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Upstairs Artspace flooded in August 2021, shutting down Tryon’s renowned contemporary art gallery for a year of restorations. Now, with new floors, walls, and perspectives, it will welcome area art lovers back on Friday, August 26. A Grand Reopening and Artists’ Reception will be held 5-7:30 p.m., featuring catered hors d’oeuvres, wine and other beverages, disco music by Dean Trakas, and, of course, art on the walls once again.

 

“This really will be a communitywide celebration,” gallery board member Patti Trobaugh said. “Everyone is invited to come see the gallery, the art, and to have a great time.” The event also coincides with Tryon’s Fourth Friday community event, adding another reason to enjoy a summer evening in downtown Tryon.

 

Upstairs Artspace will reopen with three exhibitions by seven artists from Tryon, Asheville, Rock Hill, and Los Angeles titled, Carefully Placed Lines on Paper, Human Connections, and The Thinking Eye.

 

“The artists in these three exhibitions are the same artists who were here when the flood happened,” Trobaugh said. “We had their reception on a Saturday night, and after everyone left, the hot water heater broke and flooded all three floors of the gallery until it was discovered two days later. We’ve been closed for restorations ever since. We felt it was only fair and fitting to have these same artists back to actually show their work.”

 

These three free exhibitions will be on public display through October 14. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

 

Tryon architect John Walters will present works from his book, Carefully Placed Lines on Paper, a collection of drawings of interesting places and buildings from around the world. He has been one of Tryon’s leading architects since 2002 and is heavily involved in local community service.

 

Los Angeles artist Catherine Baumhauer and Rock Hill, S.C. artist Caroline Rust will showcase their work titled Human Connections.

 

Baumhauer was born and reared in Pittsburgh, Pa., and is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and California Institute of the Arts. Her background in painting, sculpture, animation, film, and her life as a mother influences her current work. Rust, a native of Charlotte, N.C., earned her master’s degree in fine art painting from Winthrop University and her bachelor’s degree in fine art painting from East Carolina University. She is a process-driven artist, with a passion for painting and surface enhancement. 

 

Each of the four Asheville artists – Jeff Kinzel, Martha Skinner, Ralston Fox Smith, and Kevin Hogan – are exploring space in fundamentally different ways in the exhibit The Thinking Eye. They are investigating their chosen subjects and paying attention to the dynamic elements that make up a piece of artwork, in particular the third dimension, depth.

 

“We greatly appreciate these artists and their commitment to us,” Trobaugh said. “We also greatly appreciate the support of our patrons, the community, and the Polk County Community Foundation for making this possible. Special thanks to Nancy Holmes, who heads our Exhibition Committee, for her diligent work in making these exhibits happen.”

 

For more information, contact Upstairs Artspace at 828-859-2828, email FrontDesk@UpstairsArtspace.org, or visit them online at UpstairsArtspace.org.

 

Submitted by Upstairs Artspace