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Momentum's Move And Renovation Adds Fifth Major Destination To Visual Arts Corridor

Matt Peiken | BPR News

Even before opening Momentum Gallery, on Asheville’s Lexington Avenue, Jordan Ahlers had his sights elsewhere—a larger space on a familiar street.

More than two years after beginning a complete renovation, Momentum has moved and reopened a block east, on Broadway. Before opening Momentum, Ahlers spent many years as the director at John Cram’s Blue Spiral Gallery, several blocks south on Broadway.

“It’s a far superior space for a number of reasons,” Ahlers said. “It’s much more visibility. It’s a much bigger, better space on the main north-south route through town.”

With about four times the gallery space than it had before—also now on two floors—Momentum has become more than a gallery. It’s a destination unto itself.

The reopening also completes an unofficial map of major visual art stops running south to north downtown, starting with Blue Spiral, continuing to the Asheville Art Museum, Black Mountain College Museum and Art Center and Momentum before capping at the Center for Craft.

Matt Peiken, BPR’s first full-time arts journalist, has spent his entire career covering arts and culture.
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