March looks to be a pretty busy month in Townsend, Tn. With the town set to host three large shows highlighting the work of woodcarvers and quilters, the Townsend Visitors Center likely won’t see a break until the first of April. Each event will take place in the exhibit room at the visitors center.
Intricate quilts made from members of the Foothills Quilters Guild in Maryville, TN will be on display from March 1-16. Hand-made and machine-made large and small quilts will both be featured as a part of this exhibit. Visitors will get to see the true craftsmanship, talent and skill of the Guild’s members.
The Foothills Quilters Guild strives to promote and encourage the unique art of quilt-making and instill an appreciation and pride in preserving the area’s heritage. The Guild welcomes beginners to professional quilters to join in an effort to carry on such a time-honored tradition. The Guild meets at the First Church of the Nazarene, located at 1610 E. Broadway in Maryville, on the first and third Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Collected at the first meeting in July, a yearly fee is required of each Guild member.
From March 19-30, the visitor’s center in Townsend will be the place to view local woodcarvers’ creations. Stop by and see some of our local woodcarvers as they demonstrate the craft of turning a piece of wood into a work of art. They’re really talented, enjoy showing off their wares and talking about how they got into woodcarving. You might even pick up a few pointers yourself if you’ve tried your hand at the meticulous art.
Woodcarvers including Hezzie Holden, James Dull, Chris Rayburn and John Keydash will be among those representing the Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers Supply Store at Nawger Nob in Townsend. The store offers woodcarving classes that teach this time-honored Appalachian craft, along with a wide selection of woodcarving tools, such as chip carving knives, mesh sandpaper and beginner kits.
Lendel Abbott will also be demonstrating his knife woodcarving. Abbott created and donated the Visitors Center’s hand-carved mantel, which is hand-carved with a cabin and mountains in the background and is stained light brown.
The exhibits will be free of cost and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Townsend Visitors Center is located at 7906 E Lamar Alexander Pkwy in Townsend, TN.