The Art of Recovery
Hammers and Bags: Rising Through the Layers of Tragedy Over Old Wounds
Pink Dog Gallery
348 Depot Street, Asheville, NC
Opening Reception: Saturday, December 7 from 5:00pm – 7:00pm featuring Cypher with guest, Spaceman
Gallery Hours: Saturdays and Sundays December 8 – January 4 from 1:00pm – 3:00pm, with Art Pop Ups bringing arts based activities for young people and their families on Sunday December 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00-3:00 (see detailed schedule below)
Closing Reception: Saturday January 4 from 5:00pm-7:00pm featuring a panel with the lead artists and other notable community members discussing building coalitions around existing projects helmed by Black and Latinx organizations and artists that will promote a “Just Recovery.” Participating panelists are DeWayne Barton, Michael Hayes, Destro, Elizabeth Lashay, Jenny Pickens, Marisol Jiménez, and Ami Worthen, moderated by Tamiko Ambrose Murray. Read a recap of the panel created by Ami Worthen
The Art of Recovery platforms perspectives from Asheville’s Black community, exploring how youth and adults are moving on from the storm, and offering a space to meditate on what a just and resilient recovery from Helene could look like.
The gallery exhibit will feature the painting, fiber, metal and digital work of youth from Hood Huggers International‘s Under Instruction program, as well as youth participants part of Umoja Health, Justice and Wellness Collective.
With additional work from DeWayne Barton, Destro, Jenny Pickens, Elizabeth Ivey and Ant Grey (All a Dream Darkroom).
Curated and installed by Destro, with developmental support from UNCA STEAM Studio, and Slay the Mic Multimedia.
Art Pop Ups Include:
SLUG AND SNAIL performed by Fede Collina (December 8 – 2:00pm-3:00pm) with accompanying puppet making workshop
LIGHTBRINGERS puppet performance and writing workshop led by Carolina Quiroga (December 15 – 1:00pm – 3:00pm)
Healing from Helene Storybook Circle and Craft (December 22 – 1:00pm – 3:00pm) led by Tepeyac Mountain Sanctuary
Graffitti Stickers with Destro (December 28 1:00pm-3:00pm)
About the Participants:
Hood Huggers International has been working to rebuild Affrilachia through the Arts, the Environment, and Social Enterprise in Asheville. A large focus of the organization is placed on the youth of our community with our youth development program, Under Instruction, we work to support the youth with workforce development skills, trade skills, mental and financial health education, creative expression, and more utilizing community-based learning and partnerships.
Umoja Health, Justice and Wellness Collective was founded by Michael Hayes and is a Black-run, grassroots nonprofit disrupting generational trauma & incarceration by teaching resiliency, building community, peer based recovery & healing through the arts led by Elizabeth Ivey / Sister Soul Sessions. https://www.umojahwj.org/
Jenny Pickens is a self-taught artist from Asheville, North Carolina who works in a variety of mediums, including fiber arts, oils, pastels, and hand-built pottery. Her work is known for its vibrancy and depth, and often reflects the Black experience.
Destro – has curated many exhibits, including small group exhibits at The Cleveland Printroom, Photocentric Gallery, and University Hospitals. Destro has exhibited their work in many solo and group shows, including a solo show at Massillon Museum.
All a Dream Darkroom is led by Father/photographer Ant Grey, this local photographer can be booked for regular photoshoots, weddings, animal photography, and street photography. https://alladream.darkroom.com/
Slay the Mic Multimedia was founded by Elizabeth Lashay. The mission of STM Multimedia Company is to provide a source of information, music, and entertainment while celebrating culture, community, and creativity by amplifying and empowering voices through our creative content studio, edutainment programs, and digital and on-air platforms https://stmmultimedia.com/
UNCA STEAM Studio brings together Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) in an educational space at the River Arts Makers Place (RAMP), engaging the next generation of makers, engineers, artists, and entrepreneurs, who work side-by-side with faculty and staff experts experienced in all facets of the creative process. https://steamstudio.unca.edu/
Pink Dog Creative Pink Dog Creative was founded by Randy Shull and Hedy Fischer in a former textile warehouse which has been transformed into an exciting mix of artist studios, restaurants, Asheville’s first and only Black owned coffeeshop, a gallery and retail spaces. Pink Dog raises awareness of people and organizations working to make our communities more equitable and just. https://www.pinkdog-creative.com/
This project is supported in part by an award from Arts AVL’s Arts Build Community Grant which is sponsored in part by Buncombe County.
Arts AVL Arts Build Community Grant has been available since 2018, and supports innovative, arts-based projects that inspire diverse groups of participants to be more active, involved, and civically-engaged by creating together.