By David Rogers. BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Visitors to the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum in February may have a “rocky” experience — and that is meant in a good way.
A new exhibition, “Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn” will open at BRAHM on February 15, 2025, and will be on view in the Museum’s Atwell Gallery through August 10, 2025.
According to pre-exhibition literature, Vaughn’s “Considerations” invites visitors “… to step into a landscape of thousands of carefully crafted glass river rocks. Made using techniques like blowing, flame-working, casting, and laminating, these fragile stones are stacked and arranged to create an immersive installation that explores how we experience and remember the world around us. Each glass rock represents a moment in time — some tied to personal memories, others shaped from reclaimed glass, blending stories of loss and creation.”
The larger work is at once precarious and disarming…
Ian Gabriel Wilson, Curator at BRAHM noted, “We’re thrilled to present Considerations: An Installation by Sarah Vaughn at BRAHM. Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Sarah to develop this thought-provoking installation. Her technical skill with the medium of glass is astonishing, matched only by the physically and emotionally immersive environment she constructs with thousands of these discrete sculptures. The larger work is at once precarious and disarming, inviting viewers to engage with themes that are both acutely personal and universally relatable. This exhibition epitomizes BRAHM’s commitment to showcasing artists who challenge us to see the world—and ourselves—through a transformative lens.”
The exhibition is supported through a Project Support Grant of The North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Project Support is designed to help organizations that are producing and/or presenting specific arts programs that engage audiences and participants. “We are so pleased to be able to support BRAHM’s exhibition featuring the work of artist Sarah Vaughn. Vaughn’s work is contemplative and allows visitors to explore the themes of memory, metamorphosis, and resilience” said Dara Silver, Senior Program Director, North Carolina Arts Council, NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Exhibition programming:
- February 20: Cocktails with the Curator at 6 – 7 p.m. in the gallery.
- April 28 – May 3, 2025: Sarah Vaughn will be in residency at the Museum interacting with the exhibition.
- May 3: BRAHM is hosting a community day and invites all visitors to meet Sarah and learn about the work.
To stay updated on all programming for Sarah Vaughn visit blowingrockmuseum.org/calendar and follow our social media @brmuseum.
About BRAHM:
BRAHM’s mission is to curate, preserve, educate, and inspire. Rooted in the creative cultures of Appalachia, BRAHM aims to cultivate a community that extends beyond its walls and region, positioning Western North Carolina as a leader in the arts. The 25,000-square-foot Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, known as BRAHM, opened its doors on October 1, 2011.
Located off Main Street in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, BRAHM provides cultural enrichment by promoting the arts and history through educational programs, exhibitions, and activities. The permanent collection of more than 600 objects includes works by Elliott Daingerfield, Maud Gatewood, Elizabeth Bradford, Mark Hewitt, and other American impressionist and post-impressionist artists.
Open year-round, BRAHM welcomes 24,000 visitors free of charge to experience 25 changing exhibitions. BRAHM also has an outreach education program that encourages arts education in local schools, daycares, and senior centers. For more information, visit blowingrockmuseum.org.
