When we spoke with Elizabeth Ivey in late August, nothing seemed to stop the acclaimed mixed-media artist from fashioning her bright and bold fabric collages.
“By the time I pick out the fabric, I can already see and feel the image I’m going to make start to come together,” she told us breathlessly. “Burlap and felt are my staples, and I know that how it feels in my hands is a huge part of how it’s going to look. I’ll sit down and start cutting and go off into a whole other world of art … .”
But then Hurricane Helene hit in late September, turning that world upside down.
“I lost materials, fabrics, equipment, and some of my finished art, like prints and originals,” says Ivey, whose Arden home was damaged in the storm. “All of this has been stressful and has made it hard to focus on creating. It’s been a tough balance trying to handle repairs while mourning the loss of so much of my work.”
She’s not alone, says Stephanie Moore, executive director of the Center for Craft.
“Hurricane Helene delivered a devastating blow to Asheville’s vibrant craft community, which represents a majority of artists in the region,” she notes. “The damage destroyed homes, artwork, and materials and disrupted the venues they rely on for their livelihoods. Artists are facing significant financial and emotional challenges as they work to rebuild.”
In response, the Center for Craft reactivated the Craft Futures Fund in October. Initially established to provide emergency relief to artists during the COVID-19 pandemic, the grant program is now focused on offering one-time, unrestricted $500 grants to makers affected by the storm.
As of mid-November, the fund has raised more than $1 million to support regional creatives, including Ivey, who used the grant money to replace materials, fabrics, and equipment.
“Losing so much of my work has been crushing, but having this support gives me the chance to start fresh and rebuild,” she says. “It’s a reminder that even in hard times, there’s a way forward, and I’m excited to channel that energy into new art.”
After receiving the money needed to relocate to a new studio space, River Arts District jewelry artist Laura Lau Klein is also eager to get back to work. In many ways, the region depends on it.
“Our artists greatly support our economy,” says Klein. “We need to hold up our art community and ensure they can keep doing what they do so that as WNC recovers, it will continue to be seen as a hub for arts and crafts.”
Moore agrees, noting that the “arts generate revenue, provide jobs, and stimulate related industries such as hospitality.”
But, she adds, “We should also consider that art is critical in fostering emotional healing and community cohesion, offering residents a way to process and rebuild after the hurricane’s devastation.”
To learn more about the Craft Futures Fund at the Center for Craft (67 Broadway St., Asheville), visit centerforcraft.org.