Noir Collective AVL
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What a sweet and unexpected First Friday evening. What a sweet and unexpected First Friday evening. As Ramin chided, “Aren’t you glad to have been invited!” Yes, i am! We appreciate the phone calls and texts of encouragement for an impromptu First Friday! What we know is that we’ve worked so hard to build this and tonight was a beautiful reminder of what Noir means to so many folks. We’re not sure where we go from here – what we do know is that we are not alone! Special thanks to musical guest appearance from our neighbor and friend, Adama! Also to Dr. Tamarie of real eyes consulting, Aflorar Herb Collective, and Daniele Martin for special self-care gifts to all attendees. (Please be in touch so that you can get yours!) Also & always to JD for all the things! Love you all! We’ll see you next month on December 6th! Until then, please consider shopping online: NoirCollectiveAVL.com or contributing to the various GofundMe efforts including ours: https://gofund.me/4a35ab2c
We're here and we're okay and making well wishes f We're here and we're okay and making well wishes for our community. Noir Collective AVL is an active partner in Bridging The Gaps WNC, an initiative of YMI Cultural Center, which like many other agencies is organizing community relief work. We are also positioned to support the organizers, volunteers, and all other community members participating in this work by creating and holding a creative and regenerative space for processing and healing. We have transformed our art gallery and gift shop into a community space for creativity and connection. You are invited to join us to create something as a way of processing or to make cards of “well wishes” for others. We are accepting donations of journals, books, paper, writing and coloring instruments, and art supplies for use in our space and for community giveaways.  If you’d like to participate in this moment, please bring or send supplies to: 39 S. Market Street Asheville NC 28801 In these times, we must find, share, and continue to generate hope and find a sense of peace in it all. We are sending our love and well wishes to everyone. Together we will rebuild Our Asheville. #ThePeoplesAsheville
We’re getting ready for First Friday on The Bloc We’re getting ready for First Friday on The Block & BoomTown FestAVL. We’ve been digging up treasures from YMI archives and found an exhibit from 2008, “That’s Me!” which features Andrea Clark and works by a few other artists. The partial reshowing of “That’s Me!” is a depiction of Black Asheville before Urban Renewal, a federal program that was designed to beautify America by clearing American cities of unsightly living conditions and” blight”. The federal plan was implemented in Asheville by bulldozing and leveling thousands of Black neighborhoods. New highways, interstate and traffic patterns cut through the heart of many Black Asheville communities and new buildings were erected that restricted the movement, commerce and travel. While we are discussing reparations in Asheville, this exhibit along with several others (#GrindAVL, #RSAA, and #TheAshevilleMuseumOfHistory), is one more call to take note of the devastation and loss that is part of what Asheville is today, to get involved in bringing understanding and awareness, and to advocate for compensation for many Asheville families that lost so much. Reception Friday, September 6th from 5 - 8 pm. James Vester Miller Talk & Tour with Andrea Clark, Saturday, Sept. 7th @2 pm #JamesVesterMiller #urbanrenewal #reparations #AndreaClark #BlackNeighborhoods #BlackAmerica #ThatsMe #BlackArt #UrbanNews https://theurbannews.com/our-town/2008/thats-me/
Noir & The People’s Place are attending Bite Me Noir & The People’s Place are attending Bite Me AVL Food Festival. Do you have your tickets yet? Free festival tickets available through PeoplesPlaceAVL.com. Join us @YMICulturalCenter on Wednesday at 6 pm for Cynthia Greenlee and Hawa Hassan, two James Beard award-winning legends. This is a rare opportunity to witness a meeting of minds and hearts as these chefs share their passion for food and its deep cultural significance. Specialty cocktails by Oak & Grist. What could be better as a follow up than “The Wine Down” at our favorite local bar, Bottle Riot, 37 Paynes Way.
THIS is OUR First Saturday of RESeT. NOiR will be THIS is OUR First Saturday of RESeT. NOiR will be closed today. Still radiating from all the LOVE during First Friday’s Soul Sistah. So much that NOiR will be extending our REST by taking off every First Saturday beginning TODAY August 3rd for a RESeT. We will see you back on The Block on Wednesday, August 7th.
THIS is OUR First Friday. Please note that Noir THIS is OUR First Friday. Please note that Noir will not be open to the public for First Friday this evening. We will instead be hosting a REST and RESeT for our Soul Sistahs | Womxn of Color. We’ve done a lot. We’ve done too much. And there is so much more work to do. Tonight, it’s about how we think, how we move, how we keep up or not, and most importantly how we rest. Food, beverages, gifts, CHOCOLATE, have all been provided for by sweet and kind humans in the community who love us and most importantly SEES US. We will SEE our Soul Sistahs at five @Noir. NOiR will be extending our REST by taking off every FIRST Saturday beginning August 3rd for a RESeT. We'll let you know if we have a guest vendor running things while we're gone. In the meantime, we will see you back on The Block on Wednesday, August 7th.
"It is in your hands to make a better world for al "It is in your hands to make a better world for all who live in it" - Nelson Mandela Honoring the creative revolutionaries, change makers, and the change agents that have shaped our lives! Saturday, August 17th 6 - 9 pm at YMI Cultural Center Join us in the 30th anniversary of the Nelson Mandela state dinner in Washington, DC. Recipes have been provided by food historian and author, Adrian Miller. Entertainment. Great conversation. This special occasion is a fundraiser for a new enterprise, The People's Place. Do you have your ticket? Equity & Access tickets are available for the fundraising dinner for BIPOC members of our community. Each participant will receive a free ticket to all the special events at Bite Me AVL Food Festival. Get your ticket here: https://peoplesplaceavl.com Noir is a sponsor. "No one is born hating another person because of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love." ~Nelson Mandela
Join us on July 5th from 5 - 7 pm for the PARTY OV Join us on July 5th from 5 - 7 pm for the PARTY OVER HERE after your party on the 4th! If you’re in town, please join Noir + YMI for a First Friday backyard celebration. H.F.F.E. will be serving hot fish and youth entrepreneur, Amare Amore, returns with delicious cold beverages. Music by DJ Delight. Special Art Sale. Local Artists featured: DeWayne Barton, Jenny Pickens, Sala Menaya, & Chris Collins. “Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations, & Right Path” interactive art exhibit will be open with a brief meeting of the traveling artists and the curator, K. Melchor Quick Hall from 6 - 6:30 pm. This civic season (the period of time between Juneteenth and July 4th) is an opportunity to learn more about how to be involved in our Asheville communities. Bring your thoughts and ideas for a liberated and just community for all.
Feeling grateful for the CHANGE in the air. Noir Feeling grateful for the CHANGE in the air. Noir Collective is showing Black art in a few exciting and unconventional venues: YMI’s Gallery @ The Corner Spot, JD Ellison & Company, The Workshop Lounge @ The Foundry Hotel, Asheville Community Theatre (seasonal), and Catawba Vale Business Hub in Old Fort. Buy Black Art | Appreciate Black Art. Either way, consider the Change you can make with your existing buying power. Buyer & artist friendly investment packages available. Art Sale going on now! 39 S. Market Street Wed - Sat 11a - 6p
“Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations & Right P “Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations & Right Paths” featuring Black feminist artistic visions of our shared liberation. Exhibit opens Juneteenth! Dr. K. Melchor Quick Hall is the primary organizer of the “Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations & Right Paths” traveling art exhibition. Joining this traveling exhibit are local artists: DeWayne Barton, Sala Menaya, and Jenny Pickens. Noir Collective AVL & YMI's Gallery @ The Corner Spot. Also join our neighbors with many Juneteenth on The Block from 4 - 7 pm!
Noir welcomes back Dr. K. Melchor Quick Hall (she/ Noir welcomes back Dr. K. Melchor Quick Hall (she/her) as curator and organizer of this traveling exhibit, “Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations & Right Paths” featuring Black feminist artistic visions of our shared liberation. Exhibit opens Juneteenth with a reception on First Friday, July 5th from 5 - 7 pm. Dr. K. Melchor Quick Hall, is a popular education and community-based researcher, advancing abolitionist and food sovereignty futures, and author of Naming a Transnational Black Feminist Framework: Writing in Darkness, which she shared at Le Mot Noir last year. As a New America Us@250 Lumina Foundation Fellow, Hall is the primary organizer of the “Aiming for Freedom: Race, Reparations & Right Paths” traveling art exhibition. Exhibit opens Juneteenth from 11 am - 6 pm. Noir Collective AVL & YMI's Gallery @ The Corner Spot. Also join our neighbors with many Juneteenth on The Block!
Exciting weekend ahead. First Friday. Sweet ART cl Exciting weekend ahead. First Friday. Sweet ART clearance Sale on Saturday. OG Synergy Lifestyle & culture on Sunday afternoon! Come out and shop with your favorite vendor and meet a few new ones. If you are looking to vend for your business, follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZ2SIP9zlygF-KwLFAYTTvDJ8GgEoi64ubJMFC98h2RS0SuA/viewform?usp=sf_link This is not a Noir event. We'll be there though! See you there.
We're looking forward to First Friday as Noir coll We're looking forward to First Friday as Noir collaborates with Besbleve of Poetry & Paint Experience. This will be an engaging and experiential evening for you to explore your own creativity and shop with local entrepreneurs and artists represented by Noir. We'll follow up with a Spoken Word event with a few local writers and published authors. June 7th, 5 pm Poetry & Paint Experience, 6 pm Spoken Word, and of course, with DJ Destro, it’ll be a party to remember. 39 S. Market Street Suite C.
Where are YOU going to be on Friday? We’re look Where are YOU going to be on Friday? We’re looking forward to Episode 5 of *The Poetry & Paint Experience “featuring poets mOody bLaCk, Robert Zachary, and Amalia Grannis. The Mixgician & The Carolina Primrose Quartet will be putting out the musical vibes for the evening, and Brotha Bes will be your MC. Also come ready to shop with vendors J-Wow, Loud Musings, Belinda Grant Art, Katia's Kreations, and Treasure Trove. Then grab a bite from the food truck, a drink from the bar, and let the vibes take you to where you need to be.” Tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-poetry-paint-experience-episode-5-tickets-870176390007 *This is not a Noir event, we’re just going. We’ll see you there!
It was a busy week/weekend of art! We opened YMI’s Corner Spot (@Eagle & Market Streets) for Mosaic Realty’s Art Walk. Art work features Jenny Pickens, Margo Vaughn, Amar Stewart, Sala Menaya, and Jerrie Settles. The Corner Spot @ YMI is open by appointment. Call Noir 828.484.2323 On exhibit at Noir: Heather & Ashley Tolbert, Tarah Singh, Chasity Leake, Hana Johnson, Chris Collins, Jillian Hooper, and Ajax, of course. Thank you artists for sharing your work with us and for DJ Destro and DJ Doula for making it a party! Check out our website for special sales on Art around the City curated by Noir.
What a beautiful day to BE outdoors. We’ll be What a beautiful day to BE outdoors. We’ll be gathering at CreateFest later today. Thanks to Joerob and all the vendors, musicians, DJs, poets, and other creatives for making this event happen!
First Friday Celebration on May 3rd! Meet the Cas First Friday Celebration on May 3rd! Meet the Cast is about entrepreneurs meeting each other and deciding what our roles will be in creating opportunities for us to thrive together. We’ll see you @ Noir (Suite C) from 5 - 7 pm. Art, Music, Food, Shopping with your favorite entrepreneurs! YMI Suites A & B (the corner spot) will be open with art & music. Penny Cup will be open for food & drinks.
Noir is participating in Mosaic Realty Art Walk & Noir is participating in Mosaic Realty Art Walk & Benefit for 15 non-profits, including our very own beloved YMI Cultural Center. Thank you to all the participating artists: Jenny Pickens, Margo Vaughn, Jerrie Settles, Amar Stewart, Ricardo Tejeda, and Sala Menaya.
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Beyond our own garden. We are grateful for our r Beyond our own garden. We are grateful for our relationships with our neighbors whose walls these works of art are prominently displayed. Hope these inspire you to give and receive your flowers everyday. You can see more art around the city by going to visit our partners: @jennypickens616 sat YMI, @sugarspinn / Jillian Hooper at Asheville Community Theatre; @nipaerilla / Jerrie Settles & @tarahsingh_art at The Foundry Workshop Lounge. See details and purchase on our website: https://noircollectiveavl.com/noir-around-the-city/
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NEW Store Hours

Tue: By appointment
Wed: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thu: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Fri: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sun & Mon: Closed

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