“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born.”
— Antonio Gramsci
Five months ago, over a foot of rainfall barrelled down the mountains of Western North Carolina, liquifying the slopes, flattening homes, and sweeping cars away in the current. Residents sought refuge on their rooftops or evacuated the area, returning to find their homes destroyed and their neighbors mourning the loss of everything they owned.
Increasingly, we face severe environmental changes that scientists have warned about for over 50 years: fires, floods, droughts, extinction, and rising sea levels. Stronger hurricanes in stranger places, plunging millions into darkness for days and threatening blackouts for months. Fresh budgetary cuts to dismantle climate action are sure to exacerbate the problem.
As we grapple with the escalating—and existential—crises, many artists are drawing a straight line between craft, labor, and our ability to connect with the world at large. Making and sharing art has always been a radical act in dark times. Throughout history, crafting, in particular, has carried significant political weight, serving as a tool for resistance against environmental destruction and exploitative economic structures. There is a preservation of the human spirit in the handmade, a reaffirmation of the importance of objects made with human labor and by human hands.
As we experience disconnection from the land and navigate the complex realities of a changed world, we need time and ritual to grieve these losses. We also need to love and nurture whatever emerges in their place, to accept that destruction inevitably awaits on the other side of creation: A pencil is worn down as a drawing emerges. Paper is sliced, cut apart, and pieced back together. A spool of thread winds down as stitches join together. We use our hands with the hope that our labor and perseverance will result in growth, rejuvenation, and the reawakening of the world around us.
To celebrate National Craft Month and the pending arrival of spring, ArtsvilleUSA presents Reawakening: Craft Artists of Western North Carolina, a virtual exhibition featuring nature-based works in ceramics, glass, jewelry, textiles, and paper. Created in partnership with our sister organization and West Coast affiliate, NOT REAL ART, as part of their First Friday Exhibitions series, Reawakening aims to highlight artists in a region transformed by Hurricane Helene during a time of resilience, recovery, and renewal.
Explore Reawakening: Craft Artists of Western North Carolina by clicking the button below, then scroll through this feature to learn more about the participating artists.
Alex Bernstein
Alex Gabriel Bernstein is an award-winning glass artist whose work is deeply inspired by nature and personal experience. Growing up in the American studio glass movement, Alex honed his craft under the guidance of his parents, both established glass artists. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, he has taught at esteemed institutions and exhibited internationally. His sculptures convey stories of growth and the passage of time, inviting viewers to engage with their abstract forms and emotional depth.
April Flanders
April Flanders is a studio artist based in the mountains of Boone, NC. Her work explores the complex issues surrounding invasive species through printmaking, painting, and installation. With exhibitions in prestigious venues such as the Atlantic Gallery in New York and the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga, TN, April's art highlights the delicate balance of ecosystems affected by globalization. She holds an MFA from Arizona State University and has taught printmaking for 18 years.
Deb Herman
Emeritus Professor Deb Herman is a skilled fiber artist and educator based in Weaverville, NC. She holds a master of fine arts from Northern Illinois University and previously chaired the Art Department at Concordia University Chicago. A juried member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, she actively participates in the local arts community, teaching classes at Local Cloth, Inc. Her work explores the quiet moments of nature's life cycles through hand-dyed fibers, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences.
Erin Keane
Erin Keane is a multidisciplinary artist based in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Working with photography, encaustic beeswax, and innovative bookbinding techniques, she creates artwork that combines the beauty of the natural world with the tactile experience of handmade books. Her unique creations, including encaustic book sculptures and journals, reflect her deep appreciation for the written word, the connection between art and nature, and the endless possibilities of artistic expression.
Kathie Briggs
Kathie Briggs is a textile artist from North Carolina whose work captures the essence of nature. With a background in education and a lifelong passion for art, she transitioned to fiber art in the 1990s. Inspired by the breathtaking landscapes around her, particularly the intricate beauty of trees, Kathie creates art quilts using a mix of hand-dyed and commercial fabrics. Her exquisite pieces have been showcased in multiple exhibitions and featured in prominent art publications.
Laura Lau Klein
Laura Lau Klein is an Asheville-based jewelry and mixed media artist whose work reflects a deep reverence for the natural world. With a background in art history, anthropology, and various craft techniques, Lau creates unique adornments by merging metals, repurposed materials, and organic forms. Their practice highlights the interconnection between materials, environment, and personal narrative, inviting viewers to explore the relationship between adornment and the world around them. Lau is a recipient of the 2024 Windgate-Lamar Fellowship Award.
Laura Wood
Asheville artist Laura Wood transitioned from a dance background to contemporary jewelry during her studies at the University of Georgia. Known for her sculptural designs, Laura explores the relationship between jewelry and the human body. Her pieces have been showcased in prestigious exhibitions, including the Smithsonian Craft Show, and are featured in several prominent museum collections. Laura holds an MFA in metal design from East Carolina University and has influenced the jewelry community through her teaching and symposia.
Libba Tracy
Libba Tracy is an illustrator and sculptor with a degree in graphic design from the University of Georgia. With over three decades of experience, she has created cherished children's books and showcased her work in a one-person show at the Black Mountain Center for the Arts. A member of the Odyssey Co-Op Gallery in Asheville, NC, Libba’s art reflects her deep concern for wildlife and the environment, capturing stories of threatened creatures with a whimsical touch.
Terance Painter
Terance Painter is a celebrated potter based in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, where he founded Different Drummer Pottery in 1980. Terance, a lifelong artist, discovered his passion for ceramics while studying at Western Carolina University. His functional stoneware and porcelain often feature intricate bas-relief landscapes inspired by the natural beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains. His work harmoniously blends utility and artistry, inviting viewers to appreciate both form and function.
All images published with permission of the artist(s); feature photo: David Schwartz.
