loves: food and flowers. I strive to make classic, elegant shapes that serve to elevate their everyday uses."

Come shop with us at Refraction Art Market at the Wedge at Foundation on 12/10 to snag a piece of pottery for yourself!

Lauren of the Inverse brings love into each of the slow-crafted pieces she creates out of thrifted leather.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As she writes, "I’m an Asheville artist creating finely-crafted bags and wallets. Every piece is slow-made and one-of-a-kind. From brightly colored wallets to screen printed festival bags, each piece is lovingly made by hand. Styles range from classic and minimal to trendy and contemporary. ��Each piece is handmade in small batches using repurposed leather. I call my studio “The Inverse” as a nod to the folks who, like me, are finding ways to reverse our habits of over-consumption and support conscious businesses instead of fast fashion."

Lauren's work is phenomenally well made, with beautiful compositions and thoughtful construction. As our only leather worker this year, Refraction Art Market is especially excited to have her join us on December 10th! Follow to tide you over in the meantime.

Refraction Art Market Cofounder Andrew Massey creates industrially inspired ceramic art that stands apart from a lot of pottery -- his keen eye for detail combined with his love of assemblage allows him to create unique forms that bring dynamism and curiosity with the construction of each piece.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As Andrew describes his path into his current body of work, "As in a potters right of passage, the teapot form captivated him and he began throwing, extruding, cutting and assembling sculptural teapots. Drawing from his love of the mechanical world, Andrew incorporated this aesthetic of industrial components into his work and it has melded with his process of assemblage and interest in detailed carving. Andrew’s current body of work has blossomed from the teapot form into more functional and sculptural directions. "

Andrew has long been a part of the artist community surrounding the Wedge brewery, and so bringing Refraction artists together on the Wedge grounds is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on his roots and continue to uplift the artists who gather there. We are eagerly looking forward to coming together on December 10th!

Erika of Fern Queen Art's work is dynamic and fun, representing a whimsical connection to nature.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​"Erika Busse’s work is inspired by observations in nature, meditation, and muse channels. Using printmaking, painting, illustration, and other hands-on techniques, she brings these visions to life in this dimensional plane, here for you now. The focus of Erika’s work is to become a voice for nature, inspiring respect and reciprocity. She hopes her art brings peace and color to people’s lives, bringing them more fun on the journey to their dreams."

We're so glad to welcome her back to Refraction Art Market. For a glimpse into more of her work, follow .Art and plan to join us on 12/10!

Woodworker Noah Fiorentino was one of the artists who participated in our inaugural Refraction Art Market in 2019, and we're so glad to have him back again! Noah produces a variety of wooden keepsakes, from guitars and furniture to jewelry, bowls and vases.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​Noah describes his journey through his craft, "I had an interest in woodworking from an early age and began playing bass when I was 11. Pairing that with an interest in all things mechanical it wasn't long before I was building guitars. I soon discovered I preferred all woodworking aspects of guitar building over anything else involved and wanted to explore more aspects of woodworking. Influenced by shopmates, I began turning bowls and soon found myself building furniture at Haywood Community College. Some years later I began working with Brian Boggs building chairs and fell in love with steam bending, the draw knife and the shave horse. With a greater appreciation for the material I began collecting our scrap and figuring out how to utilize it in steam bent bowls, vases, spoons, sconces and stools. In doing so I found I really miss building chairs and have begun tooling up to start making them again."

We're excited to see what vessels and more Noah will have available at Refraction Art Market. Follow him and join us on 12/10 to appreciate his work up close!

I adore how Allie Stack brings her passion for living a life of full of connection and delight into her pottery.​​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​As she speaks of her inspiration and process, "My love language is a delicious home cooked meal in a beautiful array of hand-made pots. I love that pottery is a vehicle for nourishment in that way. My love for cooking and all things green is what inspires me to create. Playful and kindhearted dishes become entwined in our daily lives through choosing a coffee mug first thing in the morning to deciding which bowl is just right for homemade soup or planting an array of herbs in a handmade planter. With each fingerprint, pinch, and coil I am creating a conversation. I want each piece to transport delight from myself to the user. It’s simple, it’s honest, it’s lighthearted, it’s happy.

��My work consists of mid-range earthenware pots that are both wheel-thrown and hand-built. I use a bright white slip along with colorful underglazes to create designs on the surfaces of my pots. I then carve through the underglaze and slip and inlay a black wash that adds more depth to the surface."

Allie Stack's pottery lights up a space with her vibrant, playful designs, and we can't wait to bring that glow to Refraction Art Market! Her collection will be one you won't want to miss at the Wedge at Foundation on December 10th. Until then, be sure to follow .stack

Robindale Glass is comprised of two local glass artists, Paul Gramigna and Casey Davenport.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As Paul describes it, "We are a team of two artists who work mainly in borosilicate, soft glass, and paint. Paul specializes mostly in smaller detailed work while Casey works on a larger scale with organic shapes and sculptures. Often both artists collaborate on projects and combine their styles. In recent years they have created works that incorporate themes of Appalachian Futurism, rendering and suggesting technology's contrast with natural scenes inspired by living in the Blue Ridge mountains."

We can't wait to see their lively compilations in person at Refraction Art Market at the Wedge at Foundation. Follow and to see their individual works, and be sure to join us on December 10th to shop their wares in person!

Annie Kyla Bennett's work is strikingly alluring, with its lush colors and layers of intricate depth, rife with archetypal symbolism speaking of an innate connection to the natural world.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​They describe themselves as a "contemporary conceptual painter exploring allegory and ecology, both social and environmental. Q***r appalachian artist, gardener, mutualist, and avid reader. ��Annie Kyla Bennett is an oil painter and mixed media artist whose work is influenced by botany, mutualism, and restorative justice, as well as surrealism and fantastic realism. Their current focus in the studio is on the concept of remediation, developing a body of artwork exploring methods that can help rebalance humanity’s relationship with the Earth. Annie’s studio is part art-making space, part greenhouse, and part laboratory - with their background in chemistry and obsession with plants, they are experimenting with botanical ink making and other natural art materials."

Annie Kyla Bennett is also the co-founder of Art Garden AVL, a queer-artist-owned, mutualist arts collaborative, housing maker space and multiple galleries, dedicated to inclusive representation in the River Arts District. We're so excited to have bringing their phenomenal work around the corner to Refraction!

Will Dickert's thoughtful approach to his creation process is apparent in the balance of every detail. From the clean and simple yet unique compositions of his forms to the intricate markings of his firing process, is sure to draw you in for further contemplation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As Will describes, "My work is most influenced by a strong sentimentality for my past and close consideration for how those experiences and relationships have shaped my life and decisions. I aim to elicit feeling, memory or sentiment through my artwork that relates to time, place, people, purpose and impermanence through the treatment of and reaction to the materials I use – stoneware clay and wood fire. I seek a sense of rhythm, evolution, chance and persistence in and through my studio practice. The direct record of response to touch and manipulation of the raw material, as well as the involved, deliberate loading and firing of my work in wood-burning kilns provides me with a balance of control and intentionality chance, and serendipity throughout the long process. The surfaces I seek are an aesthetic that echoes the tones, textures, and variation I experience in materials of both the natural and constructed world around me. The constant loop of deterioration and renewal of the seemingly lasting components of our physical world compel me to create objects that reference the beauty inherent in our universal vulnerability to time and change."

Follow and mark your calendars to see and purchase his works at Refraction At Market on 12/10!

We are ecstatic about the stellar lineup of artists we have confirmed for this year's Refraction Art Market and are so excited to share their art with you! Our website is now live with images and bios from all of our artists. We will also be sharing their work here in the coming weeks, so be sure to follow, share, and mark your calendars for December 10th!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

https://refractionartmarket.com/2023-participating-artists

Shown here: Ceramic artists .stack and selling their wares at our 2021 market. We're stoked to announce that they will be joining us again this year, so keep an eye out for more work to anticipate from this talented duo!

6 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY!

We're thrilled with the huge amount of talent rolling into our applications inbox, and there's still 6 days left to apply. Don't miss your chance to share your art and soak in the community love at Refraction Art Market!

Two weeks left to apply for a market you won't wanna miss. Set a reminder and share with your friends!⁣ Refraction is a curated art market with a focus on showcasing some of the top artists in the River Arts District and Wedge community. While priority will go to artists within the Wedge family, all makers are welcome to apply. We look forward to celebrating you and your creations!

Refraction Art Market is an innovative pop up dedicated to highlighting some of the truly exceptional artists within our community. All mediums of fine art and fine craft are welcome to apply. Applications are open now! » » »

https://refractionartmarket.com/artist-application-2023

Refraction returns! We are thrilled to announce that Refraction Art Market will be back at the Wedge at Foundation on December 10, 2023. Applications are open now!⁣

Refraction is a curated art market with a focus on showcasing some of the top artists in the River Arts District and Wedge community. While priority will go to artists within the Wedge family, all makers are welcome to apply. We look forward to celebrating you and your creations!

Wow. It’s been 3 days and we’re still reeling from how amazing Refraction turned out to be!Thank you, thank you to all of our incredibly talented participating artists, to , to for hosting us, and to all of you who came out to support and celebrate with us on Sunday!! We were truly blown away by the crowds who showed up to admire and buy, and by the outpouring of love from our community. To say the day was a success is an understatement, and we loved every minute of it! Andrew and I are so happy to have been able to share Refraction with all of you. Here’s to next time!