Drawing Marathon

Upstairs Artspace, the contemporary art gallery in Tryon, NC, will showcase Drawing Marathon IV, an exhibition of artwork that will be created by local artists in extended group work sessions on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 25-26.

The artwork created during the marathon creative sessions will be on public exhibition Feb. 1-March 13. A public reception for this exhibition will be Saturday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m.

“This is our fourth time hosting the Drawing Marathon,” spokesperson and artist Linda Hudgins said. “As someone who participated in the past, I can tell you it is a lot of fun and a great way for the public to see the work that will be created just days prior to the exhibition. The art doesn’t get any fresher than this.”

On Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 25-26, the participating artists will gather in the gallery’s lower level, each having his or own workspace. From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., they will produce drawings of their own choice for the exhibition. “It is an unusual but inspiring setting to see all these artists gathered together for a common goal,” Hudgins said. “Because the artists are so focused, it is usually very quiet and very productive. The artists all say it is a different and very worthy endeavour.”

Any artists who want to participate should contact Hudgins by email: LindaHudgins@yahoo.com.

During the sessions, the Gallery provides healthy refreshments to the artists, as well as lunch. “That’s the least we can do for them,” Hudgins added.

“As an artist, I find the actual marathon to be the most interesting part of this project,” Hudgins said. “However, from the patron’s perspective, the produced art is most important. But it certainly is fun to know under what circumstances the work was made. Also, each artist will have one ‘prior-made’ piece of art on display during the exhibit. This will allow patrons the opportunity to see the artists’ work that was made when they aren’t in a marathon setting.”

All of the artwork in this exhibit will be for sale.

For more information, please visit online UpstairsArtspace.org. Also, like the gallery on Facebook.

Founded in 1978, Upstairs Artspace is a nonprofit contemporary art gallery in downtown Tryon at 49 S. Trade St. It exhibits two- and three-dimensional art and craft by leading artists of the Southeast, particularly in the Carolinas, as well as artists nationally and globally. Normal visiting hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to  5 p.m. There is no charge to visit and see the exhibits. Upstairs Artspace is supported by public and private donations, sales of art, grants, and fund-raising events. It is supported in part by the Polk County Community Foundation, the Mary F. Kessler Fund, and public and private donations.