Art-making is often lonely work. But not during the annual Drawing Marathon at Upstairs Artspace. Now in its sixth year, this event invites a carefully curated group of creatives to spend two days sketching, stippling, and shading individual works at the Tryon art venue. Pieces created over the weekend are then exhibited to the public. “We normally spend so much time alone in our studios, it’s just great being surrounded by people who ‘get it,’” says board member and event organizer Margaret Curtis. Plus, she adds, “It’s also fun and inspiring to see how many different ways people approach … drawing, which we define for the marathon as anything on paper. I always come away with an expanded idea of drawing, and am eager to draw more.” This year, participating artists will work the weekend of January 18-19. Since many hail from areas hit hard by Hurricane Helene, Curtis hopes the two-day event can serve as a retreat — “a gift of time and space and community,” she says.
The Drawing Marathon happens January 18-19 at Upstairs Artspace (49 South Trade St., Tryon, upstairsartspace.org). During the event, lunch will be catered by Tryon International Equestrian Center and Iron Key Brewery. The resulting exhibition runs from January 26-February 28 with an opening reception on Sunday, January 26, 2pm.