Upstairs brings national encaustic artists to Tryon

Published 7:02 pm Tuesday, August 14, 2012

The Upstairs Artspace announces a major event opening in September that will feature some of the nation’s most renowned and cutting-edge encaustic artists. The show, Heated Exchange, is curated by Reni Gower of Virginia Commonwealth University, who is one of the leading experts in the field.
Encaustic, an ancient technique in which pigment is suspended in hot wax, is undergoing a meteoric resurgence in popularity. The surface is extremely durable — the famed Fayum portraits date to the time of the pharaohs. It is also malleable, allowing artists to manipulate it in varied and creative ways, such as scraping, burning, dipping and pouring.
“The Upstairs is thrilled to bring an exhibit of this caliber to the region,” says Margaret Curtis, the gallery’s exhibits chairperson. “We are also excited to be offering a series of workshops that will allow everyone from the non-artist to the professional to explore the possibilities of this exciting medium.”
The first workshop, led by Asheville encaustic artist Mary Farmer, is a two-day intensive program that will take participants from the novice to intermediate level. This workshop will be held on Oct. 12-13, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The second workshop is geared toward the encaustic professional and will feature three artists – Reni Gower, Kristy Deetz and Jane Allen Nodine – demonstrating three separate techniques. It will be held on Nov. 10, starting at noon. Anyone interested in registering is encouraged to contact the Upstairs Artspace early, as space is limited.
Along with the workshops, there will be a program for children, who will learn about bees, wax and honey from area beekeepers. R&F Handmade Paints Inc., one of the nation’s premier manufacturers of encaustic materials, will provide the equipment and materials for the workshops. The Upstairs also invites local businesses to participate as sponsors for this event, which will be publicized across the region and nationally.
“This is going to be a wonderful opportunity to see some of the most spectacular encaustic work being done today,” said Karen Jones, president of the Upstairs board of directors. “This is a rare opportunity for anyone with an interest in the visual arts and encaustic in particular.”
For more information about the show, including opportunities to participate in workshops or as a volunteer or sponsor, please contact the Upstairs at 828-859-2828. The staff at the gallery, 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, will also be available during business hours, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
– article submitted by the Upstairs Artspace

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