Through June 15, UpMarket Gallery presents its inaugural juried exhibition, Tar Heel Art – From the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge. Thirty-seven artists working in a variety of mediums exemplify the cultural heritage of North Carolina from the coast to the mountains, moving beyond stereotypes to explore themes of identity, environment, tradition and innovation. “The quality and diversity of submissions revealed the extraordinary depth of talent across our state,” says Heather Davis, director of UpMarket Gallery. “Visitors will experience NC through the eyes of artists who are deeply connected to this place.”
Downtown 2. Cindy Walton, artist
Among the Western NC artists chosen for the show is Black Mountain sculptor and educator Theresa Clower, whose work is heavily influenced by the energy of modern jazz. Her sculptures for Tar Heel Art were created with skeletonized leaves from the New Zealand flax plant. “Through a special process that releases the mako, or fiber, within the flax leaf, the beautiful netting-like leaf of Hapene is left,” Clower says. “The leaves are then dried and pressed, and will, given proper care, last indefinitely. While they look delicate, the sculptures are very durable and strong.”
Clower notes the state’s longstanding tradition of arts and crafts, exemplified in this exhibition. “There is a respect, appreciation and value placed on the arts from all regions,” she says. “By featuring artists from the mountains to the sea and all places in between, we see a rich diversity of style, often influenced by the location of the artist.”
Sing Me a Song in the Low Field. Kelli Scott, artist. Sculpture: Warden of the Starlight. John Claude Bemis, artist
Weaverville native Liz Hosier lived in Wilmington for more than 30 years before returning to WNC where she lives, once again, in Weaverville and has a studio at the River Arts District’s Pink Dog. After retiring from a career in IT, she began to pursue art seriously, working primarily in oil, mixed media and encaustics.
Many exhibitions such as this one tend to feature work from similar artists, Hosier says, based on what kind of artists the region is known for. “This show, however, is just the opposite,” she says. “It features artists with different artistic styles and backgrounds from across our state. The work reflects, often obviously and at other times very subtly, the complexity of NC cultures. As a state known for its arts, this exhibit is an example of how complex and sophisticated an art environment our state is.”
UpMarket Gallery is located at 68-70 Market Street, in downtown Asheville. Learn more at UpMarketGallery.com.
