By Betty Ramsey

Two lovely ladies, Jan Ashmore and Monica Groves, each with a passion for art and love of the area, have passed on from this life. However, their love of the area lives on with a most generous gift to the Tryon Arts & Crafts School and Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. The pottery of Ashmore, and designer jewelry and accessories of Groves, are available for purchase at a silent auction and sale, which began on Wednesday, and continues through Saturday, June 20 at Tryon Arts and Crafts. Final bidding will close at 6 p.m.

Ashmore was a Tryon native and potter extraordinaire whose works have been shown in fine galleries and museums across the country and around the world. A permanent collection resides in the Auckland Museum to this day. The remaining collection of Ashmore’s pottery has been generously donated by Ashmore’s husband, Bill Jackson, and includes 150 pieces of hand built and wheel formed porcelain, basalt and stoneware.

Ashmore died February 10, 2010 at the age of 59 from a malignant brain tumor. She was lovingly cared for by her family and Hospice of the Carolina Foothills

Groves was born and raised in Wilmington, N.C. and moved to Asheville in 1995. A lover of life and the arts, she travelled the world collecting jewelry along the way. An avid supporter of the arts, Groves continued her support during her years-long fight with cancer. Groves passed away on March 6, 2015 at the age of 63. To further the arts in the area, a collection of her designer jewelry, 90 pieces of art, and accessories are included in the silent auction and sale.

This is your opportunity to own some of our area’s rich art heritage while at the same time honoring two remarkable women and helping two local organizations that have and continue to impact so many of our lives. Tryon Arts and Crafts is located at 373 Harmon Field Road, Tryon.  For more information about the auction and sale call 828-859-8323 or visit their website www.tryonartsandcrafts.org.