July 5 was filled with celebration, gratitude, and community spirit at The Bascom, from honoring our donors and dedicating the new soda kiln, to engaging demonstrations and art activities.
The morning began with our fourth annual Benefactors’ Breakfast, a special event celebrating the generosity and dedication of supporters whose philanthropic investments sustain our mission to create visual art experiences that inspire and empower individuals and communities through seeing, thinking, and doing. During the breakfast, expressions of gratitude highlighted the essential role philanthropy plays in advancing The Bascom’s transformative arts programming, exhibitions, and community outreach initiatives. Guests were honored with commemorative lapel pins symbolizing The Bascom’s Giving Societies, tangible acknowledgments of the powerful relationship between generosity and community enrichment.
In addition to the Director’s Circle for annual gifts and The Barratt Society for leadership annual giving, this year’s breakfast also marked the debut of two new Giving Societies:
- The 1985 Society, which honors lifetime giving from dedicated and consistent supporters, recognizing their cumulative contributions over the years through various giving circles.
- The Bascom Legacy Society, which honors supporters who establish planned gifts by documenting The Bascom as a beneficiary in their estate plans.
The Bascom is deeply grateful for each donor who believes in the transformative power of the visual arts. Your support ensures that accessible, meaningful arts programming continues to enrich lives across our region.
Immediately following the Benefactors’ Breakfast, we held a special dedication ceremony to celebrate two meaningful additions to our campus. Thanks to the generous support of the Campbell, Mahaffey, and Winkler families, The Bascom now features a newly constructed soda kiln, along with a patio and lawn areas that further enrich our outdoor gathering spaces.
The soda kiln marks a significant expansion of The Bascom’s ceramics program. This gas-fired kiln employs a unique atmospheric firing process in which sodium is introduced at high temperatures, resulting in richly varied surfaces and dramatic tonal shifts, effects that cannot be achieved through other firing methods. As both a creative and educational resource, the soda kiln will foster experimentation, skill development, and community among clay artists across the Plateau and greater region.
The day concluded with our annual Community Day, welcoming hundreds of visitors to our six-acre campus. Highlights include ceramics activities led by Frank Vickery, Director of Ceramics, and Ester Lipscomb, alongside Bascom Studio Member volunteers, who produced bowls for the Highlands Empty Bowls initiative. Jackson County Green Energy Park returned with mesmerizing live glassblowing demonstrations, highlighting the innovative reuse of methane gas from a closed landfill as a clean energy source. Additionally, the Western North Carolina Woodturners showcased the traditional craft of woodturning on our Terrace, transforming raw wood into functional and decorative works. Nationally acclaimed storyteller Connie Regan-Blake enchanted audiences with heartfelt and humorous live storytelling performances. Young visitors enjoyed a special Teddy Bear Clinic hosted by Highlands-Cashiers Hospital/Eckerd Living Center, where they could care for stuffed animals and learn about healthcare in a friendly, interactive environment. Caryn Raming, our new Community Engagement Associate, led engaging paper craft activities while introducing herself to the community.
