Bell Rhododendron, David Tillinghast, granite, moss, soil, bronze, steel bell, 2005

Trailshead Stone, Roger Halligan, welded and forged steel, reinforced concrete, 2004

Fiddleheads, Harry McDaniel, reinforced cement, 2003

Mother House, Rudy Rudisill, galvanized steel, 2006

Perry N. Rudnick Nature Trail at the UNC-Asheville Kellogg Center
Residents living nearby had long wanted a walking trail on the Kellogg Center fifty acres. CCCD established a Nature Trail Committee to create a long-range plan for the trail that would include artist designed projects to interpret and enhance the natural trail. Carolina Mountain Club volunteers and residents of Rugby Highlands, with the help of the UNC-Asheville landscape architect, roughed-in the trail route. CCCD commissioned a plant inventory in the fall and again in early spring that resulted in some minor shifts in the trail to avoid sensitive plants. In March CCCD received a major gift and four year commitment for the trail from the Perry N. Rudnick Foundation, which in turn became the trail name. Initial funding from the grant provided material for the Carolina Mountain Club to construct bridges over several stream crossings of the mile long trail and a boardwalk over the bog/wetland. Landscape artists Molly Mabe was selected from a Call to Artists to be the first artist in residence to capture early spring along the trail. The Perry N. Rudnick Nature Trail was dedicated and the Molly Mabe Exhibition opened May 4, 2002. The Rudnick Foundation grant will provide support for artist designed seating and public art along the trail, each year through 2005.

Perry N. Rudnick Nature Trail History
When The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design opened in April 2001 on the fifty-acre UNC Asheville Kellogg Center in West Hendersonville, one of the first programs created was in response to the desire for a walking trail by nearby residents. A committee was established of nearby residents, members of the Carolina Mountain Club, community environmental groups, and the UNCA landscape architect. With the help of a plant survey, the volunteers created the trail route.

In March 2002 the Perry N. Rudnick Foundation awarded their first grant, a four-year commitment to trail construction, maintenance, artist-designed interpretive signage and public art. This support reflected the interests of Mr. Rudnick, who had two major interests in his lifetime - collecting sculpture and volunteering each week with the Carolina Mountain Club to create the trails in the region's parks and forests.

After a flurry of trail work spearheaded by the Carolina Mountain Club volunteers, the Perry N. Rudnick Nature Trail was opened in May 2002 with bridges over streams and a boardwalk over the wetland. In June 2003 a reception was held for the first public art on the trail, Fiddleheads by sculptor Harry McDaniel, and three garden benches designed and constructed by UNCA students - J. Roberts, Robin Van Valkenberg, and Sean Pace. Hikers also were able to cross the reconstructed historic bridge and could view a future project - restoration of stone garden terraces and pools on wither side of the bridge.

Each year the committee meets to discuss the annual trail projects. The Center offers one project for students, and one project for a professional artist. This year the committee has requested permanent signage for the interpretive areas as the student project, and a piece to mark the trailhead from the professional artist.