Street Creature Puppets at the Candlelight Vigil on October 22
Creative Response to Helene
Making the Storm More Bearable
October 29, 2024 | Asheville N.C. – Our local arts sector has been decimated by Hurricane Helene, but is still showing up for the community we love in many creative ways. Our artists have turned rubble into public art, distribution centers into concert halls and concert halls into distribution centers, captured the beauty in our devastation, and given us the words to express our grief.
Messages of Hope
Within a week of the storm a mural formed from the remains of Pleb Winery in the River Arts District, encouraging us all to “Flood back Love.” This mural was then replaced by a sculpture on top of a large pile of cinder blocks urging us to “Hope… even when the creek rises.” You can find artistic responses like this popping up throughout the community. These reminders in the midst of complete chaos help us keep moving forward.
Distributing Relief
After the storm we saw many of our arts venues like Wortham Center for the Performing Arts, YMI Cultural Center, and White Horse Black Mountain transitioned into distribution sites, and our empty stages became filled with much needed supplies. At the same time, arts groups like Asheville Creative Arts and Asheville Symphony Orchestra sent their artists out into community distribution sites to make the long waits a little less tedious and a lot more welcoming for our families and neighbors waiting for needed aid.
Arts by Candlelight
As we gathered in the heart of downtown on October 22 for the Candlelight Vigil, the arts were there to help us process our pain. A large heart wreath composed of fallen tree limbs by Tony Bayles adorned the steps of the Bascom Lamar Lunsford in Pack Square Park. The evening featured performances by the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, the Asheville Choral Society, and musician Adam Pope also performed his song “Five Hundred Year Flood.” Mayor Manheimer recited the poem “Bones,” by Gerald Smith, and Street Creature Puppets’ blue heron puppet made its way through the crowd as candles were lit and the evening drew to a close. It was a beautiful reminder that we do not grieve alone and that there can be beauty in times of sorrow.
The Show Must Go One
As our community begins to transition from immediate crisis into slow recovery, arts programs are beginning to come back in thoughtful ways. Lexington Glass recently opened their doors for an arts pop up event with Buncombe County Schools to make arts aid kits. LEAF Global Arts has been offering pop-up concerts in Black Mountain and Asheville. And, Asheville Community Theatre recently offered free Fairy Tales & Fables and Community Cabaret events.
ArtsAVL will be collecting these happenings and sharing them on our events page. Be sure to check back often and come out to let the arts support you while you support the arts.
