Header image: Multimedia artist Jenny Pickens. Photo courtesy of the artist.When disaster strikes, it disrupts life in ways that overshadow everything else. For Jenny Pickens, a multimedia artist based in Asheville, Hurricane Helene was just one of several challenges she faced last fall.
Topics Related to Portraits in Resilience
Header image: Ken Sedberry working on rabbit sculpture in the studio (L) and Galen Sedberry in front a wood kiln (R). Photos by Galen Sedberry
Header image: Judson Guérard (L) and Sally Morgan Guérard (R). Photo courtesy of the artist
The North Carolina Arts Council has been working with artists and arts organizations to find ways to recover and build their creative enterprises back stronger after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in the fall of 2024. Our series Portraits in Resilience has been highlighting artists from the region to discover how they are responding. This month, we showcase Cindy Biggerstaff, of McDowell County. She’s a veteran and a visual artist who has been bringing joy to her community through teaching.
Header image: Sarah Jones Decker. Photo credit: Lauren Rutton, courtesy of Sarah Jones Decker.
Header image: Anna Bryant working in her studio. Photo credit: John DuPre, courtesy of Anna Bryant.Last fall, Hurricane Helene brought devastation to western North Carolina, threatening the state’s culture and economy. Artists affected by the damage are reflecting on their experiences and finding ways to support one another and the community at large as they find their way forward. Art Matters is shining a light on some of these artists. Meet Anna Bryant, the subject of our first profile in a series we’ve titled “Portraits in Resilience.”