Midway through its 40th anniversary year, Upstairs Artspace in Tryon will sponsor three new exhibits for 11 artists well established in the Carolinas, the Southeast and throughout the United States.

Opening date is Saturday, June 23, with a walk and talk by the artists, 5 to 6 p.m., and a public reception, 6 to 7:30 p.m., with refreshments and live guitar. The gallery is located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon.

“Four Women/Four Journeys” presents abstract and impressionist paintings by Bonnie Bardos, of Saluda,  Patricia Cole-Ferullo and Linda Hudgins, of Tryon, and Carol Beth Icard, of Landrum. The women express their spiritual and mental journeys through bold and colorful art, gallery respresentatives said. All are exhibited in regional galleries, and private and public collections.

“Thoughtful Forms: Stone, Wood, Clay, Steel” showcases floor and wall sculpture by Mark Gardner, Stoney Lamar, Dale McEntire, Shane Varnadore, Dale Weiler and David Zacharias, all residents of Polk County.

Gardner and Lamar are nationally known wood-turners in museums, galleries and collections.

Varnadore is growing his reputation as a turner. McEntire and Zacharias, artists and art teachers, sculpt pieces with clay, wood, stone, metal and glass. Weiler, a wildlife artist, sculpts in stone and bronze.

“Holland Van Gores: Polychrome Turnings” features the artist’s signature wood-turned vessels made with maple and milk paint. Van Gores, who lives in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, has built an enthusiast following throughout western North Carolina since relocating from the Caribbean. He is represented by The Gallery at Flat Rock.

The exhibits run through Aug. 3. For information, visit upstairsartspace.org.

– Submitted by Claire Sachse