Appalachian Wood Spirits

On September 27, 2024, Western North Carolina was devastated by the worst tropical storm the area has seen in over a century. Flooding, landslides, and the forests crashed under the wrath of Hurricane Helene. Asheville, the hub and utopia for artists, was exceptionally devastated, with the River Arts District being wiped out.

I was fortunate to only lose power/water/cell service for about five days. Hundreds and thousands of others lost so much more - their homes, their dreams, their loved ones.

So what can I do? How do we recover and rebuild? Though I have dabbled in wood carving before (relief and in the round), I'm a novice. But the amount of trees down everywhere, and woodworking in my blood, I knew that there was something to be done with this noble forested heritage. So I have been collecting debris from trees felled by the storm, and carving wood spirits into these pieces to remind us that we are Appalachian strong, that these mountains and rivers are older than bones and if they can survive and be reborn, then so can we.

Each piece is hand-carved by me, rough as they are. Proceeds from the sale of these figures are being directed to Foundation Studios and River Arts District Artists (RADA) Foundation. There are so many folks that are worthy and in need, and this is just a small start to do what I can. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing one of these carvings and supporting the recovery efforts of Western North Carolina.