On the Verge: An exhibition by emerging local artists

Posted on by Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt

The work of 10 emerging visual artists who won WNC Magazine’s “On the Verge” art contest now adorns four galleries in the Phil Mechanic Studios, located in Asheville’s River Arts District. The second annual juried show offers local artists the opportunity to participate in a month-long exhibition, in addition to being featured in the magazine’s latest arts issue.

The most striking aspect of On the Verge is the diverse array of mediums represented in the exhibition. Climbing the narrow steps that connects the Flood Gallery to Mezzanine and Pump Gallery to the Library Studio, visitors travel from one dynamic display to the next. In one gallery, for example, textured geometric vases made of glass sit in front of abstract paintings inspired by dreams and mediation. In another studio, giant surrealist sculptures are perched in the corners, resting beside delicate ceramic plates that look like tropical flowers mounted on the wall. The unique amalgamation of art establishes an atmosphere of wonder: As if one is wandering through a world imagined by 10 extremely talented artists.

Here is a slide show of the exhibition taken at WNC Magazine’s On the Verge preview party held on June 3. 


Photos by Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt.

On the Verge artists include:

Emily Crabtree (abstract painting that “play on the perceptions of the past, memories, and time”)

Julie Robinson (abstract paintings inspired by dreams and mediation)

Angelique Tassistro (ceramic art and design)

Dustin Spagnola (paintings of cultural icons rendered through street-inspired, graffiti-reminiscent styles)

Justin D. Turcotte (geometric glass sculpture)

Maggie Jones (imaginative yet functional ceramic art)

Robb Helmkamp (wood and metal furniture/sculpture)

Sean Pace (metal installation art/surrealist sculpture)

Severn Eaton (paintings)

Wesley Corn (digital photography)

The opening reception for On the Verge will be held on Saturday, June 5, at 5 p.m. and will feature live music by funk/soul band WestSound and DJ Lance Wille. Light refreshments and beer provided. The Phil Mechanic Studio is located at 109 Roberts St. on the corner of Clingman Ave. in the River Arts District. Info: www.philmechanicstudios.com.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt
Aiyanna grew up on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. She was educated at The Cambridge School of Weston, Sarah Lawrence College, and Oxford University. Aiyanna lives in Asheville, North Carolina where she proudly works for Mountain Xpress, the city’s independent local newspaper.
View all posts by Aiyanna Sezak-Blatt →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

2 thoughts on “On the Verge: An exhibition by emerging local artists”

  2. Joanne

    Yeah……it seems that emerging is just a word for rediscovering. Asheville’s art scene is on the verge of something. They just do not know what yet. A Bettie Page portrait. Really? We have some talent out there but sometimes it is what is less seen that is more innovative than the obvious.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.