Historic Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community

Raku Vase by Phil Schaltenbrand of Westerwald Pottery. From my collection.

Independent Artisans

My annual visit to the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community in Tennessee is a trip I look forward to every year. There are a few galleries and shops that I must see, but I try to visit at least a few different ones each time. The 8-mile driving loop through the community features the largest group of independent artists and craftsmen in North America and has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail.

History of Gatlinburg’s Arts & Crafts

The following is quoted from the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community web site. Visit this site for historic pictures.

Sometime around 1937, The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, known as the Glades, got its start. John Cowden and several other craftsmen decided they’d stay home and invite the tourists to come out to see them. After years of working the streets of downtown Gatlinburg, with long hours and worn out feet, John and his friends tried something radical and just stayed home. They wanted to be near the source where their tools and supplies were, they just wanted to stay home and work… and that’s just what they did. As the visitors started coming, other craftsmen and artists joined in. Opening workshops, studios, and galleries most of them right alongside their homes or even inside them.

For seventy years now people have been discovering one of Gatlinburg’s best kept secrets, located just 3 miles from the hustle and bustle of the downtown city limits of Gatlinburg. See for yourself, come visit the largest group of independent artists and craftsmen in America right here in Gatlinburg. With over 120 artists and craftsmen located in a convenient 8 mile loop road all with easy free parking right outside their doors.

Events

Every year the Community holds an Easter Craft Show and Christmas Craft Show. Check the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community web site for exact dates each year.

Members

The Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community web site has a full list of Artists and Craftsmen of the Community. Below is a listing of those who have working web sites as of this writing.

A. Jann Peitso
Arensbak Trolls of Five Arts Studio
Alewine Pottery, Inc.
Andrea Wilson Gallery
Apple Tree Gallery
The Artist’s Attic, Linda Morrow
Byrnes Woodcrafters
Jams, Jellies, Nuts & More
Cliff Dwellers Gallery
Covered Bridge in the Glades
Creekside Furniture
Deborah Cain Gallery
DEB’S SOY CANDLES & More
Dinwoodie Metal Sculptors
Fountains of Living Waters
Foxhill Studios
G. Webb Gallery
Gabriel’s Horn Jewelry
Greenbrier Pottery
Heartwood Galleries
Holloway’s Country Home Quilts
In The Wild Gallery
Jim Gray Gallery
Judy Jones Pottery
Kirker Gallery Paintings
Lisa Deater Gallery
Loralei Candles – Hand-Sculpted and Painted Candles
Louise Bales Watercolors
Lucite By Louise
Ma’s Kitchen Homemade Candy
MICHELLE MONET One of a Kind Polymer Clay Creations
Misty Mountain Soap Company
Mountain Stitches by Susan
Nancie L. Bush Fine Art Gallery
NATURAL-IS-STICK Gallery of Rustic Arts
Neil’s Gallery
Ogle’s Broom Shop
Paul Murray Gallery
Proffitt’s Woodworks
SIMPLY SAVORY GIFT & GOURMET
Smoky Mountain Dulcimers
Smoky Mountain Pottery
Southern Candle, Inc.
Stewart Gallery
Terri Waters Gallery
The Rose Pedaler
The Smiths Scrimshaw, Knives and Silversmithing
Tim Weberding Woodworking
Treasures in Earthen Vessels Handmade Stoneware Pottery By David A. Howard
Vern Hippensteal Gallery
Clayworks of Lisa Walk
Wilder’s Art Glass Studio
WILLIAM BRITTEN GALLERY Original Smoky Mountain Photography

Map & Directions

Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community 8-mile trail loop map.
Located 3 miles from Downtown Gatlinburg. Turn at traffic light #3 downtown and go 3 miles on Hwy 321N.
Do you have a gallery or shop that you would like to feature on this site? Please contact me!