Mountain Matriarchs mural ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mural designed by Claire Alexandre. Photo by Caleb Knight
By Emma Castleberry
TOSS (The Old School Studio), a program of The Industrial Commons, is rooted in equity, education and economic opportunity. “Our mission is to foster and share our values around the future of work, environmental sustainability and civic engagement,” says co-founder and creative director Kathryn Ervin. “Harnessing the power of art and community organizing, we work toward personal and institutional transformation for and with working–class families.”
TOSS co-founder and director Kathryn Ervin with a TOSSafter student. Photo by Franzi Charen Photography
The organization’s programs include afterschool visual arts classes for students in grades K–8, in-school workshops serving nearly 1,400 students annually, thematic summer camps, regional artist residencies, mural projects and community events. “We create spaces where artists and young people can thrive together,” says Ervin. “Whether through paid residencies, educational opportunities or mentorship, we invest in the local creative economy. TOSS is more than a studio—it’s a belief that creativity is an integral skill for innovation, economic vitality and community flourishing.”
The program’s origins date back to 2015, when Ervin and co-founders Hannah Thrower and Kirksey Lowther piloted an afterschool program in a former high school building. “TOSS grew out of a simple question: What if every kid, regardless of zip code, could access inspiring art education taught by working artists?” says Ervin.
Artist and designer Alexa Eliana Chumpitaz works on the Realidades del Sur (Southern Realities) mural.
Fall plans at TOSS include a new residency cycle, student workshops, open studios and an end-of-year showcase. “Every program we offer is rooted in joy, equity and connection,” says Ervin.
Heather Reynaldo-Casanova has four children, all of whom participate in TOSSafter, an afterschool art program for students in K-8th grade. “The TOSSafter program has grown each of my children tremendously, both artistically and personally,” she says. “On a personal level, attending TOSSafter has helped them feel confident in how they create and express themselves. They are really focused on the process of creating the art, not just the end result.”
Reynaldo-Casanova says scholarships and transportation are essential to the program’s accessibility. “TOSS makes art and all of the creative endeavors accessible to all instead of just a select few students and families.”
Public art projects are central to TOSS’s impact. Between 2020 and 2025, TOSS created seven murals in Morganton, six of which were created in partnership with Community Mural Institute (CMI), engaging 24 emerging artists as well as local residents, students and families from other TOSS programs. “We’ve seen firsthand how murals co-created with students and workers transform public spaces and spark community pride,” says Ervin.
“It is a really special feeling to drive or walk by one of the murals and remember how we were a part in creating it,” says Reynaldo-Casanova.
Artist Kimberly Cusack helps put finishing touches on Mountain Matriarchs mural.
The Our Legacy mural on the side of the Marquee Cinemas features a design by Kiana Mui that celebrates the Southeast Asian community and history in Burke County. Phetoudone (Pat) Nivanh was part of the steering committee for the mural, which features a depiction of her father. “My involvement on the steering committee shaped my understanding of the community storytelling process through art by confirming that art is indeed a universal language that we all can relate to and appreciate,” she says. “To me, art bridges culture, differences, similarities and stories. Art encourages understanding and love.”
Furthermore, Nivanh says, murals like Our Legacy and the broader work of TOSS contribute to a level of authenticity that serves the entire community. “In regard to the contributions of immigrant and working-class families, this mural reflects the slow but growing denial shock about Morganton’s true changing demographic body,” she says. “Morganton is a small, multicultural city that has a lot to offer, and TOSS has helped elevate that true experience.”
Learn more at TOSStudio.org.
