The Cherokee County Arts Council presents Mysteries of Wood, an exhibition of turned wood by Steve Moore. The show opens Friday, Nov. 6, with a free public reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Moore's favorite material is burl, the knotted, swirling growth that forms on some trees. He starts with a rough piece of wood and looks for what sets it apart, such as a void or an odd run of grain, then turns it on the lathe to bring those features forward. The show includes bowls and lidded vessels, some with the rough outer edge of the wood left in place. Asked how he defines success, he wrote: "Finding the beauty in a piece of wood."

Moore got his start through the Brasstown Woodturners Guild, which meets at the Arts Council each month, and he is now its president. The guild teaches woodturning to anyone who wants to learn, and Moore teaches around the community, most recently at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

Come to the opening to see the work and meet the artist. If you can't make it, the show is on view through Nov. 30 during gallery hours.

Event details
Date: Friday, Nov. 6, 2026 (on view through Nov. 30)
Time: Reception 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: CCAC Center Gallery, 33 Valley River Avenue, Murphy, NC 28906
Admission: Free and open to the public
Presented by: Cherokee County Arts Council
Sponsored by: Andrea Laney, Exit Realty
Gallery hours: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment
Contact: Rachel Watson, director@cherokeeartscouncil.org, (828) 233-5624

This program is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.