Quarterly Report - Q3 2023

TOSS completed a five weeks summer camp program, which served 123 students, with 37% on full scholarship. Our program highlighted neighbors as The Catawba Nation, Waldensians, Central Americans, African Americans, and Hmong. We utilized resources like bilingual books (gifted to us the community) but also created custom assets where materials were not available, such as content-specific coloring sheets and lesson plans. 

We completed the installation of three murals and blessed them through a two-day event, attended by over 250 folks. Pat Nivanh, one of the steering committee members, hosted a thank you dinner for the Community Mural Institute and artists cohort (our team of 25 who created these masterpieces), honoring them with an authentic Laotian meal. We also completed the installation of our courthouse lawn mosaic, and announced the winners of our downtown student art exhibition: 

  • High School: Reese Reinhardt, Draughn High School

  • Middle School: Lydia Dupuis from Liberty Middle School

  • Elementary: Drip Art - Collaboration with Mountain View Elementary Students

Downtown Student Art Expo - Winners!

Congratulation to the 2023 winners!

  • High School: Reese Reinhardt, Draughn High School

  • Middle School: Lydia Dupuis from Liberty Middle School

  • Elementary: Drip Art Collaboration with Mountain View Elementary

Students will receive $50 once school resumes. The prize for collaborative projects (such as Mountain View Elementary) will go directly to the art instructor to advance the program.

Create 2 Connect | Community Mosaic for the Courthouse Lawn

OVERVIEW
A Community Mosaic project was commissioned by the City of Morganton to respond and reflect on our culture in Burke through visual art.

✏️ After two revisions with community feedback and a blessing from @morgantoncac she will create the tiles with student participation.

👩🏻‍🎤 THE ARTIST
Hannah Thrower, a resident of Morganton, is drafting the design with input from YOU and students from TOSS. After two revisions with community feedback, and a blessing from the Public Art Commission, she will create the tiles with student participation. A local mason will install the pieces on the Courthouse Square.

🛠 THE Install
A local mason will install the pieces on the Courthouse Square.

Quarterly Report - Q1 2023

In the past two months we selected a cohort of 12 artists to create three murals this summer and hosted three community dinners to gather input from the community. We were awarded $75K from the National Endowment for the arts for the second phase of our mural initiative (for next summer) which will be an incredible opportunity to expose our work to a national audience. 

In the next two months it will be key to recruit broad participation in our mural paint parties and other public art events to give everyone ownership of the three murals while they are being developed. Summer camp is also around the corner and we would like to recruit more middle and high school students, increasing enrollment from 70 to 100. We’d like our curriculum standards to be finalized before the fall semester begins (specifically speaking to our values, racial equity, environmental justice, and the future of work - not delineated in the NC Standard Course of Study).

Graduation Speeches | June 2nd, 2022

Freedom High School’s 49th Annual Commencement featured speeches from three student ambassadors of TOSS. They are documented below, in their entirety, in the order they were presented during commencement.

Austin Hunt

SGA President
Summa Cum Laude
North Carolina Academic Scholar
Presidential Academic Scholar

I would like to begin by saying Congratulations to the Class of 2022. High School was tough, but we were persistent and made it to the end of the road. I am so proud of everyone here for making it through a global pandemic, online school, canceled events, and wifi ransoms.  I would also like to congratulate the parents, guardians, families, and friends of the graduates. You have been here for us the whole way and we could not have done it without you, which makes you an important part of our achievements. You have seen the good days and bad days, heard us complaining about teachers and classmates, and helped us through the tough times. You have contributed to our high school experience, even if it seemed like we didn’t appreciate it. Likewise I want to congratulate the faculty of Freedom High school. You have done your job well and have kept us on the right path. We may not have liked all of the assignments or exams, but whether we realize it or not, we will be thankful for you at some point in our lives. 

Graduates, we are entering the next phase of our lives. Things are going to change whether we are ready or not. The future may be scary, but it is all dependent upon what we do now. Everything that happens from this point on depends on us. We are now high school graduates who have to make our own decisions. We won’t have teachers there holding our hands or parents telling us what to do. They have been through this before and know that it is now time for us to grow up and make our own decisions. They will still be here for us when we need them, but it is time for us to do the heavy lifting in deciding what our lives will be like. 

Despite this new responsibility, this next phase of our life comes with a sense of freedom. We are free to do what we want in pursuit of our dreams, whether that means going to college or trade school, going to the armed forces, going straight into the workforce, or taking time to yourself to figure everything out. We have the freedom to choose what we are going to do. I challenge you to make those decisions for yourself, not to appease anyone else or live up to expectations that don’t fit your goals. Do what YOU want with YOUR future because you are the one who has to live with those decisions. 

 Life is full of ups and downs; it is a natural cycle that happens to everyone. However, the cycle is not the same for everyone. Each individual here has their own unique journey. A journey that will be full of happy moments, such as this one, but also trials and hardships. Take each of these moments, the good and the bad, as moments of growth. Let them shape you into who you were meant to be. At points life may not seem fair or it may seem like you’re never going to get out of the rut you are in, but keep your head up. Better days are coming and eventually those moments will help shape who you are. Use moments like these, when despite everything going on in the world you graduated high school, to power through those dark times. 

Lastly, remember that you are not defined by your worst moments. In this social media heavy society where everyone’s judgements are made public it may seem like one mistake will ruin your life forever. However, that is not true. Everyone makes mistakes, and although society may make mistakes seem like they are the end of the world, they are not. It is okay to mess up and make mistakes. It is expected, so don’t let anyone make you feel any less worthy of anything because of one mistake you made. 

Congratulations Graduates and I’m excited to see everything that you accomplish in the future. 

Alisa Cruz-Mendez

Salutatorian
Summa Cum Laude
North Carolina Academic Scholar

Good evening everyone. 

Firstly, I would like to congratulate the Freedom Class of 2022 and thank all of the people who have supported and encouraged us over the years. 

I would like to dedicate this speech to my loved ones who ignited the Stonewall Riots and to those who have sacrificed everything so I could feel comfortable enough to speak to you all today. 

Nearly every spring, my mother and I garden in a small rectangular section of our backyard. As a young child, I watched my mother plow the dirt as she placed me under a large umbrella to protect me from the hot scorching sun. As I grew older, I would join my mother and we would spend hours under the sun until the stubborn weeds lifted their roots allowing us to plant crops, and thus allowing our Mayan roots and culture to grow. 

While I did not experience the harsh and deadly lifestyles of my ancestors, I am able to reflect on their lives. It is because of my fierce and resilient ancestors that it is in my nature to act with desire and purpose. The persistent willpower, determination, and dedication of my fellow migrant crop workers have shaped my character and have instilled the ambition and strength I carry today. 

It is with this same strength that I am able to stand here before you all as a proud queer Latina woman. 

Plowing the dirt in my backyard feels like the only “masculine” thing my mother allows me to do and for that reason, I find it liberating. It feels liberating enough that I did not let the comments about my long black arm hairs in Elementary school get to me. Liberating enough that I did not cave into the pressure of shaving my legs in Middle school. Liberating enough that I did not listen to my mother as she repeatedly told me to shave my facial and armpit hair so that no one would dare look at me in disgust today. Yet, I know she was just looking out for me. 

I speak with this criticism and bluntness because it is truthful to who I am. I share this deep and intimate part of my life because I know there are others of you who are familiar with that isolating and overwhelming feeling.

That being said, as we venture off to our next chapters in life I hope that you become curious on your path to self-discovery. I hope that you are ambitious and vulnerable. That you are kind, eclectic, and empathetic. That you become visionaries in this large tapestry of life. That you fill your life with inspiration and creativity. Accept the ebbs and flows of your life. Be proud of your mistakes. Be intentional and be free. 

Maya Angelou once said, “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.”

I appreciate you all coming out here today for this momentous occasion. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your evening and a marvelous rest of your life. Thank you all, Happy Pride Month, and godspeed.

Daniela Xiomara Gomez Euceda

Senior Class President
Magna Cum Laude
North Carolina Academic Scholar

Good Afternoon Graduates, For those of you who don’t know me, My name is Daniela Xiomara Gomez Euceda and I am your senior class president. I am tired and you probably are too so I will be quick. 

I have spent my entire academic career, fueled by anger. Anger towards what I could not control, anger towards how I was treated, and anger towards how I was perceived. It felt unfair that parts of my identity opened and closed doors for me before I knew they existed. I entered school with the innocence of every other child, and I never felt different until someone told me I was. I remember being 8 years old and thrilled to bring home my first friend from school, but that excitement quickly subsided as she made clear to me every way in which we were different. The face she made at the smell of hispanic cooking, her eye rolls when I told her my siblings and I shared a room, and the look of disbelief on her face when I explained that my sister and I needed to go to the store with my parents because we were their translators. All of this established a clear divide between us and made me feel as if somehow our differences made me inferior to her. For the majority of my life my mother worked as a housekeeper. When my older sister had school or work and could not watch me, my mother would take me to work with her. I used to dread it until I found the houses with kids my age. Some of whom are sitting in a cap and gown with me today. Suddenly it wasn’t work with my mom it was a playdate, or the closest I would get to one. Somewhere around age 12 I gained self awareness. I remember when I stopped being seen as the friend that came over to play, and started being seen as the housekeepers daughter. Their parents owned the house, my parents cleaned it. I was never aware that this was something that made us different, until they made it clear it did. I take pride in what my parents have done and the jobs they have endured to better the lives of my siblings and I. All of these interactions, and the million more to come filled me with anger. I came to two realizations. One, my identity in some people’s eyes was simplified down to the weird loud immigrant girl, and two, I was not alone in this; (pause) many of my peers were facing the same issues. Realizing this, I refused to make myself smaller or silence my anger for the sake of keeping the peace. I am the person standing in front of you now because everything meant to deter me from my path has instead motivated me to strive for my goals more, and harder. I told myself in writing this speech that I would avoid incorporating a quote, but when reading Amanda Gorman’s Call Us What We Carry I came across what I felt that it summarized what I wanted to say to all of you, the quote reads: “So when you’re told that your rage is reactionary, remind yourself that rage is our right. It teaches us it is time to fight. In the face of injustice, not only is anger natural, but necessary, because it helps carry us to our destination.” If I suppressed and ignored my anger, I would not have come half as far as I have. I have used my anger to push myself to prove to those who expected less of me that their definitions were flawed. I share all of this with you now because my experiences are that of many. The majority of you at this point in your lives have encountered experiences that have provoked anger in you as well, perhaps in a different way. So I ask that you use that to push you to rise above those who invoke it, and be the change that would have helped you. Anger alone helps nothing, it festeres and makes you bitter if you allow it to. Too many people will tell you the worst is over, they’re lying. Whether that be school, the current state of our world, or just your individual lives. Every day from here on out has the potential to present us with experiences that instil more frustration and anger then we have previously experienced, use it to your advantage... not aggressively or violently, but as a motivator, otherwise, it is of no purpose. Seven years ago my sister walked across patton’s stage months from becoming the first in our family to attend a four year university, (pause) I am now lucky enough to be the second person from my family to do so. For all the firsts in the audience today, speaking as a younger sibling who once sat in a graduation crowd marveling at what my sister accomplished, your efforts are seen and admired and I promise they make all the difference for those to come. Thank you to the person who showed me that my anger is a motivator not a barrier. Y por Ultimo, gracias a toda mi familia que me brindo el apoyo y el amor para perseguir mis sueños, Todo lo que soy y todo lo que he logrado es gracias a cada uno de ustedes. 

Translation: And lastly, thank you to all of my family who gave me the support and love to pursue my dreams, everything I am and everything I have accomplished is because of each of you.

Downtown Morganton Art Exhibition

Downtown businesses are hosting a pop up, student art show! Artwork is being displayed in windows across town. You can find the art through a self-guided scavenger hunt, using the map, below.

The Downtown Morganton Art Exhibit as created by BCPS Students, curated by BCPS Art Teachers, in collaboration with Connecting Art in Burke. This project was sponsored by Table Rock Printers. ❤

We Are Officially Getting Hitched, Y'all.

We’ve partnered closely with The Industrial Commons for years. In 2020, a merge proposal was made and now it's official! TOSS will continue to be led by Kathryn Ervin as one of the Industrial Commons' initiatives.

Our mission will not change, but our capacity will grow to foster personal and institutional transformation through k-12 programs, arts, and community organizing for rural, working class families. Together, we will be a voice in our community for environmental justice, diversity and inclusion, and the future of work.

We can’t wait to share all the incredible plans in store, beginning with the formation of a community advisory board for TOSS, which will help develop and guide this initiative.

Program Update

2021/22 school year

Community Wide Programs

  • Mural Campaign | The last phase of our mural, Realidades del Sur, is underway this fall. Alexa Eliana Chumpitaz is completing the 173 ft mural including another portrait (featuring a local Mayan weaver) and more of our natural assets in Burke. Three block parties were hosted through October engaging 150 community members to collaboratively paint the mural. See the complete photo gallery here.

  • AIR | The Artist in Residency program (AiR) in launching this fall with multimedia artist, Desirae Lee, creating a body of work to support the story and model of Material Return. The public projects seek in impact at least 1,000 local community members.

K-12

Our k-12 programs are resuming with on-site, after-school sessions and in-school collaborations with the goal of impacting 350 students monthly. Forty percent of students we serve are low-income and/or BIPOC.

On-site

  • After School | Two days of after school Sept-Dec for K-5. In the Spring we will resume k-12 afterschool.

  • Open Studio | Two Open Studio sessions will be offered weekly with more added in the fall if demand exists. 

  • Internships | We continue to work with high school students through NC Works to provide learning/working opportunities.

Off-Site

  • Wonderful Wednesdays | Monthly workshops with Forest Hill Elementary serving 275 students

Summer Camp Recap 2021

This summer, TOSS reached 93 students through its summer camps and 140 community members through our Mini Art Festivals, celebrating themes around STEAM, Industrial Design, and Racial Equity.

Pollinate, Pretty Please

In these two, 5 day camps, elementary students learned about the pollinators in our region (the Catawba River Basin) and how they might become pollinators in their own neighborhoods. Students illustrated the anatomy of a flower, making clay flower sculptures. We designed bee hives and monarch butterfly mobiles. Everyone made pollinator costumes and helped us paint our milkweed garden planters. At the end of the week we had a Mini Art Festival: Families gathered for a picnic in front of the studio and ate yummy food provided by Rotation Food Truck. We celebrated the student's artwork through displays and sales. Campers were encouraged to share the true cost of producing their project with a transparency sheet we developed together to describe all the expenses that go into making art. We believe every emerging artist is an entrepreneur in training. The day ended with a paint party, with families painting vignettes that will be installed on our mural downtown (Realidades del Sur | Southern Realities) which is all about biodiversity and cultural diversity.

Circularity at Play

In this three-day workshop, middle school students brought the concept of circularity in textile manufacturing to bare on product design, making a functional, upcycled product of their own. First, students were given a spectacular tour though the concept of Circularity by intern extraordinaire, Robert Seevers - soon to be graduate from the Wilson College of Textiles. Campers learned about the work of Material Return, Carolina Textile District, and COLLECTION, business in Burke county all working together to regenerate textile manufacturing. This, combined with Robert's overview of design principles and strategies launched the campers into their project, designing and sewing bags with recycled fabrics. Christa Flores with Mountain Maker applied her training in STEM to guide students over the finish line.

Y'all Bee the Hive

In this 5 day camp for high schoolers, campers explored the role of visual art in the public sphere. Campers collectively create an asset map, of places for future public art projects and identified stories that still need to be told to raise awareness of racial and cultural diversity in Burke County.To kick things off, students toured our community to learn about the signs and symbols that are already present in our community such as the confederate monument, the mural depicting legends about the brown mountain lights, and the statue of Etta Baker. Equity Specialist, Dr. Leslie Mckesson, lead this "Hometown Walkabout." Students also participated in a guided tour through our local history museum and after these experience we had a discussion to evaluate what stories were being told and what remained to be told.As an outcome of this camp students began an asset map of places and stories that deserve to be celebrated in Burke county. Their work serves as the basis for TOSS's long-term public art campaign.

We've Moved!

We are excited to announce that we have moved our studio to 649 Hopewell Road. As our collaboration with The Industrial Commons grows, we couldn’t be happier to be in close proximity to their new hub along with Material Return, the Carolina Textile District, Good Books, and Work in Burke.

The space was built in sections over a 30-year period and housed one of the last domestic shoe companies. The Industrial Commons is excited to reclaim and reshape this space to grow innovation and sustainability in manufacturing in Western North Carolina.

Before…

And After!

Summer Camp and COVID-19 Response

TOSSnews

 
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Preregistration for TOSS Summer Art Camp is Open!
July 20 - 24 & July 27 - 31

Because of uncertainties around social distancing, we are opening up preregistration in order to gauge interest and help direct the means in which we roll out summer camp. Preregistration will act as a placeholder for your child and will give parents and guardians input as to how we proceed with summer camp. You will have the ability to confirm registration and pay at a later date when we have more information on what style of summer camp we will be able to conduct.
Two options for what summer camp could look like:

Option 1: Traditional Summer Art Camp - In person, at our studio with a limited number of students. This is contingent on the government guidelines for social gatherings in July.
Option 2: Take-Home Summer Art Camp Experience - Take-home art kits with instructional videos and live stream interactions. 

Please follow this link https://www.tosstudio.org/summer-camp to preregister for our Summer Art Camp! Even though camp may look very different this year, we are still so excited to make some amazing art with you all!

“I am so impressed by TOSS’ ability to prioritize Our Big Backyard and the incredible students at Forest Hill Elementary by continuing the art and environmental education we began last fall,” said Foothills Conservancy’s associate director, Beth Willard-Patton. “I’m so proud of our partnership with TOSS and grateful for their innovation and dedication during this challenging time.”

TOSS COVID-19 Response

 
A volunteer, Sharley Mendoza, with Good Books, LLC surveys kits upon delivery at Forest Hill Elementary in the Media Center

A volunteer, Sharley Mendoza, with Good Books, LLC surveys kits upon delivery at Forest Hill Elementary in the Media Center

Volunteer handing our art kit at Forest Hill Elementary School @ Forest Hill Elementary

Volunteer handing our art kit at Forest Hill Elementary School @ Forest Hill Elementary

Evalinda with her mother

Evalinda with her mother

Since September, 2019, 275 students at Forest Hill Elementary School have participated in monthly environmental and art education workshops. The program, Our Big Backyard, is a collaboration between Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and TOSS (The Old School Studio) that teaches principles of environmental stewardship through the arts. Following school closures due to the coronavirus, in-class instruction was recalibrated for at-home use, and these local organizations, with the assistance of a grassroots fundraising campaign, enabled this educational program to go forward. On Monday, April 6, Forest Hill Elementary students received kits containing art supplies and instructions for art projects from TOSS.

TOSS and Foothills Conservancy developed strategies for programming. Within a week, 300 bags, containing two projects each, were delivered to Forest Hill Elementary. Projects were designed to accommodate each grade-level’s needs and instructions were provided in both English and Spanish, along with a video tutorial.

This project was possible through support from The Conservation Fund’s Resourceful Communities program and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, whose significant contribution brought this new program to life. In addition to The Conservation Fund, individual contributions and in-kind gifts of supplies from local residents helped cover the cost of each $35 art kit. A local marketing agency, White Blaze Marketing, donated video production, and volunteers helped pack and deliver the kits, all while following physical distancing guidelines before the stay-home order went into effect.

TOSS co-director, and art instructor Hannah Thrower shares, “Throughout the fall, it was such a joy to impact the students at Forest Hill Elementary School with programming that uses art as a means to dive deeper into ecology and the world around us. And as our world has changed pace, we are so excited that our program has been able to transition into take home projects for all of the students.”

TOSS co-director, Kathryn Ervin adds, “We are doing everything they can to support students and families as we navigate through these unprecedented times, together. We believe creativity can be cultivated no matter where you are, and we hope to inspire students to think outside the box.”

Parents are encouraged to access digital learning resources and activities including interactive art tools, digital collections and interactive exhibitions, and live and interactive streams on TOSS’ website www.tosstudio.org. You can sign up for the organizations’ newsletters on their perspective websites to learn about updates to programing and opportunities: foothillsconservancy.org; www.tosstudio.org

 
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BAM! TOSS! 2.0.2.0!

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Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce the addition of four board members to TOSS! We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of these remarkable, creative individuals, and can’t wait for you to, as well!

TOSS Board Member, Michael Berley, will have a sculpture on display at the South Carolina Governors School Alumni Exhibition. Congratulations Michael! Here is an excerpt from his artist statement:

The “Morgan Civitas” sculpture was created as part of a competition for ART/RE/ART.  ART/RE/ART is a series of pop up art events in downtown Morganton, NC, founded by artist Nancy VanNoppen. These free events, held in nontraditional art spaces, offer alternative ways to interact with and experience art in the community. Typically, there is an emphasis on performative, interactive, and installation art works.  In the fall of 2019, the show organizers asked area businesses and artists to embellish and display mannequins throughout the city in order to build interest in the upcoming event. 

The city was invited to embellish a provided, full size nude mannequin.  This task was turned over to me.  I tend to be frugal when it comes to art supplies using them sparingly or using existing or free materials.  This is a battle between being loose and creative versus being held back by material costs.  I used this characteristic in setting the tone for Morgan Civitas. 

I met with city department directors and administration asking them to provide outdated and used materials representing their departments.  Materials were gathered from departments of administration, main street, municipal auditorium, public safety, recreation, electric, cable and development and design, etcetera.  Some items include baseball trophies, safety equipment, survey ribbon, street light fixtures, magazines, license tags, old promotional items, wiring, phones, video camera, meters and road signs.  These items were then unified on the mannequin representing all city departments.  Each time the mannequin is viewed a new item becomes apparent.  On the night of the ART/RE/ART event the mannequins were brought together at the venue for public voting.  “Morgan Civitas” won best in show.

The exhibition opens March 23rd and closes April 24th.

Reception to be announced

Visual Arts Department
SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities
15 University Street
Greenville, SC 29601
(864) 282-3705

In review

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TOSSafter 

TOSSafter, our afterschool program for students in k-12th grade. In this program, students are trained in creative, critical thinking and familiarized with visual mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and photography.

DEETS

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3:30pm- 5pm (When Burke County Schools are in, TOSSafter will be operating.)
Location: Studio @ The Outreach Center
Team Lead: Hannah Thrower
Teachers: Hannah Thrower and Kathryn Ervin
Volunteers: Five, weekly volunteers
Partners: Burke Arts Council, Burke County Literacy Council, Burke County School System
Participation: ~40 students (90% capacity); 10 students fully funded through scholarships

Events/Outreach:
FAB Crawl 11/30
TOSSing 12/14
Yuletide 12/15
Dancing with the Burke Stars 2/1
Los Mayas de Morganton 2/3

Funding: Tuition, individual contributions, TOSShunts, regional foundations

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TOSSworks

TOSSworks is a series of workshops we host with partnering organizations for students in k-8th grade. Currently, we have three program in this series: Our Big Backyard, Mini Makers, and Los Mayas de Morganton.

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#1
Our Big Back Yard

This monthly workshop series is a partnership with Forest Hill Elementary and the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina to highlight issues around conservation and ecology through the arts.

Dates: Sept-May, 2019/20
Location: Forest Hill Elementary
Team Lead: Hannah Thrower
Partners: Forest Hill Elementary, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Participation: ~275 elementary students
Funding: PTO, Creating New Economies Fund (CNEF)

#2
Mini Makers | Pequenos Creadores

This free series seeks to connect guardians/parents with accessible materials and ideas for art making and experimentation with their little one (0-3yrs).

Dates: Jan-Dec 2020
Location: Early Head Start + TOSS
Team Lead: Kirksey Lowther
Partners: Early Head Start 
Participation: 15-25 families
Funding: Walmart Foundation

#3 Los Mayas de Morganton

This project is in support of Little Guatemala, an emerging cultural center and coffee business. Together we seek to share the contributions of the Mayan Guatemalans in Morganton through the arts!

Dates: Winter 2018-Ongoing…Here is a timeline of our work, to date:

Jan '19 | Conducted and published 10+ interviews of Guatemalan residents in Morganton
Feb '19 | Contracted Guatemalan artists to create a mural design for Little Guatemala
Jan-March '19 | Hosted a free dinner series to promote our initiative, supporting local Guatemalan vendors
March '19 | Sponsored a photo journalist to visit Guatemala to meet Little Guatemala’s coffee farmers
June '19 | Sponsored a live, backstrap weaving demonstration by Francisca Mendez Rodríguez
Nov '19 | Celebrated Guatemalan culture with the North Carolina Museum of art through a workshop on Day of the Dead
Aug-Dec '19 | Free painting workshops for elementary students
Feb-March '20 | Exhibiting a retrospective of the year during a two month exhibit at City Hall

Location: Faith Presbyterian Church, Food Matters Market, TOSS Studio, City Hall, Morganton Public Library
Team Lead: Kathryn Ervin
Artists: Francisco Diego, Francisca Mendez Rodríguez, Rigo Kan Puentes, Efraín Rodríguez
Volunteers: Innumerable volunteers including our high school interns and translators, the Ramazzini, Ervin, and Kuehnert families, Izabela Peeler, Kirksey Lowther, and Chesley Bailey.
Partners: Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Burke County Literacy Council, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Burke Arts Council, and Faith Presbyterian Church, Burke County Public Library System, Little Guatemala
Participation: 400 community member, both students and parents have participated over the course of the year
Funding: We receive funding for these activities through in-kind contributions from TOSS and competitive grants totally $10,000:

+ Z. Smith Reynolds Foundations Inclusive Public Art Initiative
+ N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts
+ Grace Episcopal Foundation
+ Ezra Jack Keats Foundation
+ 400 hours of volunteer work from TOSS staff members and volunteer fleet

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TOSStern

Eight- Fourteen week program to provide students with mentorship and resources to learn and develop community art initiatives in Morganton. Highschool and college students assisted us with these events, most recently:

FAB Crawl 11/30
TOSSing 12/14
Yuletide 12/15
Dancing with the Burke Stars 2/1
Los Mayas de Morganton Exhibition 2/3

Location: TOSS
Team Lead: Kathryn Ervin
Partners: Host Families, Furman University, Berea College, Upward Bound, Outreach Center
Participation: (past and present) Jordan Winiski, Samuel Kuehnert, Nesly J. Rodriguez, Francisco Diego, Khamkay Inthavong, Calia Kilbo, Tammi Harman, Jesse Barber, Elizabeth Williams, Lila Chamberlain
Funding: Stipends from Furman and Berea College

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We are currently seeking college interns to work with our afterschool studio and summer camp!

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TOSSair

TOSSair supports emerging artists, such as Alexa Eliana, Rodrigo Pacheco, Rigo Kan Puentes, Efraín Rodríguez by connecting them with regional art projects. We seek to help these artists working with our community through education and collaborative opportunities.

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TOSShunts

TOSShunts are a series of creative, curated events that fund our subsidized programing. The Industrial Commons, Select 2000, and TOSS have partnered to bring our community an art-based walking tour of downtown Morganton to explore the triumphs and challenges of our diverse community.
👩‍🎤👨‍🎤
On January 28th we were very excited to host an exclusive pilot of this emerging series for regional leaders to critically reflect on its content and design.
🙏
Many thanks to all who helped foster, shepherd, and host this convening, and a special thanks to Franzi Charen, for documenting the afternoon-enjoy a selection of photos from our time together.
🗓
Stay tuned as we work out next steps for this initiative. 📸 @franzi.avl

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TOSSers

ED, Kathryn Ervin

10/28-10/31 | Attended the 2019 Conference of Artists Communities
11/19 | Named co-chair of the Courthouse Square Steering Committee
12/18 | Conducted a Site Visit to AiR Serene
1/16 | Appointed to the Morganton Recreation Advisory Board

Student Program Director, Hannah Thrower

1/4 | Working with consultants on local grant applications for TOSSafter/TOSSworks
1/4 | Forming an advisory group to design teacher orientation for TOSSafter/TOSSworks

1/15 | Kathryn Ervin, speaking to a group, visiting Material Return, an enterprise of The Industrial Commons, on an immersion trip sponsored by COLLECTION

1/15 | Kathryn Ervin, speaking to a group, visiting Material Return, an enterprise of The Industrial Commons, on an immersion trip sponsored by COLLECTION

Thank you!

We are so grateful for the all who have come alongside TOSS this winter as we have built our community art initiative. We are so grateful for your investment in this community and for your faith in us.

A special thanks in this season to:

Sponsors
The Community Foundation of WNC
Grace Episcopal Foundation
Huffman Cornwell Foundation
National Philanthropic Trust
Main Street Office
North Carolina Arts Council
Walmart Foundation
North Carolina Museum of Art

Jean VanNoppen
Beth Bailey
Kathleen Chapman
Kristin Steiner
Bill Steiner
Julia Mode
Susie Graham
Michael Berley
Sandra, Mark, Charlie and Camm Bennett
William and Tara Mode
John and Amber Gannt
William and Catherine Bell
Matt and Christen Robeson
Tracy and Amy Jones
Ginny Erwin
Julia and Richard Mode 
Trent and Sheri Toner
Jim and Iris Toner
Shane and Julie Cross
Laura and Scott Mulwee
Chris and Leanne Brittain
David and Colleen Bennett
Paul, Andy & Spence Rosebrock
Ben and Libba Belton
Jann & Mary Bailey-Kropelnicki
Jen and Michael Fulenwider
Darren and Treasure Lathan
Erin and Stewart Mishoe
Nancy Albers
Thomas and Hailey Best

invitations

Become a Monthly Sponsor!

This year we are focusing on establishing reoccurring fundraising revenue to begin our expansion into the public schools in our county and beyond. Support us in this way through a monthly contribution!

 
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Studio Updates

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Join us for our biannual TOSSing, an end of the year celebration of creativity with our community partners. This year we are working with Burke County Public Library of Morganton to think about ART + LITERATURE. Student work will respond to this theme.

In review

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DEETS

Volunteers:
10 volunteers serving 48+ hours
Partners:
Burke Arts Council, Catawba Riverkeepers Foundation
Participation:
50+ students attended
Funding:
Tuition: $60 per week; TOSS provided 12 scholarships (6 students for both weeks @ $720)

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TOSScamp

Pollywogs & Wigeons was a four day camp for students ages 5-13. Campers created art inspired by the Catawba River and helped produce an art scavenger hunt for the community, August 10th.

 
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TOSSafter 

TOSSafter, our afterschool program for students in k-12th grade, has resumed thanks to the generous support of The Outreach Center, which is sponsoring us in a studio space on Fleming Dr. In this program, students are trained in creative, critical thinking and familiarized with visual mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and photography.

DEETS

Volunteers:
Five volunteers serving weekly for two hours each.
Partners:
Burke Arts Council, Burke County Literacy Council, Burke County Public Schools, Burke County Public Library System
Participation:
Fall enrollment is ~25 students (50% capacity); 5 students attending on a sliding scale rate; 2 fully funded through work-trade agreements
Events/Outreach:
Build a Backpack (8.17)
Furman On-Campus Recruitment (9.25)
Art/Re/Art (10.5)
Case Farms Family Day Health Fair (10.5)
Forts and Hideaways workshop with Miki Iwasaki (10.14)
Funding:
TOSShunts
Tuition
Grace Episcopal Church Foundation Huffman-Cornwell Foundation

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TOSSworks

TOSSworks is a series of workshops we host with partnering organizations for students in k-8th grade. Los Mayas de Morganton is an ongoing painting series we have been doing with the Library. We read through books such as “Maybe Something Beautiful How Art Transformed a Neighborhood”, and then complete an activity such as painting Little Guatemala’s coffee cart or working on collaborative paintings.

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DEETS

Volunteers:
Izabela Peeler, Erica Ramazzini, Hannah Thrower, Kirksey Lowther, Chesley Bailey, Khamkay Inthavong, Nesly Rodriguez
Partners:
Burke County Public Library System, Little Guatemala, Burke County Literacy Council, Early Head Start 
Participation:
10-15 students have participated for the first two workshops
Funding:
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

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TOSStern

TOSStern is an internship program in which high school and college students are paired work with our after-school program and public art initiatives. Our college intern, Elizabeth Williams, curated a show at Fonta Flora this fall in response to our collaboration with the Library. Our high school interns, Calia, Samuel, and Khamkay, continue to work on their independent projects and assist with programing and outreach.

We are currently seeking college interns to work with our afterschool studio throughout the term and during summer camp.

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TOSSair

TOSSair supports emerging artists, such as Dona Francisca Mendez Rodríguez, who led a weaving demonstration (6.20). We seek to help these artists working with our community through education and collaborative opportunities.

Mother Weave

While our mural initiative, Maya of Morganton was not funded through the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, TOSS will continue to support local Guatemalan artists, such as Dona Francisca, Francisco Diego, and Rico Puentes, as funding is procured. A huge thanks to all our partners and community liaisons in this continued initiative!

DEETS

Volunteers: NA
Partners: Little Guatemala, Burke County Literacy Council, Early Head Start, Food Matters Market
Participation: 50 community members and students through three workshops over the spring and summer
Funding: St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, North Carolina Arts Council, The Burke Arts Council

Worker’s Legacy Exhibition

Our story telling project with the Workers Legacy Foundation to tell the story of mill workers in Western North Carolina has been progressing with interview, exhibition scheduling, and programatic organization! We will be unveiling this work in the spring of 2020.

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TOSShunts

TOSShunts are a series of creative, curated events that fund our subsidized programing. Over the summer we successfully completed a commission for Hope Heals, a fundraising event, The Catawba Scavenger Hunt, and a Walking Tour collaboration with The Industrial Commons and Select 2000. We have been busy.

Hope Heals Experience

Volunteers: 20 
Partners: NA
Participation: 500+ Participants

Catawba Scavenger Hunt

Volunteers:
55 volunteers 
Partners:
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Catawba Riverkeepers Foundation, Lake James Environmental Association, Catawba Wateree Initiative, and North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission
Participation:
200+ Participants; 15 participants receive free entry
Funding:
21+ sponsors raising over $9,000
Income through tickets and shirt sales: $4,202
Raffle donations equivalent to $2,000: 
@overmountaincycles 
@kirksey.lowther
@foothillsofnc 
@breatheyogawellness
@simplygreen
@kammok 
@mdunnclay 
@cabelas 
@sketchartspace 
@geargoatxchg 
@orvis 
@homers828 
@cbssports828 
@yeti 
@valdeseweavers 
@rootandvine
@adventureboundbook

The Industrial Commons Walking Tour

Volunteers:
Loretta Whiteside, Kasey Goodfellow, Phia Vue and Ka Xiong, Kory Suttles, Jackie Kanipe, Charles Harbison, Cecelia Surratt, Mary Charlotte Safford
Partners:
The Industrial Commons Staff and Select 2000
Participation:
30+ in attendance on this private tour for the JM Kaplan Morganton Convening
Funding:
Social Strategy Associates LLC via JM Kaplan Foundation

Thank you!

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TOSSers

We are so grateful for the all who have come alongside TOSS this spring as we have built our community art initiative. We are so grateful for your investment in this community and for your faith in us.

Volunteers
Hannah Thrower
David Ervin
Robbin Ervin
Leah Ervin
Kirksey Lowther
Michael Lowther
Melinda Davis
Sarah Williams
Kathleen Decker
Karen Porter
Samuel Kuehnert
Cindy Kuehnert
Dan Kuehnert
Abbey Beck
Avram Beck
Bryon Thomas
Allison Dunn
Art Dunn
Tara Thompson

Vendors
Little Guatemala
Queens Catering
J & R Delicious Hispanic Food
Panaderia La Guatemalteca 

 
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Marpril

TOSSnews

Ruckus

“It starts with a little clamber, a little hubbub, a surprised exclamation, a growing crowd….” Announcing Ruckus! A mixed media art show featuring Kyle Buttram, Kathryn Ervin, Jenna Hernandez, Kirksey Lowther, Susan McRae, and Hannah Thrower at City Hall this spring! These artists are generously donating a percentage of their proceeds to our student studio at the Outreach Center! We are so honored to have these creatives supporting arts education in our community.

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TOSScamp

Pollywogs & Wigeons is a four day camp for students ages 5-13. Campers will create art inspired by the Catawba River and help produce an art scavenger hunt for the community, August 10th.

Register today!

 
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TOSSafter 

TOSSafter is an afterschool program for students in k-8th grade. Students are trained in creative, critical thinking and familiarized with visual mediums such as painting, drawing, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and photography.

 
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TOSSworks

TOSSworks is a series of workshops we host with partnering organizations for students in k-8th grade to experiment with visual mediums in more depth. This spring workshop series is based on Fiber Arts.

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TOSStern

TOSStern is an internship program in which high school and college students are paired with mentors and resources to develop community art initiatives in Morganton. Interns are presented with information on current art advocacy initiatives, art historical examples, and guidance as they are encouraged to develop a project in collaboration with studio directors, other students, and our community partners.

We are stoked to be working with some incredible students this summer! Ruth Anne Ervin, Elizabeth Williams, Logan Smith, Calia Kilbo, Calvin and Jay Thomason are going to be helping us with creative productions in the community.

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TOSSair

TOSSair is an artist residency program in which artists work with our community and students to present a body of work at the conclusion of their project.

Maya of Morganton

We are at the end of phase one for our public art initiative, Maya of Morganton. If our project is awarded through the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (we will hear in late May) TOSS will be supporting local Guatemalan artists, Francisco Diego and Rico Puentes, in a mural project in collaboration with community partners including Little Guatemala, Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina, Burke County Literacy Council, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Western NC Workers Center, Burke County Public Library, Fonta Flora Brewery. A huge thanks to all our partners and community liaisons in this initiative. A full summary of our community engagement can be found on the TOSSair page.

Worker’s Legacy Exhibition

As we seek to promote emerging artists in the rural South, TOSS is sponsoring a project with the Workers Legacy Foundation to tell the story of mill workers in Western North Carolina. We are working with North Carolinian artists Jesse Barber and Zach Pomeroy on this initiative. Originally from Sawmills, NC, Barber is passionate about using photography to bridge gaps, awaken new perspectives, and expand our understanding of community. Based in Greenville, NC, Pomeroy seeks to capture fragile, authentic moments in the human experience through videography and film. Below are some images from Barber’s exploratory trip to Guatemala in anticipation of our forthcoming documentary for Maya of Morganton.

Southern Constellations

TOSS has enjoyed coming alongside Elsewhere Museum’s Southern Constellations Resident, Ash Smith this spring. Southern Constellations (SoCo) is an annual, curated, program that explores experimental practices across a network of Southern artists and organizations. Every year SoCo offers a suite of programs that extend conversations across the state and region, including Fellowships, Convergences + Exhibitions, and Rural Residencies in underserved Tier 1 + 2 counties across North Carolina, which includes Burke County.
Smith is currently completing a Rural residency in Morganton in the arena of performance, installation, and speculative design research.

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TOSSers

We are so grateful for the all who have come alongside TOSS this spring as we have built our community art initiative. We are so grateful for your investment in this community and for your faith in us.

Volunteers
Hannah Thrower
David Ervin
Robbin Ervin
Leah Ervin
Kirksey Lowther
Michael Lowther
Melinda Davis
Sarah Williams
Kathleen Decker
Karen Porter
Samuel Kuehnert
Cindy Kuehnert
Dan Kuehnert
Abbey Beck
Avram Beck
Bryon Thomas
Allison Dunn
Art Dunn
Tara Thompson

Vendors
Little Guatemala
Queens Catering
J & R Delicious Hispanic Food
Panaderia La Guatemalteca 

 
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Decembuary

TOSSnews

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During the 1990’s, the Hispanic population in Burke County grew 824 percent.* Compared to the national increase of 60 percent, it is apparent that the cultural landscape of Burke County was profoundly and uniquely shifted. Most of this Hispanic population consists of Mayan Guatemalans who arrived as both war and economic refugees. While the social landscape has changed dramatically, the social conscience has largely remained stagnant. The goal of this initiative is to develop an empathetic space for community integration where the contributions of the Mayan Guatemalans to our community can be understood, promoted and enhanced. 

Inclusive Public Art Initiative

TOSS has the privilege of partnering with the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina and other community partners including Little Guatemala, the Burke County Literacy Council, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and others to engage in a public art initiative, celebrating Guatemalan culture in Morganton! With an initial planning grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, we will be hosting a series of dinners to gain insight from the Guatemalan community and receive feedback on a design for a mural and garden plot located at Little Guatemala, a new community center on E. Union to open in 2019 as renovations are complete.

These dinners are open to the public and we welcome anyone to attend. To RSVP, or to learn more, email kathryn@tosstudio.org.


*Leon Fink in his book, The Maya of Morganton, notes that state Hispanic leaders, believe that the census undercount at least one-third of the actual resident population. Raleigh News and Observer, March 30, 2001; Morganton News-Herald, March 38, 2001.

Registration for Fiber, our Spring workshop series is now open! Get more info here.

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TOSSworks 

TOSSworks is a series of workshops we host with partnering organizations for students in k-8th grade to experiment with visual mediums in more depth. The workshops are designed around a central theme, corresponding to relevant issues in our community.

We had a great time at Fonta Flora in November, celebrating the conclusion of our last series, Fall for the Forest. Thanks for coming out folks!

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TOSSair

TOSSair is a complimentary program of TOSSworks/after. Teaching-artists participate in a residency in which they work with students, make art, and donate a percentage of their proceeds to the TOSSafter scholarship fund. 

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Kathryn attended the Arts Education Symposium at the invitation of the Burke Arts Council, hosted by the North Carolina Arts Council, worked on several commissions, finished her school term, and has been doing heaps of strategic planning for TOSS!  

 📷 @artamay

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Hannah has been working on various ceramic commissions as well as enjoying the new member of the fam this holiday season!

📷 @hannah_thrower 📷@bttrailrunner

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Kirksey has made everyone in Morganton SO HAPPY by sharing her weavings and paintings in artisan markets throughout the holiday season. You rad, lady!

📷@kirkseycline

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TOSSers

We are so grateful for the community organizations and partners who have come alongside TOSS as we sort out a permanent studio location and plow forward with community engagement initiatives and workshops. We are so thankful for your support! A huge thanks to our sponsors and partners at:


Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
North Carolina Arts Council
The Burke Arts Council
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina
Little Guatemala
Burke County Literacy Council
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church

 
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Octobember

TOSSnews

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It’s time to party!!! 🎉👩‍🎨

Join us for this art reception AND participate in some art making yourself! Workshop tickets are $15 at the door or preorder at www.tosstudio.org. All ages are welcome to participate!
All proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund for TOSSafter, our after-school program for kid. Fonta Flora Brewery will be donating a percentage of their pint sales toward a scholarship. Come help us celebrate creative culture making in Morganton!
This reception concludes our Fall workshop series, Fall for the Forest. We will be celebrating the works of our intern Jordan Winiski and students who participated in our painting, ceramic, and printmaking workshops at Grace Episcopal Church. 
We will be using ceramic and printmaking media to make some ornaments for the holiday season inspired by this Fall series of art and ecology. 

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RECAP

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TOSSworks

TOSSworks is an ongoing series of workshops we host with partnering organizations for students in k-12th grade. TOSSafter is still in incubation as we sort out the remaining details of renovating a studio space with The Outreach Center! We will keep you posted with more deets as we go along!

We have successfully completely our fall workshop series and are getting geared up for a show at FF! All the deets above.

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TOSSair

TOSSair is a complimentary program to TOSSafter. Teaching-artists participate in a residency in which they work with students, make art, and donate a percentage of their proceeds to the TOSSafter scholarship fund.

Kathryn completed her Treasure(ish) Hunt with Saddleback Visual Arts. It was a joyous time of adventuring, art-making, and celebration! Check out a full summary here: http://www.thetreasureishhunt.com/
📷 @allisonzaucha

Hannah brought baby Margot into the world! YAYA!! We are excited to get to know lil’ Margot and so so proud of Hannah! Congratulations to this beautiful family!
📷 @bttrailrunner

Kirksey has been weaving and painting, in preparation for the Yuletide market at Fonta Flora on December 16th, 12-7pm. Come check out all the art for sale and support local makers!
📷@kirkseycline

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TOSSers

TOSSers are the invaluable support system which keep us afloat, off the ledge, out of the tree or under the bridge. Pardon our French, but what the heck! We need you! In this section we list some ways y’all can get in involved and say thanks for the help you have already lent.

Kathryn needed two whole pages in the Treasure(ish) Hunt program to thank all those who made that event possible. We want to say a special thanks here to those who helped on the East Coast! Thank you, thank you, thank you: Robbin Ervin, Ann Bergeli, Wanda Huestess, Cheryl Black, Julie Doster, Jan Stephanides, Chloe King, Calia Kilbo, Leah Ervin, Lydia Kuehnert, Cindy Kuehnert, Kirksey Lowther, Emily Erwin, Christy Truitt, Tracey Scott, and Melinda Davis.

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AND….Thanks in advance to SAMUEL KUEHNERT who will be doing his Eagle Scout project with us this upcoming year. WE ARE STOKED. That doesn’t even capture our excitement actually, but you’ll just have to use your imagination.

Basically Everything in One Newsletter

TOSSnews

After many meetings over the summer (and a few tears let's be real) the TOSS team (Kirksey, Kathryn, and Hannah) were provided with an avenue to continue the work we care so deeply about.

As a little recap, our normal programing was interrupted this summer as our studio in the old junior high building was unexpectedly reallocated by the school system. Over the summer, we moved our supplies, equipment, and furniture to a temporary studio, still having no idea where or when we would resume programing (insert tears).

That was until Todd Greene, Director of Development at the Outreach Center, started a conversation with us about his work to elevate arts and culture in our community. The Outreach Center serves approximately 1,200 families weekly through food distribution, education, job training, and spiritual support. Our partnership will enable us to join in this work and fulfill our objective of advancing health and wellbeing through the arts. We will be able to relaunch TOSSafter Spring 2019, as the studio renovations are completed!

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Until our programing resumes, we are partnering with Grace Episcopal Church to hold a series of workshops, Fall for the Forest. Registration is still open for this series! Check it out.

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RECAP

Y’all, we are way behind on the recap game. Here are the basics.

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TOSSafter

TOSSafter is an art studio for k-12th grade students. It is modeled on Room 13 and the Reggio Emilia teaching philosophies which elevate kinesthetic, collaborative learning. Through building creative capital and harnessing the power of creativity, we can develop a healthier community and a more empathetic world.

  • TOSSafter successfully completed its first mural for WNC Real Estate! A huge thanks to Lance Turner, muralist extraordinaire for helping us pull off this project. A big congratulations to the middle school class that helped design Our Town, a mural about finding our home in Morganton.

  • Jordan Winiski successfully completed her summer internship, sponsored by Furman University. Along with advancing several areas of research, she volunteered with the Burke Arts Council summer camp program, designing an entire week of summer classes. The capstone of her internship was an independent project she completed around art and ecology. We will be hosting an exhibition of her work in November at Fonta Flora Brewery.

  • Our student programing this term consists of our fall workshop series, Fall for the Forest. More details and registration info can be found here.

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TOSSair

TOSSair is a complimentary program to TOSSafter. Teaching-artists participate in a residency in which they work with students, make art, and donate a percentage of their proceeds to the TOSSafter scholarship fund. Here is what we have been up to over the summer:

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Hannah continues her work developing unique, ceramic awards for organizations, notably, Tanawha Adventures and the Trinity Fellows Academy.

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Kathryn has been working on collaborations with Hope Heals, Fonta Flora Brewery, Capita Social and most recently, Saddleback Visual Arts which will be hosting her art scavenger event, the Treasure(ish) Hunt this October!

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Kirksey takes on a mountain of weaving and painting projects, exploring natural fiber dyes and watercolor techniques. Check out her Etsy account for the prints she has available!

 
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TOSSers

TOSSers are the invaluable support system which keep us afloat, off the ledge, out of the tree or under the bridge. Pardon our French, but what the heck! We need you! In this section we list some ways y’all can get in involved.

We are so honored by your support of this venture as we gear up to resume TOSSafter this spring. Consider ways you might be an active part of this organization. Wether it is volunteering, donating materials, or giving to our scholarship fund, we would be thrilled to journey down this road with you. Get started by perusing our engagement opportunities on our website.

 
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May, May, May I?

TOSSafter

First, may we just say...the Spring TOSSing! What a sweet time of celebration! We are so proud of our student’s creative endeavors this term! Thanks so much to the Carolinas HealthCare System for hosting us! You can watch a short clip of the event and an interview with TOSSteach, Kathryn Ervin here: https://youtu.be/J3_Ai44-rfo

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On May 17, 2018 Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge held their second Arts in Medicine Celebration. This video features an interview with Kathryn Ervin, Co-Director of TOSS arts advocacy studio in Morganton, NC, who helps lead the Arts in Medicine Initiative - a partnership with Blue Ridge to showcase the student's art in a high-profile public setting.

Our Spring term has come to an end and we just want to send LOTS of love to all our students. You guys keep us coming back. 

And......we moved! After very SLOWLY announcing this transition, it is now behind us! TOSS has relocated to 222 W Union Street for the summer. The studio space we previously occupied became unavailable and while we have a great setup for the summer, we are still looking for a classroom for the Fall. Let us know if you have any leads. 

TOSSAIR

And now for studio updates from the TOSS teachers: Hannah, along with looking glamorous for Brandon Thrower's new marketing venture, White Blaze, has been cultivating her love for botanicals through some printmaking projects. Kirksey's collaboration with Cageless Birds has come to fruition (YAYAY!) and Kathryn has made about 1 million graphic elements for a screen-printing project she is about to complete! What an insane month! 

Stay Tuned For More On....

Jordan Winiski

We want to say a warm welcome to Jordan Winiski, our summer intern extraordinaire! Jordan comes to us from Greenville, SC, where she is studying sustainability and art at Furman University. Along with volunteering at Art Bomb and Greenville Center for Creative Arts Jordan has demonstrated her passion and enthusiasm for the arts through her making practice. The recipient of the Winthrop University’s Dean Portfolio Scholarship (Fall 2016) and a participant in South Carolina's Congressional Art Show (2014, 2016), we are so excited to have Jordan's creative genius with us this summer! Check out her portfolio here and be sure to check in for updates on her projects. 

Lance Turner

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We have the privilege of collaborating with Lance Turner on a mural project this summer! We could not be more stoked! Lance is an incredible creative, with roots in Morganton, but currently based in Tennessee. Accepting his MFA in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design, he has exhibited all over the country, most recently in the Snap to Grid exhibition in Los Angeles. Awarded a fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT, he is community focused. We are so thankful he is excited about our mission and vision for Burke County. Check out his portfolio of work here. 

Below you can see some progress shots of a recent mural he designed and painted for Artfields, in Lake City, SC. 

Watch two new murals come to life, just ahead of ArtFields 2018!

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

And last but not least, thanks are due to all those who helped us move last weekend! We have successful moved our many Many items (with only a few casualties along the way). Our everlasting thanks to Michael Lowther, Luke Ervin, Christy Truitt and her gang, Brandon Thrower, Michael Griffin, the extremely strong Melinda, David Ervin and his sidekick Robbin, Elizabeth Williams, and of course Hannah Thrower, and Kirksey Lowther. We could NOT have done it without you guys!!!

 

 

 
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Marpril. That's right. March and April. Combined.

Greetings from TOSS! 

We are happy to bring you a few updates from our studio and snapshots of the creations happening on College Street, by both our students and our artists! But first a few announcements. 

The Spring TOSSing

This end-of-the-year event will be hosted by our friends at the Carolina HealthCare System on Thursday, May 17th. Student work, craft stations, really yummy food, and of course the most creative kids in Morganton. You won't want to miss it. We will have fliers at the studio if you care to take one home. 

Summer Camp

For the last two years, TOSS has hosted a joint summer camp program with our partners at the Burke Arts Council. However, this year, the BAC will be taking the lead. Stay posted for information and registration which will be made available on their website. Feel free to reach out to them with any inquiries: (828) 433-7282

TOSS on College Street

Last month we were informed that the Burke County Public School System will be renovating the building we have been renting on College street for the future use of their central offices. While this transition has dramatically effected our ability to offer summer programing, we hope to find a suitable location to begin hosting classes in the Fall. 

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k-1: In addition to our regular programing for k-1, we have recently had the honor of hosting a field trip for Morganton Day School in which we created an illustration in order to tell a story. We also got to host a birthday party for a very special little lady. As always, our Monday class is fearless and curious, ready to tackle any new challenge. 

2-3: This Tuesday class has become increasingly experimental in it quest to understand the different mediums of art. We try encaustics, paper-making, making paper cups with plaster molds, painting with stencils, painting with pipe cleaners, painting with paint, making shapes with wire, making extremely scary sculptures with paper-clay that never quite dries correctly... Once we tried screenprinting and recently we glazed our ceramic mugs. And thankfully that is all. For now. 

4-5: This group has made a number of fabulous contour-line portraits using the process of monoprinting. Along with ceramic slab-building, painting, and general shinanigans, this class is having tons of fun. Possibly too much fun if we are all honest.  

6-8: Highlights include the successful completion of our slab-build ceramic letters, experimental techniques in clay, and forays into the design of our own projects for the Spring show.

9-12: The intrepid progression of the high school students in their personal projects has been inspiring! As concerted efforts are applied to understand materials and methods, drawing and painting alone have given us plenty to think about.  

TOSSAiRs: Amidst many activities, Kirksey, Hannah, and Kathryn are continuing their making practices. Kirksey, has been working on commissions for Cageless Birds and others. Hannah continues to make incredible ceramic pieces for Tanawha Adventures, and Kathryn has been solidifying designs for upcoming installation work. Check out and follow along on their instagram accounts: @kirksey.lowther @hannahgthrower @kathervin