An Appalachian Solstice: Wintering with Word & Song

On this, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, gather at Kanuga as music and word create warmth in this seasonal time of fallow and reflection. Through contemplative readings and the music of Chris Rosser, River Guerguerian and Adam Maalouf, sacred space is created for healing to begin as we prepare for a restorative new year. Poet, Mary Ellen Lough joins us this year to share her poetry and tenacious spirit. Each performer will add their unique presence to create a memorable evening for all.

The concert will be held in Kanuga’s chapel, a unique and holy listening space.
Also offered is a holiday artisans market featuring regional artists. A buffet supper will be served in the Dining Hall.
Tickets for the performance are $15 each. Tickets for the performance and supper are $50 each. Our new executive chef has prepared the perfect menu for this offering:

• Honey Molasses sirloin with bourbon Demi glacé
• Rosemary chicken with cranberry marsala sauce and pistachio Gremolata
• Frenched baby carrots with haricot verts in lemon thyme oil
• Italian roasted vegetablesParsnip whipped potato’s with fontina.
• Seasonal salad bar
• Chefs flourless chocolate cake with amaretto ganache
• Kanuga’s Black Forest cheesecake.

A cash bar will be offered.

Chris Rosser is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, composer and producer from Asheville, NC. As a solo performer, he has released five recordings, including the latest Worrying Boy. He co-founded the world fusion ensemble, Free Planet Radio, which toured 20 cities in China in 2016, and has released five recordings, including the latest Pursuit. He also has toured internationally in the bands of Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Rhonda Larson and Lizz Wright. In 2017, Chris received a NC Arts Council Composer Fellowship. He has produced/engineered over 200 CD’s for other artists in his recording studio, and has composed music for national commercial spots, and TV shows on Animal Planet, TLC, OWN, PBS and more.

River Guerguerian has been inspiring audiences with his ecstatic and versatile percussion for 40 years. Whether collaborating with world-class artists, supporting symphonies or creating his own dynamic explorations of rhythm, River’s devotion and attention to the vibrant life of the drum reverberate through the mind and soul of the listener.

Adam Maalouf is a Lebanese-American percussionist and composer playing and creating music using different instruments from around the world. In particular, he is known for handpan and world percussion. His cross-genre style of music forms a common thread between the cultures of the East and West. Tonight he performs on cello.

Mary Ellen Lough is a poet, homesteader, mother, community organizer, teacher, wildcrafter, and grows herbs and flowers for ritual and ceremony. She celebrates wildness and wonder in the ordinary, and is the Poet-in-Residence at The Haden Institute.She has taught under grants from the NC Arts Council and NC Humanities Council, working with veterans of war, in homeless shelters, substance abuse centers, and peer supported mental health, as well as hosting the Farmhouse Poetry series at her beloved old house. She has trained with and written for The Institute for Poetic Medicine and her writing has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in Poetry, and been performed by multidisciplinary artists at the MATA Festival in NYC.

The event will be held rain or shine.

Info: Art crafted by a variety of regional artists takes shopping back to "real." Support these artists while purchasing original works.

Info: The labyrinth is an ancient symbol, a meandering and purposeful path. Join us for a guided walk and solstice contemplation. Weather permitting, we will enjoy Kanuga’s large outdoor labyrinth, which was designed after the one in Chartres Cathedral, Paris. In case of inclement weather, we’ll walk Kanuga’s indoor labyrinth.

Info: Enjoy Kanuga's hospitality with delicious home-cooked food. Cash bar. The menu for this event is as follows: Honey Molasses sirloin with bourbon Demi glacé
Rosemary chicken with cranberry marsala sauce and pistachio Gremolata
Frenched baby carrots with haricot verts in lemon thyme oil
Italian roasted vegetablesParsnip whipped potato’s with fontina.
Seasonal salad bar
Chefs flourless chocolate cake with amaretto ganache
Kanuga’s Black Forest cheesecake.

Info: Kanuga’s chapel, built in 1930 using downed pines from a storm, glows with warmth. The acoustics are outstanding in this unique and holy listening space.

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