The Southern Highland Craft Guild Presents the Graduating Class of Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program
Dates: May 10 – August 20, 2025
Location: Folk Art Center, Main Gallery (Upstairs)
Admission: Free
The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382, Blue Ridge Parkway, East Asheville, NC
Asheville, NC — [March 28, 2025] The Southern Highland Craft Guild is proud to present The Graduating Class of 2025 from Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program in an exciting new exhibition at the Folk Art Center. Opening on May 10, 2025 and running through August 20, 2025, this showcase highlights the work of talented emerging artists as they complete their journey through Haywood’s prestigious program. Located in the upstairs Main Gallery, the exhibition honors the continued collaboration between the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Haywood Community College, an educational hub that has long been a center of excellence in craft education.
The exhibit features students who have studied under expert instructors in various craft disciplines, including Amy Putansu in fiber, Brian Wurst in wood, Emily Reason in clay, and Angela Bubash in metals & jewelry. These artists represent the latest generation of makers, each bringing a unique perspective and skillset to the field. The Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Program is known for its rigorous curriculum that blends craft techniques with design, business, marketing, and photography, preparing students for both creative practice and entrepreneurship.
Instructor Brian Wurst of the Professional Crafts Wood program, reflects on the significance of the Graduate Show: “Our programs have thrived for nearly five decades, and our relationship with the Southern Highland Craft Guild has been a key part of that. We’re thrilled to have work showcased at the Folk Art Center, and many of our alumni have gone on to become active Guild members. The Graduate Show is the culmination of two years of hard work, and we’re excited to share it in this beautiful space.”
The Professional Crafts Program at Haywood Community College has a longstanding tradition of fostering creativity and cultivating skill in a range of craft disciplines. Established in 1974 with the opening of the clay studio, the program has since expanded to include wood, fiber, and jewelry. Today, it continues to produce talented artisans who contribute to the region's rich craft legacy.
The Graduating Class of 2025 exhibition offers a rare opportunity to witness the talent and passion of these emerging artists and marks an important milestone in their professional development.
About Haywood Community College
Located just west of Asheville in Clyde, NC, Haywood Community College’s Professional Crafts Program offers specialized education in clay, wood, fiber, and jewelry. The program equips students with both technical expertise and entrepreneurial skills, preparing them for a successful career in the arts. For more information about the program, please contact Farrah Rodriguez, Success Coach, at 828-627-4505 or visit creativearts.haywood.edu.
About the Southern Highland Craft Guild
The Southern Highland Craft Guild, founded in 1930, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to preserving, promoting, and advancing the region’s craft heritage. As an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, the Guild fosters a vibrant community of makers through shared resources, education, and marketing. The Folk Art Center serves as the Guild’s headquarters and is open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is free.
For more information about The Graduating Class of 2025 exhibition, please visit craftguild.org/exhibitions or call 828-298-7928. For inquiries about the Professional Crafts Program, contact 828-627-4674 or visit creativearts.haywood.edu.
Contact for questions:
Val Berlage, Curator of Exhibitions
[email protected]
828-298-7928
Haywood Contacts: Amy Putansu, [email protected], Brian Wurst [email protected],
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930 to cultivate the crafts and makers of the Southern Highlands for the purpose of shared resources, education, marketing, and conservation. The Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 of the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville, NC.
