Curatory creates space for contemporary art, community
Smoky Mountain News
June 16-22, 2021
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what box do I fit into. When you fill out intake forms and don’t know which box to check — that’s always been a struggle in my life and for many others.” She described the upcoming July exhibit as another heavy subject. Entitled “Chained to Perfection,” the exhibit takes on how societal pressure of beauty, image and lifestyle standards intertwines in the development of depression, self-harm and substance abuse. “Addiction is a big part of what’s going on in Haywood County right now. Some of my artists struggle with it. Again, I’m about marginalized communities and bringing some of that to light,” McKinney said. “A lot of creatives with that kind of creative brain, it opens a vulnerability to heightened sensations that can lead to substance abuse.” The exhibit will feature work by Callie Ferraro from Asheville and Corrie Hanson of Waynesville. The opening reception will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. July 3 at 62 N. Main Street. McKinney plans to have a new curated show each month at Curatory. Her hope is that local artists who don’t have available space will reach out to her with their ideas and together they can create something beautiful. “We’re going to curate shows each month and each one will tell a specific story of something going on — politically or a social movement,” she said. “It’s challenging but it’s so much fun.” A big part of McKinney’s mission is to support up-and-coming artists in the community. Over 80 percent of the artists showcased in the gallery are from Haywood County or curCuratory Gallery on Wall Street showcases local artwork from painted canvases, pottery, wall rently live in Haywood County. Most of them hangings and stickers. Jessi Stone photo she’s scouted out online or found through mutual friends. Many of them work in the BY J ESSI STONE “I see so much potential in this beautiful downtown service industry as well. “For many of the artists in here, it’s their N EWS E DITOR space — for art but also branching out with shten McKinney is the new kid on the serving as an open mic space and trying to first gallery. As an art dealer and buyer, it block, but already she’s making friends congregate and move other businesses to behooves me to find people young in their art with her neighbors and offering a wel- work together,” she said. “I view the arts as profession that I see who have raw talent, get coming, safe space for her community. very important — even if your business isn’t to know that person, see the work they conSitting outside her new gallery on Wall involved in the arts, the arts are behind every tinue to do and if I feel it’s a person that’s going to pursue the art world, who’ll keep Street in downtown Waynesville, the space is business.” just as curated as the art on the walls inside. Curatory hit the ground running with its pushing the boundaries, making the weird Chairs, benches, art, potted and hanging grand opening in May and second exhibit for art and making a statement, then I buy their plants surround the entrance making it feel the month of June entitled, “I Am Not An art,” she said. The other side of her mission is to support like a friend’s front porch. Asterisk.” A member of the Boojum Brewing’s It’s a statement that hits close to home for art in the community by getting involved with kitchen staff waves hello as he gets ready to many in the LGBTQ+ community who don’t other organizations working toward the same start his evening shift. Mike Coble and his fit neatly into any box that society has laid out mission — Haywood County Arts Council, kids come through carrying boxes through for them. The exhibit featured five artists, Waynesville Gallery Association, Downtown the gallery and up the stairs to his business, J. including McKinney, who celebrated Pride Waynesville Association and Waynesville Gabriel Home and Gifts. Jeannie Shuckstes, Month with paintings, photography and 3D Public Arts Commission. She wants to see a more concerted effort between those organizaowner of The Village Framer, waves goodbye installations. as she heads home for the day. A young wait“There is so much pressure on people to tions to keep Waynesville an arts destination. McKinney plans to support the local servress stops by to purchase a 12-by-12 sleeved look and act a certain way — career and piece of artwork from a young local artist. lifestyle wise, clothes and fashion, gender and ice industry and arts in public schools with As McKinney sips her tea out of a hand- sexuality,” she said. “There’s a lot of pressure future exhibits. For example, this fall she thrown mug, she discusses her vision for the that leads people to try to fit into a mold plans to work with elementary and middle gallery, which goes far beyond the desire to instead of figuring out what their own mold is schools by providing art classes with tons of sell some local artwork. and that’s what leads them to the ‘I’m not an blank paper for student created work. She will collect all the artwork to mat, sleeve, label and “As a company and through the arts, we’re asterisk — I don’t fit in a box.’” creating spaces for multiple marginalized McKinney doesn’t necessarily have a prob- sell in the gallery. Half of the proceeds will go communities — whether that’s queer or lem with boxes — having a box makes her feel back to the school art program and the other whether that’s people of color — and utilize like she has a place to belong — but some- half will roll into an art scholarship fund. The student artwork will also be featured the arts to tell stories and make that represen- times there aren’t enough boxes for everyone. tation,” she said. “Especially in the trans community and in a junior and senior juried art show, which Contemporary art and designated queer those who identify as queer or nonbinary can will help those young artists build their space is something that’s been lacking in feel like they’re an asterisk because they don’t resume for college and career. Pearl Renken, downtown Waynesville even with a well- neatly fit into any box,” she said. “Maybe who is the treasurer of the River Arts District 6 established artist community and arts scene. you’re a cis male that does drag wondering in Asheville, will serve as one of the judges.
“Showing that you’ve been part of a juried exhibit is necessary when building an artist resume and when applying to colleges,” McKinney said. “We want to make sure we’re setting these kids up for success.” The COVID-19 Pandemic hit the local service industry hard in Haywood County and across the country. McKinney started the Sound and Service Foundation as a way to build up a fund to help service industry folks with certain expenses, but it was hard to do any fundraising during the shutdown. Now, she’s looking forward to finding new ways to support that project. “Many artists work at the restaurants up and down main Street, so it’s important for me to help the service industry and I think the gallery will provide a way for Sound and Service Foundation to gain momentum,” she said. Part of the December exhibit this year will be a fundraiser for the foundation. McKinney plans to rotate a box of beverage napkins and markers between the downtown restaurants in hopes people will create art or share a quote on them. She’ll collect all the napkins and mount them at the gallery. Each napkin will be sold for $10-$15 a piece, and proceeds will go to the Sound and Service Foundation.
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“Especially in the trans community and those who identify as queer can feel like they’re an asterisk because they don’t neatly fit into any box.” — Ashten McKinney
She is also now serving on the Blue Ridge Pride Board of Directors as the Haywood Outreach member. Outreach will be a big part of Curatory’s business because it’s McKinney’s passion, but also because she wants the community to see the gallery and the queer community as a force for good and not something to be feared. “Especially as a queer space I need to be able to take people’s pride out of the equation. I need to be involved in the community and seen as bettering the community in any way I can so people will be accepting,” she said. “I’ve had a ton of support so far and I think a lot of people are just happy we’re here. The queer community is pretty big here — and it has been — but there hasn’t been that defined space for them.”
