Asheville Art Museum Welcomes You Back With Two Compelling Exhibitionss
Like countless others across the Helene-affected Appalachia region, Executive Director Pamela Meyers and her team at the Asheville Art Museum snapped into gear post-hurricane to figure out their role in supporting the community.
Their challenge: how to provide a needed place for gathering, contemplation, remembrance, and celebration during the region’s path to recovery. The answer is to be found in two exhibits on view throughout this winter and into spring.
Greetings From Asheville: Tourism and Transformation in the Postcard Age is on view through May 30. The collection of early-20th-century vintage postcards invites viewers to consider Asheville’s ever-evolving transformation and what metamorphoses lie ahead. The postcards, some taken by notable photographers like Ewart Ball and George Masa, show different phases of the city’s development, as well as iconic attractions like the Grove Park Inn and Biltmore Estate. “The thing we really wanted to show was the ever-changing nature of the landscape and the built environment in this region,” says Jessica Orzulak, associate curator and manager of curatorial affairs. “So while we are in a moment of crisis, we are able to look back and see that there are ways to move forward and imagine a future.”
Another poignant exhibit, Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art and Community After Hurricane Helene, runs February 13 through May 5. It showcases a diverse range of works by more than 150 artists across two states—North Carolina and Tennessee—that were dramatically impacted by the storm. The museum issued an open call for submissions, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. “As we were all grappling with the reality of events, seeing the enormous impact that [the storm] had on the lives of artists in this region, it just felt like a really important thing to do, to create space and opportunity for artists to show their work and to meet with collectors,” says Orzulak. The exhibit features well-established artists alongside up-and-coming talents. Both in person and online, viewers can learn about and gain access to the creators.
“I think you will find, in general, it’s a very uplifting selection of work,” explains Meyers. “I think it goes to the artists’ desire to be part of what rebuilding our community looks like.”
The Asheville Art Museum is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11am–6pm. There’s an admission fee, but thanks to support from Art Bridges Foundation, the museum is offering a pay-what-you-wish admission for residents of affected communities. Additionally, March 15 at the museum is Community Day, during which admission is free, and there are tours, activities, and entertainment for all ages. Visit AshevilleArt.org for details.
