Doris Hunter has a gift for turning simple elements of nature into beautiful works of art. Using pinecones, twigs, mountain laurel, and bits of driftwood, she has created detailed works of art such as bird sculptures that look as though they could take flight at any moment. Each piece is a testament to her love of the Appalachian Mountains and the nature that surrounds her home in North Carolina.Doris began making her pinecone birds back in 1973. What started as a creative pastime soon became a lifelong career. Her work has been displayed across the region, even reaching national recognition when she was chosen to decorate the White House Christmas tree in 2002. One of her pieces now rests in the Smithsonian Institute, a lasting tribute to her craftsmanship and dedication.Along with being an artist, Doris is also behind the Mountain Artisans Craft Shows, where local makers can share their work. One of her most popular events is “Hard Candy Christmas,” held every year on the Thanksgiving weekend at the WCU Ramsey Center in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Her Christmas-themed event has now become a mountain tradition, drawing artists and visitors from all over.Through her passion for arts and crafts, Doris Hunter continues to encourage others to find beauty in the ordinary.

In 1925, musicians gathered at the George Vanderbilt Hotel in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, to record songs that had never before been heard outside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fiddlers, banjo players, and singers came together to share the music they grew up with. These recordings, now known as the Asheville Sessions, were the first commercial effort to capture Appalachian folk traditions. They helped shape the sound that would later grow into Bluegrass and country music. This year, Asheville is honoring that moment with a centennial celebration and the release of Music from the Land of the Sky: The 1925 Asheville Sessions. The new album includes 28 songs that have been restored from the original discs. For the first time in a hundred years, listeners will be able to hear the details and voices that defined this beautiful period in Appalachian history. For Appalachia as a whole, this project is a reminder that the voices of our people matter. At a time when the region was often overlooked, these recordings gave the world a window into life in the hills. These songs of our past carry stories of our culture for future generations. They preserve traditions that might have been forgotten and show the richness of a culture that outsiders often misunderstand. By bringing these songs back to life, Asheville is also reminding people that Appalachian music still has an audience today. The same spirit that filled those hotel rooms in 1925 continues in the musicians who play in Asheville now.   The release of this album is a chance for the wider world to see how deeply Appalachia has shaped American music and honor the people who boldly shared the culture of our community with the world. More information and album preorders are available at AshevilleSessions.com.

Joyce Brookshire (1941–2017) was a songwriter, activist, and storyteller who cared deeply about her Appalachian heritage. Born in the mountains of northeast Georgia, her journey took her to Atlanta’s Cabbagetown, where her life and music reflected both rural roots and city life. Highlights of Joyce’s Life: Moved with her family to Cabbagetown, living in a small $11/month mill house. Wrote her first song at only 10 years old. Sang with bands and made several solo albums, including work on the Foxfire label. Worked at The Patch, helping kids in crisis. Spoke out through her music and her actions for human rights and justice. Remembered by friends for her gift of saying in song what could not be said in words. Joyce’s story is closely tied to Cabbagetown itself, the place she called home most of her life. Though only one square mile, Joyce embodied the creative artistic spirit of this town, and her music continues to inspire people today. To honor her memory, the community is building the Joyce Brookshire Memorial Amphitheatre, a new space that will keep her love for music, justice, and community alive for years to come.