Upstairs Artspace in Tryon announces the opening of two new exhibits — Mountain Sculptors’ Sculpture Exhibition, and The Nature of Abstraction, paintings by Carol Beth Icard – on Friday, May 31. The public is invited to an informal “Walk and Talk” tour of Icard’s work at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, followed by an opening reception from 5-8 p.m.

The Mountain Sculptors exhibit features pieces by 25 artists. Each submitted up to eight entries, and a select jury chose the sculpture to be included in the show. The work, which ranges from painted carved wood, alabaster, steel, and bronze, to terracotta, paper, clay and found objects, has no theme. Instead, it’s intended to be a survey of artistic productivity moving from traditional sculptural pieces to very contemporary forms.

Mountain Sculptors, an informal group of artists working in three dimensions, aims to enhance community awareness, understanding, and appreciation of contemporary sculpture, and enhance the technical and aesthetic development of its members, all of whom are professionals working in Western North Carolina and the surrounding region.