Gina Malone, Editor
Like many of you who love The Laurel as a contributor or as a reader, my devotion to the arts goes back to childhood. I have always been drawn to the magic, power and beauty of pages of poetry and prose, stages where a play or a concert is being performed, art galleries and studios—any place where creativity reigns. With this issue, I am encouraged by the continuing efforts of people everywhere to bolster artists and to build back arts communities—and, too, by efforts to support and encourage young artists. The George Masa Foundation has awarded its Youth Conservation Photography awards, and the photographs selected are stunning. And in Black Mountain, an annual exhibition of amazing work by students is a reminder how many artists of all ages there are among us.
The arts matter. Artists matter. We know, after the ruin of Helene, how much they matter. People are stepping up for the arts and for artists. No one can imagine a world, let alone our beloved mountain communities, without the creative pursuits that give them such spirit and character. After the catastrophe, so many are bringing their imaginations and talents and hope to the next project. Read how artist Jaime Byrd gave one of her salvaged paintings new life in a way that encompasses tragedy but, too, elicits a smile. Artist Leslie Rowland has opened a new gallery with other female artists affected by the storm, but these artists aren’t just coming back; they’re coming back strong. “Joan Awake is about recognizing the warrior in all of us,” Rowland says.
Our new columnist Andrew Patterson brings us The Art of Rising, where, monthly, he will check in with artists and show the qualities—among them resilience, patience, community and resourcefulness—that help them to create and continue creating even when life gets hard. The arts in their many forms, he writes, “are human expressions born from struggle and triumph alike.”
Finally, as this brand-new year dawns for all of us, I would like to say that if you read The Laurel of Asheville, you are one of those for whom the arts matter. So, in 2025, please consider a subscription—either print or digital—that will help us continue to help the arts community by telling their stories and sharing their achievements.
Happy New Year!
Gina Malone can be reached at gina@thelaurelofasheville.com
