Upstairs Artspace to celebrate a decade of Foothills studio tours

A visit to Tryon’s Upstairs Artspace gallery — or any gallery, for that matter — affords the visitor a chance to see a clean, final, mounted work of art, such as a framed painting on the wall or a sculpture on a pedestal, in a pristine setting, under bright lights.

What the visitor will not see in the gallery are the artists — standing amid their wood shavings on the floor after carving a block of wood, with paint thinner-soaked rags piled in the corner, with shelves of works in progress, stacked folios of practice pieces, jars of brushes standing in murky water, clay dust covered kilns, and surrounded by scraps, shards, twigs, clay blocks, fabric pieces, metal wire — the myriad building blocks of masterpieces.

To see an artist at work and in their milieu is indeed a treat, an educational, sensory and social delight, gallery representatives said.

It is an opportunity that comes around in early fall each year with Foothills Art Trek, organized by Upstairs Artspace, Tryon’s contemporary art gallery.

Now in its 10th year, the trek draws hundreds of artists and art lovers from all over the Foothills and it has become a “must see, must do” event on the local arts calendar, this year slated for Sept. 29-30, represenatives said.

Organizers are planning for more than 30 artists to participate. Many artists have opened their studio doors for each year of the Trek but some are new to the roster.

Geographically, Art Trek encompasses all of Polk County and the Landrum area. Types of studios are as varied as the artists who occupy them — some are in homes or garages, some have devoted studio space, others will be sharing studio space.

A printed map is available at the gallery and at area businesses (online, too) that pinpoints the studio locations and highlights the artists who will be available to greet visitors. The self-driving, self-directed tour allows the visitor to see as many studios as time and desire permit. People may watch for the bright orange directional signs.

No weekend trek would be complete without a kickoff, so organizers are hosting a preview reception and silent auction at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Upstairs Artspace, 49 S. Trade St.

On both mornings of the Trek, visitors are welcome to “fuel up” on coffee and pastries at Upstairs Artspace from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday

All are also invited to the closing reception to thank the artists on Friday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m.

People may visit UpstairsArtspace.org or call 828-859-2828 for more information.

– Submitted by Claire Sachse

The participating artists include:

Columbus

• Harriet Spencer

Mill Spring

• BJ Precourt

Tryon

• Ann Gleason * (designates person whose studio is open) with: (multiple artists)

• Martine House & Jimmi Buell

• Diana Gurri* with Bob Neely (multiple artists)

• Marie King* with Charlotte Kean (multiple artists)

• Vicki Van Vynckt*

• Christine Mariotti*

• Keith Spencer*

• Lori Heckleman*

• David Zacharias*

• Suzanne Zoole*

• Chuck Mattern*

• Mary Lou Diekmann* (multiple artists) with:  Judith Muncy

• Corey McNabb*

• Becky Hyatt Rickenbaker

Saluda

• Dale McEntire* (multiple artists) with:

• Alexia Timberlake Boyd & Kristen Mode

• Bonnie Bardos*

• Laura Polanco*

Landrum

• Toby Wolter* (multiple artists) with:

• Libby Skamfer, Jim Cullen & Grace Letora

• Hague Williams* (multiple artists) with Merry-Beth Noble

• David Cedrone*