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TRYON—Upstairs Artspace recently announced that it will be hosting Salon d’Upstairs, a community engagement initiative where all artists, high school age and up, amateur to professional, are invited to participate in an open “salon” hanging. The exhibition will run from September 8 through September 21.

In a departure from the contemporary art gallery’s typical professionally curated and installed exhibitions, Salon d’Upstairs will follow in the footsteps of the French Salons, which originated in 1667 to show the artwork of recent graduates of the Paris Académie des Beaux-Arts. 

These were popular exhibitions that served as a testament to the creative productivity of artists in the region and were characterized by a floor-to-ceiling hanging, an informal jostling of artworks contrived to provide an opportunity for the greatest number of artists to participate. 

“Salon d’Upstairs is open to anyone in the area who explores the visual arts as a means of expressing ideas that make a positive difference in society,” says Eldred Hudson, Exhibitions Committee member. “We are asking artists to show one piece. They will set the price, and if the piece sells during the two-week show, the proceeds will be divided between the artist and the gallery.”

“We are excited to initiate this community event, open to all until there is no more wall space available,” says Sarah Schroth, also of the Exhibitions Committee. “I encourage the artists to carefully review the requirements and fill out the online form, and I look forward to seeing both floors of the gallery exuberantly full of paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, and more.”

The gallery, located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, will be accepting pieces for the show from September 4 to September 6. Volunteers will be on hand to help the artist hang (or place) their piece in a location of the artist’s choosing. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, September 8, at 2:30 p.m., and artists are encouraged to attend.

The gallery’s website, upstairsartspace.org/upcoming, provides more details on how to participate in the exhibition, including size restrictions, drop-off dates, an entry form, and more. If you have any questions, contact the gallery at 828-859-2828 or frontdesk@upstairsartspace.org.