Spirit of Asheville

Guests are welcomed to Asheville with a reception at the Wicked Weed Funkatorium featuring four Asheville chefs and eleven local makers. 

Anneliesse Gormley of Spoon + hook, a 2021 MITSA crafts runner-up, speaks with a guest. 

Explore Asheville CEO Victoria Isley welcomes guests to the Spirit of Asheville.

Spirit of Asheville guests attend a glass blowing workshop at the North Carolina Glass Center.

An artist gives a glass blowing demonstration at the North Carolina Glass Center.

G&G executive editor Amanda Heckert tries her hand on the potter’s wheel during a workshop at the Village Potter’s Clay Center.

Asheville Print Studio’s Denise Markbreit leads a printmaking class as part of the Creative Arts workshop experience. 

Guests of the Creative Arts experience end their workshops with a wine tasting and lunch at Plēb Urban Winery, followed by a panel discussion led by G&G executive editor Amanda Heckert featuring Shelton Steele, owner of the new Wrong Way River Lodge and Cabins, Justin James of Opie Way, the 2020 MITSA overall winner, and Alex Matisse, a 2022 MITSA Crafts category judge. 

The Chemist’s Debbie Word leads guests through her laboratory as part of the Perfectly Paired workshop, a guided Asheville distillery tour including additional stops at Oak & Grist Distillery and Eda Rhyne Distilling Company. 

A curated food pairing of South Slope Cheese and the Chemist gin awaits guests on the Perfectly Paired workshop.

Appetizers at the 2022 Made in the South Awards dinner, including Cantabrian anchovy crostini.

Chef Brian Canipelli of Cucina 24 discusses his inspiration for the Made in the South Awards dinner. 

Guests taste Cucina 24’s antipasti first course served family style featuring focaccia, castelvetrano olives, sprouting broccoli agrodolce, radicchio misto, and carrot arrabbiata.

Editor in chief David DiBenedetto along with the the 2022 Made in the South Awards winners Caroline Cockerham and Laura Tripp of Cicil, Gary Lacey of Gary Lacey Rod Company, Elijah Leed of Elijah Leed Studio, and Carolyn Roy and Walt Hill of Biscuithead

Attendees gather for a Bollywood-themed after-party at the historic Citizen Vinyl in downtown Asheville.

Host chef Meherwan Irani of Asheville’s Chai Pani and Spicewalla welcomes guests to the after-party.

Bollywood dancers from the Moksha Dance Academy entertain guests with choreographed dances. 

DJ Rang provides the music for the Bollywood-themed after-party. 

Guests Courtney Prickett and Stewart Trimble join the Bollywood dancers to learn a choreographed routine. 

From left: Publisher Christian Bryant, 2022 Made in the South Awards judge Mignonne Gavigan, editor in chief David DiBenedetto, and chef Meherwan Irani.