Artwork of Haitian refugee children the topic of Upstairs Artspace discussion

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 interdisciplinary medical mission in an informal settlement outside Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where families (primarily Haitian refugees) live beside the largest open-air landfill in the Caribbean.

During daily workshops led by Williams, children created personal story flags using simple materials such as muslin, pencils, paint markers, fabric, and thread.

They were guided by three open questions about their lives, daily experiences, and emotional landscapes.

“The responses were symbolic, direct, and imaginative. No corrections were made, and no interpretations were imposed,” Williams explains about the project.

These story flags together with discarded material from the landfill, are now assembled into a very colorful large-scale textile installation, and it is on display at the gallery through Aug. 28. It is titled, Threaded Voices: Stories from Duquesa.

As both an installation and a documentary presentation, Williams will share how Threaded Voices centers the voices, creativity, and resilience of the children while reflecting on what it means to work with care, humility, and responsibility across distance and difference.

For more information, call the gallery at 828-859-2828, visit UpstairsArtspace.org, or find us on Instagram @upstairsartspace. The gallery is located at 49 S. Trade St., Tryon, NC next to the movie theater. Started in 1978, Upstairs Artspace connects art and community through exhibitions and educational programs, creating a vibrant space for artistic expression and appreciation.