The Upstairs Artspace hosts a major exhibit from the Flood Gallery Fine Art Center, a “sister” arts organization in Asheville that has two galleries – the Flood and the Pump.

“Flood and The Pump: Galleries With Attitude” introduces 15 artists selected by the center’s director, Jolene Mechanic. The show opens Friday, June 3 with a public reception on Saturday, June 4, 5 to 8 p.m. (in conjunction with the Tryon Gallery Trot).

The artists are Bridget Conn, Madison J. Cripps, Hannah Dansie, Severn Eaton, Larkin Ford, Allen Leper Hampton, Heinz Kossler, Brian Mashburn, Nicole McConville, Sean Pace, all of Asheville; Cory Bradley of New York City; Jim Buonaccorsi and LeeAnn Mitchell of Athens, Ga.; and Patrick Glover of Charlotte. With the exception of Conn, all are new to the Upstairs.

Conn, McConville and Terrezza work in mixed media; Dansie, Eaton, Hampton, Mashburn, Bradley and Glover are painters; Cripps makes puppets; Ford draws with charcoal and Buonaccorsi, Mitchell, Kossler and Pace are sculptors.

An additional 20 artists with studio space in the Flood will display their work in glass, ceramics, wearable art, painting, photography and jewelry.

Cripps will present a puppet show for children on Saturday, July 9 at 3 p.m. Mechanic and several Flood artists will conduct a panel discussion, “Who Sez It’s Art?,” on Tuesday, July 12 at 7 p.m. Both programs are free.

Mechanic is legendary for her support of cutting edge artists. She founded the Flood in 2007 to promote visual artists around the globe. A beehive of activity, the Flood sponsors classic films, poetry readings, writing workshops, new music performances and a summer camp for kids. In the Flood basement Mechanic’s husband manufactures biodiesel fuel from grease supplied by local restaurants. The business helps keep the Flood’s doors open.

The Upstairs exhibit is sponsored by the Jim Freeman Memorial Fund. It runs through July 23. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and by appointment.

– article submitted by Nancy Holmes