In addition to its high peaks and shady valleys, Yancey County, NC is known for its extraordinarily rich artistic output. The county boasts more than 400 full-time and 200 part-time working artists, including basket makers, glassblowers, metal smiths, painters, paper makers, potters, quilters, sculptors, and weavers. Many reside in Burnsville, the seat of the county. Neighboring Mitchell County is also a renowned destination for art lovers, in part because it’s home to the Penland School of Crafts.
Are you looking for high-quality local art and craftwork to give the art lovers in your life this holiday season? If so, there are few places more rich with options than those across Yancey and Mitchell Counties. Here’s our guide to the best holiday shopping in and around Burnsville, NC for lovers of local art.
Editor’s note: Many of the locations on this list are currently in the beginning stages of recovery and rebuilding following Hurricane Helene and remain closed to visitors. But their online shops are up and running! We encourage you to support local artists with your purchases and donations until they reopen to the public.
Penland School of Crafts
The renowned Penland School of Crafts is an international center for craft education dedicated to helping people live creative lives. At its location on the border of Yancey and Mitchell Counties, innovative artists—both emerging and established—come from all parts of the country and represent the creative mission of the school. For artists, the school offers one-, two-, and eight-week workshops in a variety of mediums, as well as artists’ residencies and local programs. For art lovers, there is a gallery that hosts an ongoing series of invitational shows and walking tours of the campus. An online shop is also open 24/7, so you can complete your holiday shopping from the comforts of home!
67 Doras Trail, Penland | (828) 765-2359 | penland.org
Toe River Arts Burnsville Gallery
Since 1976, the Toe River Arts Council has worked to connect the arts and the community. They make certain this area is top on the to-do list of the intrepid traveler, the seeker and lover of art, and the visitor respectful of nature and the beauty of the land. For you, that means the chance to collect some of the finest crafts for sale in the Toe River Valley. The Arts Council offices are located on the second floor of a 100-year-old building on Main Street in Burnsville. Visitors can find the Burnsville Gallery on the first floor once it reopens to the public. The gallery rotates exhibits monthly and has a gift shop featuring artists who live in the Mitchell, Yancey, and Avery County region.
102 West Main Street, Burnsville | (828) 682-7215 | toeriverarts.com
Hearth Glass
Founded by the children and grandchildren of Harvey K. Littleton, the founder of the American Studio Glass Movement, Hearth Glass and Gallery aims to continue his legacy by increasing education and access to glassblowing in WNC. In just a few short years, their location on Main Street has become a vibrant hub for both budding and experienced glass artists. By offering education and resources, Hearth Glass and Gallery fosters an environment where creativity in glass art is cultivated and celebrated. Their gallery showcases the exceptional talents of more than a dozen local glass artists. And this fall, they have been active in fundraiser partnerships to support the community.
410 W Main Street, Burnsville | (828) 678-1809 | hearthglassnc.com
Mica
Mica is a cooperative gallery located in downtown Bakersville. The location showcases the work of more than a dozen local artists whose creative lives have been nurtured by the energy of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Mica’s members are part of a strong and vibrant arts community, making it a destination for art lovers and collectors. On display and available for sale are a stunning variety of functional and sculptural ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, paper, prints, and paintings. Visit any day and you are likely to meet one or two artists in the gallery.
37 N Mitchell Avenue, Bakersville | (828) 688-6422 | micagallerync.com
MW Studios
Artist Mark Woodham’s MW Studios is a metal and woodworking studio and gallery specializing in contemporary and eccentric furniture, sculpture, and home accessories. For 25 years, Woodham was an owner and glassblower at a studio in Columbia, SC. In early 2017, Woodham made the leap from the South Carolina Midlands to the mountains of Burnsville. With reverence for the subject matter, Woodham is inspired by flora, fauna, and cultural artifacts. His current work focuses on the union of wood and metal to create functional and decorative accessories and sculpture.
319 W US Highway 19 E Bypass, Burnsville | (828) 536-5041 | mwstudiosnc.com
Page Pottery
The motto at Page Pottery is “turning mud to stone”. But what they really do is create vessels that hold memories. Kristen and J.R. Page are husband and wife artists and craftspeople who work from their small farm and pottery studio. They met in the professional crafts program at Haywood College, where they both graduated. They formed Page Pottery soon after, and mud has been slung ever since. Until the next Toe River Studio Tour, you can view their functional and decorative pottery online. They offer stoneware and Raku pottery by the piece or set. Consider creating a gift registry with them for your upcoming wedding or housewarming.
138 Dandelion Lane, Burnsville | (828) 381-6638 | pagepottery.com
Yummy Mud Puddle
There are many unique artist studios dotting the ranges of Yancey and Mitchell Counties. Perhaps one of the most interesting is Yummy Mud Puddle. Nestled onto ten acres of majestic forest, printmaker Claudia Dunaway and mixed media artist John D. Richards create their work. The gallery also features handmade textile wearables by Kathryn Lynch. Once you’re able to visit the gallery in person again, why not stay for the weekend? The property also features a charming vacation rental that will accommodate six guests in comfort. The house is equipped with fiber optic high speed internet, cable, and a free landline telephone. Come sit on the dock, feed the fish in the pond, and absorb the serenity awaiting you at the Yummy Mud Puddle.
264 Clear View Lane, Burnsville | (828) 682-6567 | yummymudpuddle.com
Find great local art in Burnsville throughout the year!
Twice a year, the Toe River Arts Council sponsors the Toe River Studio Tours. The event is one of the largest and longest running studio tours in the country. More than 100 local artists in Yancey and Mitchell Counties open their studios for a free, up-close look inside the creative process. Meet the artists, see where they create, and experience where they live. Enjoy mountain vistas and valley enclaves as you travel from artist to artist, many in out-of-the-way studios.
And each August, Downtown Burnsville comes alive with local art at the Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair. The fair has been celebrated for more than 50 years and features dozens of craft vendors, demonstrations, singing, and dancing in Burnsville’s picturesque town center.
Find a home for the holidays in Burnsville, NC!
Burnsville is located among some of the highest mountains to be found in the eastern U.S. The town offers living situations and outdoor experiences that go above and beyond the norm. Burnsville is also known for its extraordinarily rich artistic output. Yancey County is home to more than 400 full-time and 200 part-time working artists, including basket makers, glassblowers, metalsmiths, and more.
Does that sound like the perfect lifestyle for you? Find homes for sale in Burnsville, NC!
