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TRYON—Tryon Arts & Crafts School (TACS) recently announced it will present an exciting lineup of gallery events, culminating in a public opening reception on Friday, May 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. 

The reception will feature “Illustration, Glancing Back,” a solo exhibition featuring original works by renowned illustrator Kevin Sprouls, the unveiling of Janet Orselli’s highly anticipated site-specific art installation, “Precious Things,” and a two-day jewelry sale hosted by TACS’ instructors and students. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

“Illustration, Glancing Back” is a solo exhibition of drawings by Kevin Sprouls. Sprouls’s lifelong dedication to drawing is apparent in his meticulously crafted pieces. The selections capture his signature engraving-like style, achieved by hand using technical fountain pens and India ink. The survey exhibit includes various themes and genres, including architecture, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, and portraits of celebrities. Exhibition highlights include “Barack Obama” (2012), a portrait published on the cover of Harper’s Magazine; “Villa Capronie, Rome” (2008), commissioned by Temple University; and “Space Toys” (1986), a conceptual illustration for the Wall Street Journal. 

Janet Orselli’s “Precious Things” installation creates an immersive experience, inviting the viewer into two distinct yet interconnected spaces within the gallery. Utilizing movable walls, she creates the illusion of intimate rooms that prompt different modes of engagement: immersion or voyeurism. Orselli’s found-object assemblages provoke contemplation on visual and conceptual dualities, encouraging the audience to explore the inherent meaning of objects and their arrangement.

In advance of the exhibition reception date, Orselli has been engaged in a one-month artist residency during which she is constructing a site-specific installation. The public is invited to visit TACS to observe and converse with Orselli. She will hold public hours on Monday and Wednesday, May 20 and May 22, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The two-day handcrafted jewelry sale, hosted by TACS’ Jewelry Committee, will take place from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, May 31, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the remodeling of the Jewelry Studio, supporting the improvement of facilities for TACS courses in silversmithing, enameling, metal clay, and lapidary. Participating metalsmiths include Jimmi Buell, Melinda Holland, Jill Kemp, Patti Miles-Cooner, Shannon Thornberg, Ben Waddell, and Laura White.

 

For more information, visit www.tryonartsandcrafts.org or contact TACS at (828) 859-8323.

 

Submitted by ​​Will Barclift