EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was published in the inaugural issue of our Blue Ridge Craft Trails Magazine in January 2025. The destruction of Hurricane Helene was still very fresh, with many unknowns on the horizon. Since the publication of this article, Western North Carolina has continued to recover, with notable progress and hopefulness emerging during that period. Continue reading on for the original stories, plus some updates.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which roared through Western North Carolina this past September, a large chunk of the artistic and cultural identity of our region was heavily damaged — from Dillsboro to Marion, Tryon to Boone and beyond — with some areas absolutely decimated due to the ravaging floodwaters and catastrophic mudslides.
“We lost everything,” said Sarah Wells Rolland. “We had 26 feet of water. It all went into the second floor of our building — it’s just unreal.”
Founder/owner of The Village Potters Clay Center, located in the depths of Asheville’s River Arts District, Rolland and her husband, George, are now picking up the pieces, literally and figuratively, of their business and existence in the RAD, which was bulldozed by water overtaking the banks of the ancient French Broad River.
As the creative heartbeat and social beehive of the city itself, the RAD is a beacon of culture and compassion within WNC and greater Southern Appalachia. So, it’s no wonder how disheartened and downtrodden locals and visitors alike feel in the realization of the innumerable artists, studios and galleries affected by Helene across the RAD and around our region.
Opened in 2011, Village Potters is home to eight resident artisans. The business also offers numerous classes, workshops and advanced studies programs to countless aspiring artists. “I’ll be honest with you, for the first 24 hours, I just grieved and was in shock,” Sarah Rolland said. “But, somewhere into the next day, all of a sudden I felt recharged. It was, ‘What are we going to do next?’ And then, we started to look for a vision and a place on how to reestablish and rebuild.”
That sentiment of overcoming obstacles in the face of adversity in the midst of the wrath of Mother Nature is something currently bubbling up at Toe River Arts. With its main gallery located in downtown Spruce Pine, the town was severely walloped by the storm, with power and water services disrupted for days and weeks.
“There are so many resources and folks who have jumped in and are doing their thing [to recover],” said Toe River Arts Executive Director Nealy Andrews. “People are processing this [disaster] at their own speed and everybody’s situation is different. But, the collective grief within the community is really heavy.”
Established at the Toe River Arts Council in 1976, the TRA aims to “promote and encourage the existing cultural and educational organizations of Mitchell and Yancey counties.” And since its inception, the TRA has grown into a vibrant organization providing the resources and connectivity needed to thrive as an artist.
“We were very lucky [our gallery is] on the upper street in Spruce Pine. But, every business on Locust Street [along the North Toe River] has been wiped out,” Andrews noted. “And [yet], our community is so resilient, with artists in each of these little communities taking care of their neighbors.”
And although the Village Potters RAD studio is currently closed until further notice, that hasn’t hindered the creative flow of Sarah Rolland and her resident potters. Able to save a mobile kiln before the floods hit the RAD, Village Potters is still cranking out beautiful pieces as a result of incredibly generous donations of clay from outside entities looking to lend a hand in solidarity with WNC.
“We’re just trying to help people out to get back to work — and it’s working,” Sarah Rolland said. “I mean, it’s crazy to try and do any kind of business while we’re trying to restore the studio, but we’re doing it.”
“Find these artists’ GoFundMe pages and buy artwork online from those who’ve been affected by the floods,” Andrews added. “The arts community will rise again and the creativity is never stifled, even in all this — support these artists.”
UPDATES:
The Village Potters Clay Center is operating at a new location: 44 Westgate Parkway, Asheville, NC 28806.
Don’t miss the Grand Reopening Celebration on October 11th, 2025, from 4:00- 8:00 pm.
Classes and workshops are currently on hold. The Clay Company is still operating out of a temporary warehouse until a new facility is completed in late Summer 2025.
Learn more about The Village Potters and how you can support the business as it rebuilds.
Toe River Arts is still going strong. While the town of Spruce Pine was torn apart, Toe River Arts is situated on an upper-level street, saving it from major floodwaters. It is open to the public, regularly hosting exhibits and workshops while striving to assist artists and the community. The Burnsville gallery is also open for business.
Learn more about Toe River Arts Council, upcoming events, and ways to support the area.
