Saturday, June 7, 2008

Arrowmont: Days 1&2

I left for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg Tennessee on Friday. My flight left at about 11pm and arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina the next morning (Saturday) at about 6am. I had about an hour and a half layover and then got to ride in a tiny little plane with about 5 other people to Knoxville, Tennessee. It had propellers! I have never been in a plane that small! We had to walk out on the runway to board. It was fun. Here is a pic...
The flight lasted about an hour and then from Knoxville I took a shuttle to Gatlinburg which took about an hour. I haven't slept yet!
When I got to Arrowmont and felt like I was the only person here! I think most people arrive tomorrow. So, I decided to go explore a little. I walked down to the little town, which was very strange. It is very touristy. It has a state fair carnival feel. There are shops everywhere with cheap jewelry, knock off purses, and airbrushed T-shirts. There are also all kinds of weird museums, game houses, rides and attractions. There was a Ripleys Believe it or Not museum, and a Guiness Book of World Records Museum. Mostly there was just way more people than I had expected.
They did have a Bubba Gump Shrimp place that I secretly wanted to try. I think it would have been funny. And yummy.There is also an aquarium, which I may get sucked into seeing. I am so weak when it comes to aquariums...they just mesmerize me! I never get enough...This was BY FAR the funniest thing I saw. It is a Hollywood Wax Museum with a huge King Kong holding a lifesize woman in his hand. Can you hear the twilight zone music? Its just weird to have this many stramge tourist traps in one small town!So after amusing myself, and sweating about 3 gallons in the 200% humidity, I decided to go back and walk around the Arrowmont Campus a bit. This is the main office. It has a book and supply store, a gallery, and a really cool library.This is an image of the Faculty Summer Show in the gallery. I love the stained glass windows.This is the hall that I am staying in.
The staff house...
The Famous Red Barn, which is another residence hall.And I think this is where the studios are. But what made me really happy to see was the small sculpture on the side of the building. Do you see it?It was made by Dave Pimentel, who was the Metals Instructor at ASU for many years before he passed away in 2003. Seeing his work makes it seem like he will always be here.These are some found object totem poles that I should have gotten better pics of. Maybe tomorrow.And this is the deck where I am blogging at this very moment. Ok, when I took the picture it was light outside. Blogging takes me forever. But, now its dark and I just saw the first firefly I have ever seen in my whole life. I can check that off my list of things to do before I die now. Haha. Seriously though, fireflies are pretty amazing, and mesmerizingly beautiful...

Now, Im off to bed since I have not slept in 24 hours. More of Arrowmont soon to come...

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I always think Arrowmont feels like this hidden oasis in an abyss of kitsch. It amazes me how secluded it can feel being only maybe 100 yards off the main Gatlinburg drag.

Have you noticed the huge houses on the mountain that you can see when you walk into the clay building from the main building? I conjured major fantasies about how one was owned by a drug dealer and some night I'd surely see a henchman with a machine gun pop up on the balcony. I never did.

Have a great time!

-Corey

Deborah’s Desert Creations said...

I am so glad you have this opportunity to explore and enrich your life with new sights and experiences. Enjoy yourself! Can't wait to hear about your trip.
Love,
Mama

Lynette said...

Corey-
Yeah! Its crazy! I am reading Twilight right now by Stephanie Meyer, its a vampire book, so I was picturing the big mansions were inhabited by the vampires in my novel. I couldnt put that book down, I finished it in 2.5 days, and now I am in Gatlinburg with no hope to purchase the sequel until I get home. I may die of suspense! But being at arrowmont is worth it:)

Amanda said...

wow!
thats such an awesome
place!
its so GREEN!
XD!

i love the buildings, i wouldn't
expect those there! you must be
having so much fun!
i r jealous of u...
teehee

OMG i luff that book!

you gotta read the other 2!

the last one comes out
in august!

=^_^=

Edward is so awesome!

Cheryl Prater said...

Hey Lynette - I borrowed (and credited you for) some of your pix of the campus. I wish I could spend my whole summer there. Enjoy!

Cheryl

Anonymous said...

Lynette, your jewelry is lovely, so modern!

Arrowmont is very special. It's amazing that it's so quiet, being so close to everything going on just down the road.

I hope you have a great time! Blog lots!

Marla
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marlafrankenberg/