The Upstairs Artspace is celebrating Nina Simone’s life and work with a free jazz concert by the MPP Band on Feb. 21, the birthday of Tryon’s own High Priestess of Soul. All are welcome. The event is part of The Nina Simone Project on display through through March 13 at the Upstairs, and is sponsored with a Polk County Community Foundation Community Matters free public events grant.

The MPP Band features William Hannon, Valentino Burroughs, Marquis Forney, and the vocal talents of Angela Counts-Logan. The band will perform at the Roseland Community Center, 56 Peake St., Tryon, from 5-7:30 p.m. with refreshments provided. Earlier in the day, one of the artists featured at the gallery, Madame Magar, will perform a birthday dance for Simone, from 11 to 5, at the Upstairs.

Also on Saturday, Jeff Lieberman will be screening his new documentary, “The Amazing Nina Simone,” at Tryon Theatre, from 1-3 p.m. The screening is sponsored by TDDA, and The Nest Artisan Market and held in conjunction with the Polk County Film Initiative and The Upstairs Artspace. It is free to the public.

The Upstairs also will host a panel discussion on Feb. 26 about Nina Simone’s legacy and her years in Tryon, where the young future pianist, singer, and civil rights activist was born and raised. The talk will feature Dr. Joseph Fox of Warren Wilson College; Dr. Warren Carson, interim vice chancellor of USC Upstate; Dr. Joseph Jordan of UNC Chapel Hill’s Stone Center; and Frances Fox, Nina Simone’s sister. Martin Anderson of WNCW will serve as moderator. The discussion will be held at the gallery, starting at 7 p.m.

The free events will continue in March, starting at 4 p.m. on March 6 with an African wrapped dolls workshop. The class will be led by artist Valeria Watson, who conceived the events and created an homage to Simone with her installation at the Upstairs, and is suitable for children and adults.

The final event will be Cooking with Soul with Chef Hanan Shabazz and Chef Brit Castaneda, a soulfood cooking class, featuring many dishes that Nina herself would have loved, from 4-6 p.m. on March 7 at Roseland Community Center.

Admission to all of the functions is free, thanks to the PCCF Community Matters grant.

The Upstairs Artspace is a non-profit art gallery whose mission is to develop an understanding and appreciation of contemporary art and craft forms through exhibits, programs and educational activities that enrich the cultural life of the region. Its mission is supported by a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation. The gallery also receives funding from the North Carolina Council of the Arts and UA members.

The Upstairs is located at 49 South Trade St. in Tryon. Winter hours are 11 a.m.- 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For additional information call 828/859-2828, or visit upstairsartspace.org.

 

-Submitted by Margaret Curtis