From Staff Reports

Asheville artists are showcased in a recent National Geographic travel article, and the city itself was praised as “an experimental epicenter” of “visual arts, cool crafts, funky music, theater (and) film.”

The article begins by introducing local potter Josh Copus’ unearthing his own wild clay at sunrise. Then the story shifts to other icons in the River Arts District, including blacksmith Zachary Noble, painter Daniel McClendon and clothing designer Anna Toth of Bow and Arrow Apparel.

“Reinventing the rules is an Asheville tradition,” wrote author Andrew Evans, before mentioning Black Mountain College, its legendary alumni and museum.

The Asheville Art Museum houses a “brilliant array of North Carolina folk art, portraits, photography and sculpture,” he wrote. And the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design “supports the work of the region’s up-and-coming artists (and is) filled with provocative pieces by some of the world’s leading innovators in today’s maker movement.”

Even Asheville souvenirs get kudos, and the author directs visitors to downtown’s Horse and Hero, Mora Collection and the Grove Arcade.

For interesting architecture and “other art deco splendors,” visit Douglas Ellington’s First Baptist Church, City Hall or the Asheville Citizen-Times, the article says.

The story wraps up with Asheville’s most-famous attraction, the Biltmore Estate, which houses the Vanderbilts’ private art collection.

“Asheville remains a city that draws in some of the most creative people in the United States,” Evans wrote.

Coincidentally, Asheville’s fun and funkiness was extolled by three actors from the locally produced and recently released film “Masterminds” during their appearance on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” show.

“Asheville is a great town; I loved it,” actor Zach Galifianakis told Kimmel. 

Actress Kristen Wiig added, “I feel like that the majority of people that followed the (Grateful) Dead around — when that stopped, they went like, ‘Oh, well, we should go to Asheville.’ 

“I feel like they just all followed each other, and now they live there... There’s, like, drum circles in the center of town every Friday night....”

“For real?” Kimmel interrupted.

“For real,” Wiig responded.