Stronger Together

Leicester artist Deb Williams considers herself lucky because both her home and studio survived Hurricane Helene. Mark Bettis Gallery, where she sells her cast glass leaves and mixed-media works, also experienced minimal damage. But Williams did lose much-needed income because of the storm. “October is one of my busiest months,” she tells Asheville Made. “Those sales allow me to live through the slow winter months.” With hopes of generating business for artists like Williams, brokers Anthony Guthmiller and Jackie Dirscherl of Mosaic Realty will host Stronger Together at Mark Bettis Studio & Gallery in the River Arts District. The week-long show will feature small original works by local makers. (Williams has prepared animal-inspired holiday ornaments, including a slew of black bears.) Guthmiller says the event “gives us something to work towards, to focus on. It gives us hope that tomorrow will be better. It gives us a vehicle to channel our creativity, our sadness, our loss, our anger, and our frustration. It also gives those attending something they can do to help. By supporting the artists in our community, they are helping us rebuild, which is what we need right now.”