By Julie Ann Bell
Dark skies, howling winds and raging waters stole lives and livelihoods a year ago. Hurricane Helene destroyed homes, trees, businesses and infrastructure. Our studio was damaged and art was lost.
We cried in one another’s arms. We continue to mourn. We spent months cleaning and rebuilding. We still have places in need of repair. We purchased tables, chairs, display cases and check-out supplies. We still discover things we have not yet replaced.
Metamorph. Deborah Anderson, artist
We will always remember and honor the memories of our losses. We will continue to reflect on the times of cleaning and repairing. We will persist in embracing what tomorrow brings.
By one uncertain step followed by another, we moved forward until we could get to this new place. As a community, we rebuilt Trackside Studios and our artists filled walls with new paintings, collages, sculptures, jewelry and photographs. They created new art out of reclaimed materials, memories, heartbreak, hope and light.
On Sunday, September 21, from 4–7 p.m., we will host Embracing Tomorrow—a gathering with food, music and sharing of art, memories and hopes. As a sense of the journey of our 60 local artists, three share how this past year has impacted their art.
Deborah Anderson is an assemblage artist and photographer. “Nearly a year has passed since Hurricane Helene swept through and destroyed my work,” she relates. “That loss changed me. It forced me to confront the impermanence of what I create and of life itself. Since then, my approach to art has undergone a shift. I no longer take anything for granted—every moment in the studio carries more weight and intention than before. My work has become far more introspective, rooted in reflection, memory and the fragility of both material and meaning. I now create not just to express, but to preserve, to honor what was lost and to hold close what remains.”
Astro. Chalkley Matlack, artist
Known for her music-inspired work, Kelly Saunders describes the motivation for her current collection, Blue Skies and Bold Blooms. “Like so many in Western North Carolina, I’ve felt the emotional and creative weight of life after the hurricane. Our world was shaken—grey skies, devastation and a deep sense of loss. This series is my response to that heaviness. I leaned into bold, joyful colors as a way to honor the city’s resilience and rebirth. Blue Skies and Bold Blooms is ultimately about hope—about finding beauty after the storm. I wanted this collection to feel like a breath of fresh air: uplifting, vibrant and full of life.”
“Since Helene, I’ve had a chance to reset and start new with my artwork,” reflects Chalkley Matlack who creates two-dimensional art and custom designs on guitars using pyrography (woodburning). “Before the storm, I had begun my journey into pyrography, but did not have a direction for it yet. The need to start fresh kick-started the art I create now, with more emphasis on woodburning. The guitars help me combine both of my creative passions of visual art and music arts.”
We invite you to join us in Embracing Tomorrow, in person at our studio or in your own thoughts, memories and wishes.
Trackside Studios is located at 375 Depot Street, in the Aura Arts Building in the River Arts District. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, and by appointment. Learn more at TracksideStudios.com.
