LOOK 2020, the magical, creative jewel of a team of OpenDoors volunteers, artists, craftsmen, and local visionaries, will take place on Leap Night, February 29th. Most certainly, this year will open your eyes, blow your minds, and offer you a clear vision of how ambitious our shared community can truly be. Seeing is believing. Exciting […]
Navante Johnson: An Outstanding OpenDoors Student Heads Off to College!
While in elementary school, Navante Johnson became involved with OpenDoors through friends and family. OpenDoors provided him with an assessment that identified undiagnosed learning differences, and then arranged specialized tutoring, after school care, and access to a variety of enrichment programs and opportunities. Navante has an amazing mom, and Nicole and Matt Baker, who are […]
Jaheim Johnson: A Community Role Model and Advocate for Success
Asheville native Jaheim Johnson and his mom teamed-up with OpenDoors while he was in elementary school. That mutually-rewarding relationship continues while Jaheim attends the Gow School, a college prep boarding school near Buffalo, New York. All graduates of Gow attend college, and OpenDoors has sent three boys there plus more kids for Gow’s summer programs. […]
Hayden Wilson Makes Molten Glass that Melts Human Barriers
WNC native and 2nd generation glass artist Hayden Wilson manages the nonprofit public access studio at the Asheville Glass Center. He also volunteers with OpenDoors students, mentoring them with hands-on training in the art of glassblowing. That exciting after-school initiative is possible thanks to OpenDoors’ unique One Neighborhood arts enrichment program. The program, run and […]
Live and Let Flourish
Ladies and gentlemen, hire a sitter, check the weather forecast, download your Uber app, and join us for an elegantly iconic evening as we break the cycle of poverty for children. Shocking, positively shocking! Art Affair 2019: Mission X. Celebrating 10 years of breaking the cycle of poverty. Join us at Ambrose West […]
Nicki Ingle: Spying the Sustained Value Behind Mission X
Asheville native Nicki Ingle brings business, marketing, and nonprofit experience ─ plus a deeply-felt love of Asheville ─ to her volunteer role as Co-Chair of Art Affair 2019: Mission X. We asked her about that, as part of the OpenDoors 10th Anniversary “10 Years10 People” series. Question: What’s your focus leading up to this […]
Larry Hopkins and OpenDoors of Asheville: A deliriously-rewarding relationship.
For its 10-year anniversary, we are highlighting a few special members of the OpenDoors community. Larry Hopkins, who moved to Asheville in the mid-1990s, owns and operates ananda hair studio (22 Broadway St., Asheville) and its offshoot, ananda west (37 Paynes Way in the River Arts District). An avid supporter of the arts in WNC, […]
Art Affair 2019
Mark your calendars!!! Tickets will go on sale January 18, 2019….
The Struggle Bus
It was 12:30 in the afternoon, and with Shawntell as my guide, we struck out for our assignment, designed by OpenDoors Program Director Joseph Jamison. He titled it “The Struggle Bus.” Our mission was to start at the downtown public transit station and figure out how we’d get to work if we worked at the […]
Art Affair 2018 Featured Artist Spencer Herr
We are thrilled to have stalwart OpenDoors supporter Spencer Herr as this year’s featured artist for the Art Affair. Mr. Herr’s work received one of the highest bids in last year’s auction, and with growing momentum as a nationally renowned artist, we feel fortunate that he selected a piece for the Art Affair specifically with […]
5 Tips for Success at a Benefit Art Auction
Lauren Brunk of Brunk Auctions gives us the inside scoop on how to navigate a benefit auction, help a worthy cause, and have fun! We’re sold. Choosing the right piece for you. The most important thing someone should consider is their personal reaction to the artwork: does it make them feel something? The “why” […]
2017 Car Raffle–Enter to Win!!
You might win a Volkwagen Jetta or Golf Sportwagen from OpenDoors of Asheville! Join us in investing in our community by purchasing a car raffle ticket. All proceeds directly fund programming to uplift our children and provide them with the opportunities they need for maximizing their potential. The drawing date will be on or […]
Making this Summer the Best One Ever!
Children are excited when school lets out for the long summer break. Images of families visiting beaches, waterfalls, historic places and museums are all over social media. This is not the case for all children…many are left behind. Kids growing up in Asheville’s poorest homes find summer hot, days long, and healthy food scarce. Even […]
ananda fashion show – Sunday, April 23
Join us on the patio and in the beautiful new Wedge event room for an early evening artistic inspiration, exploring the world of hair and fashion! This Sunday, at 6pm, the new Wedge Brewing @Foundation and ananda Hair Studio will be presenting the annual ananda fashion show. This collaborative event spotlights local talent while supporting […]
Was It Anything But Amazing?!
Thank yous abound to more than 425 of you who attended Art Affair 2017; Urban Canvas – a HUGE success! The impending weather was ominous, but when a diverse happy crowd of hundreds of beautiful people streamed through the doors of Wedge @ Foundation and 12 Bones, we knew the best party of the year […]
Art Affair 2017–Urban Canvas!
Art Affair 2017 takes place tonight! Please join us as we invest in children and strengthen our community. VIP starts at 6:00 pm, General Admission at 6:30. Attire is urban cocktail, bohemian black-tie, artistic Asheville. The event is being held inside the new Wedge Brewery at Foundation, 5 Foundy Street. For a Google map, click here. […]
Preview Art Affair 2017 Auction Items
Thanks to our incredibly supportive and eager donating artist community, we are excited to reveal the 2017 Art pieces, showcasing top local artists in both our Live and Mobile Auctions. 100% of the proceeds from this auction help provide opportunities for students growing up in multigenerational poverty, like intensive tutoring or summer academics, so that they can reach […]
March 10, 2018 – Make Your Plans!
Art Affair 2018–Imagine Nation–Transforming the lives of local student from the experience of “NO” to the unlimited possibility of “KNOW.” Highland Brewing. 6 pm VIP, 7 pm Gen Admin. Presented by Harmony Motors Click here to purchase tickets! Questions? Event Chair – Dosty Quarrier (704) 576-3999 or dquarrier@opendoorsasheville.org Art Chair – Kristan Dewey (828) 231-0732 or […]
OpenDoors Kids Treated to a Hiphop Art “Trek”
OpenDoors was excited to partner with PATH (Preserving, Archiving, and Teaching HipHop) during a 3-day urban visual arts workshop, led by the internationally-renowned artist Trek6 – who divides his time between Asheville and his hometown of Miami, FL, and celebrated Miami based HipHop MC, Sekajipo. PATH is an innovative organization that uses HipHop culture and education to advance academic […]
Laureate Martin Moore Acceptance Speech
OpenDoors Laureate Acceptance Speech By Martin Moore I want to start by saying thank you as well. It means a great deal that I have the opportunity to be here tonight and even more that I can receive this honor for doing work that already means so much to me. Like Ms. Fair stated, as public defenders, we […]
