Featured Artist: Pattiy Torno

Featured Artist:  Pattiy Torno

When getting to know Pattiy – you’ll probably realize that ‘artist’ is not a big enough word to describe her…I’d also add: arts advocate, pioneer/property owner in the RAD, entrepreneur and retailer, fashion designer – and I’ll also add gardener - because she has a beautiful one!

I’ve had the good fortune to build a relationship with Pattiy over the last few years and I want to encourage you to visit her at Curve Studios in the River Arts District.  Ladies – you’ll love the clothing Pattiy designs and makes; Guys – you can see pottery and chair caning in the Curve buildings or walk next door to 12 Bones while the women shop!

Pattiy attended Parson’s School of Design in NYC, she apprenticed in the clothing industry, and then she started her own fashion company designing and producing women’s sportswear. She wanted to be closer to her raw materials so she relocated to Asheville in ’84, and in ’89 bought the 3 buildings that would become Curve Studios in the River Arts District.  Her business has evolved and changed…she focused on quilting for a while and became a member of Piedmont Craftsmen and the Southern Highland Craft Guild.  Nowadays Pattiy incorporates her quilting background and her love of photography into ‘foto-piecings’.  If you visit, you’ll likely find Pattiy behind her sewing machine stitching up a beautiful dress or jacket…she’s always ready to greet you and make you welcome into her world.

France vacation + French journalist visit to Asheville

Journalists from France were fascinated by the murals in the River Arts District!

I had a flash back to 2003 recently…in the Fall of ‘03 my family had a marvelous vacation to France.  My Mom had just retired from 30 years of teaching and we wanted to give her a special trip – and of course we had to go with her!  Mom got her masters in education, and for her under-grad she minored in French. Our trip was in September, and both Mom and our son Ian celebrated their birthdays while we were in France. (we accidentally bought trick candles that didn’t blow out for their cake!!)

Part of our vacation was spent in the small city of Uzes, in southern France – not too far from Avignon.  At some point in the week we learned of a nearby ‘pottery town’ and off we went to discover that area.  My husband Mark is all about exploring and driving to see new places and we always go off the beaten path!

We ended up in St. Quentin la Poterie – and I soon learned what a wonderful destination this was for ceramics.  I was just thrilled to walk around the small town and see studio after studio of functional pottery.  I made a few purchases including 4 small dessert dishes that I love.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of sharing a bit of the Asheville art scene to 4 visiting journalists from France (thankfully they spoke some English and had an interpreter with them!). We saw several studios, gallery spaces, some of the River Arts District and they seemed to really enjoy their visit!

Now that I’m in the business of offering art tours, I think back to this trip in ’03 and wish we’d had a guide so we really would have seen the best of the area – and not missed anything amazing.  That’s what I want to offer to you ;)  – if you want to explore the arts of Western NC…you know where to find me!