Gallery of the Mountains: An Interview with Elvie Zell

Welcome to our blog at Gallery of the Mountains! We are located inside the historic Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville, NC. We specialize in fine American handmade crafts, mostly from local and regional artists. We will be happy to ship any item listed here or help you find the perfect gift in our Gallery. For more info about our artists featured in the header photo above, click on Header Artists page. Please feel free to contact us for availability and prices either by phone or email. Toll Free 1-800-692-2204 or sales@galleryofthemountains.com

Saturday, March 10, 2012

An Interview with Elvie Zell

Golden Retriever Pin

Elvie Zell was the first of the Gallery's artists to respond to a fun questionnaire we made up based on the Pivot Questionnaire used in the television show Inside the Actor's Studio. We will be featuring one artist per week giving you a glimpse of what makes each craftsperson tick.

Tuxedo cat earrings

Elvie, an Ohio resident, is a superb copper enamel artist and a great favorite of our pet loving customers. Some of her exquisitely detailed jewelry is pictured between the questions.

Lhasa Apso pendant

1. What is your favorite color?

BLACK & WHITE

2. What is your least favorite color?

GREY

3. What turns you on creatively?

OUTSIDER ART

4. What turns you off creatively?

AUTHORITIES

5. What is your idea of happiness?

FREE TIME, SIDE PORCH, STACK OF MAGAZINES, THAT BRAZILIAN DRINK I CAN’T PRONOUNCE OR SPELL

6. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

HERE

7. Who is your favorite artist?

AGNES MARTIN

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

NEUROSURGERY

9. What profession would you not like to?

POLITICS

10. Describe your work in one word.

INSANE

Marmalade cat pin

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We are Locally Hand Made and American Made

Gallery of the Mountains

Representing 200 artists, the Gallery presents an exclusive collection that complements the warm traditional elegance of The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, one of the nation's premier historic hotels.

The Gallery is also perfectly situated in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the top-ten craft-buying destinations in the country. Some comments from our visitors tell it all: "A great collection." "Simply beautiful." "The best."

The Gallery has been consistently honored as a Niche Top 100 Retailer of American Craft. Each year, more than 1,500 galleries are nominated, with more than 18,000 craft artists voting on the final selection. Some of the criteria for selection include treating artists with courtesy and respect, promoting and marketing American crafts, and mentoring emerging artists.

General Information:

Our address is 290 Macon Ave. PO Box 8283, Asheville, NC 28814

Phone: 800-692-2204 • 828-254-2068 • Fax: 828-254-9819 • Email: sales@galleryofthemountains.com

Open 7 days a week.

Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Art-to-Wear

Become your own work of art by adding elegant handmade fashions to your life. Who can resist the feel of luxurious chenille, rich velvet, or soft silk in exciting colors? Our wearable artists combine beautiful one-of-a-kind fabrics with contemporary or traditional styling to make garments guaranteed to be favorite fashion mainstays. You'll find our exclusive selection of clothing and accessories, including hand-painted scarves in silk charmeuse or cut velvet, ribbon scarves, silk handpainted ties, velvet corsages, unique detailed leather purses, hand dyed tops and flirtatious hats for every season, will add the individual touch of art-to-wear to any wardrobe.

Our artists include:
JoAnn Alot
Leslie Bowman
Lyn Lyndall
Karen Atwood
Janice Keeler
Peter Lanphear
Sherit Levin
Trillium Scarves
Dana Smith
Michael Smith
Beau Ties of Vermont
Kathleen Lewis
Ivan Ivanoff
Jude Stuecker
Lindsey Warf
Sally Tolentino
Crossnore Weavers
Doah Chabot

Wood

Maple, cherry, walnut, oak-what compares to the enduring luster and beauty of wood skillfully carved or worked? From a simple block of wood, it takes the carver's art and vision to release a soaring eagle or delicate birds that look as if they might take flight. Boxes, crafted to hold treasures, are, of themselves, works of art. Unique vases that capture the natural beauty of a burl, delicately carved woodland creatures or walking sticks carved in the finest Appalachian tradition bring one of nature's most abundant materials to life.

Our wood artists include:
Phil Capper
Jerry Crowe
Chris Kamm
Ian Hunter
Steve Duncan
David Koleshis
Jonathan's Spoons
Ken Wheeler
Lance and Kim Long
Gary Ashton

Jewelry

Gallery of the Mountains believes our exclusive collection of fine jewelry showcases pieces that will become tomorrow's heirlooms. Our artists transform gold, silver, and gemstones into shimmering designs to be worn either day or night and through the seasons. Beads combined with gems, enchanting pins of gold and silver, high-fashioned mixed and oxidized metals, freshwater pearls, swirls of gold, and whimsical enameling will delight you. Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you during every step of your purchase and will guide you in the continued care of the piece you select.

Artists include:

Laura Cardwell
Micki Chaet
Nell Chandler
Jim Littlewolf
Dabney Sue Peterson
Frank Tuuri
Amolia Willowsong
Rachel Wilder
Robbie Diffey
Rebecca Hook
Olivia de Soria
Faryn Davis

Ceramics

Handmade pottery—the perfect combination of function and form—adds color and interest to any table or home décor. The tradition of fine pottery runs deep in the mountains of North Carolina. Experience the marriage of earth and fire when you hold a bowl in your hand, see the brush strokes in the glaze, or discover the potter's mark. At Gallery of the Mountains, you'll find everything from batter bowls to colanders, sculptures to ornaments, mugs to goblets, tiles to decorative platters. Whether for everyday or special days, you can grace your life with pottery.

Artists include:
Linda Banner
Cynthia Link
Gabriel Kline
Len Lindsay
Julie Calhoun Roepnack
Jean and Carl Saake
Tzadi Turrou
Lisa Conard
Terri Friday
Will and Trish Byers
Mindy McCormick
J. J. Jucick
Claude Graves
Donna King
Estela Shackleford
Mary Mason
Anja Bartles

Glass

Shimmering glass catches your eye from every corner of the gallery. Stained glass hangs in the window, colorful marbles prove irresistible to the serious collector as well as to the young-at-heart. The elegance of hand-blown art glass made in the Tiffany tradition is breathtaking as are contemporary pieces rendered in bright colors and unique designs. You'll find ornaments and perfume bottles, vases and bowls, each piece capturing the essence of light and color just for you.

Our artists include:
Graham Lawing
Kristen Munoz
Elise Ramsey
Virgil Jones
Chris Smith

Mixed Media

Artists working in metal, native materials, and paper are well represented at Gallery of the Mountains. As you browse, you'll find Arts-and-Crafts mica-shaded lamps, wall decor of white dogwood flowers and pine cones fashioned of copper and brass leaves, textured wood lamps with paper shades, carved colorful woodblock carvings of mountain scenery, watercolors of the local mountains and irresistible handmade note cards. The gallery features prints of the Grove Park Inn by a noted local artist as well as lovely matted and framed reproductions of hand-tinted vintage postcards of the Inn from the 1920s.

Mixed Media Artists include:

Metal
John Burtner
Mike Cowan

Paper
Arts & Crafts Press
Mista Whitson
Cindy Hendrick
Kathlene Ford Walters
John Mac Kah
Al Ramirez

Native Materials
Joe Bruneau
Joy Cafaro
Mickey Dye-Ishikawa
Simone Wilson
Gypsy Bee Soaps