I always love it when I get to create something special for folks in Georgia.  Why, you ask?  Cause I'm a Georgia boy, born and bred!  People often ask me if I'm from the mountains and I always tell them no, but I got here as quick as  I could!

This client was a recent visitor to Asheville while staying at the lovely Omni Grove Park Inn.  She saw my work on display there and contacted me to create a wall hanging for their home in Fort Valley, Georgia - you may know as the Peach Capital of Georgia.

​Anyway, I think it turned out really nciely and can't wait to get a picture to share here of it's forever home once they have it installed.

Finding an art class in Asheville, North Carolina is not something you have to look too far for, but finding a one that incorporates the elements of art, design, sculpture, natural materials and basketry can only be found in one place... my studio!

Since the early 1990's, I've been teaching people how to use basketry to express their own unique artistic aesthetic and desire to create.  Whether you're a total novice or someone who has worked in basketry prevously, you'll find my 2 day classes both challenging and rewarding.

One of the great things about taking a 2-day art class at my studio is meeting students from around the country.  My art classes include time to get to know other students while enjoying the creative process. I also provide things like a catered lunch and written instructions to ensure all my studets have a wonderful experience.

During 2017, I am offering 6 different two-day workshops in the following areas:

• March 31-April 1, 2017: Coiling with Kudzu & Iris Foliage
• May 5-6, 2017: Rustic Rib Baskets with Vines & Branches
• June 2-3, 2017: Twill & Twine Basketry with Bark
• August 4-5, 2017: Twining with Kudzu, Iris & Bark
• September 29-30, 2017: Sculpural Vessels with Kudzu, Bark & Copper
• December 1-2, 2017: Kudzu Harvesting & Random Weaving 

Each two-day workshop is held from 10am-4pm in my studio, located in Asheville's River Arts District - home to over 200 working artists in 23 old warehouse buildings.  Our space is wheelchair accessible and easy to find in the Riverview Station building, right in front of the new 12 Bones Barbeque.

To find out more details and register online for one of my Asheville Art Classes, please visit http://www.matttommey.com/basket-weaving-classes.html

It's not every day that you get to create a 9' wall sculpture for a new multi-million medical and educational facility but that's what happened.  In a wonderful partnership with Pardee Hospital, Wingate University and Blue Ridge Community College, along with the Gallery at Flat Rock, I was invited to create a very special wall hanging that is now the centerpiece of the entrance of the new Cancer Center at Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

I visited the space with gallery owner, Suzi Ball and was impressed with the overall design features of the space, aesthetics and sheer size.  Yes, it's huge and yet the space is very warm and inviting.  

In creating a large scale sculpture for a commercial space such as this, I had to keep several things in mind including scale, where it would be viewed from, how it would me mounted and of course, cleaned.  Everything came together beautifully and the day after the installation I was invited to participate in the dedication of this special space.

Who knows what the future holds, but I would love to create some more sculpture for these commercial spaces.  

Here's a piece that I recently created for a beautiful home in Brevard, North Carolina. One of the unique features of this piece is the shallowness of the depth; only 7".  Most mantels are around 10-14" deep, allowing plenty of room to create a fireplace mantel sculpture with plenty of depth. This area provided a real challenge for me as I endeavored to create a piece that was both beautiful, full of interest and would fit the space!

This fireplace mantel sculpture is a collection of 3 traditional hen baskets that were randomly woven with a mixture of bark and vines. In addition, these baskets were accented with a collection of smaller baskets and hand-hammered copper leaves that we make from old gutters and flashing. Even though the space was tight, this piece really shines with lots of interest and texture.

Most of my work is created specifically for luxury mountain homes here in Western North Carolina and places like Aspen, Northern California, Montana and the like.  However, from time to time, clients will request I create pieces to be featured in more contemporary spaces like condos and lofts.  It's always a fun challenge for me.  Here's a couple of woven wall hangings using branches and single vessels I've created for these kinds of spaces, including Atlanta, Georgia, Asheville, North Carolina and Lake Keowee, South Carolina.

Creating organic, woven sculpture that looks more like it was found than created is what I love to do! It's a visual stimulant for the viewer and allows my clients to have the beauty of nature right there in their home.

This piece featured above was commissioned by a client from Sea Island, Georgia / Highlands, North Carolina for their home at the coast. Since I use natural materials harvested from my clients property to create these works (if available), I was happy to incorporate a live oak branch from their Sea Island property as the foundation for this piece.  The beauty of the bark and lichen really brought the piece alive!

You'll also notice a real birds nest (featured center left) and spanish moss which was also harvested by the client from their property.  All of these little additions make the piece feel like home and nested in place.

As with many of my woven collections, I've also added a variety of baskets accented with copper leaves, clay pods and encaustic wax.  This beautiful collection will be right at home on a wonderful antique sideboard in the dining room, enjoyed by family and guests for years to come!

For me, it's never been about basketry. My connection with creating organic sculpture that's based in basketry has always been about the materials. Since being a college student at the University of Georgia, I've been enamored with nature and the opportunity to literally walk in the woods, harvest rough vines, bark, branches and then transform them into something beautiful.  

Recently, I had a client comment on a piece I created for their mountain home here in Western North Carolina saying "Matt, how do you do this? It's like these pieces you create are literally growing out of the forest... Almost like you found them rather than created them."  What better compliment could I ask for?  

I love everything about living in the mountains, but especially the relaxing yet elegant outdoor spaces featured in many of the homes for which I am privileged to create art.

What a joy it is to have the pleasure of working with such delightful homeowners! I absolutely love visiting beautiful homes here in the mountains, dreaming with my clients about what I could create for them and then harvesting materials right from their property.  

The piece featured here is a 7' wall hanging that graces the fireplace of an outdoor party pavilion on a private estate at the top of Chatooga Club in Cashiers, North Carolina.  This is the first of several I am creating for the home and it was such fun!  In fact, the owner of the property and I walked around the forest on my initial site visit to find just the right pieces of mountain laurel for this sculpture.  I hope you enjoy!  PS... keep an eye out for a blog post on the next piece I'm doing for the outdoor fireplace on the porch of the main residence.

I'm proud to announce the publication of my 4th book "Every Basket Begins with a Walk in the Woods: Sculptural Works by Matt Tommey". This beautiful 8.5"x8.5" soft-cover book is a visual journey through my basketry work since 1993 including 84 pages of full-color images and poetic reflections on the creative process. Perfect for lovers of art, basket enthusiasts and artists alike. Available now on Amazon.com or as an autographed edition through my website.

Did you know I have other books as well?  Check them out here.