Though I've long known about Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, I was surprised to find it tucked away behind the bustling Main Street of Gatlinburg, lined with T-shirt shops, indoor mini-golf, themed restaurants, and even a chairlift carrying gleeful tourists to the top of the adjacent mountain.
Despite its proximity to the vibrant Gatlinburg, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts offers a self-contained environment so that artists can fully immerse themselves without needing to venture far (unless you want to!). The campus boasts expansive studios, including a diverse range of 2-D and 3-D studios, dormitory housing, a charming cafe/dining hall, a vast library, and multiple gallery spaces.
My visit coincided with the culmination of their annual residency program and the exhibition of their works. I was invited back to attend the closing party; meeting these artists and celebrating their achievements with their friends, family, and community members was an honour.
Also during my visit was their annual #Pentaculum residency program, with artists diligently working on projects in each studio.
I sometimes wondered if my head would explode while attempting to take in everything. My very generous tour guide, Nick, was a wellspring of information and insights that helped seed early insights and lines of inquiry for the rest of my tour. Meanwhile, at every turn, artists were working on exciting projects across various disciplines.
Unfortunately, I missed the Pentaculum studio walkthrough event, which conflicted with my planned visit to Dollywood. Choosing Dollywood over a third visit to attend the event was (almost) a tough decision.
The conversations and interactions at Arrowmont inspired me immensely—both artistically and intellectually.