Community News

East Flat Rock art studio opens this week

By Lightning Reports, Published: April 20, 2025

Studio 116 is thrilled to announce its spring and summer seasons as Henderson County’s newest arts center, located in the heart of historic East Flat Rock at 116 W. Blue Ridge Road.

In addition to presenting exhibitions of work by local artists in its gallery space, Studio 116 aims to be a hub for printmaking as well as the future home to five artist studios.

“I’m looking forward to hosting exhibits and installations that offer the community a fresh and sometimes provocative art experience,” says Melanie Hopkins, founder and director of Studio 116. “The mission of Studio 116 is to make art a unifying experience where everyone feels welcome, represented, and connected to the creative community.”

In 2020, Melanie and her husband, Daniel Hopkins, purchased the long-vacant historic building and have been steadily renovating the two-story brick structure to house their personal workshops, a gallery space for rotating exhibitions, a printmaking studio and private artist studios, which are being converted from their original early to mid-20^th century use as second story boarding rooms. Each studio will feature natural light, exposed brick and original hardwood floors.

Upcoming exhibitions in the Studio 116 gallery include a show of new work by Hendersonville-based artist Beth Beasley, from April 25 to May 10. Besides works of water media on paper and oil on canvas, the exhibit will also feature a sculptural installation. A free public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, will include a brief presentation by the artist.

On May 16, 17 and 18, Studio 116 will host five visual artists for the Art League of Henderson County’s Open Studio Tour, a community-wide event. The public will be able to meet local artists and learn about their work. Artists include Melanie Hopkins, David Macvaugh, Veronica Messick, Ken Mearden and Wayne Liebo.

Opening on June 6, Macvaugh’s show “Breast Story” will feature an installation of wood sculptures along with personal stories from across the community. The thematically ranging stories, collected from all genders, center on the human connection to the breast and its impact—whether joyful, painful, nourishing or otherwise—on individual people in the area.  The exhibit will run until June 28.

Studio 116 is located at 116 W. Blue Ridge Road, East Flat Rock. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday or by appointment. For more information visit studio116nc.com.