Upstairs to sell works by renowned artists at Underground auction

Published 10:00 pm Monday, June 22, 2015

Mennonite Children,” photograph by Sheron Rupp

The Upstairs Artspace is proud to offer a carefully curated selection of paintings, sculpture, and other art pieces for sale in an auction as part of the Underground fundraiser on June 26.

  These works were donated by Upstairs supporters from their private collections. All of the pieces were created by nationally or regionally acclaimed artists who have shown their work in galleries from Tryon to Asheville to New York City and San Francisco.

  Among the noteworthy offerings are a painted wood sculpture by David Vance entitled “Happy birthday, Mr. President,” an 1884 etching called “An Old Master at Last” by Elliot Daingerfield, and a haunting 1990 photograph entitled “Mennonite Children” by Sheron Rupp, whose color photographs are included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

  “Everyone who attends this event will have a shot at taking home one of these impressive works,” said Upstairs Board President Harold Maass. “Plus, bidders will be helping the Upstairs in the bargain.”

  All proceeds from the auction and ticketed fundraiser will help expand the nonprofit gallery’s exhibits and programs. There also will be a selection of works available in a silent auction that will continue for three weeks. Collectors unable to attend the live auction should not lose hope – these works will go on sale in the silent auction if the live-auction reserve is not met.

  Guests at the Underground event also will be able to dine on a delicious buffet and enjoy a sneak preview of the new assortment of programs that will be offered on the Upstairs’ lower level, from poetry readings to short plays to music and collaborative art projects. The event runs from 7-9 p.m., with the live auction scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m.

  All proceeds from the event will be used to stage the Upstairs’ offerings of free exhibits and programs. For more information, visit www.upstairsartspace.org, call 828-859-2828, or stop by the gallery at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.