Asheville arts communities rise again one year after Hurricane Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- One year after Hurricane Helene brought catastrophic flooding to western North Carolina, Asheville's arts community is demonstrating remarkable resilience as venues reopen and new creative collectives emerge from the devastation.

The storm, which struck on September 27 following days of rain from a previous tropical system that had already saturated the ground and swollen rivers, became the worst natural disaster in North Carolina's history.

For Asheville's thriving art scene, the impact was particularly devastating.

Marquee Asheville Rises from the Floods

On the banks of the French Broad River, Marquee Asheville celebrated its grand reopening this week after being completely destroyed by floodwaters. The 50,000-square-foot venue, which once showcased work from over 300 local artists, was submerged under 16 feet of water during the hurricane.

"This was not something anticipated to ever happen in this place based on history. It was devastating," said Robert, a representative from Marquee Asheville, just hours before the venue's reopening ceremony.

The massive art market, described as the city's largest, went from a thriving showplace to a "washed out shell" in a matter of hours during the storm. However, with the help of volunteers and thousands of dollars in grants and donations, the venue has been completely rebuilt.

"It feels like you're walking into a place you've never been," Robert noted, adding optimistically, "The silver lining is we can make it better than it ever was."

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Swannanoa Artists Find Healing Through Community Art

Ten miles away in Swannanoa, a different story of artistic resilience is unfolding inside an old church that has been converted into a community gathering space. The Swannanoa Artists Collective, formed in the weeks following Hurricane Helene, represents residents who came together to process their trauma through collaborative art.

The collective's community mural and other works celebrate the symbols of their beloved valley, even including depictions of the Swannanoa River that destroyed so many homes and businesses.

"A big part of why we love it here is nature. We live amongst it and we are at its mercy," explained Carolina Corona, a member of the collective. "And the river flooded and took our homes. But it's also a big part of why we love it here."

Intimate Portraits of Loss and Survival

Among the most striking works emerging from the post-Helene period is a portrait series by photographer Herb Way, featuring residents who lost homes, businesses, or loved ones to the hurricane.

"I didn't want to do stereotypical pictures like somebody standing in front of their destroyed house. I wanted to get intimate, get close," Way explained about his approach to documenting the human impact of the disaster.

Communities United in Recovery

The Swannanoa Artists Collective has been holding commemorative events throughout this anniversary week, with activities continuing through the weekend. These gatherings represent more than just artistic expression-they serve as community healing spaces for residents still recovering from the unprecedented destruction.

Both the Marquee Asheville reopening and the Swannanoa collective's work demonstrate how two communities along different rivers are finding ways to heal through art.

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