TFAC Exhibits Committee members Frances McCain and Tim Brannon discuss the upcoming exhibit, “Preserving African American Art in the Foothills,” with collector John Wilkins.

Tryon Fine Arts Center is seeking artwork by African American artists for an upcoming exhibit. Owners/Artists willing to loan such work to TFAC for approximately eight weeks are encouraged to respond immediately.

Tryon Fine Arts Center Exhibits Committee will open the New Year with an exhibit on locally owned and/or produced African American art, “Preserving African-American Art in the Foothills.”

The exhibit is the inspiration of Polk County native and Charlotte resident John Wilkins, and is sponsored by the Polk County Community Foundation Free Community Events fund. This exhibit, which coincides with Black History Month, is an opportunity to celebrate African-American art that has been created by or collected by local residents.

Wilkins notes, “There has always been a tight knit relationship between the two communities, and art is what binds them together.”

TFAC’s African American art exhibit is a continuation of last year’s East Side Community and Tryon All-Stars baseball team exhibit that showcased local African American achievements. TFAC Exhibits Committee Chair Julia Calhoun said that the objective of this year’s event is to “increase awareness of and help preserve Tryon history through an exhibit of African-American art.”

The exhibit opens Friday, Jan. 22 in Gallery I with a reception at 5 p.m. which is free and open to the public. The exhibit will run through March 5. All works of art will be carefully cared for by TFAC staff and insured through TFAC’s fine art insurance policy.

Your support will be greatly appreciated. To loan artwork or for further information, please contact Julia Calhoun through the TFAC office at 828-859-8322 or by email at julia@tryonarts.org.

Tryon Fine Arts Center is a nonprofit organization that operates and programs a 315-seat performance venue and 150-seat amphitheater for music, opera, theatre, dance, and lectures at 34 Melrose Ave. in Tryon, N.C. In addition to presenting programming for a wide variety of audiences, TFAC also makes the arts accessible to local students through education and outreach programs.

– Submitted by Susan Brady