"It's a Wonderful Life" and Angels in Polk County

As the days grow shorter and the cold nights longer, it’s nice to snuggle close with someone special. If you know who that person is, why not surprise them with a romantic evening out? Tonight, try a cozy dinner at the Purple Onion while enjoying the Piedmont blues guitar and folk of Jon Shain. Or, if you’re looking for variety and maybe the chance to meet someone new, stop in the Melrose Inn for Talent Night and the Bargain Buffet. The friendly folks there get started around 6:30pm with food and then around 7pm the relaxed circle of entertainment allows you to join in and share or just sit back and listen.
Looking for a heart- warming evening for the whole family? Head on over to the Tryon Fine Arts Center tonight or Friday night at 8pm and catch the North Carolina Stage Company and immediate theatre project’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” If you happened to catch the NC Stage production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream earlier this year at TFAC you’ll recognized the talented duo of Willie Repoley (who played Bottom) and Lauren Fortuna (who was Helena) as they bring their own special charm and charisma to the roles of George and Mary Bailey. Last year the immediate theatre project sold out their Asheville run of Joe Landry’s adaptation the famous heart warming movie set in a 1946 Radio Station on Christmas Eve. So, this year they’ve taken the show on the road. Save yourself a drive to Charlotte or Asheville and catch this theatrical gem right here at home. This evening of theatre is a great way to recover from the mall and tap into beauty of the season.

If you’re hearing bells ringing, it just may be the angels winging their way up to Saluda Fine Arts for the Hark the Herald Angels Singing reception Saturday evening from 5-7pm. This special evening with music and refreshments features the work of Philip Powell and Kris Neeley who both started painting angels as a way to delight and uplift others in times of trouble. Sales of Philip’s angels will benefit Aldersgate Special Needs Ministry. Aldersgate focuses on helping to enrich the lives of developmentally disabled adults buy building homes that offer professional care and life-skills training to meet their special needs. Take a moment to peruse this lovely show before heading out to enjoy an evening of live music in Polk County.

If you want to woo your sweetie with legendary R&B vocals, buy your tickets early for Saluda Mountain Jamboree’s special holiday presentation of The Tams this Saturday night from 8-11pm. This special evening will start with a pre-show at 7pm from home-town band Sound Investment and then kick into high gear as the high energy Tams and their 14-Karat Gold Band bring you Carolina Beach Music and Holiday Carols. If R&B isn’t for you, cuddle up to some bluegrass, folk, and roots music from Ron & Minnie Powell with the Lucky Streak Band at the Purple Onion at 8pm or catch the rockin’ blues of On the Road Again down in Tryon at Elmo’s.

Are you or is someone dear to you new to the area? Bring a friend and take some time after church on Sunday to visit the Upstairs Artspace for their Walk & Talk tour at 2pm. The 3 Women/3 Cameras exhibit is sure to be a lively tour of Polk County and the surrounding area through the photography and witty narrative of Carolyn Ashburn, Mara Smith, and Elaine Pearsons.

Donna Everett’s Dramatic Stars

Teaching is an art form of its own. It takes highly dedicated, organized, and creative individuals to keep up with the constantly changing methods and standards while still reaching their students every day. Polk County students are lucky to have such an individual in Donna Everett who is helping them to apply and strengthen their literature and communication skills through theatre. Her students recently attended the North Carolina Theatre Conference and Donna Everett was proud to announce they brought home “two excellents and an acting award” this year. I emailed Donna to find out more about the awards and competition.

What does this mean “two excellents and an acting award” for those of us who’ve not been exposed to a NCTC event?
Eighteen schools from the western region participated - only four received a "superior" rating. On one of our adjudication sheets we scored a 44 --- superior starts at 46. Needless to say, we were pretty pleased.
The judges give one acting award and then give four more "runner-up" awards. Out of 237 students who performed from the respective schools my lead, Candice Owen, took one of the four runner-up's.

What show did you take to the competition and why?
The show I chose was a one-act entitled GOVERNING ALICE. It is a modern take on Sophocles' ANTIGONE. The protagonist, Alice, is the middle child misfit in a family of seemingly focused, intellectual, upright siblings. Her older brother, Ethan, has been named valedictorian of the graduating class and the younger sister, Izzy, (who idolizes her brother) is just as hard working. Alice is the rebel - she comes in tardy to all classes, is failing English, doesn't do her homework and is defiant to administration. As the play opens, Alice is determined to deliver her brother's valedictory address because (as we will discover in the course of the play) Ethan has a dark, little secret - he holds up convenience stores and the morning before graduation is shot and killed in the process of holding up yet another store.
The principal simply wants it all to go away - he wants to pretend like Ethan never came through the school. The English teacher understands the duality of human nature and truly likes Alice. He is the one who helps her come to terms with her brother's two natures. In the end, Alice defies authority and reads her brother's address at graduation.
I chose this play for several reasons. I've always been drawn to plays with strong female protagonists and I love teaching ANTIGONE - it's my favorite of the trilogy. I also knew I had a strong female actor who could pull off the role of Alice - Candice Owen. Candice is a junior and has really refined her acting skills over the last two years.

How did the students perform in the competition setting vs. here at home?
We've been going to competitions now for five years -- and each year, it's nerve-racking. We perform the play for the student body the day before we take the play to competition. It's good for the students to see how we will represent the high school and it's good for the actors to get a feel for how the show will play to an audience. It's funny though -- as a rule, the plays that our students really respond to seem to be the ones that do not fare as well in the adjudication. Yet the ones that the students don't seem to care for are the ones that do well. After this performance, one of the kids in the show came running backstage with this huge grin and happily exclaimed, "Nobody liked it!" We took it as a sure sign of success at Western.

What differences did you notice as their director?
The biggest difference I notice is that performing for the hometown crowd is more relaxed. If someone drops a line or misses a cue, it's embarrassing, but not crucial. At competition, a dropped line or missed cue could cost the team major points on the adjudication sheet. The competition is very, very strict. Students run it all - from the stage manager to the technical director. We have to designate a student to sit with the college students and call lighting and sound cues for the performance. No adult is allowed to participate in any way.
The performance is also timed. Schools are given 45 minutes to set up the scenery, perform the piece, strike the scenery, and get everything over the finish tape in that allotted period. Schools have been disqualified for going over time. We rehearse crossing the starting tape and striking set to cross the finish tape just as we rehearse the show itself. One school this year left a small piece of veil, no larger than your palm, on stage. Their time ran 44 minutes and 57 seconds, and with the fabric left on the stage, they were disqualified. It's really, really intense.

Sounds like they're really sticklers for details, why?
Sticklers for details - yes - the North Carolina Theater Conference (NCTC) runs theater festivals at the junior high, senior high, and community levels. It is of note that this is the same organization that sponsored the theater festival that "Nunsense" participated in years ago. In order for the adjudication to be as equitable as possible, there are very, very specific guidelines. We receive copies of the adjudication sheets as well as all festival rules and guidelines a couple of months before the competition. It just levels the playing field for all concerned.

How does building a competitive piece of theatre compare to the band program or the football program?
Unlike football or other team sports in which the team competes against schools of similarly sized populations, in theater, we perform with schools whose budgets and student population may be significantly larger than ours. We also perform in regional play - schools from as far east as Charlotte/Mecklenburg and as far west as the Tennessee border participate.
I really don't like using the word "compete" in reference to an art form. I try to emphasize to my kids that we are participants - performers - not competitors. Yes, only two schools will move on to state, but I think the idea of "competition" is not applicable here. Imagine Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo being "in competition." One may prefer a style over another or may prefer a particular work, but both are artists. I would hope that my students embrace theater for the love of the craft and desire to perform that craft to the best of their ability, not because they are interested in "beating" another team from the region.

Did you know all the rules the first year?
When I lived in Richmond, we participated every year in the Virginia High School League's one-act play festival. We competed first at the district level, then regional, then state. NCTC is not that different - they do allow more time (45 minutes as opposed to 30 in VA) and start the festival at the regional level rather than the district level. Otherwise, the festivals are quite similar.

What have you learned?
In the past three years, I've gotten a better handle on what the adjudicators are looking for as far as content. A silly comedy that may entertain a high school group really does not work well at the festival level. The adjudicators are looking for groups that really bring a professional show to festival. Many groups actually write their own material. One of the plays going to state this year from our region is one that a Hopewell High student wrote, directed, and performed in. I've not developed our program to that point . . . yet.

What kind of things are the adjudicators looking for?
Plays are judged in three areas: acting, directing, and technical. Scores from 1 point (fair) to 4 points (superior) are given in acting for believable characterization, projection and articulation, physicality, energy, ensemble work, and consistency. In directing, points are scored in the areas of blocking/choreography/use of space, pacing, conceptual clarity, choice of play (originality, appropriateness for age and skill level) and ensemble work. Technical is one score for overall. Total scores of 46 - 52 are considered "superior" and scores of 33 - 45 are "excellent." The two top scorers in the superior category earn the privilege of going to state. This year, both plays from Hopewell High School went to state.

Our scores were high excellents. I was very, very pleased with them especially since almost half the cast was new not only to the festival, but to the stage as well. This is only my second year actually teaching drama at Polk County. Before this, I taught English. I am seeing growth in the program and I'm starting to develop some depth as well. The most significant element of our drama program is taking these students to see productions - to actually witness what good acting and good productions look like. Many of our kids come into the program never having seen a live theater production. I'm fortunate to have a number of friends and associates in area community theaters and have been able to gain permission for my students to attend final dress rehearsals for free at a number of area theaters. Last year, we attended shows at Tryon Little Theater, Spartanburg Little Theater, South Carolina Governor's School for Art and Humanities, and the Warehouse Theater. This year, we've only been able to attend shows at TLT, but I hope to take a group back to SC Governor's School for their next show in a couple of weeks.

How have your students changed over the years?
If the students have changed at all, it's been in their attitude toward theater. At first, they see theater as just one improvisation activity after another - getting up in front of class and acting silly. While there is certainly a time for improv, they were missing some fairly significant parts of the craft - the acting skills, the importance of projection and articulation, the technical aspects. I've been delighted to see them taking theater more seriously and really working on their craft. And I think our score this time really speaks to how our program is developing. Building a theater program is not unlike building a band program or a football program. There are skills one must develop and practice to be successful. Loyalty and dedication are important. When students are rehearsing over 125 hours in less than 6 weeks, that's dedication. When a cast member is willing to rehearse the same scene over and over -- sometimes 10 and 12 times during one rehearsal -- that's dedication. And that's what builds a theater program. Talent is good, but dedication is better.

I think I've changed as a teacher and as a director as well. Thanks to a generous grant from the Polk County Foundation, I was able to start my master's degree program through New York University's Steinhardt School and my first class was in London this past summer. I saw many amazing shows as part of the course and brought back lots of ideas for my shows. I also met many individuals directly involved in theater education who shared a wealth of information. One of my most prized experiences was the week we spent in a public high school in London's north central district. I learned so much about the British public school system and how they teach theater. I worked directly with one of the four theater teachers at the secondary school and was invited to bring my drama kids to London to work with her students. Much of what I've learned has recharged and redirected what I do in the classroom and I feel it has made our program stronger and our students much better actors.

Build Holiday Memories with Local Art & Storytelling

What do you do with a house full of family when the turkey has been eaten? This weekend take the opportunity to share some quality time enjoying the local family friendly arts events. Last weekend's opening at the Upstairs Artspace on Trade Street was such a success that I felt like I spent more time talking to people than seeing what was on display. I plan to make a trip back so I can get a chance to see the show. On the main floor you'll find an amazing tour of Polk County and the surrounding area through the photography of Carolyn Ashburn, Mara Smith, and Elaine Pearsons in the 3 Women/3 Cameras exhibit. There's even a section of smaller pictures in front that capture the faces of the area as well. Downstairs is a beautiful collection of local crafts ranging from jewelry to furniture.

If the family is enjoying looking at beautiful things, why not take a walk up Ola Mae Way to the Simply Irresistible Gallery as well. I hear they have some beautiful new papier-mâché sculpture by local folk artist Don Tyler.


Or, learn a little about traditional pottery and sculpture by taking a trip out to Little Mountain Pottery six miles from Columbus at 6372 Peniel Road for their Kiln opening at 11am on Saturday. Over a hundred items including folk sculpture, tiles, and utilitarian bowls and pitchers by Blue Ridge National Heritage "Traditional Artist" Claude Graves will be released from the fire.

In Saluda, take a moment to catch a bite at the Wildflower Café and then wander down the steps to see the newest additions of local art and crafts in Your Arts Desire Gallery.

Get away from the television and treat the family to some live entertainment. Tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm share "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote performed by Chris Tinkler at the Tryon Little Theatre Workshop on South Trade Street. This heartfelt story will put some holiday cheer not only in the hearts of your family, but also benefits Steps to HOPE and their ability to brighten the holidays for struggling families.


Saturday is also the 7th Annual FENCE Foothills Storytelling Festival. From 11am – 6pm enjoy world class storytelling for free thanks to funding from the Polk County Community Foundation's Kirby Fund. While on the road with Poetry Alive! I've been highly entertained by Wright Clarkson, StoryGuy of Charlotte at school literary festivals. His use of simple costumes and exotic musical instruments add just a touch of spectacle to complete his interactive adventures in imagination. Connie Regan-Blake of Asheville was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Storytelling Conference for her amazing dedication to the art of storytelling. According to the National Storytelling association, she is a "master storyteller who sets the standards of excellence in the storytelling field." Her repertoire ranges from Appalachian tales to true life adventures that capture the hearts of her listeners. The event also includes performances by local favorites Lance Smith, Gwenda Ledbetter, Poetic Justice, and Carolie Bartol. So, plan to enjoy a relaxing day of entertainment that will keep even the little ones spellbound.

Saturday evening offers a variety of music for those longing to get their toes a tapping. In Saluda the Purple Onion welcomes Sharon LaMotte & Bill Gerhardt. Need to groove on the dance floor? From 8-11pm dance off that extra piece of pumpkin pie with FreeWay South over at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree. Tryon offers the sweet music of Jan & Barney at the Gallery Coffeehouse from 8-10pm or take the stage yourself with Karaoke at Elmo's .

Tinkler’s Gift of Hope

I have always loved words. I remember as a child only willingly going to bed if there was a bedtime story. Whether it was “The Pokey Little Puppy,” Seuss’ “Fox in Sox,” or even Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” the words would weave a world of wonder inside my head. My father’s voice was the most comfortable sound to curl up in and relax. As I grew older and more independent, I had to read myself to sleep and began to realize just how lucky I was to have been given so many bed time stories.

As we enter the holiday season, many draw close with their families to celebrate their blessings. Thankfully, for those who need help transitioning to a safe and healthy family environment, Steps to HOPE offers special assistance during the winter months. With support from community members who have gifts to share, they are able to help families recover from violence and celebrate a happy holiday.

This weekend Chris Tinkler and his family invite you and your family to join them in supporting Steps to HOPE. Chris will be performing a theatrical presentation of Truman Capote’s beautiful story of a boy’s joyful childhood memories of Christmas. While he’s been too busy doing theatre to spend much time talking about it, I did manage to get a few answers out of him about the show.

Why did you choose this particular piece as a one-man show?
It is a wonderful Christmas story about a boy and his love of an elderly aunt – it is autobiographical – all the simple things that they do in order to get ready for Christmas.

Tell me a little about Steps to HOPE and how you got involved doing this as a fund raiser for them.
Steps to HOPE focuses on helping victims of domestic violence to get back on their feet and start a new life. We have been involved the last three years helping to provide Christmas for a family. Linda, (Chris’ wife) thought that the wonderful Christmas play and the Steps to HOPE organization would make a good match.

Have you ever done something like this before?
I have performed this piece several times.

When and where have you performed this before?
11 Years ago I presented it in the old upstairs Gallery Space. I had just met my future wife several days before and invited her to come to the show – She was surprised that I remembered her name –

How did you decide to put it together as a one man show?
It’s nice to have a piece that you can just pull out and do – I don’t need any other actors, the set requirements are minimal.

How has it changed the different times you've performed it?
Not that much has changed over the years – becoming a father I understand the joy of Christmas through a child’s eyes and that will make a difference this year. It will be the first time that Jack (Chris’ son) will see the show.

How have you prepared for this while directing, designing, and performing in the show “All in the Timing” for TLT?
Squeezing it in when I can.

Did you have any difficulties adapting the script to performance?
It is straight from the story – the piece is so beautifully composed that there is no reason to change a single word. It flows.

Will you have to do much technically to change the TLT space from “All in the Timing” to "Christmas Memory"?
The floor will be painted – a new set moved in – lights refocused.

Have Linda and Jack helped you to prepare for these shows? How?
They just give me time to rehearse and Linda always needs to hear the characters voices to make sure that they are correct.

Chris Tinkler will perform Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” as a one-man show at the Tryon Little Theatre Workshop this Thanksgiving weekend Nov 22-24 at 7:30pm. Audience members are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for Steps to HOPE Christmas. Tickets for the production benefiting Steps to HOPE are $15.00 and available at the TLT Box Office. Call (828) 859-3006 for more information.

Ashburn, Pearsons, & Smith Focus on the Foothills

When Carolyn Ashburn approached me to discuss her upcoming show at the Upstairs Artspace with Elaine Pearsons and Mara Smith, it was with trepidation. "They are much better at talking about what we are doing," she said. When she showed me some example photos for the show, my interest was peaked. Since it's still a month before the show is hung, I asked her if they could perhaps fill me in on how a gallery show is put together since I've never done such a thing. Being a performance artist and writer myself, I am a bit clueless about the visual arts. I am a great appreciator of other people's talent with 2-dimensional art, but that's about as far as my knowledge goes.

When we finally all met one evening outdoors in the Depot Park of Tryon, I found myself racing to keep up as they nearly finished each other's sentences, overwhelming me with all the pieces that fit together to create this show. I was most amazed by how these three women had become closer friends and supported each other through the process. What a wonderful feeling to have fun while being productive with your friends. What follows is a bit of the whirlwind conversation as I got to know a little more about these talented women and the project that brought them together.

What are you calling the show?
Mara: 3 Women/3 Cameras: Focus on the Foothills

Did the name come first or the general idea?
Mara: The idea came first; we've debated the title.

Elaine: Some of my favorites were "Lipsticks, Hormones & Cameras" or "Polk Your Eye Out."

Mara: Carolyn told us she'd like to photograph with us to get to know the surrounding area since she was new to it.

Elaine: Originally we thought about photographing local events and tried looking at calendars and organizing dates for outings.

Carolyn: Chuck (husband) suggested just making a grid of the area and working our way around on the major roads.

Mara: We have a much better understanding of local geography now.

Carolyn: Elaine was quick to note the change that has come to the area - the disappearance of forests and farms for the construction of houses.

Elaine: Too, the neon of the Hot Spot in Landrum gave me such a jolt when it first appeared. Things were changing. I had the idea that we all photograph the same subjects to capture different viewpoints. I like all that is different and contrasting as well as joint in our venture.

Did you go out together to photograph?
Mara: Once or twice a week.

Elaine: We decided that Thursdays were best.

Carolyn: Sometimes one of us couldn't make it, but basically we went out every week for at least two hours if not more, not much shorter than that ever.

Mara: We took turns driving each week.

Did you have the goal of putting together a show from the beginning?
Carolyn: Not originally - they snuck that in on me.

Elaine: Ultimately I knew some gallery somewhere would be interested in doing this show.

Mara: We met with Nancy Holmes a while back and she mentioned the idea. Several other folks have been very supportive of the idea project including Nancy, Mike McCue, Carolyn’s husband Chuck Hearon, my husband Ford Smith, and Howard Green.

Elaine: Mike is quite the historian and Howard Green is a charming gentleman who was born here and lived here all his 80 some years.

Carolyn: Except when he was an Army Ranger.

Mara: We received funding from the Polk County Chamber Foundation for ongoing expenses like gas for the photo trips.

Carolyn: Barbecue money! I was glad to learn that my volunteer hours at the festival were well spent.

Mara: The Polk County Community Foundation Kirby grant is funding putting on the show.

What made you seek grant money?
Mara: We realized we would need funding to do a good job with the project and the exhibit. I talked with Janet Wooley of the chamber and asked if our project was worthy of grant money and she handed me the forms which I filled out. Cathie Campbell of the community foundation pointed us toward the Kirby Fund. We received grants from both foundations.

Carolyn: At the time when that paperwork was due, Elaine lost her mother and I lost mine, so it was up to Mara to get the work done.

Elaine: That was the week "that was."

Mara: Also, this past year, I finished settling my mother’s estate. Perhaps we should dedicate this show to our mothers Cesarina, Sarah, and Claudia.

How long have you been working on this project?
Elaine: We went out for our first photo shoot August 10, 2006.

Mara: I think it was a year ago September that we first met with Nancy Holmes.

Carolyn: I should have suspected back then that they were plotting a show. Now I know better. I had thought I was retired. Someone asked me recently about the danger of three women working on a project together for a year, but we're still friends. Now we're just a month away from opening on November 17th.

Mara: There will be a special evening for gallery patrons on Thursday November 15th and the show will hang until December 22nd. We'll be in the upstairs space and downstairs will be an show of local crafts curated by Garland Rice.


Are you still taking photos?
Mara: We're framing and Elaine's glitterizing.

Glitterizing? Isn't that a bit like neon?
Elaine: It's very different from neon. And, it's so much more… I'll have a few photos glitterized.

Mara: Each of us chose a category from our work then an image to blow up large as a statement to hang at the gallery entrance. Carolyn focused on streetscapes, Elaine selected architecture, and I chose rural beauty. Most of our people and sign photos are small; others are a variety of sizes.
It’s been amazing how generous people have been to us — allowing us to photograph them, their homes, their businesses.... We have a real sampler of Polk County.

Carolina: Actually "the area" includes Landrum and Campobello where I live.

Mara: We crossed into Rutherford and Henderson counties as well as into Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

Elaine: The closer we got to the deadline, the more we realized how we've barely scratched the surface of the area. It's so big!

Mara: We were invited out to White Oak when Kathy Taft and Al Creasy were surveying Revolutionary war grave sites. It was a great opportunity to photograph and learn some history of the area.

Elaine: It was interesting to see how they located the graves. Then, the series of depressions became obvious to us.
So much of the area is changing.

Carolyn: Paul's Place is gone; now it's Rookies. I almost did a 360 in the road when I saw it being painted. I stopped to photograph and one of the painters began posing for the camera.

Elaine: We all have pictures of Paul's Place.

Mara: And, Chocolate Drop is melting away.

Elaine: I wasn't too inspired by Chocolate Drop, but Carolyn and Mara took some photos.

Mara: Earth movers and such. We've been working on making a slide show of "Changing Pictures of Change" and Elaine is compiling a notebook of newspaper headlines.

Carolyn: We're also planning on doing a calendar to benefit the Upstairs Artspace.

Mara: As a record of the project.

Elaine: A capsule of the "pretty pictures."

Anything you'd like to finish with?

Mara: A poem. We asked individuals we photographed "What brought you here? What kept you here?" Carolyn's 95-year-old father-in-law Charlie Hearon responded:

freedom of land and nature
kindness of the weather
beauty of the streams
magnificence of the trees
critters in the night
daylight and darkness
folks and animals

Thanks to generous support from The Polk County Chamber Foundation and the Kirby Fund administered by the Polk County Community Foundation, 3 Women 3 Cameras: Focus on the Foothills opens at the Upstairs Artspace November 17th and runs through December 22nd. For more information and gallery hours, contact the Upstairs Artspace by phone at 828-859-2828 or visit their website: www.upstairsartspace.org.

p.s. A video interview with these lovely women is available at Back Porch Screenings.

Take Time for Wondrous Things!

If your timing is right this weekend, you may just have the opportunity to see and hear some wondrous things. Opening tonight at the Tryon Little Theatre Workshop (next to China Dynasty at 516 South Trade Street ) is All in the Timing by David Ives. The cast of wacky characters led by Chris Tinkler has done a wonderful job of pulling together this series of fun, witty, short scenes that all hinge on that old saying "timing is everything." We've been enjoying laughing at each other this week as we finally get to see what all the separate scenes look like. Come laugh with us Thursday through Saturday night at 8pm or Sunday afternoon at 3pm this weekend. We've toned down the language for Southern sensibilities, but this humor is probably best suited for teens and adults who will understand the verbal word play as well as the physical comedy. You'll be treated to the antics of language grifters, folks with the Philadelphia blues, a couple caught in a time loop of miscommunication, uncommon men living common lives, Trotsky's mountain axe trouble, and typing monkeys. As for me, I'll survive the weekend if I can just perfect my ability to parla da linkwa looniversahl (that's "speak the universal language" for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of memorizing a scene written in Unamunda).

Take a little time out to stop and tantalize your senses at the Fall Festival hosted by Your Arts Desire in Saluda Friday evening after work. From 5pm on there will be festivities and a feast for the eyes as they celebrate their second year of supporting local artists. In addition to new work by current members they will also be unveiling the organic hand painted silk scarves of their newest member Barbara Tilly.

Also, make sure to set aside some time on Saturday to explore the two openings at the Upstairs Artspace from 5-8pm. Upstairs will be the 3 Women/3 Cameras show featuring the photography of Carolyn Ashburn, Elaine Pearsons, and Mara Smith looking through lenses at the changing landscape and scenery of our surrounding area. Thanks to funding from Polk County Community Foundation and the Polk County Chamber Foundation these lively ladies have spent a year documenting with photos the new and the old sights that make this area special. Downstairs is a treasure trove of
"Wondrous Things" crafted by local artisans. This show organized by Garland Rice features ceramic art, metal- smithing, wood turning and carving, jewelry, textiles, glass, and gourds. This show offers a perfect chance to take a look at the fine workmanship of a variety of talented individuals living in the area.

If you find you just can't sit still, the time may be right to get out and make some music or just dance the night away. Friday evening around 8pm until the music lasts, the Gallery Coffeehouse in Tryon offers up an open mic, "Listening to Coffee" hosted by Mike Locke. Family friendly fun coffeehouse style with a variety of entertainment, this is a lovely way to relax into the weekend and maybe even try sharing something new. Or, perhaps you'll find the time Saturday night to slip up to Saluda from the Southern rock of Southern Pointe at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree or catch the high energy show at the Purple Onion served up by Don Childers & the Modern Don Juans. It might be tricky, be with a little time management you could catch both shows that run from 8pm- 11pm. It's all in the timing to catch the fun.

One Weekend Only!

Timing is everything! For one weekend only Tryon Little Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives. These six short comedic acts are sure to tickle your funny bone as well as your brain.

Topics of the scenes span a variety of topics such as "Variations on the Death of Trotsky" told from the Russian Revolutionary's own perspective, a lesson in the "Universal Language" of Unamunda, and how to order food "Philadelphia" style.

Word lovers will thrive on the clever dialog. The physical comedy of watching Rebecca Davis, Kathleen Carson, and Sam Lovelace playing monkeys is not to be missed! Recommended for well read youth and anyone looking for an evening full of laughter. First grader Jack Tinkler (son of director Chris Tinkler, and fan of the theatre) has been heard laughing over the monkeys and other scenes during rehearsals.

All in the Timing runs at the Tryon Little Theatre Workshop November 15-18 with evening performances Thursday - Saturday at 8pm, and a Sunday matinée at 3pm. Ticket and information are available at the TLT Box Office, 516 South Trade Street, 10am - 1pm or call: 828-859-2466.

Scout Bell Building a Blacksmith Forge

I heard that there was an Eagle Scout project in the works over at Tryon Arts & Crafts. I finally had a chance this weekend to stop by and see exactly what they were doing just one week away from the grand opening event. I discovered an enthusiastic group just finishing up a hard day's work. Valerie Miller explained that this entire crew was here as part of Polk County High School freshman Michael Bell's project for his Eagle Scout Badge. She was kind enough to introduce me to TAC board member Jerry Pospisil and Michael Bell who seemed pleased to share how the studio we were standing inside came to be.

Jerry: In June of 2006 Michael and his parents came into Tryon Arts & Crafts and he told us he wanted to do a project for TAC. We offered several options from painting a room to landscaping or even building a blacksmith's studio. They went home to mull over the possibilities and after a couple of weeks he told us he'd decided on the blacksmith studio. We introduced Michael to our consulting team and he met with them twice a week for four to five months. Blacksmiths Walt Myers and Bill Crowell were brought on as consultants and we led Michael through the process of project management.


Michael: I went to Penland and J.C. Campbell to see their forges and consult with Elizabeth Brim, Paul Garrett, Clay Spenser, and Chris Winterstein among others. I gathered information on forge types, sizes, and the needs for setting up a forge. Then I went home and pulled out graph paper and a scale ruler and started trying to lay out on paper a design for the forge here in Tryon.

Jerry: He had to learn about and account for the different tools, coals, and heat required for different metals.

Michael: Kayne & Son Blacksmiths in Asheville gave me some designs and ideas about what tools we'd need. They were a great resource. They hold the local weekly meeting of ABANA (Artist-Blacksmith's Association of North America).

Jerry: Michael found out from them about shows and auctions where we could buy tools. Then we began the planning stages for funding.

Michael: Raising money.

Jerry: The board voted to proceed and wrote grants for the project. Polk County Chamber awarded a grant toward the project and North Carolina Arts Council's grant is funding the dedication on November 10th. Friends, family, and other sources of donations helped us to reach our goal. To start building the structure we had raised $9,000 in cash and with in-kind services, materials, and labor the total is probably over $25,000.

Michael: March 31st was the ground breaking for the studio. But we're still working on raising funds for a few more items. In particular we still need two anvils that cost from $600 to $800 depending on the size. I've been so focused on learning the design criteria and creating the forge, I still haven't learned about the art of blacksmithing.

Jerry: The focus of Tryon Arts & Crafts is to promote and preserve the heritage crafts.


Michael: We built the rock forge for the instructor to replicate a traditional forge back in the day before there were large sheets of metal available.

Jerry: The bellows on that forge are from a farm in Toulon, Illinois.

At this point Michael gave me a very professional and educational tour of the nearly complete studio.

Michael: We have four student forges and an instructor's forge. We have two post vices at either end of the layout table and we just had a table vice donated by Austin Chapman. The layout table is about 750 pounds of table built by Walt Myers.

On the student forges, Bill Crowell designed and created the different blast gate handles for each one, the hoods came from a company in Chicago, and Walt Myers built the firepots. The blast gates control the air flow to heat up the coal to the right temperature. There is also a collapsible metal rack to hold pieces too big for the forge top. As the coal burns the ashes fall through the center, but the heat will turn the coal to glass so the "clinker breaker" breaks up the chunks without having to stick a poker in there. The hood with smoke shelf pulls the smoke up and out of the building. The empty space between the forge and the wall will hold a coal bin so it's easy to refill the personal bins on the forge top. You'll notice that Walt Myers' signature for Turner Junction Forge is on the firepot and Crowell's name is above the handle on each forge.

Walt Myers also designed the instructor's forge. The stone forge is set on a 6.5' x 6.5' concrete pad. Originally it was going to be brick and block, but we decided on Tennessee filled stone for a more authentic look. The tong wrap across the front is to hold tools. The traditional bellows are above the forge, I'll climb up so I can read you their story off the plaque.

It has a plaque on top?

Michael: Walt put it there so future generations will know their story.

To summarize the story, Blacksmith Everett Price of Toulon, Illinois began using the bellows in 1920 to provide services to farmers and teach others the craft. After his death in 1955, the bellows fell into disrepair until they were removed in 1980 and rebuilt to be used by Walt Myers at his forge. They were brought to Campobello by Walt and donated this year to Tryon Arts & Crafts to deliver air to the forge.

I didn't get to see the bellows in action. I'll have to come to the dedication ceremony to see that. But, they did fire up one of the student forges for its first test run while I was there. Michael actually showed signs of youthful joy as he had the chance to test his design with a real fire. Now that this part of the crafting, building, and designing is done, I suspect he'll finally have the chance to develop his artistic skills with the craft of blacksmithing right here in his own hometown.


The public is invited to the dedication ceremony "Firing Up the Forge" from 10am – 4pm Saturday November 10 on the grounds of Tryon Arts & Crafts located at 373 Harmon Field Road. Thanks to the grant from North Carolina Arts Council this will be a festival event with music (Phil and Gaye Johnson, Russ and Billie Jordan, a Heritage Jam with Claude Graves and friends), artisan demonstrations, arts and crafts booths, plus children's crafts and storytelling.

Gersch Creating a "Symphony of Form"

When I first walked into the Red Clover Gallery, I found myself asking, "What makes abstract art interesting?" Before I could answer that I felt myself drawn closer to a painting in the far corner that was full of joyful color except in the center of a circle where the pattern remained black and white. At this point in time I had not met Guntram Gersch or talked with anyone about his work and so I was merely reacting from gut instinct. The playful blues and pinks seemed to dance around this center point which became the focus in its simplicity. I identified with that feeling as I stood quietly in the middle of the room. After wandering through and taking a cursory glance at everything hanging I had the opportunity to walk through again with the artist himself.

Suddenly, each piece became an adventure as I began to recognize patterns of rhythm and mood that infused each of them. He often is listening to music while working. "Mozart, Bach, perhaps the Merry Widow Waltz for that one. There is one that is most definitely Mozart hanging at my house," he says. I notice how the piece titled Meditation has a calm symmetry to it. But looking closer it is more balance than symmetry, since no two figures look exactly the same in the field of view. "They are all mixed media. I build up by layers, sometimes starting with a pastel dust just rubbed on the page to create a suggestion of color and then adding pencil, ink, or some other medium until what I see balances the feeling and vision within me." "Well," I say, "it certainly is unique. They don't look like any other artist's work I've seen." He takes this as a compliment mentioning influences like Pollack, who he has admired but striven to break away from in order to create his own vision on paper and not just copy someone else's idea.


As we turn the corner, "Ah circles, I love circles." We are looking a series of three black and white pieces that contain concentric circles. They seem to hold a Zen-like quiet in the midst of a field of contemplative little figures. Next to us is the piece with color that first caught my eye. I realize that the circle had drawn my eye because in the midst of all the dancing colorful figures it creates a center focus for the eye. Here there seems to be a blend of joyful chaos and balance.

We come to one piece that is dark yellowish grey and feels heavy to look at, "No music for that one, silence, it came from a dark memory." I don't think either of us intended to talk politics, but somehow music and art seems to always lead back to that subject eventually. Perhaps that is because art is often the product of the emotional environment created by politics. "I grew up in Silesia before the second war. After the war the area we lived in was taken over by communist Poland and we were forced to leave our homes and move. It is not a pleasant memory."

At this point, the gallery is filling up with visitors for the opening and there are more and more people wishing to visit with Mr. Gersch about his work. He offers to let me visit his studio so we may finish our conversation. A few days later I take him up on the offer and am overwhelmed by the quantity and diversity of work that he has stored up in his own home. There are bright and colorful flower like figures, a fanciful collage of pencil shavings that catches my eye, and piles of experiments with different forms and colors that float past my eyes so quickly I barely have time to comment on the ones that particularly draw my interest. It is interesting to see how over the years the work has developed and changed. Several pieces hang around his home representing some of his favorites from different periods of the work. One piece is particularly reminiscent of Pollack and he explains that he finally "finished" it by adding a red painted circle of wood to the top of the collage to make it look less Pollack. I also finally got to see the Mozart inspired piece that is full of lush soft color and seems to move and dance with the same vibrancy as the music that inspired it.

He had recently returned from his summer home in Evian, France with piles of new sketches. "Mostly I just lock myself away in the studio and work. If someone tries to come in to say hello they are sent away. It is something that I have to do, and once I get started I don't want to be interrupted." From the collection of work that surrounds him in his home, this seems to be a passion that calls to him frequently. The work comes from a need to express emotion and ideas in a visual form rather than trying to replicate what is already visible.

I asked him about his training in art. "I was raised by a family in the hotel and restaurant business. In the 1960s I worked in a restaurant across from the Art Institute in Chicago." That was when he really began to study art for himself, and began making regular visits to the Institute. As particular influences, he mentions the Art Brut collection in Lausanne, Switzerland . The concept was started in 1945 by Jean Dubuffet to qualify art created by psychiatry residents and non-professionals of art working outside the "agreed-upon" aesthetic standards. Similar in concept is the 1948-51 COBRA avant-garde art movement (named after the cities of the artists: Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam) which drew inspiration from children's drawings and folk art valuing non-conformity and spontaneity. After seeing an exhibit, he says "I bought a lithograph and started painting like them. I never thought I would exhibit my own work."

However, in 1967 a lady friend opened the Counterpoint Gallery on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago and gave him an exhibition. "From then on I began to exhibit more and more, even though that gallery eventually went out of business." During the 1970s he escaped the city and moved to Door County in Wisconsin where he continued to show his work as well as in Beirut , Bahrain, and Switzerland. In 1992 his work was shown at the Lloyd Shin Gallery in Los Angeles as part of the LA International Art Fair. As Door County grew and became more commercial a friend suggested Tryon as a new home. It only took one visit to find the home and studio where he now lives for nine months of the year saving the three "hot" months for Evian, France . Since moving to Tryon his work has been shown locally at the Tryon Fine Arts Center, The Old Upstairs Gallery, a 40 year retrospective at the Upstairs Artspace, and now at the Red Clover Gallery in Landrum. "My neighbor Mrs. Post has several of my pieces hanging in her house. Celia from Red Clover had dinner at her house and then contacted me after seeing my work there."


Guntram Gersch's current show "Symphony of Form," a collection of previously unseen work from the past 20 years is available for viewing at the Red Clover Gallery in Landrum through December 6th. The gallery is located at 214 East Rutherford Street in Landrum and is open Tuesday – Saturday 11am-5pm or by appointment. For more information you may visit www.redclovergallery.com, or call 864-457-3311.

Warm Up with Fall Crafts, Music and Art

As November ushers in a chill wind along with the beautiful colors of changing leaves, this weekend offers some opportunities to warm up with the arts. Tonight is Talent Night at the Melrose Inn in Tryon which has moved indoors to their comfortable lounge from the porch for the season. The latest word on the menu for the 6:30pm buffet is "something hearty like spaghetti and meatballs." Join this warm-hearted group for a potpourri of entertainment along with your meal and maybe even take a moment to share something of your own. You may also find the Purple Onion inviting and cozy with hot folk inspired rocking guitar music from Greg Klyma up in Saluda.

Friday night seems quiet, but the adventurous soul might slip up to the Back Room in Flat Rock for the music of Asheville darling Caroline Pond of Snake Oil Medicine Show at 9pm. She'll light a fire in the hearts of the crowd with her sweet vocals and fiddle playing accompanied by Sean Foley on accordion and piano. If you feel like sticking close to home, stop by for a hot drink and warm conversation at the Gallery Coffeehouse and maybe even catch some impromptu music.

On Saturday the early birds should hop on down to the Gowensville Fall Festival that starts at 8am. You'll find colorful crafts and folk to help you get a early start on your Christmas shopping. Maybe you'll even take home a quilt from the fine artisans of Landrum Quilters to curl up in on those cold winter nights. The arts really begin to heat up at 10am over at Harmon Field for the "Firing of the Forge" dedication. Festivities run until 4pm and include plenty of craft demonstrations and music to celebrate the completion of the Michael Bell's Eagle Scout badge project of bringing a Blacksmith Studio to Tryon Arts & Crafts. Once you've warmed up at the forge, slip on down to the Upstairs Artspace to get your last minute bids in on the Silent Auction before they close the bidding at 4pm with a reception. Don't miss the opportunity to find quality art from such artists as Eugene Avergon, Bonnie Bardos, Page Davis, Greg and Paul Flint, Linda Hudgins, Dale McEntire, Richard Nelson, Carlyn Tucker, Claire Apple, Kathleen Carson, Richard Conn, Patricia Cole-Ferullo, Charlotte Fowler, Carol Beth Icard, J. Gary Kornmayer, and Elisabeth Paxton Oliver. Take the chance on owning beautiful artwork at bargain prices while supporting the gallery with much needed funding to continue to bring quality shows and workshops for a 30th year. Then afterwards, slip up the hill to the Tryon Fine Arts Center for a little spark with the annual Tryon Painters & Sculptors Miniature Show reception from 5-7pm in Gallery Too. All work in the show must be no larger than 10x10 inches, but even a small piece of art can light up a room.

For the night owls, the evening continues up in Saluda . Heat up the night with music cooked up in the Americana kitchen of Mama Said over dinner at the Purple Onion, or dance the night away to Legacy at the Saluda Mountain Jamboree.

Don't let time get away from you though. Next weekend Tryon Little Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives at the Workshop. The show opens Thursday November 15 and runs through Sunday. Seating is limited at the workshop, so be sure to get your tickets in advance for this cheerful, fast paced selection of comedic scenes that is sure to warm you up with laughter.

Words Words Words

"Are they watching?"

Photo by Lorin Browning
Kathleen Carson as Kafka, Sam Lovelace as Milton,
& Rebecca Davis as Swift

All in the Timing by David Ives directed by Chris Tinkler
Tryon Little Theatre Workshop, 516 S Trade St., Tryon, NC
November 15-18, 2007
Thursday through Saturday at 8pm Sunday at 3pm

Tickets available at TLT Workshop, from 10 am to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information call 828-859-2466

Folk Art to Fine Art in Polk County

This weekend offers a lovely sampling of the best the area has to offer in everything from folk to fine art. Sitting in the Gallery Coffeehouse one afternoon, I listened to a young woman explain how she'd driven here just to see what was going on at the Upstairs Artspace. As an art student the gallery had been introduced to her as one of the premier places to see quality exhibits of both traditional and contemporary fine art. Visit the Upstairs Artspace this weekend to view the collected art for their Silent Auction fundraising event. In order to keep this quality gallery thriving, highly respected local artists Dale McEntire, Linda Hudgins, Gary Kornmayer and Bonnie Bardos among other painters, collage artists, craftspeople, and clothing artists have donated their work to raise much needed funding for the Upstairs Artspace. For collectors, this is an opportunity to find some great bargains on wonderful art. The work is available for viewing at the Upstairs Tuesday through Saturday from 11am to 5pm until bidding closes at 4pm on November 10 th.

On Friday evening in Tryon you may choose the traditional folk and gospel music at the Gallery Coffeehouse for their monthly Pickin' Parlor. The Gallery Coffeehouse offers the hometown comfort of a cozy place to listen to music or join in to play or sing with talented musicians who share music in the circle for an evening starting at 7pm. However, for the classical music enthusiast, Tryon Concert Association proudly brings Carnegie Hall to Tryon and presents an evening with the finest musicians Argentina has to offer. Camerata Bariloche Chamber Orchestra has performed thousands of concerts worldwide and was awarded the Platinum Konex Prize as best chamber ensemble in the history of Argentina. Now in its 40th year, this brilliant group of nearly twenty musicians will perform at TFAC Friday evening at 8pm under the direction of Fernando Hasaj.


On Saturday, fine art and landscape aficionados should take a trip to Saluda for the Jem Littell reception at Saluda Fine Arts from 5-7pm. Professional musician, and brother, Joe Littell will provide a selection of jazz and blues for your listening pleasure while you take in the beautiful pastel landscapes and scenes of Jem's exhibit "Carolina Time."

Sunday offers folk music fans a special Songcatcher Social at Polk County Public Library in Columbus. This free program begins at 2pm in the community room and features premier autoharpist and folksinger Adam Miller. With a repertoire of over 2,500 traditional and contemporary folk songs he is a national recognized presenter of folklore and has a reputation for captivating listeners and never failing to get his audiences singing along.

After the concert join the Tryon Painters & Sculptors at the Tryon Fine Arts Center Gallery I from 3-5pm for the reception of their Members Exhibit. Painting instructors and award winning members contribute to a colorful exhibition of oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, and mixed media will include everything from landscapes and still-life to portraits and abstracts. Lalage Warrington and other sculptor members will share a collection of work ranging from fun and whimsical to practical and realistic.

Country music lovers can finish off the weekend at the Purple Onion Café in Saluda with "Zen Cowboy" Chuck Pyle. In true cowboy style he offers not only a collection of original tunes with memorable melodies, but also a good dose of old-fashioned horse sense and cowboy wisdom. The Sunday night concert series offers a limited menu to allow for a more intimate listening experience. The concert begins at 7pm and seating is limited so you may reserve tickets by calling 828-749-1179.