When Connie Bostic passed away in January 2024, Asheville lost a cultural firestarter. From opening one of the city’s first gay bars in the 1980s to founding Zone one contemporary gallery in the 1990s, Bostic made space for bold work and bolder voices. She championed artists who didn’t play it safe, and she didn’t either. Opening August 12 at Western Carolina University, No Ordinary Company: The Gifts of Connie Bostic pays tribute to that legacy. “While she faced challenges as a woman navigating the art world in this era, she enjoyed making connections with other artists, especially those who were not afraid to challenge conventions or confront uncomfortable subject matter,” the university shares in a press statement. “She gravitated toward artists who took risks in their work and embraced authenticity.” The exhibition features more than 50 pieces Bostic donated to the university’s museum in honor of her mentor, Robert Godfrey. Included are works by artists she admired, alongside a work from her “Here and There” series, painted in response to the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.
No Ordinary Company: August 12-October 17; Reception: Thursday, September 18, 5-7pm
Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum / 199 Centennial Dr., Cullowhee / arts.wcu.edu