Created by Ian Henderson and Shae Bishop, Liminal is a one-of-a-kind commission located on the exterior of the Center for Craft
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Liminal changes throughout the day by revealing a variety of blue hues that contrast the building’s red and orange brick depending on the position of the sun. Come visit this installation at different times to experience the transformations.
And just like the city of Asheville itself, which lies somewhere in the unknowable present between its industrial past and its post-capitalist future, Liminal invites the viewer, even the casual passer-by, to enter that liminal state.
Craft, too, is always in a liminal state. From the materials and tools artists use, to the context we view and understand their work. This installation greets and encourages visitors to come inside the Center for Craft, where they can explore the ever-changing nature of craft today.
Liminal was commissioned by the Center for Craft as a result of the Broadway Cultural Gateway project, a neighborhood planning process begun in 2017 to transform the block surrounding our location at 67 Broadway Street into a cultural gateway and arts destination that welcomes residents and visitors into downtown Asheville.
The full exterior installation consists of two parts: The first is the street-facing facade wall features the 3-D tile installation, Liminal. The second is on the adjacent south-face of the building that displays 2-D commemorative donor tiles from the 2017-2019 campaign, Building a Future for Craft.
The artists
Ian Henderson is a studio artist, teacher, and arts administrator currently the Director of Operations at Penland School of Craft. He led the design and creation of Liminal.
Ian earned a degree in Contemporary U.S. History from Brown University, where he also studied sustainable building and design as well as art. In 2010 he moved to North Carolina where, as a recipient of a Core Fellowship at Penland School of Craft, he undertook an intensive, two-year study of materials and craft processes.
In 2013 Ian was awarded an Arts/Industry Residency at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Wisconsin. During this time he developed a process for translating the geometries and design language of historical, architectural ornament into high-relief tiles.
Shae Bishop is a studio artist from Louisville, KY who earned his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute.
He recently completed the prestigious Summer Fellowship at the Archie Bray Foundation and from 2014 - 2017 was the Studio Assistant and Production Manager for Cristina Córdova.
Shae’s stunning ceramic work has been exhibited internationally and throughout the US and is informed by his deep knowledge of cultural and art history and of the natural world. Shae acted as Production Manager for Liminal.
Steel corner detail and text plates for Liminal that were fabricated and installed by beloved Asheville artist Andrew Hayes.
Liminal, 2019
Concrete (20' x 25')
Commissioned by the Center for Craft with support, in part, by UNC Asheville
In order to increase the value and relevance of craft to society, the Center works to advance the understanding of craft in higher education, museums and cultural institutions, and across disciplines. Field building strategies include convening thought leaders, creating, documenting and disseminating research, and launching innovative leadership initiatives. We provide grants and fellowships to emerging and established craft artists, curators, and scholars in order to build a future for the field of craft.
Recognizing that Asheville and the surrounding area has been a bastion for craft in the United States dating back to the Cherokee, the Center is actively working to preserve and advance the craft legacy of Western North Carolina through the development of our property in downtown Asheville, North Carolina and through a series of exhibitions and community-focused initiatives.
67 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 785-1357 | info@centerforcraft.org
Gallery Hours: Tues–Sat, 10–6 get more info
Gallery Hours: Closed — Reopening Fall 2019
