Tryon Fine Arts Center will be accepting artwork on Thursday, April 24 from 4 – 6 p.m. for their first High School art competition being exhibited from April 26  – May 17 at Tryon Fine Arts Center’s Gallery I.
The competition, named Evening of Excellence, will be a biennial event, celebrating the value of arts education in schools and encouraging the talents of aspiring young artists.    Proceeds from the Evening of Excellence Auction will support TFAC’s Arts in Education programming.
Entrants to the Evening of Excellence competition must be students in grades 9-12 in a 20 mile radius of Tryon Fine Arts Center for the entire academic year, and have taken art class in school or from a professional teacher.  There is no entry fee for the student or the school.
Teachers must submit work for the student.  TFAC will accept submissions between 4 and 6 p.m., Thursday, April 24. Teachers anticipating problems meeting this delivery time, can contact Marianne Carruth at Tryon Fine Arts Center.
Gregory McPherson, artist, curator and Adjunct Professor of Art at Western Carolina University will jury the submitted pieces.  McPherson holds a BFA from the University of Georgia and an MFA from Western Carolina University.  His clients, past and present include the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University and The Bascom Gallery in Highlands, N.C. In Asheville he has served the Black Mountain College Museum and Art Center, The Asheville Art Museum and The Folk Art Center as well as others.
In his role as curatorial specialist in the Fine Art Museum and his independent work for the office of the chancellor, McPherson remains an advocate for the Western Carolina University collection. He serves as a consultant for new gallery spaces both on and off campus in traditional and non-traditional settings.
McPherson also owns and operates a small independent gallery space in Sylva, N.C. called The Skinny. The gallery’s mission is to provide a unique venue for work that engages, entertains and challenges. He aspires to give voice and exposure to both experienced and up and coming artists.
Tryon Fine Arts Center is planning several events in Gallery I to celebrate the young artists:
1. Saturday, April 26 from 10 – 11:30: a public reception for all submitted work
2. Tuesday, May 6 at 4:30 p.m.:  a public reception to announce the top 15 pieces selected by Juror, Greg McPherson
3. Saturday, May 17 at 5:30 p.m.:  ticketed reception and live auction of student artwork
Winning students will have the option of auctioning their pieces at the May 17th event.  Those who elect to auction their pieces will receive a portion of the proceeds.  The remainder of the proceeds will support education programs at Tryon Fine Arts Center.

Rules and Entry forms are available on the Tryon Fine Arts Center website.  For more information about the Evening of Excellence High School Art Competition, please visit www.tryonarts.org or contact Education Director Marianne Carruth at 828-859-8322 ext. 213 or email marianne@tryonarts.org.