Author: Andie Freeman
At the confluence of the Toe River and Cane Creek stands a 98-year-old brick building with spacious windows that was once a dry-goods store. This building now houses the studios of Judson Guérard and Sally Morgan Guérard. Judson has been creating beautiful blown glass for more than 25 years, inspired by a life-changing workshop in Denver and further development at the Penland School of Craft. At Penland, he studied glassblowing full-time and eventually became the school’s glass studio coordinator before pursuing his craft in the couple’s “Toecane” studio. The building, retaining details from its dry-goods store days, sits in nature, which inspires Judson. “There is a symbiotic relation between the process of making and imagination,” he explained. “Living by the river, in a rural setting, centers me and provides freedom from distraction.”
Complementing Judson’s delicate glass, Sally focuses on hand-crafted brooms. Previously, she made needle-sculpted dolls but shifted to brooms after a fortuitous experience. “I found my way to brooms through making art dolls,” she said. “I wanted a real broom for a witch doll and found a workshop at John C. Campbell Folk School. I never finished that witch or made another doll. Now, I focus on the craftsmanship of making brooms and preserving the craft.” Sally’s studio, affectionately called The Broom Closet, is in the annex.
When Hurricane Helene hit last year, the couple scrambled to protect their studio. The massive rainfall damaged the roof, and they had to save equipment, materials, and books from water damage. The CSX Railroad below the studio was destroyed by flooding, leading to a unique cleanup challenge. “Up to 300 massive dump trucks per day go past our studios,” Sally said. “Large cement blocks prohibit most client parking, but they keep the trucks from hitting our buildings.” Dust from the construction coats their studios, and the bridge crossing into Yancey County is gone, affecting visitor numbers and income.
The flooding profoundly altered the nature surrounding their studios, a loss difficult for Sally and Judson. “There is my ongoing grief for the loss of our beautiful river valley,” Sally explained. “The trees and wildlife, and their habitat—even the boulders in the river—are gone. I took it for granted that this old river would remain mostly the same throughout my lifetime. I was wrong; change came so rapidly.”
After assessing the damage and stabilizing the historic building, the couple worked to get back to normal. “The focus was on supporting our neighbors,” Judson said. They participated in activities such as the Bakersville Creekwalk debris clean-up and gatherings to plan rebuilding the town. Dust from nearby construction, road closures, and the destroyed bridge made their studio unusable for sales and challenging for creation. “It took us a while to realize the effect our being closed was having on our income,” Sally said. Fall shows were canceled, and the studio was closed to the public, but they remained determined. “This spring, when we couldn’t participate in the Toe River Arts Tour, our neighbors at Loafers Glory Rafting and Tubing offered their space for all the artists on Toecane Road. The tour turned out to be a great bonding experience for our community.”
The Guérards were touched by their community’s support. “I’ve learned the strength and resilience of my community and neighbors,” Sally said. Judson added, “The vast majority of people not only wanted to help, but did help. They brought in supplies, mucked out houses, and cut fallen trees from roads.”
With months passing without regular income, they were grateful for financial support they received. They used support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair their home. Grants provided through Toe River Arts and the Asheville Area Arts Council, made possible by funding from the North Carolina Arts Council and donations given through the North Carolina Arts Foundation provided funds to offset studio losses. One of their best clients facilitated sales through her website, and a neighbor took their artwork to sell in Winston-Salem. Both women navigated hazardous conditions to pick up and deliver work for the couple. “The Blue Ridge National Heritage Foundation created opportunities to show and sell work, and the Mitchell County Development Fund procured grants that enabled us to continue our work and live normally,” Sally said. “We’ve always supported these organizations through small contributions and donations of artwork. As we move forward, we see how these contributions build support for our community.”
Judson and Sally have projects to focus on as they move forward. “I’m excited about getting my doors open regularly again,” Sally remarked. “In July, I hope to revive my Second Sunday Crafter-noons—an open studio for community artists to bring a project or just sit with other artists. It’s a time for community.” Judson is excited about his new series of blown glass buildings titled, Fragile Cities. “After Helene’s destruction, our fragility is no longer an abstraction.”
Although the past year has been hard, Sally and Judson recognize how lucky they have been. Seeing the devastation has given them renewed energy to connect with their neighbors. Sally explained, “I have several sticks I gathered immediately after the storm from the few beloved downed trees I could reach. I plan to commemorate them by making them into brooms. When you make something by hand, it always carries something forward from you. I hope to send forth my feelings of loss and deep concern for our habitat. I want to remember the importance of community as I continue this journey. I am also aware that many others in our country and around the world, are experiencing devastation like ours, or worse, as the planet changes.”
“I am grateful that the destruction was so near, yet it missed us,” Judson continued. “It reminds me of the urgency of making, and the joy of working, because it can be lost so easily.”