Students from the second, third and fourth grades at Tryon Elementary School visited the Upstairs Artspace last week to see the gallery’s exhibit, “Heated Exchange: Contemporary Encaustic. “
The Upstairs arranged to have local artists give the children a guided tour and explain how to make encaustic art, in which pigment is suspended in hot wax. After the gallery visit, the artists joined the students at the school and led them through their own art project, creating colorful encaustic-style collages.
“Children are keen observers of contemporary art, noticing details that adults overlook. Their questions were endless; their enthusiasm contagious!” said Jean Pettigrew, chair of the gallery’s programs committee. “The tours went so well. This is encouraging as we plan new programs for all ages in 2013.”
The gallery invites any other school or organization interested in touring this unique exhibit to get in touch to make arrangements. Another children’s program, a workshop on beekeeping and beeswax, was scheduled for Oct. 6, but has been postponed to a later date yet to be determined.
The encaustic exhibit, which was made possible by a grant from the Polk County Community Foundation, features the work of artists from across the U.S. and Canada. It will remain on display through Nov. 17. Two workshops for adults interested in exploring encaustic techniques are also available – one on Oct. 12 and 13 and the other on Nov. 10.
For more information about the show, tours or workshops, visit the Upstairs at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon or visit www.upstairsartspace.org. To contact the gallery, call 828-859-2828, or email to frontdesk@upstairsartspace.org.
– article submitted
by Harold Maass