July 2013

Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, NC, Features Two New Exhibitions

The Upstairs Artspace in Tryon, NC, will present two new exhibits including: Seeing Is Believing: The Collection of Ray Griffin and Thom Robinson and Crossing The Line, featuring colorful “folk” art by Bonnie Bardos and Charlotte Fowler, both on view from July 19 through Aug. 31, 2013. A reception will be held on July 20, from 5-8pm, preceded at 4pm by an informal talk by Bardos and Fowler.

Seeing Is Believing: The Collection of Ray Griffin and Thom Robinson is a wonderful overview of an authentic private collection built by avid collectors from Asheville, NC, with love, design and frugality. The 34 artists in the show are represented by one work apiece in a variety of genres: painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, folk art and more. Most of the artists live in Western North Carolina; some like Hoss Haley are quite well known, others are young and emerging like Julie Armbruster.

In addition to Haley and Armbruster, the artists are: Galen Frost Bernard, Courtney Chappell, Margaret Curtis, Julyan Davis, John Dickson, Samuel Dillon, Alli Good, Ursula Gullow, Edwards Harper, Kevin Hogan, Anna Jensen, Jeffrey Kinzel, Gabriel Kline, Taiyo La Paix, Eric Legge, Nava Lubelski, Brian Mashburn, Linda McCune, Phillip McGuire, Sean Pace, Kevin Palme, Tom Pazderka, William Henry Price, John Rose, Alice Sebrell, Gabriel Shaffer, Micah Amos Sherrill, Mike Smith, David Stewart, Kirsten Stolle, Jill Stowe, and David Vandre.

A major attraction of the show is that, in addition to their works in the collection, most artists have created new work for the show to be sold as a benefit for the Upstairs Artspace.

Collectors Griffin and Robinson have been partners for nine years and agree their passion for visual art is an important shared interest. “We rarely disagree on a piece of art to acquire,” says Griffin, “including what to spend on it.” Weekends are often spent visiting artists’ studios to see works-in-progress and chat about artistic purpose and technique.

Also opening on July 19 is Crossing The Line, an exhibit of colorful “folk” art by Bonnie Bardos and Charlotte Fowler. The women are inveterate collectors of trash to incorporate into art that dares to be different. Fowler likes using animal bones, coins, wood; Bardos favors vintage jewelry, flatware, ceramic figures and more.

For further info check our NC Institutional Gallery listings, call 828/859-2828 or visit (www.upstairsartspace.org).

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