Architect Travels: Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

Dec 8, 2018

Guest Post by Architect Deborah Smith.

I am a self-proclaimed homebody, but nothing will peel me off the couch faster than getting to travel and experience new places and old/new buildings. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. has been on my list of places to visit for quite awhile and I finally got to cross it off earlier this month, just in time to see it decked out for Christmas. Learning about the history of who lived in the house and how it functioned in the early 20^thcentury was fun and all, but who are we kidding, I was there to see how this castle of a home and the surrounding grounds were designed and brought to life.

The Biltmore Estate house and surrounding estate began construction in 1889, was completed in December 1895, and was the brainchild of owner,George Washington Vanderbilt, architect, Richard Morris Hunt, and landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmstead. The construction of the house boosted the local economy even before becoming a tourist attraction by hiring local laborers, craftsmen, and businesses. The shear amount of detail and craftsmanship that went into the house and landscape is incredible and hopefully the included photos help to show that…along with showcasing some spectacular Christmas decorations.

Some more fun facts about the Biltmore Estate house construction:

-The project had its own railroad spur to deliver the enormous amount of building materials required to build this behemoth project.

-The Biltmore Estate house was designed to be fireproof, so it was built using masonry (both brick and stone) and steel.

-Frederick Law Olmstead (the same landscape architect that designed Central Park in NYC) actually set the first floor height of the house so the views of the surrounding mountains would be exactly as he had envisioned them. He constructed viewing towers out of sawhorses to continually check the views of the house.

As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and refreshments will be provided by Gaines Group Architects.

Series Name: An Interlude of Water

Medium: Hand-cut Montage

Artist Statement: “An Interlude of Water

The stillness of a hot, lazy summer evening broken by the laughter of good friends as fishies bite and the sun slowly slips towards the horizon.

The pond collection swirls and twirls like the eddies at the shoreline. Developing slowly to capture the quiet aspects of what creatures could quietly inhabit a pond within the Shenandoah landscape.

The past eight months have been a creative frenzy of exploration, joy, and personal contentment, from envisioning a cohesive grouping of collages that share a color palette to letting my imagination play. The resulting collection has stretched my artistic skills and broadened my perception of interpretation and idea development.

My Process:

Each collage starts as a line drawing, creating a detailed map of the imagery to be included within the work. Moving the drawing to the wooden panel entails many bits of hand-cut paper, acrylic mediums, and acid-free paste. A sticky mess, but it so satisfies the need for detail my brain requires. All papers used are colored with acrylic paint applied with painting tools or a Gelli plate. A lot of time is spent pressing (lever press, heavy books, etc) and drying the glued papers before and after mounting on the wooden surface. Acrylic varnish provides a protective sealant for the completed collage. From concept to finished work, the process takes, on average, four weeks.”

Artist Bio: I’ve always been one to dabble in new trends and techniques. Treading water, seeking the thing that would capture and devour my imagination. In 2018, when life was overwhelming and my soul needed an escape, I fell back in love with collage. Over the intervening eight years, my artistic practice has settled into an obsession, forcing a growth in style and technique with results that personally bring me joy. A relocation to Harrisonburg, Virginia, has allowed me to establish a permanent studio space, adding momentum to my artistic journey.

*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility challenges. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.

This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!

Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot!