Salon d’Upstairs & Dale McEntire: Reflections Along the Path

Upstairs Artspace, a contemporary gallery in downtown Tryon, is known for its carefully curated shows of fine art and craft by the Southeast’s leading artists. But this September, the venue is departing from its typical curatorial approach with Salon d’Upstairs — a show that invites all creatives (high-school age and up) to submit their work for display. Per a press statement, the exhibition culls inspiration from Salon de Paris, which originated in the late 1600s as the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. “These were popular exhibitions that served as a testament to the creative productivity of artists in the region and were characterized by a floor-to-ceiling hanging — an informal jostling of artworks contrived to provide an opportunity for the greatest number of artists to participate,” according to a gallery statement. In October, the venue will present a solo show of work by Saluda painter and sculptor Dale McEntire. According to McEntire’s website, his contemporary landscapes aim to capture the “vibration, color, motion, texture, space, and form” of the natural world. He writes, “When I work on location or take a walk in nature, I make an effort to experience its beauty and wonder. I try to represent this energy with symbolism and color.” The exhibit, which is aptly dubbed Reflections Along the Path, runs through December.