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Arts tucked away in Tucker County, W.Va.
“I love clay as a metaphor,� says potter Lori Haldeman, whose hands are deep in gray goo while they shape a spinning pot. “You start out with this hunk of clay and end up with something.� For Haldeman, “something� includes lovely plates, bowls, and pitchers she creates, glazes, fires, then displays at Buxton & Landstreet Gallery & Studios in Thomas, W.Va. On a recent day, Haldeman worked in her studio while two other artists painted in the large, lightfilled gallery. Holly Hinkle drew inspiration from a butterfly she found on the grounds as she applied oil pastels in layers on the canvas. “It’s like painting with lipstick,� says the artist, known for her colorful contemporary folk art and recycled wood creations. Sandra Wright polished up a rural scene of a man leaning on his cane. She specializes in personal and family portraits, using charcoal, oil, or pastel. The trio is among 70 regional artists whose work is represented at the gallery, a handsome building that used to serve as the “company store� when Thomas was a coal town at the turn of the 20th century. You can still see the original wood staircase. In back are artists’ studios; old church pews serve as temporary resting places for art. The showroom has high ceilings and an array of fine arts for sale, including quilts, paintings, art glass, pottery, jewelry, lamps, handbags, furniture, and even dulcimers. “Lots of people love just to see the building,� says the gallery’s Heidi Haldeen. Thomas is a village in the Canaan Valley, an area best known for its ski resorts, outdoor recreation, and spectacular mountain views. But the budding arts scene here is also worth a visit. You might say it’s off the beaten path, but the county is more accessible than ever with the new U.S. 48, which has shortened the drive from Washington, D.C., by at least an hour. In Thomas, buildings from the early 1900s are being rehabilitated for modern uses such as art galleries, shops, and restaurants. The commercial district, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is concentrated on East Avenue (known as Front Street) and Spruce Street. You can take a self-guided tour
and learn the buildings’ histories. One was an opera house, which boasted a first-floor saloon. After restoration, it will become an arts center for live theater, square dancing, and community functions. A stroll takes you into shops featuring artisan-made metal, photography, jewelry, and leather items. Seth Pitt at the White Room Art Gallery uses melted crayons to create unique paintings. Ben Nelson of MUD Ceramics makes customized mugs. There’s also a general store; antiques, Christmas, wine, and music shops; and the TipTop coffee bar. Insider tip: Try the “Moscow Muleâ€? cocktail for a kick. A highlight of Front Street is the Purple Fiddle CafĂŠ, where live music rocks the place on weekends. On a recent night, the Hillbilly Gypsies performed crowd-pleasing Appalachian and bluegrass tunes. Other times, you might hear rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, funk, reggae, blues, or folk music. A general store in the old days, the cafĂŠ has a casual, family-friendly atmosphere, offering sandwiches, homemade ice cream, and brews. The Purple Fiddle and the Mountain State Brewing Co., also in Thomas, are part of West Virginia’s Mountain Music Trail, which seeks to preserve traditional music. Besides handcrafted ales, the Mountain State Brewing hosts live music and sponsors Brew Skies, a festival that features West Virginia breweries and local and national musical acts, each July. In nearby Davis, the art of making beer is practiced at Blackwater Brewing Co., an artisanal “brewhausâ€? and eatery, where Lincoln Wilkins makes small batches of European-style beers. WV Highlands Artisans Gallery sells the work of 25 co-op artists. Offerings include paintings, photography, pottery, soaps, hats, and wood art. Parsons, the county seat, holds the Pickin’ in Parsons Bluegrass Festival, July 30-Aug. 2. The area pulls it all together with ArtSpring in May, featuring art and craft demonstrations, studio tours, gallery exhibits, outdoor painting, and street musicians.
Learn more Tucker Co. Tourism: 800-782-2775, canaanvalley.org
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