As viewers interact with this piece, it changes depending on where the viewer stands. The focal point is the circular cut-out that acts a a frame or portal. Within this circle there may be blue sky, trees, or clouds, each emphasizing the natural world and changing focus of the piece. The organic nature of the cor-ten steel grounds the sculpture, the texture and color making it a part of the native environment. The shape suggests a cutting tool, relevant to the history of the timber trade in the area, but also relevant to this site, home of 4 restaurants!
Diversions is on loan from The Bascom and available for $18,000. To help make this a permanent sculpture in Cashiers contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com or click below to make a donation.
Butterfly Effect is a striking sculpture crafted from steel and colored polymer, embodying both strength and delicacy. Its transparent polymer wings allow light to pass through, casting vibrant reflections onto the concrete base below. As the light shifts throughout the day, the sculpture interacts dynamically with its environment, creating ever-changing patterns of color and shadow. Though firmly anchored, the transparency of the wings lends it an ethereal, weightless quality, evoking the grace and movement of a real butterfly in flight.
McKinney Meadow is the perfect landing spot for Butterfly Effect. The small but mighty 2.11-acre native mountain meadow sits along the southern entrance into Cashiers and provides excellent habitat for many wildflowers, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators which enjoy or require open habitats. Places such as McKinney Meadow are increasingly important as native plants and pollinators continue to decline due to mowing, pesticide use, climate change and more.
Butterfly Effect is on loan from The Bascom and is available for $5,000. To make this a permanent sculpture in Cashiers contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com or click below to make a donation.
Seven Iceland poppies stem from the center of a splash of water. Each flower consists of three petals that represent being made new. Poppies are a recurring motif of the artist and inspiration comes from various areas of Christian literature.
In July of 2024, Vision Cashiers installed Silviu at the Thomas Taulbee Memorial entrance to the Cashiers Greenway Ramble, part of the WALK CASHIERS initiative. WALK CASHIERS is a transformative initiative dedicated to creating an interconnected system of walkways and recreational areas in Cashiers. The centerpiece of this project, the Cashiers Greenway Ramble, will connect residents and visitors to the heart of our community, promoting a more walkable and vibrant environment.
Silviu is on loan from The Bascom and is available for purchase for $8,500. For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com or click below to make a donation.
Embark on a transformative journey as a Champion of the Arts with Cashiers Public Art Initiative.There are three compelling ways for you to make a lasting impact on the cultural fabric of Cashiers:
Join us in these endeavors, including the exciting projects in the pipeline. Seize the opportunity to be a driving force behind the artistic renaissance of Cashiers.
For more information or to help fund a sculpture contact Barbara Jamison, barbarajamison34@gmail.com or click below to make a donation.
Albert was purchased by the Boys and Girls Club in April of 2024. This piece provides teaching opportunities, as well as expanding experiences with art that are not accessible to club participants.
Doug McAbee, Artist Statement, 2023 :
I was taught the power of laughter and humor by my father and I seek to channel that power into my creative work. Knowing that art has the power to change how people think, I have chosen to communicate positive and hopeful messages to my audience through my work. Often using imaginative creatures, my work focuses on the challenges that face all humans regardless of race, gender, or class. These issues are communicated through narratives and while the problems and dualities are acknowledged, there is always a sense of hope that we will overcome these challenges with kindness and community. As viewers engage with the works of art they will connect with the absurdity, the liveliness, and the humor in the work.Whether for a few seconds or perhaps longer, my hope is that connection will create change.
The Bascom is a non-profit corporation seeking to build essential creative skills for area youth and adults, increase professional development opportunities for artists and educators and become a key player in the creative community of Western North Carolina. In 2023, Vision Cashiers established a working partnership with The Bascom to install outdoor sculptures in Cashiers for a period of two years. The task force is particularly interested in finding art for the community-based WALK CASHIERS initiative.
The Bascom’s Biennial Outdoor Sculpture Program consists of a widely publicized call to artists to submit outdoor sculptures for consideration. Five are selected for The Bascom campus and two for Cashiers. The Bascom recommends a number of sculptures to Vision Cashiers and works with the Public Art Task Force to select the strongest fit for selected sites. The determination of which sculptures are selected and where they are placed is solely the decision of the Vision Cashiers Public Art Task Force.
This project benefits artists who respond to a juried call for work and visitors and residents of Cashiers, and the Plateau, who will experience the work which will promote artistic amenities.
Vision Cashiers coordinates with property owners regarding the site and installation of the sculpture and assumes all costs associated with siting and pouring the concrete pad for the sculptures. The Bascom provides funding for the artists which includes a $1500 honorarium. Additionally, both Vision Cashiers and The Bascom enter into an agreement with the property owners which provides for mutual indemnification. The Bascom follows its standard protocol for the sale of any work on display during the exhibition of the sculptures. Should an artwork on exhibit sell during the period, the artist will receive 60% of the sale proceeds and The Bascom will receive 40% per The Bascom’s standard agreement with exhibiting artists. The price of the sculpture is determined by the artist.
Public art reflects and reveals our society, adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness to our communities. 
