Upstairs Artspace, in conjunction with its summer exhibition of Haitian art in “Land of High Mountains,” is honored to present a special screening of the award-winning documentary KANAVAL, which tells the story of Haiti's history through the colorful and meaningful carnival celebrations in the city of Jacmel. This FREE screening will take place Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Tryon Fine Arts Center pavilion, 34 Melrose Ave., Tryon. Registration is required at Ups

In conjunction with its summer exhibition of Haitian artwork titled, Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival, Upstairs Artspace will welcome Hague Williams for an art talk on July 12 at 2 pm to share his experiences from an art mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The public is invited to this free event at the gallery, located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC. Williams, a high school art teacher at Landrum High School, (Landrum, SC) accompanied a six-day interdisciplin

Harold Maass and Margaret Curtis About the Haitian Art Collection In 1993, Harold Maass, then a reporter for the Miami Herald, moved to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the military coup of 1992 which deposed the nation’s first democratically elected president, Jean Bertrand Aristide. It was a difficult and violent time. Maass found himself decompressing by spending time in the art galleries and warehouses of Port au Prince and other towns. He writes, “The art was uplifting.

This historical painting is an example of the Cap-Haitien school. It depicts two military leaders conferring during the revolution. The figure in the hat is a general, most likely either Toussaint Louverture, who fought against Napoleon’s troops, or Jean Jacques Dessalines, revolutionary hero and the first leader of the new Black nation. They are both considered to be “Fathers of Haiti.” The figure on the left is of lower military ranking and could be Francois Capois, known a

This historical painting by Pierre-Louis Riché depicts a high-ranking general, most likely Henri Christophe, the only monarch of the Kingdom of Haiti, standing with a man who was once enslaved. His chains broken, the man grasps a rifle in one hand, suggesting that he has fought for his independence from the French. In his other hand, he holds a cane knife, a curved blade used for stripping the tough leaves off sugar cane before it is loaded onto animal-drawn carts. Christophe

Upstairs Artspace is proud to congratulate board member Sarah Schroth on being recognized at Empowering Through Beauty’s inaugural “Her Legacy Toast” in Tryon, NC. During the event, Schroth received an official proclamation honoring her leadership, service, and contributions to the community. The evening celebrated women whose dedication and commitment are making a meaningful difference throughout Polk County. We are grateful for Sarah’s leadership, generosity, and continued

Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa Upstairs Artspace is proud to present its summer show titled, Land of High Mountains: The Art of Survival, an exhibition featuring the work of children from Haiti, assembled by Hague Williams of Landrum, SC, alongside selections from the Haitian art collection of Tryon residents Harold Maass and Margaret Curtis. The exhibition will launch June 14 with a free reception at 2 p.m. and will run through August 28, 2026. The contemporary art

Upstairs Artspace in Tryon is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Directors: Patricia Sahertian and Libby Skamfer. Both attended their first board meeting this spring. “Our Board of Directors brings together a committed group of professionals united by a shared vision, to help Upstairs Artspace flourish as a gathering place for creativity and connection in our community,” said Board President Sandy Miller. “We’re thrilled to welcome Libby and P

Works focus on LGBTQ safety, equality Upstairs Artspace invites the public to attend an art talk on Sunday, May 3 at 2 pm featuring two artists with artwork currently on display. Erika Diamond and Liz Williams will speak on their work which centers safety and equality for the LGBTQ community in shows titled Fight or Flight and Birds of a Feather, respectively. The event is free and open to the public at the contemporary art gallery located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon. Eri

Tryon’s Upstairs Artspace gallery invites the public to the opening reception of two new exhibitions on Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2 p.m.: Fight or Flight , a solo exhibition by Erika Diamond, and Birds of a Feather , a dynamic group exhibition featuring eight artists working across a wide range of media. Both exhibitions will be on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026, at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC. Fight or Flight features textile sculptures by Asheville-based artist Eri

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Fight or Flight, an exhibition by Erika Diamond on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Erika Diamond is a textile-focused artist, curator, and educator based in Asheville, NC. Her work is influenced by dance, costume, materiality, and the politics of queer safety and visibility. She received a BFA in Sculpture from Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA in Fiber from Virginia Commonwealth University. Diamond has exhibited nationall

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Located in Asheville, NC, Liz Williams has worked as a visual artist for 10 years exploring the line between the real and fantastic elements of life in the South in a variety of media including photography and illustration. Her work ranges from t-shirt designs calling for the dismantling of anti-LGBTQ legislation for Equality NC to portraits of nationally a

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Luis Sahagún Nuño is an interdisciplinary artist whose practice transforms drawing into ceremony and art into medicine. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México, and raised in Chicago’s Southland, his practice is grounded in curanderismo, the traditional healing practices of Latin America. His work reimagines Mexica and Yucatec Maya rituals within contemporary

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Kimberly Thomas is a biracial interdisciplinary sculptor and flameworker. She is a current artist in residence at Penland School of Crafts in Bakersville, NC. and is known for her work’s intentionally flawed and unusual motifs as well as her intricate sculptural inventions. A self-taught glass artist, Thomas earned a BFA in Ceramics from the Rhode Island Sc

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Barbara Schreiber’s works on paper appear lighthearted at first glance, but often have disturbing undertones. Born in Baltimore MD, Schreiber was a Cold War baby. Her aesthetic was formed in part by dinner-table discussions of political brinksmanship, her upbringing in a gritty town, and the solace she found gazing at tiny, enameled antiquities at the Walte

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Jeannie Regan is a Hong Kong born, Australian native, USA-based artist. She received her BFA in 2004 from RMIT (Melbourne, Australia) and her MFA in 2025 from WCU (Cullowhee, NC). I create art and education experiences that build community, incite joy and inspire action for the collective good. By day I am a curator and program developer with a steadfast co

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Rachel Meginnes is a textile artist based in Bakersville, North Carolina. She received her BA from Earlham College and her MFA in Fibers from the University of Washington. Having first learned to weave in high school in rural Vermont, Meginnes later studied textile production in Japan, New Zealand, India, and Nepal. Her work is rooted in her mother and gran

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Holly Hill is a studio artist and educator based in the mountains of North Carolina with a professional background in costume design and textile fabrication. Her interdisciplinary practice integrates ceramics, fiber, drawing, and found materials to explore themes of labor and bodily autonomy. Moreover, her work asserts the quiet power of craft as a form of

Upstairs Artspace is proud to present Birds of a Feather, a group exhibition on view from April 19 through May 29, 2026. Anna creates expressive, politically charged photographs, paintings, and performances informed by the strangeness of being alive. Growing up as a feral child in the woods of northern Wisconsin, Anna’s most formative memories are filled with trees, mud puddles, and wild creatures. Her parents moved back to the land in the mid 1970s to start an organic farmin

Virginia Derryberry is pictured in front of her four-paneled piece titled, The Four Elements. Upstairs Artspace invites the public to an engaging Artist Talk with Virginia Derryberry and guest curator Mary Edith Alexander on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 PM. The conversation will take place in conjunction with Private Domain, Derryberry’s current exhibition on view at Upstairs Artspace through April 10, 2026. During the talk, Derryberry and Alexander will discuss the themes, inspi