The Upstairs Artspace announces a new and exciting exhibition, “Storytellers,” featuring paintings by Arden Cone, Margaret Curtis, Dawn Hunter and Anna Jensen. Opening Saturday, May 9, with a public reception from 5-8 p.m., the work will remain on display through June 19. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These four women excel at figurative painting that often presents a narrative story. “Storytellers” will allow the viewer to witness each artist’s uniquely honed style, while connecting with their equally mesmerizing portrayals of modern life. The women share common ground through conveying contemporary issues with comic delivery, issues such as gender, Southern culture, and relationships.

Cone’s aesthetic entices all the senses, channeling her roots as a youth who developed her talent as a painter in her family’s horse stables; she resides in Charleston. Curtis, who lives in Tryon and whose work has been exhibited throughout the United States, tackles controversial social and women’s issues with painstaking detail. Hunter’s whimsical paintings can be rife with psychological, almost surreal, representations of popular culture and natural beauty; she lives in Columbia, S.C. Asheville resident Jensen depicts piercing subject matter that reveals her keen observations of the human condition.

Prior to the reception, there will be a Walk and Talk conversation with the artists at 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

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 free programs are made possible through the support of the Polk County Community Foundation, the North Carolina Council of the Arts and the generous support of its members. The gallery is located at 49 South Trade Street, Tryon. For additional information call 828-859-2828, or visit upstairsartspace.org.

– Submitted by Lorna Festa