The TDDA sponsored Tryon Gallery Trot will offer another evening in downtown focused on family fun, live performances and the arts.

Come out on Aug. 10 from 5-8 p.m. The season is flying by with only two more Trots to go in September and October.

A grant from the Mary Kessler Fund through the Polk County Community Foundation, will fund entertainment from well known rock band Project X. The band will play an eclectic blend of classic and obscure covers from the 80s to modern hits, interlaced with powerful originals.

The band plays from 6-9 p.m. in the center of town. Another grant from PCCF, will allow Trot organizers to offer free horse drawn carriage rides, an appearance from magician Keller O’Neill and a balloon artist.

The popular “art tasting” returns where several pop up displays will be near the entertainment for businesses who participate in the Trot, but are a good bit off Trade St.; Tryon Arts and Crafts and Saluda Forge have each signed on.

Each group will have examples of their art for sale and some of the artists will be on hand to discuss their works. TAC, for example, presents Mary Lou Diekmann’s pottery.

Some other highlights of the Aug. 10 Trot will include:

Skyuka Fine Art presents ‘Exploring The Blue Ridge’ by William Jameson. This is a show that continues Jameson’s passion; exploring nature one painting after another. Jameson’s recent trips among the Blue Ridge Mountains and specifically the Appalachian Trail are brought to life on these canvases.

Tryon Fine Arts Center welcomes the Tryon Garden Club who will host a silent auction and exhibit titled ‘Let it Sizzle, A Celebration of Seasons’ from 6-9 p.m. in Gallery I.

Artwork is on display Tuesday, Aug. 6 through Aug. 10, which is also the closing of the auction. This show represents the culmination of a yearlong project called “Four Seasons of Creativity” in which artists of all disciplines have had free access to Pearson’s Falls in order to create work inspired by the property. There is a fee for admission to this fund-raising event.

Proceeds from the event and auction will go towards a program called “Learning to Grow…Growing to Learn,” creating educational gardens for the four Polk County elementary schools.

The Upstairs Artspace has two exhibits this month; “Seeing Is Believing: The Collection of Ray Griffin and Thom Robinson” features a private collection of contemporary art built by two Asheville art lovers with thoughtful planning and a modest budget.

A second exhibit, “Crossing The Line,” brings back popular Polk County artists Bonnie Bardos and Charlotte Fowler who make colorful “found object” art that dares to be different. The 34 artists in “Seeing Is Believing” are represented by one work apiece in a variety of genres: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, outsider art and more.

Most of the artists have created new work for the exhibit which will be for sale to benefit the Upstairs as well. Bardos and Fowler put other people’s trash to good use in their art. Fowler likes collecting animal bones, coins and old wood. Bardos favors vintage jewelry, silver flatware and ceramic figures. Everything Bardos has created for this show is in the shape of a cross.

The Depot at Millard & Company is showing various work by Christine Mariotti.

Stop by to see a lovely collection of Chinese brush paintings, stunning acrylics and even a fiber art wall hanging. Mariotti works in many mediums and has continued to teach workshops in textile methods in arts and craft centers in New York, Arizona, California and western North Carolina. She has exhibited locally and is also known for her fine hand painted silk wearables. All are welcome to come and meet the artist.

Tryon Painters & Sculptors will be celebrating its 45th anniversary with special festivities, new items for sale in their gift gallery and a new show “Moment in Time.”

The Book Shelf, Green River Gallery, Ferullo Studio, New View Realty, The 1906 Pine Crest Inn, Thompson’s Garden Gallery, Vines & Stuff and Terra on Trade all open their doors and welcome Trotters with new art, merchandise and refreshments.

Attendees will feel right at home for this family friendly arts-centered event. Find Tryon Gallery Trot on Facebook or email info@skyukafineart.com for more information.

– article submitted by Kim Nelson