05/02/2026
Mike McKinney has been selected as one of only 20 artists featured in Connecting to Place: Blue Ridge Craft Trails Invitational 2026 — a highly respected juried exhibition celebrating the finest craft makers across Western North Carolina.
Presented by The Bascom: A Center for the Visual Arts and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, and curated by renowned American craft scholar and Smithsonian Renwick Fellow M. Anna Fariello, this invitational brings together exceptional artists working across ceramics, glass, wood, fiber, metals, printmaking, and Cherokee traditional arts. Artists were selected from communities throughout the region, making the invitation to participate a true mark of distinction.
Being chosen for this exhibition is a remarkable honor — a recognition of Mike's mastery of woodturning and his contribution to the living craft traditions that define the cultural identity of Western North Carolina. We couldn't be more proud to see his work celebrated alongside some of the region's most talented and respected makers.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, so we encourage you to make the trip to Highlands and see Mike's work in person!
📅 On view May 16 – July 25, 2026
🥂 Reception: June 11 at 5 PM
📍 323 Franklin Road, Highlands, NC
🌐 TheBascom.org | Free Admission
https://mikemckinneywoodturning.com/gallery-availability/