When Amelia Watson arrived in Tryon, NC in 1892 at the invitation of renowned actor William Gillette, the small railroad town that served as a connector from to Asheville, NC had already established a reputation as a welcoming environment for intellectuals looking for inspiration in nature Watson would become the first in a long line of professional artists numbering in the dozens that would capture the spirit of the mountains with the bristles of a brush.

The unique community of Tryon inspired many famous legends that are still told in the area today. F. Scott Fitzgerald leaving his daughter Scottie with famed actor and longtime Tryon resident “Lefty” Flynn during one of his many stays at Oak Hall Hotel. A young Nina Simone learning from the wife of impressionist painter Lawrence Mazzanovich. British actor David Niven playing a round of golf at the Tryon Country Club where Lady Nancy Astor was also known around the greens. Over time Tryon embraced and enhanced the creative making it a safe space for artists of all backgrounds and disciplines, leaving a lasting legacy that can still be found in the works they left behind.

Zachary Dressel has curated this unique show from private and public collections with the assistance of Mike McCue and Cynthia Davis. Some of the artists included are George Aid, John Sylvan Brown, Gabrielle Clements, Elliot Daingerfield, Alfred C Hockings, Lawrence Mazzanovich, and Amelia Watson.