Toe River Arts (TRAC) was incorporated fifty years ago on January 26, 1976. The celebration planned for that date was postponed a month and will now take place on Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The event is free and open to everyone at the Toe River Arts building at 269 Oak Avenue (Upper Street) in Spruce Pine. Not only are the significant events highlighted with photos and text, but an entire section is devoted to a listing of the names of 1,552 artists and performers who’ve contributed to the development of the organization in the past half-century. Visitors will be treated to refreshments and brief celebratory remarks from several of the founders.
The exhibit itself represents many hours of pouring over documents and through photographs by the core 50th Anniversary committee, cochaired by Olivier Calas and Denise Cook with the help of committee members Nealy Andrews, Joyce Johnson and Susan Larson. The exhibit, up until March 14, is the first of a string of celebratory events to take place throughout 2026. For questions, please call the Spruce Pine Toe River Arts office at 765-0524.
(Photo at top) Olivier Calas, president, and Martha Moore, secretary, work on mounting the exhibit.
Nealy Andrews, Executive Director of Toe River Arts, is deep into preparing the 50th Anniversary Exhibit.
Denise Cook, Co-chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee, sits in front of the list of 1552 artists and performers she identified.
One wall tells the history of the founding of the Toe River Arts Council, written by Susan Larson.
Public Art initiated by Toe River Arts stands out in Burnsville, Bakersville, and Spruce Pine.