Wishing for Talent / Forged by Wind / Open to Highway Legacy

Sometimes it is hard to get the creative ideas flowing. So, I threw the words of this week’s events in front of my eyes and pulled out a poem. Some might call it haiku; others may argue the form is not quite right. However, each line offers an introduction to an evening of artistry and entertainment this weekend.

“Wishing for Talent” Thursday night? In Saluda you’ll find the lovely folk music of multi-instrumentalist Miriam Davidson and songwriter Kiya Heartwood who form the duo Wishing Chair.
They’ll be sharing their beautiful harmonies mixed with poetry and politics at the Purple Onion starting at 7:30pm. Or, perhaps you’d prefer the potpourri of talent gathering on the porch of the Melrose Inn for Talent Night. Starting around 6:30pm chefs Jay & Tony lay out a lovely $5 Buffet and open their porch to the poets, musicians, jugglers, political speculators, comedians, and other emerging artists that gather to share their work for an evening.

Friday is “Forged by Wind” in Tryon. Start your evening by traveling up Ola Mae Way to the Simply Irresistible Gallery for the Forged & Fired reception. Bill Crowell and Kathleen Carson will be featuring their collaborative iron and tile table art for the first time in the gallery. They invite you to join them for a reception from 5-8pm Friday evening to view their unique work crafted with love and whimsy. Then at 8pm join the Tryon Concert Association for the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet at the Tryon Fine Arts Center. According to their biography, since 1988 Michael Hasel (flute), Andreas Wittman (oboe), Walter Seyfarth (clarinet), and Fergus McWilliam (horn), and Henning Trog (bassoon) have “astonished audiences worldwide with their range of expression, their tonal spectrum and their conceptual unity.” Enjoy the musical synergy of this ensemble that critics and listeners applaud for “redefining the sound of the classical wind quintet.”

Saluda is “Open to Highway Legacy.” On Friday evening Karen Dickson Johnson is sharing her entire body of work from paintings and sculpture to clothing with an Art Open House at 15 Thompson Road, on the corner of Thompson Road and Ozone Drive from 6-9pm. According to Karen this show is her way of “creating an opportunity to show everything I do. In a way, it’s an opening of myself and my home.” Her playful work full of light and symbolism will be displayed throughout her home accented by Linda Kay’s Feng Shui and accompanied by the music of guitarist and ‘Violinario’ Howard. For more information, please call Karen at 828.749.9649. Saturday evening enjoy dinner and music at the Purple Onion with Blue Line Highway at 8pm. This acoustic band from Richmond, Virginia has recently released their latest CD “Life in a Minor Key” on Lost Cat Records and brings a lovely collection of songs mixing bluegrass, jazz, country, blues, and just enough folk rock to keep their audience tapping their toes. The band’s musicianship and Julia Dooley’s sultry vocals are sheer pleasure for the ears. If you really want to get out your dancing shoes and boogie, you might head over to the Saluda Mountain Jamboree for Legacy from 8-11pm. Their collection of songs from the country, pop and top 40 charts will keep you dancing the night away.

I’ve run out of poetic words, but have a couple of entertaining ideas that fall between the lines. You may find more poetry with the sweet music of Jan & Barney at the Gallery Coffeehouse Saturday at 8pm. Or, perhaps you’ll find talent within yourself and sign up to sing at Elmo’s for Saturday night Karaoke.