Longtime Tryon resident, Tah Flack recently commissioned an oil portrait from artist Richard Christian Nelson. The painting was done to send to San Francisco for a large family wedding since she cannot make the trip herself.

“It was such a joy meeting and working with Tah on this portrait,” Flack said. “She has such vitality and so many interesting stories from the past; of Tryon and New York and Europe…”

Flack moved to Tryon in the 1950s, and she and her husband raised their three children here. Nelson was amazed to learn that her grandfather, August Eisenmenger was a great painter and teacher in late 19th century Vienna, Austria. Flack showed Nelson some of her grandfather’s beautiful work and told him how her grandparents hosted salons with luminaries such as Munch, Freud, Jung, Mahler and Strauss.

Eisenmenger is buried in Vienna, not far from Beethoven and other giants. His tomb was a gift from generations of grateful students to their beloved teacher.

Nelson moved to Tryon in 2004 with his wife, Kim and their three children.

“I am constantly stunned by all the different kinds of people here, and it’s so nice to learn some of the history of their lives. We had no idea of the interesting folks we would meet here, and the history, art, architecture and traditions we would find here!”

Flack said “I just love the painting – I found a good painter.” High praise indeed!

Skyuka Fine Art is located at 133 N. Trade Street in Tryon.

– article submitted by Kim Nelson