Community invited to participate in free collage workshops with professional artists

Tryon Fine Arts Center (TFAC) is partnering with the Polk County Community Foundation and members of the community to present The UNITY Project, a new community arts initiative.

Under the leadership of John Wilkins, The UNITY Project is a visual arts project designed to engage the foothills community in a conversation about unity through the creation of artworks that capture both individual and collective visions of unity.

This art project will provide opportunities for local amateur and professional artists to work together, as well as opportunities to directly involve and engage students, adults, and senior citizens in an art project. 

Local arts professionals will lead community members, from students to adults to seniors, in a series of mixed-media/collage workshops. Workshops led by artist Eric McRay will be held at TFAC on Friday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m. and at Isothermal Community College on Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m. Artist Annette Wells will lead a session at Landrum Library on Saturday, April 8 at 10 a.m.

At the workshops, community members will be provided a small canvas, basic art supplies and guidance on how to express and execute their individual visions of unity using personal collage materials. Participants should bring copies of photographs and fiber based materials to create a multilayered collage on an individual 12 by 12 canvas that represents the participant’s idea and experiences of a unified community.

The resulting individual artworks will be hung together and displayed at TFAC, with an opening reception on Sunday, May 7. After the exhibit, artists may take their panels home.

There is no cost to participate in The UNITY Project, but attendance is strictly limited to 25 per workshop. Advanced registration is required by visiting tryonarts.org/unity-project.

The UNITY Project is supported by the Community Matters Grant from the Polk County Community Foundation.

More information about Tryon Fine Arts Center programs is available online at tryonarts.org or by calling 828-859-8322.

– article submitted by The Unity Project